My near death experience

It was on a bright sunny morning...it's probably Monday...or maybe Wednesday...I dont remember...back in KL. I drove to work that morning. Usually I don't use this road but a colleague just showed me this shortcut the day before...lesser traffic, so I thought it's worth a try. The shortcut I took was a winding one, off the exit from Damansara toll, left turn at the furniture shop...through some kampung road and came out beside a Mobil/Esso petrol station just next to Sri Pentas. I don't know why...but I began to sneeze right after i pass by the kampung road...like 20 times or more...nonstop. It only came to a stop when I halted my car at the T-junction right next to the petrol station. I grab some tissues from my glove box and wipe my now running nose. There wasn't any car on my back, so I took my time. Once I did that, I was ready to go...a quick look to my right, then left, then right again...a Nissan Serena was coming...at the speed its going, I thought I could make it out of the T-junction before it reaches me.

I was wrong. I was only halfway or not even half out of the junction, the Serena was only about less than 5 metres away from me. Speeding toward me like a devil with scythe...I stepped on it and hoped I could avoid a hit. The Serena rammed my car from the side...I remembered my head hit the side window...and within a second or so...everything stopped. I can only feel myself in great pain...I'm not sure which part the pain came from. I was just holding it down...without letting out a yelp. The driver of the Senera came out. He was a man...about 40...and was peering from the outside of my car through my now broken side window. About 5 mins or so must have passed, before I came to my senses. I held the pain and open the door. I only did a gentle push...the door came wide open...it was broken alrite.


The speed demon.

The man starts to bable...kept telling me he was on the right lane and right speed...I came out from the junction without looking etc. I didnt pay much attention to what he said. I was still trying to figure out what went wrong. I checked my head, looked all over myself...for traces of blood. There ain't any. It's weird...such big impact...and my car was thrown from the small lane I came out to the main road....its a 45degrees jump! One rear tyre and rim was completely broken. The right passenger door looks as if its been 'sucked-in'. When I looked at my car, I could tell, even with my limited experience in car accidents...that its done for.


If this is the front door...I'm a goner.

He kept talking...after that we agreed to go report this on our own. I still managed to slowly drive my car into the petrol station and wait for help to arrive. Some of my colleagues came over and accompanied me till my family arrives. My car came out from the workshop after 3 months. It wasn't how it used to be anymore. I sold it off. I escaped with only a couple of bruises.

Excitement.

Cannot contain them.
They are vibrating within me.

My life where it began...Klang

After reading huiyingloh's story about her hometown. I had the urge to write about mine too. I am a Klang boy. Klang 'kampung' boy, some said. A friend once thought...we don't have electricity and we still live on trees. My mom and dad is from Klang, they were born in Klang. So we are Klang people. Original. Not artificial.

This is just a small town compared to Shah Alam or Petaling Jaya. There are 2 sides of Klang, divided by the all famous - Klang river. You can tell by its murky water and stench. Don't stand too near or wind down your car window when you're travelling on either one of the two bridges connecting the 2 sides of Klang. I used to stay on the 'happening' side of Klang...the side where all the big shopping complexes are located. Bukit Raja Shopping Centre and Klang Parade are just about 15mins away from where i stayed. Recently, I've shifted to the 'other' side of Klang. From one end to another. This side is just beginning to bloom. New shopping complexes and hypermarkets were raised and there are more in the government's project pipeline. Tesco is only 10mins away from where i stay now. Giant is about 15mins.

We used to have those 'old age' cinemas too. Those standalone buildings...with huge poster spots on its outer walls. I think the ticket was around RM5. Pretty expensive for me as i was only a secondary school student back then. I only get RM2 for my allowance per day. One of these cinemas is still in business, they are playing Hindi movies mostly. I wonder who would still visit such a place...now that we have a new age thing called - Cineplex.

Klang has changed so much since 10 years ago. (I kinda like to use 10 years as a measure...not too long...not too short...just enough to see some obvious changes) Well...10 years ago...we had our first 'nice' shopping complex - Bukit Raja Shopping Center. This is where all the teenagers hang out mostly. I was one of them. I just finished Form 5 and took my first job there. Tie Shop. Being the only one employed by the boss, I had to look after the shop, stock take, handle to 'accounts'...almost everything on my on. If I had to go toilet or lunch, I had to close shop. Most people (even my friends who came to visit me...or those who works in Jusco) thought my dad owned that shop. I wish. I drove my dad's new Nissan Sentra to work. Those working at the shop next door - "Hello Station" thought I lied when I said I was only an employee. After only a month...I quit my first job...as I had to attend college.

Back then, we still have our old 'pasar'. I used to visit this place when I was young. With my Granny and uncle. Every Sunday. That was about 10x2 years ago. I'd wake up early just to follow them to get some 'wet' stuff. In return, my uncle will usually buy me a box of Ding Dang or Tora. That's my reward...and reason why I followed them there. The old wet market has been demolished, now a new tall building stands in its place. They shifted to a new location since 5 or 6 years back. It's now a much better looking place with lots of parking space. My Granny, my uncle and I...we don't go there anymore.

Late nite Starbucks

Lately, it seems to rain everyday.

Last Saturday, I finally got the chance to go for a cuppa at Starbucks in Sarinah. This outlet opens 24hrs. a day, 7 days a week. Cool eh? I've seen this 24hrs sign from the main road a dozen times now...been wanting to pay a visit for so long. It was drizzling when we arrived by cab, we rushed in through the side door. This place is really cozy, neat...and spacious too. I love this place...it's a pretty decent spot. We got ourselves a seat at the sofas by the window...i ordered a hot latte, a slice of baked cheese cake and a double decker sandwich...at 11:30pm. It's bliss.


Starbucks in Sarinah

We went Glodok yesterday to get some DVDs. This is the only spot that we find 'interesting' here and a great place to spend our boring weekend. A visit to this place usually eats up half a day or so. With the DVDs we buy each time...it could probably keep the rest of our weekends here occupied till our next trip. Had lunch at Chrystal Jade La Mian and Siao Long Pao. Bought some groceries from Sogo and headed home. It rained again in the evening.

This morning...it's bright and cloudless. Let's just hope the clouds don't move in by the evening...I felt like going home early.

The Plunge

Recently, the exchange rate has gone down again for Rupiah...100USD=955,000IDR. It's shopping time. Everything at this conversion rate is cheap. I got myself an iPod In-Ear earbuds yesterday for just merely MYR100. Wow! What a deal! These earbuds are not my regular earphones...it fits comfortably inside your ear. No noise interference from the outside at all. Now I'm thinking about what to buy next...accessorizing Horus is a passion which I'm now learning to love. Next, it would probably be the Battery Pack...it's selling at IDR400K here. Wonder if it's worth.

iPod InEar

A promised long made...and kept.

There was once or twice or even more than that, i recall...we have been promised a home-made chicken pie.
We waited...each time...we got disappointed. Until recently, a certain event triggered this scenario again...and this anticipation has been realized.
Our promised chicken pie was delivered. We were happy, not knowing what price was paid behind the scene.

Apparently, the process of making this chicken pie is not an easy one. This person who promised us the chicken pie...worked till 3 o'clock in the morning to deliver these pies. Rolling the dough, cutting the chicken, making the crust...took alot more effort than we could ever imagine. I for one, felt rather bad of indirectly 'forcing' this task upon such a frail soul. The pie was a successful one, it's almost as good as those in your favourite bakery.
This pie is huge...at about 4-5inches in diameter...completely filled with tender chicken meat fried to a certain aroma...with thin juicy slices of mushroom...and with a crispy 'skin'. It's one exquisite taste that is not easy to forget. One pie for each of us. I am more than satiated. I guess this is a one time thing. Don't think we would be able savour the taste again in this lifetime.


Chicken Pie 

Feelin' good...

Yep. I bought that book alright. Just last weekend...and I'm already 1/8 through. Pretty interesting but somehow very very similar to the previous Dan Brown title i read. Thanks to soohk for recommending this. It's not bad...hmmm....no...I must say it has been quite interesting so far.

Seems like when you're having a good time...time flies. It was not so long ago I was talking about me going back home and all...now, I'm back to Jakarta again after one whole week of 'rest-in-peace'. Too bad, peace is never something which would stay for long.

Lately, I've been feeling good. Why? Hmmm...

Oh ya...did I mentioned my friend got me a nifty lil table lamp (and a pair of bright blue boxers) and I've just received an iPod Shuffle too...all my birthday present? :">
Man...I'm deeply touched. It's named Horus.

Introducing my shuffle - Horus