When I come to work, and go back home, I usually take these "Ga Gyi" buses. There used to be a time a few years ago when buses going/coming from North Dagon is rare and few, so at rush hours, buses can be really really really crowded. But nowadays, those buses are still abit crowded, but not as much as before because of the "Ga Gyi" buses.

For example, 108 bus. It waits for passenger at the end gate for such a long long time, and also do the same at the start gate. So I only take the one that's about to leave from the start gate. It can be abit faster than "Ga Gyi" buses because they take a different route from those buses, and there are few stops along the way. So when I'm in a hurry, I usually take this bus.

There are also 202 buses, which is the recent addition along this line (Sule - North Dagon line, I mean). I haven't taken a photo of those buses yet. They are bigger and imported from Japan. And they've got a fixed price: 200 Ks. anywhere, unlike the other buses. These buses are included in "Special Vehicles" (A Htoo Yin) because they only carry passengers according to seats, and don't allow standing up. Some of the buses even have TVs on there and play music. But none of them have air-conditions, even though at first, they were advertised as "air-conditioned buses". Now, they have become "open-aired" buses. :P I like these buses though, (well, at least 202 buses) because if the seats are full (and they usually are), they just drive straight to the bus stop that the passengers need to get off, and don't wait for a long time or stop at every bus stop calling passengers. However, they are fewer than "Ga Gyi" buses, so I can't really wait for them.

There used to be wooden buses which I really liked because it was less crowded. I think I even wrote about the journey one time. But since about 6 or 7 months ago, those wooden buses are not allowed into downtown area anymore. So their routes had changed to outskirt areas. It was quite a shame.

There are also the small "hi-lux" buses (the red one at the top at the top photo), but they are very very few on this route. I took this bus back home yesterday. When I go to Hledan, the buses that runs on that route are mostly those hi-lux buses. They are extremely fast, but only runs when passenger is full, so can be a long wait at the beginning stops, such as Hledan and Yankin bus stops. I think that it's sometimes unfair for those who rides from the middle routes because there wouldn't be any seat anymore because the seats are mostly full starting from the gate, and it wasn't as if you can stand up in the aisle.

Yeah.. I'm really a "bus" expert. :P Riding buses can be an enjoyable experience, when you get a seat, that is. :P I want to ride different buses to places that I've never been to before.

I want to ride the bus with someone. I want to be able to rest on his shoulder and have him put his arms around me as I see the couples do on the bus. ;) I think it'll be sweet. I don't usually fall asleep on the bus though, but sometimes, I just close my eyes and rest them for awhile.

But for now, I just stare out the bus windows at the sights I see everyday while listening to my mp3 player. Even though it's the same sights, I never get tired of looking out the window. (That's one of the reason I ride from the gate: so that I can get a window seat.) I like being able to see the Shwedagon Pagoda at night, with all its glowy-golden light at night as the bus goes around the U Htaung Bo roundabout. I like looking at Excel Shopping Centre's Dolly Bird fashion outlet's window display. I like looking through the window of this one fitness centre near Shwegondine and see the guys working out. (Nice muscles, I would say to myself. :P)

Ofcourse there were also times that I had taken taxi back home, but I haven't done that recently. Trying to save money. :)

Happy weekend!