HK residents go for a nap on 5-hour bus tour

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Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. (something)-starved / stɑrvd / (adj.) – not having enough of something
    Example:

    Anna’s been leisure-starved because she’s been too busy at work. She needs to go on vacation.


  2. sleep-deprived / slip dɪˈpraɪvd / (adj.) – lacking sleep
    Example:

    The students were sleep-deprived. They only slept for two hours last night.


  3. snooze / snuz / (n.) – something boring
    Example:

    The class was a snooze. I tried so hard not to fall asleep.


  4. lull / lʌl / (v.) – to cause someone to feel sleepy
    Example:

    The slow, soft song lulled the baby to sleep.


  5. goodie bag / ˈgʊd i bæg / (n.) – a bag of small gifts that guests receive during an event, such as a party
    Example:

    The goodie bag I got at Tim’s birthday party contained sweets and chips.


Article

Read the text below.

Travel-starved, sleep-deprived residents in Hong Kong might find a new bus tour to be a snooze. The 76-kilometer, five-hour ride on a regular double-decker bus around the territory is meant to appeal to people who are easily lulled asleep by long rides. It was inspired by the tendency of tired commuters to fall asleep on public transit.


“When we were brainstorming new tours, I saw a social media post from my friend saying that he was stressed out by his work, he couldn’t sleep at night,” said Kenneth Kong, the marketing and business development manager of ulu travel, the bus tour organizer.


“But when he was traveling on the bus, he was able to sleep well. His post inspired us to create this tour that lets passengers just sleep on the bus.”


Tickets cost between 99 to 129 Hong Kong dollars (¥1,450 to ¥1,900) per person, depending on whether they choose seats on the upper or lower deck. A goodie bag for passengers includes an eye mask and earplugs.


The first Sleeping Bus Tour on Oct. 16 sold out entirely. Some passengers came prepared, bringing their own blankets and changing their shoes to slippers, while others brought travel pillows. (AP)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The tour is meant to appeal to people who are easily lulled asleep by long rides. Do you think paying 99 to 129 Hong Kong dollars (¥1,450 to ¥1,900) is worth it if you’ll just sleep during the entire tour? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The first Sleeping Bus Tour on Oct. 16 sold out entirely. Do you think this tour will continue to be popular for a long time? What other features should the organizers add to continue attracting customers (ex. comfortable beds, good sound system)? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The tour was inspired by the tendency of tired commuters to fall asleep on public transit. Do you think it’s okay to sleep in public? Why or why not? What do you think commuters should do to stay safe in case they fall asleep in public? Discuss.
  • One of the organizer’s friends shared that he couldn’t sleep well because of work. Do you think this is also a common problem among employees in your country? How do you think this problem can be solved (ex. limit working time)? Discuss.