Step it up

The city is huge and the metro here far exceeds any sceptical preconceptions I may have had.  Spotlessly clean, it puts its London, Paris and New York (especially NYC) equivalents to shame.  Not only is it spotlessly clean, it’s also very cheap.  I have a rechargeable metro card, which I swipe over the turnstiles upon entering and exiting the system, and a journey (regardless of distance) sets me back approximately 30p.  Mobile phone signals are fine, even when in the deepest, darkest tunnels: it’s great.  All signs, maps and announcements are in Chinese and English, and my work schedule means I never have to travel during peak times.  Even during peak times, commuters are guided by arrows on platforms and steps, indicating where you should and shouldn’t walk/stand.  It is quite funny watching people race for seats during busy periods; I witnessed an elderly man and woman, strangers by all accounts, race from opposite ends of a carriage towards a spare seat.  To my surprise, the man got their first and didn’t sacrifice his seat to his fellow pensioner: there’s no chivalry here!

During my second week in the ‘Hai my commute to work from the hotel consisted of an hour long Metro journey, navigating two lines and dodging hundreds of fellow commuters.  My new apartment is situated half way between the main CBD and my school, which reduces my commute to a mere 25 minutes, whilst eliminating the need to change lines.  Also eliminated is the need to pay attention, I can happily sit there listening to my iPod or reading my Kindle without fear of missing my station: because I exit at the end of line 1.  If the mass evacuation of people at this stop wasn’t a good enough indication that I’ve reached my destination, there’s always the 30 second blast of Kenny G which serve as a reminder it’s time to leave!

A quiet commute

The metro was also where I saw my first baby bum!  It’s not as perverse as it sounds, honestly.  Little ones in China wear crotchless pants, enabling the children to relieve themselves quickly.  One little boy the other day thought he would take advantage of the space around him in a near empty carriage and decided to try a spot of pole dancing in the aisle, before toppling over and revealing all to anyone who happened to glance his way!

With so many people travelling around the most populated city in China, it’s inevitable that you will encounter a few ‘interesting’ individuals.  One young man followed my flatmate and I the whole length of an interchange (a lengthy one at that); telling me how I looked like… wait for it… his Australian English teacher, a mermaid and Snow White!  Thankfully, after feeling the need to escort us to our platform he didn’t pursue us any further.  He did, however, feel the need to embrace us both and attempt to kiss us; something we both reacted to very swiftly; pushing him away and running for the opening train doors!  Thankfully, for now, my repertoire of random metro incidents stops with that over-affectionate individual and an anti-corruption preacher who entertained myself, my friends and some English speaking Chinese passengers one evening.

There is, however, one thing that really niggles at me… the number of steps I have found myself climbing over the past few weeks!  As a fairly physically fit person I have no aversion to walking.  After gaining all 3 levels of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, carrying a handbag on a short walk to work poses no problems.  If anything, it’s quite a novelty after a year of living in ‘Nam, where I did anything to avoid working up a sweat in such a hot and humid climate.  But steps stop my stride, slow me down and cause bottle necks at busy times.

On the plus side, all this walking is keeping my quads and glutes fine and firm, so I can’t complain too much!

A xx