Sydney Buses

Lucky Me

"I'd like to go to eastgardens, plz", said me to the bus driver. I have no more bus tickets on me, so i had to pay for a ticket on the bus.

"Just take a seat," answered the driver, quietly.

The doors were shut, and the bus moved. I was still confused with the driver's answer. So i sat down close to him. When the bus stopped for a red light, i approached him again, trying to pay for the ticket. He said,

"That's the LAST thing to worry about."

"(Oh) okay" :)

All other passengers used their travelten or travelpass bus tickets, so they do pay. But at that night, i didn't! Hihihi... i feel like that i'm the luckiest boy on earth :) I saved $1.30, without any intention to cheat
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"Sorry, i fell asleep"

Last monday, i also felt very very lucky. Dyah gave me her husband's blue TravelPass ticket! That means, i can go anywhere i want by bus or ferry within Sydney Metro. Although the ticket was valid only that day, that doesn't matter. I still can go anyway, it's still better than nothing. I started by visiting Maroubra to see some bicycles. Than off i went to Bondi Junction, to check out bicycles again. (just to let you know, someone stoled my dawes bicycle last friday in the uni)

At noon, i wanted to ride a ferry, so i took the bus to Circular Quay. It was a hot sunny day, probably 23 degrees Celcius. Luckily the bus was air conditioned, it felt very nice. Feeling very comfortable, i began to shut my eyes when the bus passed Hyde Park. Hyde Park isn't so far from Circular Quay, but you know what? It felt quite long for me, coz i remembered that i dreamed about something that time, and it wasn't short. Hihihi... when i woke up, everyone has gone. I was the last passenger. The bus engine had just been shut down. And the most embarassing thing is that the driver just realized i was still there. He laughed :)

"Sorry, i fell asleep", said me to the smiling driver.

The bus door opened, and i quickly stepped out from the bus. After a few steps i start to realized that i was not in the place i should be. I mean, "hey, this isn't the usual bus stop!" I was right. I was on the opposite side of the block where the bus usually ends in Circular Quay.

I wonder how long i stayed in that empty bus :( ??? Probably almost ten minutes? :-/

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"Thank you, driver!"

Very often, people say thank you to the driver everytime they get off from the bus. Some aussies shout, "THANK YOU, MATE", "THANK YOU, DRIVER!" No, we don't say "Thank you sir" or "thank you, madam"

We don't use the word "Sir" of "Madam" often. If someone use it, probably he or she isn't from Australia :)

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Powered by Gas

Sydney buses are all the same. They have white and blue body paint. But if you look closer, there are at least four models. One is the good old sydney bus with no air conditioner and with not a too long body. The other models are almost like some jakarta Patas buses, especially those ones imported from China (you know, the ones with an exit door in the middle?)

These new model buses have several different stuff. One model even is powered by gas! It has some kind of large air conditioning unit on top of the bus, where a large label "Powered by Gas" is clearly readable. Inside, the back part is higher than the front, but the door floors are always on a low position such that weelchair and baby trollies can easily pass enter and alight the bus. Some buses have special seats which can be folded for wheelchair space.

One thing that i noticed it that all these buses have similar sound. And i am pretty sure, these buses sound differently than any other buses i know in indonesia. I think, i repeat, i think that all "sydney buses" buses have automatic transmission. I can tell from the sound of its engine.

And just to end my story, i think Sydney buses is owned by the State government. There's no other public bus company here, all the buses have the same color :)

Oh yeah, i forgot to tell you. Ticket price for the shortest distance (up to two sections) is 80 cents if you pay by cash and you have a concession card. But for normal adults, it costs twice as much. You can also use a blue travel ten for this, which is slightly cheaper. For traveling up to 5 sections, you must use a brown travelten, or a blue travelpass, or you can pay by cash $1.30. I hope i didn't confuse you :) (yes, it was confusing at first !!!)