"Cannot": On The Buses in Singlish

We've been catching public transport everywhere, since Singapore has a comprehensive underground train system and buses to most place on the island. The number 7 leaves from Guillemard Rd, almost outside our condo which is on the corner in Lorong 14, while other routes pass by Geylang road at the other end, all going either into town or towards Bedok and Changi.

Bryn has been reluctant to leave the condo (where there is both a three year old playmate and my computer) to go sightseeing, but happy when we finally caught a double decker on Guillemard Rd. he makes a beeline for the top deck in the front seat, being loud and chatting non-stop,  quite unlike local Singapore children. My main concern is his safety (if we stop suddenly, he will go flying through the windscreen). But it is entertaining hearing him sing his little songs (the current one is "oh baby baby baby" sung ad nauseum).

We have  a standing joke about Singapore's strictness, initially inspired by all the signs everywhere. I say things like "if you're rude to your Mum in Singapore..." and " if you laugh too loudly in Singapore..." and "if you fart in Singapore..." all of which which he completes, laughingly, with "you'll get arrested!" My favourite sign is in the MRT: "No smoking, no eating or drinking, no spitting...NO DURIANS" !!!

As central Singapore has a one-way road system, I find myself having to ask frequently for the correct route. The Malay or predominantly Chinese bus drivers mostly speak Singlish, so when I ask if this is the bus to place x, the response is either "can" or "cannot", which is the Singaporean way of saying yes or no! I've only once seen a woman drivingabus- mostly it's blokes. They're very helpful when it comes to letting us hapless tourists know we've arrived at our destination, however.

After a couple of days of fumbling around with single trip fares (cheap at around a dollar for me and fifty cents for Bryn), and making sure I have ample coins in my purse, we head to Raffles Place on the bus nearest the apartment, to buy a 3-day tourist pass. For around $10 each (plus a refundable deposit for the plastic card) we can conveniently  now jump on and off any bus to anywhere. Bryn loves swiping the thing on the little machine as you board the bus, and to get through the gates at MRT stations.

 

Double-decker bus into town

 

Front row seats, top floor, heading down Nicholl Highway

 

Map of the MRT, Singapore's underground train system

 

 

 Bryn choosing a durian, the offending fruit which is banned in many places including the metro, at one of the fruit stalls on Geylang Rd near our condo. It stinks to high heaven, but tastes sweet, like a mango has mated with some custard. As our Philippino-American AirBnB host says "smells like hell, tastes like heaven" !!!