Sunday, December 23, 2007

Another Memorable Experience Riding A Bus

In my ealier blog I wrote why I will never ride a bus again in KL. Read it here if you havent read it. The reason for it can be found at the end of this blog.

It was easy for me to get out of Amanputra that Sunday morning to get to KLCC as my daughter wasn't going anywhere and there was her hubby's car that they could have used. So the Kelisa was convenient to take me to the bus stop in Putra Perdana which previously I had found to be exactly 1,684 steps away from her home. I used the kancil to get to the Putra Perdana Bus stop less tha 2 km from home. Parking the car I walked towards the 3 rapid KL's busses parked some distance away. I asked the bus driver which bus will be moving out first and he pointed to the bus and told me it will be going out at 8.45 am which was just in 10 minutes time and the one that he is driving will be moving out at 9.05 am. Hey I didn't have to ask him to say "Seven Eleven" to find out that he was a Kelantanese and he gave a friendly smile when I immediately changed my lingo to the Kelantanese dialect. His name was Maizaki. Very rare name among Kelantanese in the same genre of Elviza Michele I thought. I asked Maizaki to join me for breakfast at the Indian Shop nearby which he declined saying that he had had his breakfast. I had a tosai which was pretty good by my non Indian palate.

A Metro Bus is another that ply the Putra Perdana - KL route but stops at Kota Raya Bus stand.




This is how it looked inside a RapidKL bus with Maizaki at the wheel.

By the time I returned to the bus stand, the 8.45 bus was gone and I took the ride on Maizaki's almost empty bus and he picked up more passengers along the way and disgorged most of them at IOI mall in Puchong. I observed the place to ensure that I wont miss the landmark of the place when I have to wait for Elviza to pick me up to go to Mee Rebus Tuesday at Kak Ton's Tok Mommy's home. The bus moved on and after slightly more than an hour I reached my first destination of Pasar Seni. There was still the LRT to ride ride on and I was late for my first meeting with Akmal of Wise Up at KLCC. I smsed Akmal about my late arrival at KLCC and since Akmal came via LRT himself he said he will wait for me at the exit to KLCC. It was the first time that I met Akmal, and after a brief 'apa khabar' or something of that kind we walked to the nearest gents as I was at the end of my ability to contain whatever that I was holding up in my bladder. To tell the truth we didn't 'cuddle' up like Akmal said it on the blog on his site. We didn't even hug each other. If he were a girl like the one who sold me the laptop, it may have happened.


Tiffany, the salesgirl who sold the laptop to me.


After being relieved of that burden I was carrying in my bladder then only I managed to size up this young blogger from my own district of Pasir Mas. Akmal in the blogspehere is an older matured person than this 19 year old boy who is even younger than my youngest children. Ask any of the other bloggers who know Akmal via his blog and they will say the same thing of him. Most were surprised after knowing that Akmal is just 19 years old. He even looked the 19 year old that he was.



Yours truly with The Petronas Twin Tower as the backdrop


Akmal had promised to take me to the computer fair in KL Convention Convention next door to the twin tower. Only yesterday he had bought himself a laptop that came with a PCI card that can be used with a phone SIM card to make phone calls and sms at a much cheaper rate using the internet protocol. A common thing you might say, but this one is using your own registerd phone number that the recipient could identify you and call you back with. It was an ASUS weighing in at about 2.8 kg. I was thinking of buying an exactly similar one because I have problem deciding on what to have. All the more so when you are buying at a PC fair where you can be spoilt for choice of laptops in the below RM4,000 range. That is how cheap laptops are nowadays. The same specification could only be had if you have RM10,000 some 5 years ago.

The first stop was the ASUS stall where Akmal bought his laptop. The stall was immediately at the entrance. Akmal must have fallen in love with the ASUS model at first sight. Agreeing that we checked as many brands as possible before I make the final decision to buy my own laptop, we moved on to the next booth selling HP branded laptops after telling the sales person at Asus's stall that we will come back to him afterwards. I told the guy at HP the same thing before stopping at NEC. The NEC brand booth had great looking laptops on display. I would have bought them based on look alone especially those with the superb leather cover on the top casing. We were invited into the booth to have a better discussion on the models that will suit my small budget. I have decided on the set and would have closed the deal then but for the urge to look around more without having to lug a 2 kg weight like Akmal was doing right now with his Asus. After telling them that I would come back later we moved on to the next booth selling Twinheads.

The Twinhead booth displayed a laptop functioning with water being practically poured on its keyborad. Yes, they did just that, let the water from a tap flow on the keyboard. Not that I was impressed with the feat that made me decide that this was the brand that I would have. Its the lightweight and the latest 2 core duo processor and not the older dual core processor. The same processor could cost much more on other brands. The 1.65 kg weight was another plus. Only later that I realized the weight was without the battery. Hahahaha some advertisement. That was quite misleading advertisemnt.

A call to my cousin who had just bought a laptop with about the same specifications confirmed it was a good buy. It was just me not having confidence with my own ability to make a decision. Given the number of possibilities, I guess everybody will face the same problem. The bigger the budget the more difficult to decide as the models available is stupendous. The girl sitting next to Akmal was egging me on to buy as it would be the first sale for their booth and it will be credited to her. We have a special term for such first sale, we call it 'Ghori'. Some Chinese businessman consider the first sale as important as a failure to clinch a deal is tantamount to bad omen and will result in less brisk sale or no sale at all. If you are a hard bargainer as my wife is, you could have got a good price since such believers won't mind to sell at the lowest price just to clinch the first sale of the day. An item may still be sold even at a loss sometimes. The final revealation that buying from them is good when her supervisor reluctantly told me that he lives in Puchong. He thought nobody would even know of Amanputra and how surprise he was when I told him I was from Amanputra too, just a some 10 doors away from him. This is too good to be true as having somebody who knows your computer inside out can come in handy when you have problems with it later.
With all the payment concluded via the credit card, we trudged out to KLCC foodcourt to fill up our now empty stomach. The place was full. Not even a seat for two. We saw a table with the crockery still uncollected. Like a waiter I took all of them to the person who was washing the dishes. He was happy that I did the job for him and I was happy we got a table.

Shoving some money into Akmal's hand, he was given the task of deciding and buying what food to have for our lunch. I was to look after our precious computers the total price of which could easily pay for the price of an old car. It took him quite a long time to come back with two bowls of laksa sheikh or something and a glass of drink for himself. As for me, I wanted fresh orange juice. It took him another long while and by the time he came back I have swallowed all of my delicious bowl of laksa. That was how I managed to take a photograph of him drooling over his laksa. There wont be such a chance if we were to start eating at the same time.

Akmal drooling over his laksa sheih. I have finished mine by then.


We went down to the surau for our Zohor prayer taking turns to do it so that our valuables were safe. Who knows somebody may want to kill two birds with one stone, praying to God and at the same time steal something. Just to be safe. Most of those doing the prayers were quite young. Only a few of them sported the white colored hairs or at least a mixed one with some whites showing in between the blacks. Non were baldies. How come? Ain't the probability of the older ones meeting their maker is higher than the younger ones like Akmal for instance?

Spacious male prayer room at KLCC. No excuse for you to miss your 'solat'.


We went early to Coffee Club above Kunikuniya Bookstore and had coffee. It was another hour before the others and Awang Goneng with his lovely spouse Kak Teh came for the signing of GUIT.

The Twinheads.

We chit chat among the bloggers and get to know each other more since it was the first time that we met each other. This went on till 6.00 before we break up and headed for home. Akmal and me stopped at the surau again to perform the Asar prayers. Before we reached the surau we saw the Nandos outlet which we failed to locate during our search for our lunch.

It didn't take us long to board the LRT and in no time I was at the Klang Bus stand. Here my nightmare with RapidKL bus begins. No RapidKL 69 was insight. The only one that goes to Putra Perdana near to Amanputra. Bus after bus came. There was a scuffle where I saw a man was manhandled, probably a pickpocket being caught by palin clothes policemen. The bus stands are where the pickpockets are active and there are signs asking bus users to beware of pickpockets. Another man was seen trying to sell bus tickets but was warned by a bus worker not to buy tickets from him. The guy selling the ticket just cooly walk away. It was only at 8.30 PM after a wait of more than an hour's wait that bus 69 came. The many passengers waiting to board jostled each other to rush for limited seats. It was packed tight. Smelly bodies standing so close together with shouts of requests for the aircond to be turned to the highest level of coldness and replied back by the driver that it was already at its maximum level of coldness. More stops to pick up more passengers with some potential unable to board due to the lack of space and the driver insisting that those inside try to move even further inside to enable more passengers to board. No fare was collected as the driver was now bent on helping the people to get home. The jovial driver helped by being a comedian by imating the voices of any ethnic groups to cheer up the half suffocating passengers. In one moment he was bantering in Chienese bazaar Malay, another time in Indian Bazaar Malay and yet another time in impeccable Indonesian lingo. The only language he seemed unable to immitate is the Afrikaan or the Bangladeshi language that make up the many ethnicities of the bus passengers. Only after reaching Puchong were there a noticeable number of reduction of the bus passengers. One seated passenger alighted and I grabbed his seat after more than an hour of standing. My legs were then in a state of cramps. Being able to sit down was bliss. Less passenger means more air to breathe and the aircond was feeling cooler and more comfortable.
We reached Amanputra and an Indonesian lady passenger told the driver the destination she was going. Mimicking an Indonesian accent the driver told her that she was on the wrong bus and that she had to backtrack to Puchong to take another bus to her destination. She was lightly ridiculed for not telling him earlier so that he could had helped her to get to her destination, all done in jest. A lesson well learnt by her that if you dont know your destination, ask the bus driver. He was really helpful and didn't charge her any extra for the extra trip.

I alighted from the bus in a state of shock to find the place where I left my daughter's car was actually a night market where tents were used as shelter for the goods being sold. How on earth am I going to drive out of the sea of tents. Luckily I didnt have to wait long as it was raining and the night market was at its tail end since not many customers would be out by then. By 10.30 PM I was able to drive out of the night market area for my daughter's home less than two kilometers away.

The bus ride gave me an insight of how the ordinary people had to endure daily on their return trip home from work. How lucky I am that I don't have to endure this discomfort daily. This was just a once of a life time experience as I will never ride in a RapidKL bus again, at least not at this hour of the day.

54 comments:

Unknown said...

Pak Zawi,
The night I SMSed you and you replied baru sampai, I was shocked, like, biar betul! My sms was at 10.30 something. Well, the night market explained a lot I guess. I had this kind of experience too, in Pasir Mas. My friends car trapped in the sea of human and tents and smokes. Our fault though, for mistaking the day. What a night.
Bus rides like the one you experienced is quite similar with mine,but this one was is also in Kelantan, in 2004, on my travel home for weekend from my previous school Falahiah. I felt like canned, pitiful sardine inside the bus, and worst come to worst, someone pickpocketed me, worth RM350. Man! Lucky that I managed to get back my wallet. All the IC, my matric card, and some other documents are sill in there, but the RMs... Nasib badan.....
You enjoy your twinhead pak, and the wireless too(",). Have a nice day(",).

Fauziah Ismail said...

Salam Pak Zawi
If there is a frequent flyer/user card for public transportation, I guess I could easily be the one to clock the most miles.
From mini buses to Bas Sri Jaya in the mid 1980s and Park May and Rapid KL now, there have been massive transformation.
But there are still vast improvements to be made especially in keeping to the time schedule (a Malaysian thing?) and the fequency of the service (they pack as many they can in one bus).
That's why I've graduated from being a bus user to a cab user. However, I take the bus because there is a direct service which keeps to the schedule (which stops in front of the condo I'm staying) to KLCC, that's my chosen mode of transportation.

Anonymous said...

Pak zawi,
woo!!!you look great with the backpack..but not in my place here in Kuching.You know something where ever I go sure my laptop is in my backpack and this is my style .People at our age(i'm 56 now)if go to starbuck coffe bean or what ever places I go ..not suprise me I'm the oldest.I'm not suprise in Kuching maybe i'm the oldest blogger.How i wish i'm in Semananjung joining bloggers like you guys .Ok Pak Zawi I'm using Celcom Broadband Rm68.00 unlimited useage of internet per month.What so special about my modem is even having roti canai & tehtarik at mamak stall i can still surfing the internet.Anyway your kind of blog & pak idrus blog is still my first choice to visit.

Pak Zawi said...

Akmal,
Like you didn't believe me right when I told you 'I baru sampai?' We left the KLCC at the same time and you were home a long time before me.
Since you experienced it too so you know how it felt to be stuck in one pasar malam.
Oh dear you carried around so much money in your pocket. I never had that much money when I was young. Even after I started working I carried around at the most RM100 just to be safe. I am lucky not to have suffered any such misfortunes like you.
How was your ice hocky game?

Pak Zawi said...

Fauziah,
Hey you rekindled my sweet memories of the old Sri Jaya bus. Beside Sri Jaya I used the Toong Fong Omnibus to travel between Serdang and their Bus Stand in KL which is now called Pudu Raya. At least Toong Fong stuck to their time table. How come present day bus companies couldn't keep to theirs?
IMHO if you are able to use good public transport, might as well use it. I once scouted for a unit near the Cempaka LRT station which is loacated immediately beside the station. Very convenient since it is within walking distance. Alas something so good definitely came with a price that was beyond us at that time. How convenient for my son to stay there and commute to work daily.
How nice if you can afford to use cabs. It saves you alot of bother with parking which could be just expensive.

Pak Zawi said...

Brother Awang,
Carrying the laptop in the backpack is more convenient especially if you have to use public transport and walk distances. It leaves your hands free to grab a handhold if the transport you are travelling in swayed too much. Soon may need to use one hand to hold a walking stick as I am now already 57 years young. Pak Idrus is even younger at 66. That makes you the oldest. Eh am I getting it right?
In KL nobody bothers about anybody else be you old or young.
Celcom is providing unlimited usage of broadband at RM68? And its mobile? I must look into that. How reliable is the service? Can't bear to have too much outage with the kind of weather we have here.
Thanks for visiting my site. Pak Idrus and me are definitely honoured to have our sites considered as favourite sites.

Unknown said...

Pak Zawi,
The money was belong to my class. Unable to give it earlier to my teacher, so I had the obligation as a treasurer to take it home. Right after the...tragedy, I learnt the pain already, got to withdraw the exact same amount to replace the money, and yes, sy letak jawatan right after that! I got a bit cranky with money after that hahaha. No more treasurer stuff weighing my back.Well, what else should you expect?
Just to share, I just subscribed Celcom Broadband 2 days ago. It got activated last night, but I cannot use it just yet, for my laptop require some additional info about the ISP provider. I'll need to go to any CelcomPoint to solve this one out. For RM68, you'll get a good service of 384kb/sec download rate and something like 64kb/sec for upload in Celcom Territory (not a problem in Pasir Mas), and 3.6mb/sec download and 384kb/sec upload rate in the vicinity of HSDPA 3.5G (It will be available in Pasir Mas later, I cannot say for sure) For RM98, you'l get the 3.6B/sec and 384kb/sec download/upload rate, anywhere. Not bad at all. Either way, you'll need a modem for the connection. Remember the modem I told you earlier? The one I got along the laptop,that enables me to send and receive sms and calls? That little chunk would probably cost me a good RM1000 to RM1200. Asus stuff. But if you are subscribing one, It will cost you a good RM799 if you want a Vodafone Datacard. I'll have the problem in conectivity back in Rantau Panjang *sigh*~....
The Ice Skating? I guess I'll do it this 25 Dec, with a friend or two. Christmas delight, they say(",).
You keep well Pak.

Pak Zawi said...

Akmal,
You will be well connected soon. So no problem to get on the net anytime anywhere. Dunno if I am interested to go anywhere beyond my present connection. Waduh, masalah belum selesai dong! Hahahahhaha.

Rita Ho said...

Zawi ... I thoroughly enjoyed this post! It felt like I was there watching your day played before my eyes. I cracked up loudly at that pasar malam shocker. The look on your face was probably priceless. Haha!

I was a bus commuter for several years, Kajang-KL, often taking different crowded ones on busy routes. Tough experience but many lessons learned and stories to tell.

I'm glad your trip to KL enabled you to not only spend precious time with loved ones but also make new friends, acquire a new laptop and enjoy a couple of bus adventures.

Pak Zawi said...

Rita,
It was definitely a learning experience for me. Above all it taught me how tough life is for the bus commuters especially for the return trip home. Those sweating bodies in such an enclosed space emitting various body odours. What if 10 percent of the riders were to fart the kind of farts that can kill a small animal? It can result in mass death in the death hahahaha.
The trip to KL enabled me to be with my dear children and we celebrated my wife's 55th birthday with them. It is only right that Fatthiyah get to blow some candles after what they have feted me for my 57th birthday.

jaflam said...

Zawi, a few years ago I did tried the KTM Commuter and Putra from Bangi to KLCC. On the way out it was good because I finished the reading the newspaper before reaching office but on the way back I have to stand all the way to Bangi. The Commuter was so unreliable then.... my time on the road was almost double compared to driving. I enjoyed seeing the people and life of the public transport users but unfortunately I could not afford to spend too much time on the road.

Lee said...

Hi Zawi, wow! Enjoyed reading this posting. And those buses are very nice.
Hey! Don't tell me you actually counted those 1684 steps to the bus stand? Ha ha.
And that laksa Sheik looks really delicious.
And akmal? Holy Smoke, he one good looking man...wait till dia dapat the title 'DR' infront of his name, the girls would have to take a number.
Zawi, you mean mana you pergi you carry your lap top? Holy Smoke! Talk about addiction, ha ha.
I don't even own a h/phone nor laptop.
But I'm hoping to find some loose change get the latest apple Imac pc with the 27 inch monitor.
Then no need use reading glasses, ha ha.
How's the flood your place in Pasir Mas now, Zawi.
Hey, you should invest in a Canadian made canoe....then can row to market or kedia kopi. Ha ha.
You have a nice day, Zawi, Lee.
ps, love your pics, well taken.

Pak Zawi said...

Jaflam,
I guess things are much better now except for the few occassions when disruption occurs due to mishaps. Compared to the busses, I would say the LRTs are the best public transport in Malaysia now. Unless you have other better altenatives I would always opt for the LRT. The Japanese brought their LRT to greater heights with feeder bus services to enhance connectivity. One day we will get there too. Thanks to the government of the day for the farsight. It seems to be the preferred mode of transport for the masses now. Thailand seemed to have caught up too.

Pak Zawi said...

Lee,
I am happy to note that you enjoyed this simple story of mine. How worried I was incase you would say you are bored with something like this.
I did count those steps otherwise how would I know? It was a mean of distracting my attention from the long walk home. By counting those steps my body didn't mind that long walk.
The Laksa Sheikh was Akmal's choice. I didn't know such a laksa exist. When you come back to Malaysia, we will take you to KLCC to try it.
Akmal is indeed a very handsome young man. You see the picture of that pretty sales firl Tiffany? She is already a fan of Akmal before Akmal has managed to get any Dr. title infront of his name yet. Do you approve of her?
Since I don't have any more unmarried daughters left, and my oldest granddaughter is only 7 years old, I will not have any chance of making him a grand son in law. I will have to ask to marry late so that my grand daughter will come of age and compete for Akmal. Afterall Akmal is already in my design to be the CEO of my alternative medicine business outfit. Wow a medical doctor to be CEO of Ubat Tradisional business! How good can it be?
Lee itu laptop baru beli la. Baru nak bawa pulang. So we tayang at the Coffee Club. Actually it was not operational yet because I have yet to put any programmes or operating system in it, except the DOS.
You will get to buy your Apple Imac PC when the Canadian govt pay you your dues upon reaching 65 in a few days time. By then it will not be just the 27 in screen but maybe a 42 in screen. Then you can see all the pores on Salma Hayek's face.
All the pictures are taken with my 'kokak' Olympus camera. Will upgrade to a Nikon DSLR or Canon's top of the range. Dunno how long it will take me to save RM12,000 they are asking for those kind of toys that comes with a suitable alternative lens beside the standard lens. May need Mat Salo's advice on these matters.

Lee said...

Hi Zawi, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you, your lovely isteri and all at home, the very best of seasons greetings, happy holidays and a very happy new year with lots of smiles, no glitches in your new designer laptop, and good health always.
Best regards from this cold country, Lee.

ZABS said...

Salam Zawi,
You have a very interesting way of writing your experience, and is fun to read too. The photos of the salegirls... will make Lee wished that he was there with you at that time. Anyway with all that experiences, you will be able to make good judgements in your other juorneys in the future.
Enjoy riding your bikes, now that you are back in Kelantan. Take care.

Pak Zawi said...

Lee,
I would like to wish you and your lovely wife a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Eat all you can and for the antidote I will be sending you some Cassia alat leaves to test its efficacy.
May God bless you my friend. Hopefully we will meet one day.

cakapaje said...

Salam Pak Zawi,

Further to you reply to Rita, matters could be far worse back when there were no air-conditioning in the buses - imagine when it rains and all the windows are up! We - the commuters - could literally suffocate in there! Its no wonder why bus commuting has been likened to sardine cans!

DCampbell aka Puteri said...

Zawi,

Didn't realize you are back in Pasir Mas. I thought you were still in KL. Lee thought, maybe because of flood, no power or whatever, were the reason s for your being MIA.

How's the flood situation in Pasir Mas? Hope your home was not affected.

Pak Zawi said...

Zabs,
I am happy to note that you enjoyed what I wrote even though it was just mundane day to day things.
Yes, U Lee haven spoken his approval so far. Maybe he was blinded by her beauty the last time I posted her picture with Akmal. That is why I posted her picture again so that he will not miss her this time. He has yet to speak about her. I too wanna hear what he will say but it seemed he is silent on such matter. Maybe he is abit jealous about me with SYTs since my story is of now and what he is telling us is of before..a history hahahaha.
By now I am quite knowledgeable about using the bs and I am happy to note that my phobia of riding the KL bus is quite abated already.
Biking around Pasir Mas will be my activities since I am home now.

Pak Zawi said...

Shah,
Yeah I remember now that air conditioning ib buses is just new in Malaysia. Some people enjoy riding a packed bus especially when there are pretty girls riding them. Going to work in the morning is not a problem as everybody is still fresh and nice smelling with all the cologne and 'minyak attar'. The evening rides are a different ball game altogether.
What will happen if the aircondition breaks down since the windows are sealed tight?

Pak Zawi said...

Puteri,
A day before we left for Pasir Mas, we moved over to mu son's place in Sha Alam where there was no internet connection. The next day was travelling day and we were on the road till late evening. It was only the next day that I peeped into my blogsite to read what needs to be moderated. Then first thing I needed to do was post a new blog so I was fully occupied till then. Thats why I was unable to make myself visible hehehehe.

Lee said...

Hi Zawi, re the lovely SYT in this posting of yours? Holy Smoke, she's really gorgeous!
Actually I read your posting twice re the buses and everything, and then da lupa answer about the lovely SYT.
Hah! Kalu saya ada sana, I give stiff competition to Akmal...I cepat lari to a florist shop, buy 1 red rose bud and give to her and ask for her name, then maybe have coffee with her, heh heh. She sure is pretty. You go tengok computers or SYT's, huh? Ha ha.
But alamak, she sure call me 'uncle' then. Hey! Nothing like see a pretty SYT to improve my blood circulation, arhaaa ha ha.
No wonder la you got motivated to buy that laptop? Ha ha. Or was it Akmal?
Beauty sure helps in successful sales.
But Zawi, your time, my time now belong to the Jurassic era, its Akmal's time now.
By the way, those days Kelantan maidens were noted for their beauty, especially those near the Thai border, ada champor Thai genes I guess, and the ones I met, saw or dated, Holy Smoke! They were stunningly gorgeous. The maidens up in Kedah and Perlis too.
But that was wayyyyy back in the 70's.
Zawi, you keep well and have a nice evening, Lee.
ps, hey, you should have ahemm, taken a full body shot of her? *wink*.

Lee said...

Hey Zawi! Your blog header gambar came back in all its glory! Holy Smoke, mine too, and JT's.
Alamak, I sure semayang, put hands together, light incense sticks, ta'jalan, then when I mentioned about Salmah and Noami, my bulan terang gambar mysteriously appeared in full again.
At first thought my pc or blog haunted, but saw yours too had potong stengah.
Zawi, red your previous post re your travel thru Jeli..
I used to come from Alor Star, cut thru that very narrow road to Grik, then arrive at the military/police checkpoint 10 minutes before curfew start, this early 80's.
They will roll the barb wire across after taking down my car number for safety reasons, "jangan berhenti mana mana incik...curfew da start".
And Zawi, being in a highly modified Alfa Romeo, I sure tekan minyak along the highway, doing 120mph most of the way as road empty.
When the highway was being constructed near Jeli, it was late evening and raining heavily, I was doing about 80mph...my car wipers going full speed when suddenly the road disappeared...the tarred highway had ended, and a red, muddy road still under stages of construction...and a drop of almost a foot between the tarred road and muddy road.
Holy Smoke! My car flew thru the air, landed about 10 feet ahead and skidded sini sana, but fortunately my Alfa had limited slip differential and I managed to bring the car under control about 100 yards away...but you should see my car then, All covered with red, brown mud!
When I arrived KB before check into Perdana hotel, went to get my car washed, the petrol station boy, one look asked where I had come from and asked for "sepuluh ringgit, incik". "Apa pasal sepuluh ringgit, selalu lima Ringgit"?
"Alamak incik punya kereta macham masuk sawah", ha ha.
I sure got a lot of memories that East West Highway and twice a month travelling that road.
The landslides on the way, you have to see it to believe....twice my car climbed up a 45' slope, even 60' when rounding a bend at about 90mph, see stengah the road had disappeared! Ha ha. Contractors cut cost, cut angle of hill too steep! Hujan only ada avalanche and landslide!
Lenggong, Grik, Jeli, Tanah Merah, Pasir Mas, Gua Musang, Kuala Krai, Rantau Panjang, Pantai Cinta Berahi...these are memories I will always treasure. Lee.

Pak Zawi said...

Lee,
You should have seen her when she is standing up from her sitting position as she had to pull her mini skirt up since it almost slipped down everytime she sits down. Her body? She is an almost perfect specimen. One who is worth dying for. If I were of Akmal's age I would have bougt her not only roses or a drink but a new dress hahahaha. She was thinking I was Akmal's dad That was why she was egging Akmal to get me to buy the laptop. By the way her name is Tiffany. If Akmal is interested I can always get her phone number from her supervisor who lives in Amanputra Puchong.
When you come back to Kelantan with your wife one day you better keep your eyes shut. You maybe calling out names of your ex girlfriends hahahaha.

Lee said...

Zawi, you a real joker!! "A perfect speciman, one who is worth dying for, mini skirt, she thinks I'm Akmal's father"? ARHAAA HA HA, you really made me laugh, my wife think I gone bonkers, can laugh look at computer!
I told her its YOU! Ha ha.
That is the first time I hear a girl worth dying for!!!
Not me, my friend, you go ahead, I wouldn't 'die' for a woman...wasted, as got plenty more around, arhaaa ha ha.
Wa, dia pakai mini skirt! Trust you to notice that!!
But good for improving blood circulation, heh heh.
Have a nice day, Zawi. Lee.

Unknown said...

Pak Zawi,
Hahahaha. You and Uncle Lee gang up on me eh?........she's cute though *wink*, and she told us how single she is. remember? *wink again*
Uncle Lee, borrow me you ninjalogy book please?
Re the day, yes, she put a good effort to get Pak Zawi to use his credit card. Hahaha. Both Tiffany and her supervisor thought I am the son, so both enthutiastically briefed us on the pro and cons, with the eye aimed on me. See? Both of us blinded with the feather-light weight...w/out the battery hahaha.

Pak Zawi said...

Lee,
I am happy to have made you laugh. A good laugh is not easy to come by nowadays with all the mugging, raping and political manouverings that are so common everywhere.
By the way I just met and old German male of 65 years young in Kota Bharu today. We had a good time chatting. He was the one doing the talking and me just listening. He retired from work some 15 months ago and now travelling around the world. He reminded me of you especially after we have talked on the phone last night. I will tell you more about him in my next blog. He is an interesting guy to blog about.
Tiffany is definitely worth dying for if I were of Akmal's age not as of now hahahahaha. Too many other better things to die for other than for SYTs right?
Sorry I didn't take a full body photograph as I thought her face was good enough to raise our heartbeat hahahaha. The sight of the rest of her body could kill old men like us you know. Just imagine the rest la.
I hope you wife did't think of you as gone bonkers.
Godd night my friend.

Pak Zawi said...

Akmal,
Now they will believe me that I wrote the truth on my blog as it came from your mouth as well and not just me cooking up some stories. You seemed so slow in picking up her hint that she is still single. I also wonder why you didn't exchange phone numbers with her as suggested by U Lee.
They were thinking the laptop was for you that was why they were trying to convince you.
Let's get together again and visit Tiffany at her place of work. I will ask her supervizor Fabian where she works and maybe you will get to know her more.

zaitgha said...

Pak Zawi,

Reading your post mostly about your ride home but reading the commentors stories i thought i salah baca posting ha ha ha....and yeap Akmal is a very fine lookin young man...if i was younger i would try very hard to tell him how single i was ha ha ha..

Re your bus ride, when i just got married my husband was based in Pasir Gudang so we were weekends couple at that time...we rented the DBKL apartment in Bandar Baru Sentul but i was at my brother's place most of the weekdays in Gombak and of course bus were the only convenience public transport at that time...one night i got to work late and i only reached Leboh Ampang bus stop at about 10.00 pm. I was just found out i was pregnant , still very slim mlim la ha ha ha...as it was late no many people taking the bus and i sat 2 seat behind the door, then came one guy sat beside me though there were so many empty seat.
As the bus was moving away, the conductor came and the young guy insisted to pay for my fare. I politely said thank you to him. The bus passed Jln TAR and i felt as though some thing tickled my right calf. I thought a crawly in the bus and i just jerked my right leg expecting what ever it was just dropped on the floor, but then i felt it again but now i felt something stroking and i felt so angry, as hard as i could i kicked the guy beside me when i found out he was the one stroking my calf with his bare foot, he fell on him bump. I was seething inside the rest of the journey home... after that incident i seldom took bus ride unless really i had no choice...

Pak Zawi said...

Zai,
Some comments relate to some behind the scene things that only those in the know can comprehend hahahhaaha.
Well Akmal is a doctor in the making. Hopefully he wont abuse his good look and future standing in society to fool around with girls and break their hearts. I know he is such a good guy and he wont be doing that.
Being good looking girls like when you were young has it's peril as you found out in the bus. He thought by your accepting to his paying you fare was reason enough to feel fresh with you. The fact that he wanted to pay your fare is a giveaway that he has ulterior motive.
If you are young again, (how I wish we all could do that) you better change seat when somebody purposely choose to sit beside you despite the many empty seats available elsewhere since it is free sitting.
I know of a friend by the name of U Lee who will bribe the ticketing clerk of an airline to get him a seat close to a SYT on a flight from Kota Bharu to Penang once. Sucha cunning man. I hope he will read this hahahaha.

zaitgha said...

Pak Zawi,

I actually refused him when i saw him paying for my fare but he insisted...since the bus conductor was kinda cheesed off with us arguing about the fare, i relented...actually kinda long story about this particular night but did not want to take up so much space in your 'house', and i did tell him that just because he paid 90 sen for my fare he could force himself like that to me....anyway to cut long story short he got the whack of his life by my 6 footer brothers ha ha ha....

Pak Zawi said...

Zai,
Serve him right by getting whacked. Next time he will know better how to behave. Actually I don't mind you taking as much space as you want. Afterall its free.
It would be nice if you could blog about such things so that a wannabe romeo will think twice before trying to be fresh with girls they don't even know.
Did you read about Nuraina's story about being set for an extortion bid by a couple who played father and son to prey on lonely drivers at night?

Lee said...

Hi Zawi, ha ha, hey! You still remember that cherita of my asking the reservations clerk get me a seat next to the lovely SYT, ha ha.
I always do that at airports especially when not in a hurry for appointments.
When I go to airports, I will never check in first terus, but hang around, do a *wink* survey, tengok ada any single SYT's or ahemm, young maidens. If see pretty one, give few minutes insurance incase husband or boyfriend in bathroom. If all clear, get a seat next to her.
Thats called, 'captive marketing', arhaaa ha ha.
WHAT! That SYT girl told Akmal she single? Holy Smoke! And Akmal MISSED THAT!
Zawi, I think you better take Akmal go see a Chinese Sin Seh in Pasir Mas get his telinga cleaned up, use changkul.
That was like getting an invitation for dinner at the White House!
Wa, ini ada lecheh sikit tu! I guess both of you very engrossed admiring her mini skirt, mata buka, telinga tutup, ha ha.
Okay, hang on, I telephone Airlines office see any more seats, I fly to see you and Akmal, we go together see Tiffany. Ha ha.
Have a nice evening, Zawi. Lee.

Pak Zawi said...

Lee,
I read your postings meticulously. Will never forget a story though I may get some names mixed up like Ruby and Rita in the excitement of things.
Did I say Akmal missed it? He heard it right and it was him who reminded me of those words from Tiffany but Akmal being a teenager and not wanting to pollute his minds with things like girls just prefer to let it pass. You know when you are in the land of plenty what is a Tiffany? Unlike us whose days are numbered, he has his whole life to fool around with. Let him get his Dr first and you know many Tiffanys will come knocking on his doors to get an injection. Even the healthy ones will pretend to be sick too just to get his midas touch.
If not for my posting her pictures in my blogsite, I doubt this soon to become a doctor teenager could even recall her face.
Lee, Akmal has gone one up on me, now he has this mobility to log in from anywhere with his laptop and with unlimited access at a price of RM68 permonth. Only the bad weather can spoil his day when an outage will occur. How I envy this young man. He seems to be getting the best in this world.
Let us see how he will respond to this one hahahaha.
Over to you Akmal.

Unknown said...

Hahaha. See? You bot are ganging up on me! LOL! I just read your comment on uncle Lee's. Hahaha. Lucky none of my friend is around to see me laughing sorang2 kat depan laptop nih. Hahaha.
Queuing to get injection? For some midas touch? Hahaha. My aim is to be a paediatrician, should I give up on it and being a gyneacologist instead? Hahaha. You lot are very funny la LOL(",).
Pak Zawi, don't envy me lah. YOu had your godspeed Streamyx already. Mine over here...well...speedy, but may make me go crazy when the celcom line is busy, like last night. You know, christmas stuff. Hahaha.
You keep well(",).

Pak Zawi said...

Akmal,
Oh kalau traffic kalut tak boleh guna la kalau gitu? Kena fikir dulu la baru beli. Tapi tengok mobility rasa seronok gak.
Oh you nak jadi paediatrician atay gynacologist. Apa-apa pun takpa asal jadi dokkter macam Tokasid tu.

tokasid said...

Pak Zawi:

Ahh...a bus ride in the city! I brought back memories of the 80's to me too. The SJ Bus from Bas Stand Klang near the present Central Market to Lembah Pantai and the ever packed mini buses,like packs of sardines.

Alhamdulillah, I don't have to face all those(hopefully again).Whenever I'm in KL , my wife had already planned where to go and she made sure we can use the LRT to hop around. Or its just the cab.

I can't imagine if I have to be in a middle of a crowd,pushing and being pushed to embark the buses. And those multilpe odours rising in the hot humid environment.

Somehow last year, I went through a similar situation.Its not a bus ride though.Its the Komuter train from Kajang to Seremban. One of those weekend that Hafiz can hav2 nights at home ,away from hostel bunk. I left my car at Seremban Railway station and took the Komuter to Kajang. It was okay. But our way back from Kajang to Seremban, the Komuter coaches were packed to the brim. We have to squeezed in and since no seats were available,we had to stand. That was still okay.When the aircond appeared like 'not-in-working'condition, yu can smell various odours mingled together. There's the smell of sweats(of various degrees and types) mingling with the various types of perfumes.It was really stuffy. And the noise. Ppl talking in Malay,Chinese,Indonesian,Nepalese and bangladeshi. And someone will answer his phone to the top of his voice(for the crowd was buzzing like bees).And there was this couple spending their romantic moments in a pack train oblivious of everyone else.They must have thought they were the only passenger onboard!But I did learned a lesson. Never take the Komuter when the city folks are coming home from work.Ulu guy like me will suffer in silence if you do that.

As for the notebook, I guess you are not alone having difficulty in deciding what to buy. despite reading this and that ,whats been written in InTech, when you face the sales person, all your initial plans are thrown out of the window.
Sometime in September,me,MrsTA and Hafiz went to Low Yat Plaza to get a notebook. I was like one dumb guy.Can't decide what to buy.Luckily Hafiz was there too. He explained to his Mama of the differences of this and that.I can;t understand the technical jargons used,so I just driffted off looking at speakers and headphones.
You are lucky Akmal tagged along.

TQ pak for sharing your experience.

Pak Zawi said...

Doc,
It was a humbling experience riding on the bus which is OK to experience once in a blue moon but definitely not with the aircond out of service. The heat can be stifling.
Without the aircond, the commuter that you rode would be like a sauna. Add the combination of odours emitted from sweaty bodies then you can iamgine what hell on earth is like.
I think the countrie's leaders should experience it too then only they will know what life is at the bottom of the pile.
It is easier just to let Hafiz make his choice, Just give him a budget and he will find the best for it. At least he is knowledgeable about computers.
In my case I used Akmal's laptop as the benchmark and sice I was buying a laptop with a RM4,000 ceiling I had more choices. That gave me more headache really. Actually Twinhead is a less well known brand and it is made in China so its much cheaper though it carries comparatively high features. Luckily I am quite knowledeable about computers and prepared the specs according to my needs or desires before maling my purchase. Thanks to Akmal, his opinions was a great help.

Daphne Ling said...

Hi Pak Zawi,

Everybody calling you Pak Zawi, so I also call you Pak Zawi lar...=) Hope it is ok with you, cos first time here...

I can't believe you took the picture of the salesgirl who sold you the computer!

Anyway, wanted to say the Akmal in your pics (eh, Akmal, listening?) looks much older than 19! The Akmal of the profile pic looks more like 19...

Ahem...This from the girl who when she was 8, her parent's friends asked if she was 12...

But then again, now with my braces and all, people think I am a dumb teenager...But they think I am young, and that is cool!

Haha...Terpesong pulak jadinya...

Pak Zawi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pak Zawi said...

Daphne,
Welcome to my humble site. I am most hounoured to have you here for the first time. Another honour to be addressed as Pak Zawi as by the use of the word Pak which means father, is akin to be considered the highest order of respect beside your own father.
Tiffany was so happy that day for clinching the first sale for her company and agreed to her picture taken and for use on my blog. That was how grateful she felt when we closed the deal. The picture of her was cropped from the same picture of her with Akmal which appeared on my previous blog about book signing with Awang Goneng at KinoK. I am posting her picture again to remind Akmal that he has a fan working at Networld Computers Sdn Bhd. Both Tiffany and Akmal are about the same age. I guess it would be great if my friend Akmal would continue further friendship with Tiffany. Tiffany has been telling Akmal that she is very very single. I was surprised myself that Akmal didn't pickup from there. I guess Akmal hasn't learn enough from U Lee's blogs and now Akmal is taking a special course on Ninjalogy from no less than the master himself who is going to publish a new book on Ninjalogy with a foreword by Ruby Ahmad and Puteri on the cover.
Akmal's psycological age is 25 in the body of a 19 year old boy. As such he is not willing to mix pleasure with his pursuit of his ambition to become a gynaecologist. Now with special tutelage from U Lee, maybe he will add a bit of social life while studying and blogging. Afterall all study and no fun will make Akmal a dull doctor in the future. Among the the four of us Pak Idrus, U Lee and Pak Zawi who are way past the half century mark, Akmal stands as tall even tough his is yet to hit 20.
Hey when you were 8 they thought you were 12 and now you are 29 and they think you are 19? My God, you are one lucky girl. Your hubby will be very proud to have an ever younger looking wife without any use of Botox injections or any nip and tuck job. If there are many more girls like you around, all the plastic surgeons will be getting out of business soon. Lucky thing Akmal desires to be a gynaecologist and not a plastic surgeon.

Nightwing said...

Helo Pak Zawi,

Sorry for being late...

This is indeed a great post. I am sure Uncle Lee and other readers will never think it is a boring post...:)

I also do not think any thing u posted are boring.

Haha...love the way you and Uncle Lee 'gang' up on Akmal..:)

U take care now and have a great week ahead.

Unknown said...

Salam Pak Zawi...First and foremost, thank you for dropping by at my blog and dropping a comment too...Second, I already 'cilok' the photos we had in KakTon's place...hehehehe You wrote a great piece about MRT, I thought I dropped a comment aleh2 takde...must have gone into the cyberspace then...

Third, about your riding-a-bus experience, well...it's been so very long that I have not been on a bus and I have almost forgotten the experience until I read yours. It's very true, It's so taxing. Alhamdulillah, now we have the STAR and PUTRA LRTs, the burdensome journey is not bad at all ( not when there is 'technical problem' la)...

You take care Pak...and salam.

Pak Zawi said...

nightwing,
I am glad you find it interesting. That statement of yours gives us great satisfaction and spur us to write more about simple things in life as long as we know there are people who enjoy reading it.
Akmal is like a family to us and nut just a friend. Especially more so that we have met. Even U Lee who has't met met took a liking to him. Pak Idrus is another close friend to the both of us. I hope you will be one too very soon.
Thanks for the comment and pls take care yourself.

Pak Zawi said...

D,
Waalikummussalam,
Thank you for noticing my comment and thank you for the reciprocal visit. Told you all already that I posted the picture for everone to use. I never copytighted anything that belongs to me. Use it in anyway you like even if it is against me. It will be more fun that way.
Did you say I wrote a great piece about MRT @ Kak Ton's place? D I am blushing as I know my writing is nowhere compared to yours. Mine just half way there. I am clasping my two hands and two feet thanking God for getting such compliments from you.
Above all I admire the courage that you showed against all the odds stacked against you.
I went for another MRT the week after and brought my wife and my son Azrin's family to pay homage to Kak Ton and Abang Ruslani. They were superb.
I guess not many people would ride the bus nowadays but I had to because I had no other alternatives and KL is not the KL that I used to know anymore. Nothing is recognizable anymore beside the Masjid Negara, Pudu Raya, Pudu Jail, Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara.
It is great to have the LRT's because the system is the same all over the world. It is good for our people to know the system here as it would be applicable to any other places in the world where there are MRTs.
Take care D.

Daphne Ling said...

Hi Pak Zawi,

I'm 21, not 29...=)

Haha...Don't lar make me so old so soon...;)

Pak Zawi said...

Daphne,
Sorry my guess was so bad and too far off. But I was right in thinking you look 19, just 2 yrs off.
Anyway that was done in jest to indicate that you looked like a 19 year old girl even if you are older.
Again I would like to apologize for making you reveal your age. Anyway for one so young what is there to hide?
Good night Daphne.

Nightwing said...

Helo Pak Zawi,

Pls check out what i wrote over at Uncle Lee's blog..regarding the 'Ninja' book (if u have not read it yet).

waliz said...

hi zawi or shall i call u "pak" ?
hmm..thanks for dropping by at my place..so nice of you to say those words...hmmm hope u really mean it..i'm still waiting day by day at my doorstep looking for flower delivery..hahaha...

yr story ab buying laptop make me wanna change mine straightaway..but as a student living on loans..i just can drooling about...isk isk isk..

sorry to hear yr bad experience..thts u call KL..hope one day i can really join you all and tuck the same laksa...!

Makcik Runner said...

hokay, actually i'm enjoying more of your light banters between ulee and akmal than yr postings about riding in the bus...tee hee hee

just dont corrupt that young kid's mind ok?

Pak Zawi said...

Nightwing,
Read it already and I have esponded to it.

Pak Zawi said...

Waliz,
Thank you for visiting my site.
Since all the young bloggers call me Pak Zawi and you are withing that category, please call me the same. I am not perturbd by such things so just fell comfortable to call me whatever. If you wanna save computer bytes just call me Zawi.
I sure do mean what I say thought I may not be able to be present at your convo that is why we will be sending a proxy in the form of Akmal and I can speak on behalf of my goos friend U Lee. Since he is away in Ontario Canada, he wont be able to attend too unless it coincieds with his visit to Malaysia next year. Just tell us the date and we will do the needful.
You can change the laptop after you have graduated and start to work. If you are a teacher the school will give you one so dont lose sleep over it.
The experience in KL was a learning experience. Looking back I kinda like it.
Who knows one day we may join me and Akmal for laksa Sheih at KLCC one day?

Pak Zawi said...

kc,
Is this pic the real you? Looks like a young Sharifah Aini to me. Maybe my eyesight is playing a trick on me.
Din't worry about Akmal. He is sensible enough to know that we are just having fun. You meet him one day and you will know what I mean. Don't let his banter with us fool you. In reality Akmal is a doctor in the making. A gynacologist to be exact. I have faith in this young man. Right now he is studying very hard for his exam.