I have never thought it would be this way to lead me to start a bus riding life from Queanbeyan to Canberra Civic. For the past two years since we moved to QBN from Sydney, I have not even got a chance to get on board to pay for a riding. Now our pretty old and exhausted friend Holden Commodore seems not willing to be our company in the future life anymore, he let us down at least two times in the deadly hot days in the last two weeks and his performance is getting really worrying and very unstable. Well, what can I do? I need to travel 18 km to get my work done and do another 18 ks to get myself back home as safe as possible, at the same time saving the money as much as possible. The only choice is taking the bus.

I walk about 15 minutes from home to QBN interchange bus station in the early morning. The sun hasn’t risen high enough to make me feel discomfortable at that time and the walking proved very pleasant for the lazy body that needs to strech thelegs and breath some fresh air. If I take the Express Route 833, I would be reaching the Civic at 8:00am and spent another 10 minutes strolling through the City Walk to my office. The walk is so quiet and cool in the morning, which is totally different from what I see during the lunch time. However, if I’d like to get a ride with 830 which goes a different route and stops at every stations as long as there is someone who wants to get on the bus, I can get off right outside the building of my company and rush into my office within no more than 2 minutes, which is pretty convenient.

Actually I have to say that my bus tour experience has been very great in the last week. I even told my husband how cool it is when I found that I don’t need to put on a seat belt when taking the bus. And it’s so spacious to sit anywhere I like to enjoy music from my iRiver.

The buses are very clean, tidy and cool. You don’t have to worry what weather conditions are happening outside. The bus drivers are very lovely and quiet people, just like your friendly neighbours who always make you feel warm, comfortable and undisturbed. On the way back home last Friday, I even met a lady driver who insisted giving me a free ride.

The story was very interesting to tell. Actually I initially wanted to buy a Discount Card with 50 dollars credits to add into the card. I thought I could get the card straight away on board and pay for my today’s ticket. But I found the drivers could not do it on the bus and they still have to forward my money and application form to the head office, which means I still had to buy the ticket as normal before I get the card eventually. But the driver could not cash 50 dollars for just one ticket for me. She said “don’t worry” and still let me hang on this bus. Anyway I felt a little bit unpoper to take the ride free, so I looked for the wallet during the ride and finally digged up some changes enough to pay for the ticket. I tried to give the money when I was getting off the bus, but the driver who was a big but very sweet lady insisted not accepting my money and gave me a beautiful smile saying “I do it free for you today”. To be honest, I don’t see any reason for her to do so since I already had money. Besides, she spent quite a minute to explain how to get the discount card and showed her regret for not being able to get one for me right now. Gosh! It was not her fault. She shouldn’t have felt so guilty about it. I was so touched and didn’t know how to thank her. The only thing I did was to give her a very common appreciation by saying “thank you” and got off the bus. But I know I would remember her forever.

Thanks, the bus transportation! And thank you, the good drivers! For me, it’s like having another vision to experience the life and look at the world. And it’s absolutely beautiful and full of fun.