First time I'm watching LIVE F1! Not in Singapore but in Nagoya Japan. I was expecting a lot of crazy outfit and a crazy crowd. Unfortunately, Japanese are more crazy in Halloween. F1 Nagoya was filled with many parents bringing their kids. Is more like a Disneyland affair.
Considering Japan is always so organize and timely, I was shocked by the logistics at Suzuka circuit. Is easy for you to board the train that takes you from Nagoya to Shiroko in less than an hour. Thereafter you've to take a shuttle bus from Shiroko to Suzuka circuit which is ~6km. The 3 day F1 that shuttle bus has enormous queues starting 7am and took 2-3hrs from the start of queue at Shiroko station to Suzuka circuit. If you choose to get a taxi, get ready to queue for at least 1.5hrs before a taxi will appear. This is the 6th year they're hosting this event? But they didn't anticipate to ensure there are as many taxi as possible to cater to the 300,000 crowds. The loading of passengers are poorly handled. Most of the buses and taxi are left idling for a good long 30minutes before they can hit their allocated slot to pick up passengers.
This is not a blog to complain about Suzuka circuit, is to understand that being a Japanese, many of the workers know how inefficient things are but they're too scared to voice out to their colleagues or bosses they can do better by doing this and that. No one dares to front the problem and come up with a solution fast. Is a culture of always respect the elderly and is frown upon to voice out your opinion.
Having said that, I love Japanese culture how quiet and respectful they are on the train, buses and in hotel lounges. I stayed in Conrad Tokyo where many Americans like to stay too. Gym, lounge, and spa area are clearly mark No Talking on the phone. Unfortunately, my stay this week was filled with poor manners of Americans having their conference calls in the gym while walking on the treadmills. Talking so loudly in the lounge and chit chatting with their friends on the phone in the spa area. No one wants to hear your life story, no one is interested and is sad that outsiders cannot respect the rules. I love to see people exercising first thing in the morning but would be really nice if we're more focus exercising real hard than talking or taking pictures to put up on their social media.
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