On The Chaotic Train, Feb 2, 2012

Another chaotic ikan sardin day on the train going home today. Inconsiderate Malaysians abundance dispelling certain hope of culture change. As soon as the train arrived at KL Sentral most on the platform forced themselves in blocking those disembarking. Hot tempered voices were naturally heard form both ends of the coach KTMB should get it done with the testing of the six-car train and deploy them quickly. It is getting worse before it gets any better. Yeah, maybe it seems good for me as I have something to write about but looking around me this it is stupid and stupidity at its best.  If not for my family I’d opted for a late train home.

An indian lady is talking to her boy friend, I think, on the phone next to me and I could hear everything. It is not hindustani movie kind of conversation it is about the train service, commuting to work, promotion and difficulty of securing a loan to buy a car. Well, the bank is trying to ensure affordability. A Malay lady standing in front of me is fanning herself frantically which I benefitted as well. The train is getting hotter now and Serdang came with a reprieve anticipating a lot will disembark. 

Only a slight relieve and Kajang station we wait. 

About half of the commuters disembarked at Kajang and being replaced by noisy school children going back to Bangi.

Well, a day in the life of Ghaz and Bond on the train :)

On The Train, Dec 29, 2011

Today is my last KTMB Komuter ride for the year. Tomorrow a longer ride on KTMB’s Intercity up north and that is going to be my first during daylight. Another excursion that I am looking forward to eagerly. He he he Talk about a train nut or a better term foamer. 

I forced myself into a 1950 train home simply because I want to be home a bit earlier. As expected a decent ikan sardin now but I am seated. 

I was bored big time with nothing seem to interest me so I made a fool of myself being a nuisance on somebody’s FB he he he. I sincerely do hope the person would tolerate my foolishness he he he. Anyways, I am getting closer to home and the train was instructed to stop before entering Kajang. 

On The Train (Big Brother is Watching), Dec 28, 2011

Now I routinely takes the six-car train to go home. Not only I am assured of getting a comfortable preferred seat I am also assured, insyaAllah, to get home without a drama fairly quickly. But a lot of commuters do not realise that the six-car train is equipped with CCTV to help the driver to monitor the comfort level of the commuters. A young couple or a group of young kids got to know about this in an embarrassing way yesterday. I was sitting and doing my usual thing when somewhere between Serdang and Kajang the driver came on air with this announcement,

‘Para penumpang sekalian sila ambil perhatian bahawa keretapi ini diawasi menggunakan CCTV ini supaya kami dapat berusaha memberi keselesaan kepada semua penumpang. Pengumuman ini terutama ditujukan kepada penumpang dicoach tengah, coach C, supaya berkelakuan baik. Kerana perbuatan kamu diperhatikan.’ (The driver repeated this in English, he tried very hard and I applauded him for trying, but it came out wrong.)

When I heard this I was not surprised but I almost laugh loudly LOL. And just now almost similar announcement was made but to say those sitting on the cabinet n the buffet car to get down :))). I would really going to make my day to be a train driver for a day he he he. I am all for this as sometimes some commuters just need to be told to behave. I guess they would be totally embarrassed being single out.

So the next time you are on the new train behave yourself.

On The Train, Nov 1, 2011

Yeah! it is Nov already folks. Even people on this train seem to be acknowledging the fact by going home earlier. 

It was raining today and I took the last of my umbrella in my office to walk to the station. While walking a man came from the opposite direction in the dark and when he was closed by he asked me the way to KL. I asked him where he wishes to go and told me LRT station. I said he was going the opposite direction and he should turn back. With that he just trotted away under the rain. I asked myself where in the world he came from in the first place. Jeng jeng jeng was I in a twilight zone? I continued to walk and arrived at the station without a problem :) 

The 1950 train came 10 minutes late but I just ignored the fact as I knew even in a normal condition the train will be late anyway he he he. Capacity was a bit tight when I boarded but I got a seat. I sat in between a Singh and a young man later I discovered disembarked at Bangi as well. The moment I booted up the Singh kept on looking at what I was doing so I camouflaged what I was typing. As it was raining outside everyone was a bit sullen looking. Some seated embarked on a journey into a never never land hoping to find enchanting summer dream on beautiful island somewhere. I as usual locked and hooked to my laptop and at the same time trying to be observant of my surrounding. looking at people around me I wonder how many of them are foamers like me? I am currently finishing a book about train services in the US and cannot but amaze by some of the similarity. Top of the list is the train is never on time. One of the premise of the book that I agree totally is the need to have public-private ownership in order to have a very good train services. The infrastructure cost is high and only the government could sustain and further develop it. 

The ridership of KTM Komuter is seriously increasing now. I cannot take fro granted that I will get a seat on my normal schedule anymore especially in the morning where now I have to ‘fight’ for one. Going home I can still have the option of waiting for the next one but going to work could be tricky. 

On The Train, Oct 10, 2011

It is October already!

The train is full of foreigners tonight. Seeing this a Malay speaking Chinese gentleman standing in front of me commented, ‘A lot of foreigners came to Malaysia to work. Malaysians are too lazy to work.’

True and not true. You judge yourself and I do not wish to start another debate on it. A guy next to me is reciting the Quran on his Samsung phone. A bangla standing in front of me keep on stealing a look at what I am doing and a row of heads looking at eternity probably complete with a dream or two. I can understand, you can get a good 20 minutes nap and rest if you can do it. Some people could not sleep on a moving train and a lot can, including myself he he he. 

On The Train, ( A Red Hot Ikan Sardin Day), Sept 30, 2011

If you are not a regular commuter or still not aware Friday evening is a Red Hot Ikan Sardine Day. To the newbies who intent to make Friday evening as their first attempt to ride the commuter you would not survive after the first five minutes and you would probably either;

1. Pengsan after five minutes
2. Your first five minutes on the commuter train would also be you last
3. You will be like me cursing KTMB endlessly
4. You will hate KTMB forever. Well I am ok with that LOL
5. You will hate train. Which I do not want you to

So, please avoid Friday evening and you will be doing me a favour as well he he he. 

It is no different today I am in one. I purposely left the office late and boarded the 2034 train, the type of train that I prefer not to board, home and as usual I got a seat. 

At KL Sentral the crowd is still decent but standing room only. 

Alhamdulillah it is also decent at Mid Valley and we can enjoy a nice cool ride home.

A good crowd configuration today as well, not dominated by certain age group or race. Which is one of the important ingredients for a good atmosphere for a nice ride for everyone. I can hear nice chatters around the coach, also the usual indication of a Friday evening ride. Commuters looking forward for their weekend break. Have a nice weekend everyone

On The Train, I am a mess, Sept 20, 2011

When we landed last Sunday I thought I was my normal self. After I waved goodbye to my colleagues on the bus going back to the office only I realised I was in a mess. What was obvious I was a mess physically due to lack of sleep and the long journey. I realised also I was a mess mentally. It did not come to me like a gust of wind. It just came slowly and you can say in a way subconsciously as well. Especially when I sat alone trying to charge my phone. The thought of the kids I left behind at Ulu Entaih brought home some realities of my own life. The questions kept on popping out :

Have I done the right thing with my own kids?

Have I given more than it should?

Have I set the right standards for them?

Are they what they are supposed to be mentally?

The right values?
Especially Mar, being the youngest I may have gone overboard

All these questions kept bugging me and prayed to Allah that I have done the right things.

To the kids at Ulu Entaih, although the program was a success, I was worried we have set wrong expectation for them. They may just want their easy life and I would have not blame them for that. Clean water, air and wonderful environment. Ninety percent of them may not even have been to the nearest town, Pakan, which is about almost 50 km away. I was assured after awhile by the words I remembered uttered to me by the teachers and their parents at the longhouse. They have the right to be given another opportunity and option. Just like my children we just give our best to prepare them and let them in due time to discover and decide for themselves. After all, I thought, that was how I grew up. 

Still, I was a mess and turned my car towards a no entry zone instead of the obvious on Monday. I think I am ok now. I think :)

The usual crowds tonight and I am expecting a normal ride home as well. KTMB please give me a break today.