NZ public transport: RAGE

I know I updated like a few hours ago but whatever. I don't feel like using LiveJournal.

Today, like most days, I walked down to Britomart to take the train home.

These are the stops:

• Britomart
• Newmarket
• Remuera
• Greenlane
• Ellerslie
• Penrose
• Te Papapa
• Onehunga

Travelling from Britomart to Onehunga takes approximately 30 minutes. Now just before we reach Greenlane, we slow down to a stop and we didn't really know what was going on. After six minutes, the ticket guy came and told us there was a broken down freight train in front of us blocking the way. Hopefully it will be fixed and resolved in a few minutes.


That didn't happen. So they said yet had to switch lanes. But they can only switch lanes by going backwards to Newmarket!!!! And since it will be going against the "flow of traffic" they needed to complete paperwork and send it back. Fair enough. Fair enough.


So off we went, back to Newmarket and from there we were taken straight to Penrose (stopped at Ellerslie but didn't open doors). At Penrose, they told us to get off because this was the last stop and the train is going back to Britomart. Wtf?! The last stop is supposed to be Onehunga!!!!!! This was already around 9:15 - about half an hour past schedule! And they dumped us at Penrose station.

Apparently they called for taxis but only one turned up and some bitch told the guy that we aren't getting into the taxi until the other two get here.

They told us that they've called a few taxis to pick us up from Penrose. We waited ten minutes for the first taxi but one of the passengers went to talk to him and demanded to know when the other two taxis were coming. She ten took the liberty of declaring that she, along with everyone else, weren't going to be getting in his taxi until the other two taxis showed up. Wtf! I sort of understand where she is coming from - because it's not fair if four goes first and the other 8 are left stranded.

I was like bitch, speak for yourself. I wouldn't care less. They said taxis are on their way, chill. What's the problem with for people going first and then the taxi could come back?! Well whatever. Being the real laid back Kiwis that we are everyone just chilled out on the side of the road (seriously, no one can be bothered to argue) and it wasn't until ages later that another taxi turned up - still not enough for all of us.

So she's all up and huffing and declaring that she's going to make a gigantic complaint etc etc. So now we have two taxis waiting on the side of the road. We must have been there about 30 minutes - long enough for the next train to Onehunga to arrive!!! So she and some others who were still standing on the platform gets on the train and eight of us get in the two taxis. Fuck her. The first taxis could have dropped us all off in that time frame. It only takes a little bit over five minutes from Penrose to Onehunga at that time of the night. But no, we all had to wait over half an hour with her.


I'm supposed to be pissed at Auckland Transport - why couldn't the train take us two more stops to Onehunga?! Why did it ditch us at Penrose?! Whatever. And why no taxis on a Monday night?! Every single taxi busy meh?! I slightly doubt the train company even called for three taxis. But no, I'm even more mad at her. She might think its unfair to the people who get left behind and have to wait longer. Well, I think it's worse when you have the taxi waiting just as long and at least four people could have instantly been on their way. The taxi could have come back soon enough.

But you know, being the laid back and supportive kiwis that we are, we just went with it. I was actually really gleeful when the taxis took so long to come and when she called the train company using the train station phone, she got incompetent answers. I hope she was made to buy extra tickets when she boarded the train again.


Anyway as I said, two taxis turned up and both were Indian drivers. MY GOD. Best looking Indian men I've ever seen. Pretty funny too. It wasn't just me that thought the lady was strung up. The other two guys who got into the taxi with me were joking with the cabbie about how that lady needed a chill pill. Seriously. Make everyone lose time and wait. Whatever.

NZ IS EVOLVING!

So I'm guilty of saying my life is boring at the moment and I need to do something to create some excitement.

This morning, I took the train into the CBD (like I usually do when I go to uni) and when I got there I almost walked into one of these:

Upon seeing them, I almost squealed in excitement.

I'm sure you (and the rest of the world) know what they are and will probably look at them in disdain but this system is new to Auckland, New Zealand. These will act as the gate barrier in and out of the train platforms at Britomart (Auckland's transport hub in the CBD - although when I say transport hub, the building is more of a train station than anything else).

NOTE: now don't be fooled by the beauty. That picture has been through two filters. Follow me on Instagram: "essenity"!

Currently, when you take the train in Auckland, you buy the ticket before you get on the train. Once on, there is a man that goes around to everybody. You will present your ticket to him and he will use a hole puncher to punch a hole on the ticket. If you did not buy a ticket prior to boarding the train, you can buy one off the ticket person - cash only. However, there have been instances during rush hour when the ticket person fails to get around to every person before the train reaches the next station. I suspect many people will not pay if they only ride one station. This ticket person is also responsible for opening the train doors when the train reaches the next station... he gets off the train and lets people out and in. So very often, he gets back on and fails to remember every person he's already taken a ticket from etc. I've seen a ticket man miss over ten passengers due to the number of people that get on after the first station.

If this system was used anywhere else in the world, I'm pretty sure many many people would take advantage of this and not pay. But many times in NZ, I've seen people lining up after getting off the train and waiting patiently (during rush hour, no less) for the ticket guy to punch a hole before leaving. Now, there's no reason for them to do this because once they are off the train, it's free for all. There are no barriers that keep you stuck in the station, you can walk off just like that. There are no dates on these tickets, if they don't get a hole punched through it, you can use it the next time.

Anyway, with such gates being set up, it will become really hard for anyone to jump this system since they won't actually be able to get out of the station! Taken us way too long to implement this system! But then again, this is NZ we are talking about. Better late then never. However, just because the gates are now up, doesn't mean it's up and running yet. I asked the lady standing there (to this day, I have no idea what they do. They just seem to stand on the platform all day...) who told me it should be up and ready for use by the end of October. Friking long way away! But I await its implementation eagerly!

Day two of my "healthy diet":

Fought the urge to get roast duck on rice and settled for chicken sandwich for lunch, skipped the mango passion smoothie though. Exercise? Walked from uni, up Symonds Street to Upper Queen Street then all the way down it to Britomart (in heels). On the way down, the strong desire for something deliciously deep fried developed but I managed to fight it into submission and skipped getting a McDonald's meal. After dinner, my choice of dessert was Symbio's passion fruit yoghurt with a mandarin. According to them, the benefits of Symbio include: 

• Aids digestive balance

• Good source of fibre

• 5 billion live DR10™ ("can reduce digestive discomfort including gurgling, flatulence, constipation and irregular bowel movements.")

• 99% fat free

To be honest with you, I choose to consume this New Zealand product because it tastes delicious.

On an unrelated note, I've recently discovered Birdy and fell in love with her voice. Her songs are really soothing to me! Here's a link to her Skinny Love video:

Please check out her other songs!