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Thursday, 31 March 2011

Hump Diversity

Just in Ampang alone you can get various kinds of humps on the roads. 

Broad flatter ones, high narrow ones , dented ones , rounded and smooth ones....a real butt of some people's jokes!

It is not a joke if you ran over one that gives your car a clank and additional maintenance cost some time later.

I  hate the ones that were 'unauthorised' because they do not forewarn you.  Unlike the ones made by the town councils, they do not have the usual  yellow lines to tell you to slow down as there will be a hump ahead .

Some people decide to take the law into their own hands. Angered by some motorists who sped across the front of their homes, they set to make their own humps, some too near each other for my liking. 

Talking about plurality, our dear country is not too keen about singularity.  "Macam-macam pun ada!" (Meaning, we do have all kinds!)

I love Malaysia, no matter how it is!



Of Roads and Walkways

The rainy season has revealed the shoddiness of a lot of road repairs in the area where I live and its vicinity.

However, I will not be so sure to say that it is the total negligence or irresponsibility of any party.  I notice that many areas in Ampang were ex-mining land and the surfaces of the land are sandy, the result of tin mning in the past.   Consequently, the surfacing for the roads seemed not durable especially along both sides of the road ,which will after some time appear to to be lower than the tarred surface.  This make the road seemed higher and also make it difficult for cars to pull to the kerb without bumping on to their undersides.  Furthermore, it makes the usage of the length of road very restricted because cars that stopped when they have to turn will hold up another car behind it. It is hard to take over from the left side without having to go down the raised road.

 I am wondering if the authorities are aware of this.  I cannot believe they can be more oblivious than I.

I am hoping that they can make  walkways along the roads so that they will not only prevent erosion of the sandy soil, they will also give safety to pedestrains using the roads.  Now it seems the Malaysian roads are not pedestrain-friendly at all. Even more unfriendly to those who are physically handicapped.

Those who are confined to wheel-chairs do not hope to be able to come out on their own.  Looks like in Malaysia, these people will have to resign to their fate. Why has it to be like this?

I cannot believe our caring society cannot do more than this.  I am very sure these people do not just want charity.  They want very much to be a part of society and looks like it is hard for them to be.  How miserable for them!



Wednesday, 30 March 2011

Men in Navy Blue Uniforms

Of late, the residents in my neightbourhood are feeling very happy and proud.

Though some of us are intimidated by the presence of these men in dark blue uniforms, it cannot be denied
that their being here has brought much peace of mind.

I am no longer walking in the street with intense fear that somewhere around the corner a motorbike will come vrooming with the pillion rider ready to snatch away my possession.

I feel proud as I pass their road blocks, saluting to them.  Proud now that Malaysia will be a safe country to live in.  Don't give up hope, fellow Malaysians!
Art Prints

'Rape' in a Street of KL

 I went to a bank in the town centre last Monday as my term deposit had matured and I had intended to use the interest for some shopping. I had wanted a Netbook for my dear self because it was a hassle really to share with a "cyber active" son.

The sky did not looked quite bright and the sun was shining rather unwillingly.  Come on, Sun, I thought as I looked up to the sky.Give me a sunny day because it is not always a good girl like me will want to go out and leave the household chores undone. I almost pleaded.

Quickly, I took my bag , shoved in an umbrella, just in case Sun did not want to cooperate.  I walked to the bus stop which is just behind my house and waited for the bus.  It came about fifteen minutes later.  If I had not hesitated just now, I would have caught the earlier bus and would not even have to  wait .

When I was almost reaching my destination, it started to pour, giving me no chance to keep dry at all.  I got down the bus, dreading the fact that I had to walk about ten metres to the bank. Sun, you are such a spoil sport! Why did you let Rain come at all! You know how I hate Rain when I am out!

The roads had turned into rivers almost in an instant.  It was the heaviest rain I had ever seen. My tiny umbrella could not hold the weight of the rain, and it bent pitifully.  I walked quickly to the row of shops along the main road because I did not want any dirty water from the road to splash on to my clothes by any inconsiderate motorist.  As I was about to finish crossing the road , a taxi came along from my left and went behind me without slowing down.  Terrified that it might charged into me, I jumped a little to avoid it but
to my dismay, though I could avoid being knocked , I could not avoid the splashing water when its tyres went across a puddle in the road.  The back of my blouse was wet and my shriek must have attracted the
attention of a few men who took shelter in front of the shops. I could see the glint in their eyes and could sense that they were laughing at me. Good for nothings, I muttered under my breath, laughing at somebody's misfortune.

Immediately I could feel the filth.  My imagination ran wild with thoughts about what were in the dirty water.  Billions of germs, viruses, all kinds of microorganisms, old men's sputum, spit, dogs' pooh, urine and all things imaginably dirty.

I could feel something furry creeping up my back, crawling into my hair, ears and eyes.  I started to scratch my head and rub my ears.  It was extremely uncomfortable. I wished I could be home to remove my clothes and take a bath.

Without much ado, I walked to the bank and got my errand done. Hurriedly, I took a bus back.  The journey back took longer due to the bad traffc jam after the downpour. Typical of Jalan Ampang after the rain. While on the bus, I felt extreme discomfort and felt as if all eyes were on my wet back.

Once home, I headed towards the bathroom. I got my whole body washed , from head to toes. As I washed, I cursed the unthinking taxi driver, the roads, the drainage system, the manufacturer of the flimsy umbrella, whatever else there was to blame. I felt complete disgust at the dirty water that had touched my body.  Suddenly the whole scenario felt familiar.  Where and when had I felt like this before?  Ah, didn't it seemed like that soap drama which showed a woman who after being raped , went to drenched herself with water in the bathroom and washed away all the 'filth' ?  I thought I felt like that too.  Yucks! Not another time, no.

I will hate to be in the streets of downtown KL when it is raining, especially the areas around Petaling Street or Masjid India!

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Thursday, 3 March 2011

Circumcision and Young Malay Boys

  I have a group of young Malay boys who are taking tuition from me.  They bring me much joy and sometimes I wonder how my life is going to be if I stop my work and have nothing to do with them.


Though they are extremely talkative and are very inattentive during lessons,  they know what to do if I stare at them. They will get to serious work and regret their indiscipline.


They will tell each other to shut up.  In the past, the usual remark was "Shut up' or "Zip up your mouth".


However, nowadays they have a very imaginative phrase and will most of time bring about hilarious laughter and amongst the girls , uncontrollable giggling and red faces.  That very creative phrase is "Sunat kau punya _ _....baru tahu...ha..suruh diam tak mau...".  (Meaning , if you don't keep quiet, we'll get your _ _ circumcised...").  This is usually directed to those below eleven who have not undergone the process.


One very cute boy answered " eh...eh...tak takut...saya sudah.." (meaning, eh..eh..I am not scared...mine is done already) and that made everyone roared with laughter.




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Wednesday, 23 February 2011

Giving Ang Pows and Mental Arithmetic

The Chinese New Year came and went.  All the hassle of buying new clothes, making cookies and spring cleaning the house amongst many other rituals just sizzled off after Chap Goh Meh.

Now it is back to normal but not without any anticipation for another Chinese festivity....the 'All Souls Day' some time towards the end of March.

In reflection, like every Chinese New Year, I would get so 'pissed off' by certain people as regards the tradition of giving the red packets.  Traditionally, young and unmarried children should be receiving them from their married elders.  However, some elders were so stingy that they pretended to forget this and omitted one ang pow here and there, much to the dismay of the hopeful child.  Besides, some very rich elders were so disappointing because their ang pows contained the least money of all.

Some people came with their friends' children and the host/hostess had to give ang pows to these children because traditionally on Chinese New Year, we should be generous and this kind of behaviour would bring much blessings to the family.  Then there was this wait and see attitude.  Waiting for who to make the first move in giving the ang pows so that we would know what to do next.  As I said some elders did not give to every deserving child. There was one group who came and collected from every auntie but left giving ang pows to only two children out of eight.

 Later, there was checking of how much was the content and a quick mental arithmetic calculation to determine how many to give in return and how much in each red packet.  Nobody wants to 'lose' that much.  Talk about CNY spirit....but some people were just taking advantage like the one who brought along friends' children and then pocketing the red packets himself.  It was almost as much a day's pay for a labourer!

Let him be you might say but .....those were the bad antics during the Chinese New Year!






Art Prints

Prey and Predator

It  is a queer feeling really that every day, out there on the streets near houses, the places we are working or the places where we frequent to do our daily shopping, are people who have eyes on nothing else but other people's property.

I do not understand why some people just can't focus their energy on something more dignified than to rob or snatch another person's hard earned possession.

Surely not all these people are drug addicts, who are 'high' on drugs that they are not rational.  I trust some are still sane enough to distinguish who is 'loaded' and who is not.

I am wondering ,while most of us are aware that these  people are going on their rounds on their stolen motorbikes, why aren't the police the ones who should be going on their rounds to ensure the rakyat's safety?

Why are we allowing them to be the lords of the streets?

Why do we have to be always on the alert, and if we fail to do so, we will be their victims just like that?

Easy job for them.....and poor us, terrified when every motorbike passes nearby.


Tuesday, 25 January 2011

Small Surprises Big Weirdos

Initially this blog is intended to be a 'food' blog but due to time constraints, I decided to change my mind.


A food blog would not be perfect without pictures and I haven't got much time in my hands to upload photos.


I intend to write about what's on my mind every day, hence the title 'Day to Day'.  The focus will be mainly on stories or accounts that surprises and that are strange.