Train Sagas

Before I discuss the train saga in Singapore let me share my own personal saga in the tube in Rome. It is a bit surprising that Rome is still quite crowded in winter. My husband takes pride in navigating the subway of cities thus saving much money on conducted city tours. Unfortunately he has a dumb witted wife who often appears as an easy target for pick pockets. It was sunset when son, husband and me pushed ourselves into a subway carriage at Spagna station. Both men managed to force their way about 2 steps from the entrance. However much as I tried I was blocked by a dark skinned lady wrapped in a big shawl. We looked each other in the eyes hesitating who should move into the carriage. When she finally let me, I was near my men. At this point I noticed my squarish handbag which I carried across my shoulder facing front half zipped. Immediately I checked the content and found my wallet missing. I muttered aloud that my wallet was missing. Instantaneously I figured that the woman who blocked my way was the thief. I squeezed up to her and exclaimed "Hey I think you took my wallet!" Almost split second another lady standing a person away from the first lady tapped my shoulder and pointed to a wallet on the floor and asked me whether I dropped it. I picked up my wallet in relief whilst still stunned. At this moment a seat was vacated and I plonked myself on it. The credit cards were in tact. Until this day I don't understand why I did not check the middle compartment (where the unfolded notes are usually placed)promptly. The fact was I actually paused awhile before checking for the notes. When I finally came to check the middle compartment and found the 200 Euro missing, the 2 ladies had alighted at the next stop. Fortunately some other notes in the zipped compartment of my wallet were in tact. Mind you I also had another fabric pouch containing passport, money and credit cards worn around my neck and hidden in the midst of layers of clothing (This is called contingency planning haha). Well the modus operandi as I figured it was woman no.1 took my wallet beneath her shawl whilst pressed against me. She then passed it to woman no.2. When I confronted woman no.1, woman no.2 dropped the wallet and alerted me to it. Why did she have to do that? Even had we searched woman no.1 we wouldn't be able to find anything on her. I guess they feared some other passengers might have noticed they came in as a pair or something. Well this is the third time I was pickpocketd in my life. Things do really happened 3 times and I hope it will stop there, otherwise I can write a guide on how to avoid being pick pocketed.

Needless to say my husband's holiday was partially spoilt by the train saga in Singapore. Poor him, he had to render advice on phone admist the Italian mayhem and merry making in those little cosy restaurants. Well this is not the platform for me to discuss what I gathered to be the likely cause of the great Singapore train disruptions. My own personal deduction may also run awry with the political explanation or vice versa. My only comment is just as pick pockets use the appropriate modus operandi for the right situation, Singapore may need to review the model upon which its transport system is run. Hopefully they are not as dumb witted as me who fell prey a third time round.