Hitching a ride
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I tried something new today, after deciding that waiting 25 minutes for the bus outside the camp was too much of a pain this evening (impatient me!
). I waited by the roadside, and showed a thumbs-up - the most commonly used sign by hitchhikers - to the cars passing by. I knew that it isn't a big thing here but I gave it a go.
The reaction of the first driver was unexpected...she looked as if I was offering a plate of pickled cockroaches. The cars after that simply didn't slow down....30-odd cars passed, and none of them stopped. Needless to say, the bus finally arrived and I boarded it.
I guess many drivers here aren't so trusting. That, or I'm not a gorgeous bombshell, my location was bad (I wasn't too far from the bus stop actually, and on the opposite side), or they expected me to smell foul. I could write something about it.
Drivers (and anyone who cares to answer): Would you stop for a hitchhiker and give him a lift, here or anywhere in the world? And how risky do you think the practice is?
P.S. I don't know anyone in my wing who drives to and from the camp yet... -
where ur camp?
i stick up my hands once 10yrs back after booking out at Safti, a van stop and pick up 4 of us....it was a strange feeling, but i enjoy it. -
Wow... kewl! I'm surprised the driver stopped for you guys!Originally posted by kops21:where ur camp?
i stick up my hands once 10yrs back after booking out at Safti, a van stop and pick up 4 of us....it was a strange feeling, but i enjoy it. 
I think KB is very brave for trying hitchhiking here cuz it's not a common practice.
If I were a driver, I wouldn't stop for a hitchhiker for safety reasons. -
i guess it depends on where you are. if you are next to bus stop most pple won't stop one bah. but if you along some deserted road they might. i got once walkign out from camp, the camp is like ulu until no bus at all unless you walk out 2.4 km, got car auto offer to give me a lift dun even need to thumb
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depend on the location, i feel.Originally posted by Rhonda:Wow... kewl! I'm surprised the driver stopped for you guys!
I think KB is very brave for trying hitchhiking here cuz it's not a common practice.
If I were a driver, I wouldn't stop for a hitchhiker for safety reasons.
if you see a bunch of army guys booking out, and difficult to find transport, as a "former" enlistee, you tend to stop and pick someone up to the nearest mrt or bus interchange. -
i used to be based in a camp in an ulu part of Kranji where we could either wait interminably long for the bus or walk out to the main road for more buses. very often we will all try to thumb a ride and many a times pick-up vans and mini lorries were more than willing to let one bunch of army boys jump onboard for their free ride out.
society has grown less trusting..... or maybe the drivers like your countenance not. -
Just keep hitch hiking.
You are bound to get somebody.
I hitch hike all the time and I always give lifts to hitch hikers.
Except when Im travelling interstate. -
I would do the same if I happened to be driving around SAF Ferry Terminal at night..I know how it feels to be limping and having trouble walking to the bus stop.I would give that fella a lift to the nearest MRT station.Originally posted by kops21:depend on the location, i feel.
if you see a bunch of army guys booking out, and difficult to find transport, as a "former" enlistee, you tend to stop and pick someone up to the nearest mrt or bus interchange. -
What is this place coming to?Army guys are slaving for 2.5 yrs..give them a hand now and then.Helps to make them feel better.Originally posted by JLennon:i used to be based in a camp in an ulu part of Kranji where we could either wait interminably long for the bus or walk out to the main road for more buses. very often we will all try to thumb a ride and many a times pick-up vans and mini lorries were more than willing to let one bunch of army boys jump onboard for their free ride out.
society has grown less trusting..... or maybe the drivers like your countenance not.
Once I was at Jurong Camp having a seminar, after it finished, as I was waiting for my friend to pick me up, I saw a few small buses and vans offering to give the soldiers lifts to Jurong Point for a buck each.Now that's enterprising..
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Wow......what an adventure! I would have enjoyed it too.Originally posted by kops21:where ur camp?
i stick up my hands once 10yrs back after booking out at Safti, a van stop and pick up 4 of us....it was a strange feeling, but i enjoy it. 
But I wouldn't give hikers a ride. Have encountered a few while driving along secondary highway. If hikers were female, perhaps I will. But for safety reasons, male hikers? Sorry.
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I am most likely to give a lift to a woman on her own during daylight hours, engaging in casual conversation, the ones made at airports or waiting at the doctors' office. The trip may be a touch uncomfortable without the exchange of pleasantries. Being female and alone is no threat to anyone. I have been proven wrong. A young thai lady requested a lift as she was new to the city, when she alighted so did my newly purchased books. Human nature defies rationalisation!
I almost never give a lift to couples, regardless of gender. When there is the two of them, I discard the thought of harm to the environment to the wind. An interminable line of cars on the motorway, all goingthe same direction, all carrying one person, I don't think of the gasoline consumed or the carbon monoxide produced. I know I am unable to deal with a couple in the event of an untowards incident.
I don't ever give a lift to anyone when I am running behind schedule. Time passes quickly when you are racing against it. The mother of all hold ups, road works, lane closures and bottlenecks. I drive as if I am in a hurry to receive my eternal rewards when am running late -
we're talking abt sg here leh....Originally posted by panicTheory:Just keep hitch hiking.
You are bound to get somebody.
I hitch hike all the time and I always give lifts to hitch hikers.
Except when Im travelling interstate.
anw sg is so small and public transport is relatively convenient [u can always call for cab as the last resort].... so nah dun think hitch hiking will work here....
more ppl will stop to help if they see u stranded by the road with a broken down vehicle... -
it is especially common when you go for ICT.Originally posted by hisoka:i guess it depends on where you are. if you are next to bus stop most pple won't stop one bah. but if you along some deserted road they might. i got once walkign out from camp, the camp is like ulu until no bus at all unless you walk out 2.4 km, got car auto offer to give me a lift dun even need to thumb -
Hmm never tried hitching a ride like KB but someone stopped and offered me a ride out of the industrial area I was in as there were no buses and I was walking out.
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The only hitch hike experience i got was almost 10yrs back when i was in sec sch. That was Christmas eve and we went boat quay for drinks and later at night went Lau Pau Sat for supper then talk cock there.
about 3am we want to go home but no taxis at all, call for cab all said dun have free taxi at the moment. That time dun have such thing as "Night Rider" bus also.
we try our luck to hitch hike, some cars didnt stop at all, later a van stop and the uncle bring us back to Yishun/AMK.Four of us, all guys, 2 live AMK, 2 live Yishun. -
donkey years ago.... my aunty got lost in dunnoe whr.... and she hitchhiked a police car!!! so smart, confirm safe one!
disclaimer: then mobile phone not common.... -
i have offered ride to army boys and workers when i was doing some works in bt timah rifle range rd ..... cos I was in a lorry bulk head ..quite safe loh... also wont be affect be their odour as they were at the my back of my lorry... that was 10 years ago!!
Come to think of it....Actually I have done a lot of good deed in my whole life (like social work etc etc) but ' hao xing mei hao bao' one loh... I helped so many pple b 4 ...when i need help .... nobody helped me..... think must accept that you are doing out of compassion than anything in return... but never will.. -
Hmm... best thing is when doing good deeds, to not expect anything in return. Do it, then bury it at the back of your mind and forget it.Originally posted by seancannot:i have offered ride to army boys and workers when i was doing some works in bt timah rifle range rd ..... cos I was in a lorry bulk head ..quite safe loh... also wont be affect be their odour as they were at the my back of my lorry... that was 10 years ago!!
Come to think of it....Actually I have done a lot of good deed in my whole life (like social work etc etc) but ' hao xing mei hao bao' one loh... I helped so many pple b 4 ...when i need help .... nobody helped me..... think must accept that you are doing out of compassion than anything in return... but never will..
And, if someone ever does a good deed to you, 'bring it forward' by doing good to the next person in need.
It applies to little things too. Like, if a friend brings me out for dinner and refuses to let me pay my share, I'll 'bring it forward' by settling the bill when I bring one of my junior colleagues out to eat or when I bring them to watch a movie. Then, silently bless that person who started this tiny 'bring it forward' chain. hehe! -
OH, btw KB, sorry, I've hijacked your thread on hitchhiking!Originally posted by Rhonda:Hmm... best thing is when doing good deeds, to not expect anything in return. Do it, then bury it at the back of your mind and forget it.
And, if someone ever does a good deed to you, 'bring it forward' by doing good to the next person in need.
It applies to little things too. Like, if a friend brings me out for dinner and refuses to let me pay my share, I'll 'bring it forward' by settling the bill when I bring one of my junior colleagues out to eat or when I bring them to watch a movie. Then, silently bless that person who started this tiny 'bring it forward' chain. hehe! -
It's okay, it's related in a way to how willing we are to go the extra mile to help somebody.Originally posted by Rhonda:OH, btw KB, sorry, I've hijacked your thread on hitchhiking!
It seems that if I'd wanted a ride, my wee experiment was done at the wrong time. Or perhaps those who drove by were more calculating, thinking that I ought to wait for the bus or hail a cab (instead of inconveniencing them)...just for a lift to the main road. -
i think most buaya like me... will not have 2nd thought giving a lift to school girls or young lady in their car ....anyone who is willing to pick up worker or army boys in their sedan car... I say are the real hero! and deserve respect !! Must admit i not so noble and will not do so unless its someone I know ( cos of safety and odour issue) !Originally posted by seancannot:i have offered ride to army boys and workers when i was doing some works in bt timah rifle range rd ..... cos I was in a lorry bulk head ..quite safe loh... also wont be affect be their odour as they were at the my back of my lorry... that was 10 years ago!!
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Sometimes, blessings come back to us in different ways. It may not be directly to you but to your loved ones.Originally posted by seancannot:i have offered ride to army boys and workers when i was doing some works in bt timah rifle range rd ..... cos I was in a lorry bulk head ..quite safe loh... also wont be affect be their odour as they were at the my back of my lorry... that was 10 years ago!!
Come to think of it....Actually I have done a lot of good deed in my whole life (like social work etc etc) but ' hao xing mei hao bao' one loh... I helped so many pple b 4 ...when i need help .... nobody helped me..... think must accept that you are doing out of compassion than anything in return... but never will.. -
It's not a common practice in sg.. so dun expect too much. Plus, u ( n not forgetting me) probably stink..
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that time was not ict lah was in the middle of the afternoon not even booking out time.(hehe i used to be able to go out of the camp at weird times claiming to be doing stuff but really going home to sleep and play games)Originally posted by dragg:it is especially common when you go for ICT. -
we stop to gave a hitchhiker a ride..but he said he wanted to go to Ashhurst and we were going to North of NZ...so we couldent take him coz its out of the way...(we're drviing a campervan transformed from a Canter Lorry)Originally posted by Kuali Baba:I tried something new today, after deciding that waiting 25 minutes for the bus outside the camp was too much of a pain this evening (impatient me! ). I waited by the roadside, and showed a thumbs-up - the most commonly used sign by hitchhikers - to the cars passing by. I knew that it isn't a big thing here but I gave it a go.
The reaction of the first driver was unexpected...she looked as if I was offering a plate of pickled cockroaches. The cars after that simply didn't slow down....30-odd cars passed, and none of them stopped. Needless to say, the bus finally arrived and I boarded it.
I guess many drivers here aren't so trusting. That, or I'm not a gorgeous bombshell, my location was bad (I wasn't too far from the bus stop actually, and on the opposite side), or they expected me to smell foul. I could write something about it.
Drivers (and anyone who cares to answer): Would you stop for a hitchhiker and give him a lift, here or anywhere in the world? And how risky do you think the practice is?
P.S. I don't know anyone in my wing who drives to and from the camp yet...