On The Train, Feb 5, 2009 (Connection, Conversation)

I was sitting at the office, while waiting for my personal and office laptops to boot up, and staring outside overlooking the railway track when I realized I have one too many gadgets at my disposal. Thinking about it I asked myself if I really need them. While trying to find a clear understanding and answer to the situation the answer was right in front of me.

Virtually I am connected almost 24/7 and at one time or another one of my gadgets would ensure my connectivity. Of course on top of that I am present virtually as well. My virtual presence is via several channels and identity. I am in several social networking communities – Facebook, MySpace, Friendster, Twitter, hi5 and maybe two or three more that I could not remember. I am an owner, moderator and member of 15 mailinglists within Yahhogroups and Google Groups. On top of these I use Google Reader to aggregate all the blogs and sites that has RSS that I subscribed to. At least I’ll be looking at around 100 postings a day. I blog on six personal blogs and have 4 very active email accounts managing on average 500 – 600 emails a day. Being exposed is one thing being amazed at how I have coped so far is amazing. Let see – in the office I deal with my office emails and sometimes use the social networking tools for work. I also, most of the time, read my feeds using Google Reader at the office. I mostly blog on the train going home and read my other emails and alerts at home at night. Although I seems to be too expose virtually I am not worried. One thing good about virtual life is that somehow the degree of trust is very high. Without this element I am very sure nothing on the net would last long. It you betray this trust the whole community would reject you and your deed would travel across the Net making you an outcast.

The busy virtual life that I live also open me, even more compare to others, to information overload. Yesterday I was introduced to the concept of agnotology. According to it the more we get information the less knowledge we gain if we do not filter and evaluate the information that we receive. This is due to misinformation that somebody or organization purposely published to mislead people to see from their point of view or make us confuse.

I was welcomed at the station with an announcement that the incoming train was a shuttle to Kajang. It was around 1636 the time for the Seremban train to arrive just like the one I took yesterday. So my first instinct just likes before to take that train but when the train actually arrived I decided not to as I was sure the next Seremban train won’t be too far behind. I was right. It was more or less the same number of commuters on the train as yesterday. But looking around I was surprised to find out they are a different set of commuters. I did not see many familiar faces as yesterday.

The Incident of Dec 25, 2008

Prologue

It has been a month and ten days passed since the accident and I have not been recuperating that well. At my age I should expect the bones would heal a bit slower and longer still it has been a bit frustrating. The joke among my close friends is after years of crunching tackles and mauling (of course they are talking about rugby) I had to break my clavicle falling off a bicycle. They insisted they would pass the hat around to pay for my third wheels. But I told them it would be even worse going downhill with a third wheel. I have no regret as it could be something worse. Since then I have been a one-finger kung fu typist and typing a long blog about the accident was out of the question. But I have a persistent follower, my dear wife, and she has been bugging me to write this. I said to her, ‘I am in front of you now and will be at home for the next one month why would you want to read about it. In fact I have told you everything?’ She simply said ‘It is not the same as reading your thoughts’. So here it is.

Dec. 25 - FRIM, Kepong

I slept a bit late then the usual the night before but pretty sure I would be ok for the ride. I can’t remember the last time I was at FRIM at least 10 years. After loading the bike around 0715 I sped along the empty Seremban KL plus highway. I was driving really fast indicating that I was excited about the ride as it would be my first time there and I have been waiting for a long time for the day to come. At the same time a glimpse of jitter enveloped me for awhile only to be immediately opened by my eagerness to get there. I did not think much about it as I contributed it to just a small thing. Tracing back the day I realized now that was the first signal that I ignored.

Dr Taufik, Dr Azmi and Dr Azmi's son

Dr Tengku Mohammad with is son and daugther

I memorized the route the night before to enable my natural GPS to guide me through effortlessly to the gate of FRIM. I knew I was early, paid RM 6 at the gate and drive through. Remembering the instruction in the email I turned at the first left where the car park was. Although the car park was almost empty I was pretty sure that was the place. I started straight away to gear myself properly and unloaded the Trek (bike). Dr Azmi was the first to arrived after me followed by Dr Taufik and eventually our group started to materialize. All together, including two of our guides who came late, there were 17 of us.

The inadequate ride for the day

The starting point

At around 0845 after the usual photography session we rolled off with a stretch of a small climb on a tarmac. There was a bit of discussion before we rolled off. We were told we would be riding about 6.5 km before we reached the base of Steroid Hill. The track to Steroid Hill would be a clear path with a decent climb and downhill that everyone should not have problem with. At Steroid Hill which is a steep climb those that would not want to tackle it can wait at the base to wait for the rest to come around. I was game for anything at the time after being told my tyre would do fine. The first phase was actually a nice easy riding in FRIM itself to the Tea House. The second phase is off road just after the tea house which was a wonderful narrow land rover track. This is where we met with several other groups. It was really enjoyable cycling under the canopy of the forest. Although not that virgin anymore it was still nice. Furthermore cycling with a lot of oxygen around you would make enjoy it a little bit more. I thought we should do more of this cycling in the future. I nailed the climb quiet easily, despite an insistence cyclist behind me yelling I had a flat which I was not, and just let go going downhill. I was a kid again for a moment. That was why when we reached the base of the Steroid Hill I was raring to go. Which was another big mistake of the day for me. I ignored all the signals.

Bicycle talk before roll off. Col Azudin, Dr Azmi, Won and Dr Azmi's son hidden at the back

Abedib getting ready


The Happy Bunch

Looking at it from the base I was confident that I could do it even with my road tyres. It was there in front of me to be conquered and I was not about to leave without at least having a go at it. My ego took over and off I went following the rest up Steroid Hill. Halfway through I knew my tyres could not take it so I pushed the bike up at certain places especially at the slippery area. That was another signal that I ignored. I was with the last group going up that include Col Azudin, Dr Tengku Mohammad and his daughter. I paced myself so that I was not that far from others. The rest waited for us at the peak and we had a short rest. I was sweating a lot at that point and eager to move on going down. At that point I realized Dr Tengku and his daughter were not in the group. They may have decided not to continue with the climb. Had I have my rational brain that day I would do the same. But I was stubborn.

Small issue with bike during phase 2


Down there, where a lot of cyclist waiting, is the base of Steroid Hill

Almost at the peak of Steroid Hill

The view at the peak

One of our guides went first followed by Dr Taufik and I was third. Behind me were Won and Alif. The moment we went down we knew it was slippery and because I did not know the terrain I chose a wrong path and could not get out of it. It became really slippery and Dr Taufik in front of me decided to get down and push the bike. Seeing that I did the same and we got on the bike again after that. I realized too late that it was a wrong decision for me and I glided down in the middle of the path with a lot of pot holes. In trying to maneuver myself down and thinking whether my tyres would hold or not. I suddenly skidded into a short drain like holes and I reacted by jamming my brakes which was a mistake. I knew then I would roll downhill. In order to avoid that, with the awareness of my camera in my rucksack on my back, I decided to flip and roll of my bike so ha I would not smash my back on my camera but I was too late. I also misjudged the terrain of the ground where I was supposed to fall. I fell on my left side of my upper body. All I could remember was having difficulty breathing and got up so that I could release the tension on my left rib. Immediately my brain was saying that I have broken few of my rib bones. I was standing when I called for my friends to assist me and Col Azudin was the first to arrive and asked me to lie down. Eventually my breathing came back to normal and I did not feel that I had broken anything. So I was relaxed a bit and not worried. Amazingly while laying down my thought went to my conversation with Dr Tengku Mohammad before we rolled off. He asked me, looking I have my Nikon slung around my shoulder, if anything happened what would you save first – yourself, camera or bicycle. I smiled for a while thinking about it. I actually wanted to save all the three but succeeded in the other two. At this point Col Azudin started to check my joints and declared that nothing has broken and I agreed with him as I did not feel any pain, accept for my bruised rib, at all. Obviously the team did a quick thinking on how to get me down but I was one lucky guy. Among our group I have three medical doctors and they came ready with the necessary medicines and stuff. Secondly, at that point in time a FRIM land rover came along. The driver agreed to take me down firstly to the base of Steroid Hill for me to be looked at by Dr Tengku Mohammad and then down to where we parked. When we reached at the base when he looked at me straight away Dr Tengku said I broke my left clavicle. Of course I did not know what clavicle was so I took it as my collar bone. Dr Tengku gave me three small pain killers, courtesy of Dr Azmi, to ease the pain. Yes by then it was painful to move my left arm. Alone in the land rover with my Trek at the back the driver drove me down.

At the parking lot Dr Tengku checked on me again and asked me where I wanted to go. He was sure I broke my clavicle but would want to find out whether I broke my rib as well. The first thing we need to do is to get to the hospital with x-ray facility. The nearest was Sg Buloh or if I could hold on Putrajaya Hospital. Or any of my panel hospitals. Dr Tengku asked me to think and decide. By that time the pain killers I took started to kick in and feeling I could stand it and for the obvious reason I decided to go to Putrajaya Hospital. My friends packed my Trek in the Ranger and Dr Tengku took the helm of the Ranger to drive me to Putrajaya Hospital.

Dr Taufik arrived shortly after we arrived at the Emergency Clinic of Putrajaya Hospital. He helped me down and wheeled me in to register. Having two medical doctors with me, one a very experience GP, made things really easy at the hospital. Even in emergency getting a fast service at Putrajaya Hospital could be a challenge but not that day. In fact later on I really felt embarrassed having two doctors pushing me around in a wheel chair. The first stop is the doctor’s room and as usual the young doctor asked me the usual questions. Then Dr Tengku cut sort the proceeding by informing the young doctor that I broke my left clavicle. With that the doctor sent me out to the x-ray theater. Both Dr Taufik and Dr Tengku accompanied me through out the process. Of course the x-ray showed a broken clavicle and it was a clean break. The doctor then contacted the orthopedic on duty to have further check if I need anything special attention. Two of them, young as well, came down to look at me. After prodding and asking for a while they satisfied that it was only my left clavicle needed mending. They explained to me what I already knew, prescribed me panadol, pain killers and asked me to come back on Jan 21, 2009 for check-up. A while before this Col Azudin came to join us at Hospital Putrajaya and he told me that he was left behind by everyone at FRIM because his car battery was drained as he forgot to turn off his fog light. Lucky for him somebody there helped to jumpstart his car.

Dr Tengku taking for x-ray

Ready to go home. Thanks to the pain killers I was standing and walking. Dr Taufik, me, my son Ghazi and Col Azudin

That was about it and I was given an MC until Jan 21, 2009 to stay at home to recuperate. What have I learned from this mishap?

1. Don’t be a fool
2. Don’t’ be stupid
3. Make sure my bike is suitable for the terrain and condition
4. Listen and take notice of all the signals around me.

So, 80 % of this mishap was due to my stupidity.

So, now should I,

1. Buy an entirely new Trek or Bianchi, or
2. Upgrade my Trek?

Hey! I heard that! No, not a road bike.

On The Train, Feb 4, 2009

Not like yesterday I timed my leaving the office to be just nice to board the train home at 1846. The capacity of the train was also just nice – not too crowded.

My observation, I am not sure whether I am too early with my conclusion, is that the waiting line system introduced by KTMB is working. Now, in major stations, the announcer would come on air to announce the arrival of any particular train. Also, the announcer would mention which line to stand and wait. Just now we were asked to stand on red line. Looking at the lines I could guess the type of the train arriving and it stopped precisely at the red line. I hope this would prevail as long as it needs to be. Something that still a long way to go is the behavior or culture of Malaysians. Even with a clear line waiting some of us still cut queue to rush in.

On The Train, Feb 3, 2009

After a long leave only today I felt like I am at work. The three days of last week seems like an adjustment period for me.

I was posted with the question of what is the future for KMC again. After a long thorny journey without the possibility of seeing a finishing line we are about to reinvent ourselves once again. I hate to say we are forced to change, for whatever reason, and we need to do it fast. The fact to the matter is we need to constantly evolve. Planning and managing in these days and age are about managing flexibility and adaptability. The fast development in new thinking of certain field of studies, management concept and technology expect us to be agile all the time. What we think it should be would change suddenly. Is that means we are always in a catch-up game? Always late? Not necessary as whatever it is we need a base and then we adjust accordingly.

On The Train, Jan 29, 2009

My shoulder and rib hurt a bit when I woke up this morning. Must be to do with the way I slept I thought and think nothing of it. But the small pain persisted when I reached the office and when felt my clavicle I thought the broken bones had shifted a bit. Later it got better and I convince I have to be a bit careful. Going home early meant I had to brave a crowded train. Just like yesterday I strategised myself and lucky to get the same seat I got yesterday. Just like yesterday also the carriage was packed at KL Sentral. Since I have my ear plugged with my favourite songs and typing my blog I blanked out everything else around me. This time I was a bit careful not to blank out the station where I was. I did not want to get down at Batang Benar or Nilai like I used to before he he he.

The train was packed even when we reached Kajang indicating we have along distance commuters in the train. My guess a lot of them would get down in UKM, Bangi and Nilai then the remainder Seremban. One day I would put my theory to a test by going down all the way to Seremban.

On The Train, Jan 28, 2009

After a month at home and not taking the Komuter today I found out that KTMB had come out with a new innovation. Not a great innovation but at least an innovation to improve the service. I guess only now they realized that they have built new platforms that are too long for the Komuter trains. They have segregated the embarking and disembarking area into two. For south bound the first half of the platform is for the Pelabuhan Klang commuters and the other half until the end for Seremban bound commuters. The same on the opposite north bound platform where the first half for the Rawang bound commuters and the other end for Sentul bound.

The benefits, to the users of course, we do not have to cramp in one section of the platform to wait, embark and disembark. Of course we should not be confused as to what train is arriving to board now as we are already at the designated place. I suspect as well this segregation was implemented to ensure their just implemented arrow/directional for embarking and disembarking would work. At least it was working just now. Well, only if Malaysians would behave that way. At least this is an effort from KTMB to change how Malaysians behave. But I read somewhere change management is ridiculously missing the point and should not be done at all. If that is the case then we should build carriages that have seats in the middle and the doors roll up or down the length for the carriage. This way Malaysians do not have to queue up to embark and they can happily jump and rush in or out at any place the length of the entire train. If that still not going to work in Malaysia nothing will he he he. I also suspect KTMB implemented the segregation system to avoid backlash from the media and the public at large for not so smart in planning and spending.

I was not worried about my broken clavicle when I boarded to work this morning as I was pretty sure to get a seat but going home was something else. So when I boarded to go home I picked my place properly and was gifted a seat at KL station.

How are you Bond?

Come this Sunday exactly a month since I broke my left clavicle at FRIM while going down their 'Steriod Hill'. It has been almost a month of patient for my family and I. My wife, being a good wife she is, always there for me. Of course if she could she would want to throw my bicycle away. But she knows how stubborn her husband is :)) The children well for once they have the joy of having their Abah at home for awhile. Once or twice they probably wish I was at the office as I have the full control of the TV remote :)) The last time I stayed at home for a month was when I was between jobs and that was 6 years ago.

The first two weeks were really trying for me coping with the pain and how to take care of myself single handedly literally. The pain killers helped but not much. A lot of people visited me including almost the whole of my office. Of course the well wishes I received online. I thank all of you for your concern. Apart from all these the other agony for me was being a one finger kung fu typist once again. Since the first day I picked up my first typewriter (anybody remember that great machine?) I have abandoned my on finger kung fu typing days. Well, you never knew when you need your old skill. Two days ago I rediscovered my other fingers :)). Alhamdullillah. Another was of course reading my cycling buddies having a ball riding everywhere.

I went for my check up last Tuesday. A few asked me how did that go. Well, the good news is that the broken bones really love each other and could not stand being separated too long. The good doctor said, while pointing to my x-ray, 'It is still not that obvious but definitely they are coming together and it will heal completely in another one an a half month. You can do most of the thing now but not to lift heavy stuff. I can give you another maximum of three weeks MC to rest.' Oh no thanks Doc. Not that I am trying to be a good or showing off. It just that I am getting bored already. Not that I can go cycling :)). Ok however you must take another week off so that it will improve the healing process.' So after CNY I'll be in the office and hopefully in a month time doing The Kayuh Sawah Padi at Tg Karang.

Note:

Social tools like The Facebook has been really great during my entire recuperating process. Well I knew this already but I was still amazed by it's performance as a tool for modern perlipur lara. Connection,Communication, Dissemination and Conversation.

On The Train, 24, 2008

Christmas Eve and the train was almost ripped at the seam on the way home. I expected it as most people will be taking a day off on Friday making their weekends a 5-day weekend as next Monday would be Awal Muharram.

As usual I was with my laptop and my ears plugged. With my favourite tunes playing after one another I was in my own world. Since I would be plying futsal tomorrow I have decided to go cycling at FRIM, Kepong

On the Train to Singapore, Dec 14-15, 2007

(This is the write-up of a trip we took last year)

As if trying to keep my record of not being at home on every weekend in December, late Thursday evening I decided to take the whole family down to Singapore by train for a day. Immediately after work I stopped at KL Sentral to buy the tickets. I called home first to ask if there were anybody else would want to follow us and I was told three more from Mohd Hanafiah’s household. Prior stopping at KL Sentral I checked over the Net to see if there were tickets left and I was confident waiting for my turn at the counter. I managed to get 9 sleepers going down but only second class seats on a special train coming back the same day.

On Senandung Malam Express to Singapore, Dec 14, 2007, L6, Sleepers 21 - 30

All aboard!!!

I decided to be early and took the commuter to KL Sentral just after I changed my clothes just before Maghrib. The plan was for me to come from the office, my family from Bangi to board at KL Sentral and for Ngah, Fatah and Imah to board at Seremban. Everything went as planned until we were called to board and encountered another unpleasant disservice of KTMB. By now I already coined KTMB as ‘Keretapi Tak Mahu Berkhidmat’ and my first two reasons are these. All of us were very happy waiting for the train and we were even happier when we went down the escalator to board. When we reached the bottom of the escalator we were not greeted by the KTMB attendant but I had to say my coach number and asked first only then I was ushered, rather pointed, towards my coach. I brushed it off as normal, I am still polite I guess, and walked down to where coach L6 was and we were still happy as we walked towards our sleepers. That was when our joyous mood suddenly crushed by the incompetent KTMB. I had booked 9 sleepers and the numbers given, computer printed, were 21 to 30. When we were there we discovered there were already two other passengers occupying our 21 and 22. From their slant they were Indian nationals or at least someone from that continent. We compared our tickets and to our astonishment we had the same ticket numbers. Exactly the same number 21 and 22. I was already pissed off and it was not our fault so we walked back to the attendant and complaint. He came back with us to the coach to check as if we were lying and when it was confirmed he stared to talk to his walkie talkie to someone. We waited for awhile and did not get our answer. Eventually he asked me to walked back to the coach to see if that were the only two sleepers double booked. I asked him to repeat his instruction, the tone he used was like instructing me as if it was my bloody mistake, and that pissed me even more as that suppose to be his job not mine. But being nice and not wanting to spoil our short excursion I relented and walked back to check.

Baqir pretending to sleep


KakCik my ever willing model


Mar who could not keep still

I told him that they were the only two and he made another enquiry through his walkie-talkie. He came back to us saying there were two sleepers that were empty that we could take, sleeper 23 and 24 at coach L1. We took that at face value and walked towards coach L6 and I told my family we have two options Baqir and Fatah to use L1 while the rest L6 or all of us sleep at L6 with Mar and Kak Cik sharing with somebody. Since Ngah, Fatah and Imah would be boarding at Seremban we waited before we decide what would be the best option. Before we arrive at Seremban I walked towards coach L1 to check and true enough Sleeper 23 and 24 there were empty. Around 2300 or so we arrived at Seremban station where Ngah, Fatah and Imah boarded. We told them what had happened an automatically they opted to stay together and took up option two. Since I did not want to be tired the next day I decided to sleep rather doing whatever I normally do on night train. Anyway I bought the sleeper for a reason. Anyway I was awake when the train stopped idle waiting for the signal at Batang Melaka. I had a feeling the train was there waiting for awhile already. I went to the restroom to ease myself and then decided I need a drink and took Kak Cik, who happened to be awake, to the buffet car. It was 0251 in the morning and we stayed there long enough to enjoy the cool and quiet night scene outside. On our way back to L6 passing through L1 I realized something that made, even in that cold morning, my heart boiled with anger. There were actually somebody sleeping at suppose to be our sleeper 23 and 24. This proved to me that both of them were not empty after all when the attendant asked us to occupy the place. Had we been sleeping there and confronted by the other would be occupants I would hit the roof. I can tell you I would not be nice anymore to the person in-charge. So that was the third time I was pissed off with KTMB.

I think it was 0300 whne i woke up and need a drink. Kak Cik was the only one awake. So we headed for the buffet car

Everyone is sleeping

At our coach I went to sleep again and I was successful at it so much so I missed my favourite station, Gemas. I actually was awaken by my trusted alarm at 0600. After I had cleaned myself I saw an attendant passed by and asked him if there was any place for me to say my Suboh. I knew the answer already but I just asked him anyway. A train service own by Malaysian government carrying predominantly muslims and yet they did not provide even a small place for us to pray. Yes, I understand that for other journey we may not need it but for a night journey that scheduled to arrive way after Suboh you need a place to pray onboard. Is that so difficult to understand or think about? No wonder they were not making any money. I managed myself.

Daylight was breaking outside and I knew JB would not be long so I announced to everyone that I was going to the buffet car. By now almost everyone was awake.

JB Station, Singapore, Dec 15, 2007

JB Station

Everyone is awake whenwe arrived in JB and gathered at the buffet car

Just musing at JB Station. Ftah, Mar, Kakak and Kak Cik

All of us sat in the buffet car and ordered small breakfast just as we say ‘alas perut’, meaning eat just enough to last for awhile until we were properly in Singapore. We arrived at JB station at 0650 and as I expected held up for sometime there for the Malaysian Immigration officers to come on board to check the validity of our documents. That morning JB station bore witness to our happy mood in the buffet car. It was so obvious that everyone was enjoying the moment. As usual I took enough photographs to commemorate the occasion. Eventually the train departed JB and began the anticipated journey into Singapore. It was the first time for everyone except Ngah. First time for me to go to Singapore by train and the first time for the others to be in Singapore and by train. I could read what they were thinking but they were expecting something new and interesting nevertheless. Of course to enter we have to go through the Singapore immigration at Woodland where everyone had to disembark with their luggage to be checked. We were among the last group to be cleared through and for the whole passengers in the train it took less then 15 minutes for the immigration to clear everyone. In the end the waiting time to board the train again was longer. We took the opportunity to clean ourselves a little bit in the waiting area’s restrooms.

I was so disappointed with the interior of Tg Pagar Station that I decided to make this as our signature photo


Waiting for their first MRT ride at Tg Pagar

Almost exactly at 0900 we disembarked at Tanjung Pagar station. Once we were out in the lobby of the station we waited looking around to get our bearing around the place. Already with my map opened I explored the area and found out that there were several stalls at the station. However all decided that they did not need to eat. I did not know whether it was due to the excitement or just plain ignorant that halal food would not be that easy to find. To keep their excitement level intact and with the map in hand we walked to the Tanjung Pagar MRT station. During my days at SC I used to frequent Singapore and one of the hotels that I used to stay in was Amara Hotel. I knew on the way to the MRT station we would be passing it and was really surprised I could not remember it much when I looked at it.

All of us experienced our first MRT ride in Singapore and from Tanjung Pagar I decided Orchard Road as our first destination. When we arrived most of the shops were still closed but we walked the shopping complex anyway. In the restroom of one of them we cleaned ourselves a bit and changed into fresh cloth. We did not have shopping in mind really when I decided to do Orchard Road first but just to show everyone what and how it is. We went in and out of shopping malls the length of the road and if you trace our movement on a big paper you will see a trace of line zig-zagging across buildings, malls and walkways. If it was a test for our next proposed trip half of this party failed as after just two shopping malls almost everyone crying for water and a place to rest. This shopping malls touring was not all lost as Baqir got his t-shirt at Bossini, my dear wife two handbags at Robinson, my D80 lens cap and few other things.

By the time we finished touring Robinson we were almost at the end of Orchard Road and very hungry. We were lucky we managed to locate a Muslim stall in one of the shopping malls and the food was good. While eating I was also planning our next assault the options were either to go to Arab/Bugis Street or Little India where we can walk to Mustafa. Apart from the obvious potential shopping area these two places offer a place to pray. Even after we came out of the shopping malls where we had lunch I was still undecided of where to go next. Only when we were walking I decided to walkup the way we came to take a train to Little India. By this time we were walking for few hours already and I can see faces in agony. To ease the tension we went into the malls that were closed before and explored a bit more. With few new purchases and handbags some of us were smiling again. From Orchard Road at about 1345 we took a train to Little India. I knew what Little India was all about but the heat was too much for all of us as if saying we were really in India. I knew it was a painful walk for everyone but I prodded along to keep the momentum. When I saw the minaret of the Angullia Mosque I decided that would be our next stop and a place to rest for a while.

Of course the ablution and the restroom are clean and when I was inside one of them I could not resist the temptation to have a bath. I peeled of my sweaty shirt and pant I ad a long nice bath. It so refreshing that I did not want to stop and get out. Reluctantly I came out refreshed and said my combined prayers inside the mosque. We did not straight away left the mosque but stayed inside for awhile to rest our tired bother. In fact the heat outside was still at the peak and the thought of dozing off for while crossed my mind. When we finally came out of the mosque the weather drastically changed. The sky was growing darker which of course something that we would not complaint and maybe wishing for.

I was not sure whether it was because of the sale or a normal everyday phenomenon Mustafa the shopping mall was packed with shoppers. To get our bags stored was already negotiating a long queue let alone to move inside. Since we were already there we went inside anyway. Once inside we discovered it was a mistake. We harried our tour of the place and came out with heavy downpour welcoming us outside. We had no choice but to wait the heavy rain and after awhile decided to have a drink, that eventually became a second lunch, at the nearby mamak restaurant. We waited in the restaurant until the rain became a drizzle.

We were walking back towards Little India when I saw the sign to Ferrer Park MRT station on my right and cut off straight away there. I did not realize it was the better choice if we were going to Mustafa. But then again we have missed a lot of things and it won’t be adventurous he he he. Once at the station I decided to take everyone to Clarke Quay to enjoy the riverside scene.

Clarke Quay is of course a watering hole for a lot of Singaporeans and a meeting/hang out place for the younger generation. Beside the riverside atmosphere my objective was also to show my family the other part of social Singapore. I did not know whether I was successful to make a difference as I can only hope a good perspective would register, especially, within my children. It was still drizzling we were there and we took shelter at the nearby Novotel. We stayed around the area until almost 1800 we I decided enough of the place and walked out towards Central Mall. However when we reached the Mall I realized we were still very early to go to Tanjung Pagar so I decided to walk up a bit more and we ended up at Chinatown Mall where for no reason we sat at the McD to kill some times. I thought we were just only ordering something to drink. But I guess you can never do that when Baqir is around and we ended up ordering meals. I did not feel that hungry so I restrained myself. Close to 1900 we left the place and took the MRT at Chinatown to Tanjung Pagar via Outram Park. At 1938 we were the Tanjung Pagar KTMB station sign post taking photographs. Looking at the faces around I knew the hard seat of KTMB second class coach won’t stop my family from sleeping soundly. They were that tired walking for the whole day.

Singapaore-KL Sentral, Dec 15, 2007, Seats 1 A-D, 2 A-D, and 3A

Our train home was at 2100 so we had around one hour an a half to clean our self, pray and have dinner. What mazed us was how different the place was compared the rest of Singapore. It was like walking into a totally different zone. If we want to give a good impression for tourist before entering Malaysia KTMB certainly failed miserably. The place was really pathetic comparatively and I felt so sad looking and being there. I just could not wait for the train to take me out. Eventually around 2100 the train did and I was glad my agony of being there was relieved.

The journey home was boisterous in the beginning but soon enough very quite as everyone settled down in their seat sleeping. I somehow as if my body clock still remembers the timing from 20 years ago woke up at around 0215 when we reached Gemas. We reached KL Sentral early in the morning at 0533. We said our Suboh and lepak at the only place opened, McD, for breakfast and to wait for the Komuter service to start.

I have been complaining quietly through my writing about KTMB and it seems it never lack resources to piss me off. After we had our breakfast I gave my son RM50 to go and buy our tickets home. He came back to us shortly saying that the girl at the counter said she did not have any change nad had the audacity to complaint to my son ‘pagi-pagi buta ni mana ada duit tukar!’. I was really mad hearing that but seeing it was a pregnant lady I restraint myself. I mean I had to really restraint myself form yelling at her. I just stand there and wonder for all their short comings how they can treat their customer like that and the girl really missed the point big time. Let give a blow by blow points to make it clear.

1. The customer, in this case us, for no fault of theirs happened to not having a small domination. She admitted it was very early in the morning
2. The service provider in the first place should not even ask whether or not the customer has a small change.
3. The service provider must be prepared for this kind of situation. Through the world that I have been no service provider had asked me this question. They will accept whatever domination tendered to them.
4. This particular girl, although at the frontline, do not know what customer service is
5. Of course the girl should be so rude to remark as she did.
As I said if not for her being pregnant I would have yell and give her my piece of mind.

So for this trip KTMB really failed big time at the beginning and the end of our journey. KTMB management should spent more money to send all they staff to Stakeholder Management or Customer Service training not just personal grooming to be sitting pretty. I know despite all these I’ll still be using KTMB simply because I love traveling on a train

We were safely home at 0747 and straight away went to bed.

On The Train, Dec. 17, 2008

My wife complaint loudly about my not updated blog the other day and I have no reason to rebut her as indeed I had been neglecting it. Her complaint was also due to my stories that, not only her, but the rest of my family want to read. Although they were there when most of the incidences happened they still would want to read my perspective I guess.

Well we just came back from our short holidays and something happened at KL Sentral on the early morning of Dec. 15, 2008. After years or agony, frustration, and anger I blew my top at KL Sentral. No thanks to the disservice and attitude of KTMB staff. Suffice to say not I really hit the roof that morning. The detail will come in a complete write-up later. I hope soon :)). For now this and the old write-up about last year’s trip will do.

I was a bit surprise that the train is still packed going home. I thought most people would be on leave already. I guess most of them would be away next week.

Putrajaya Critical Mass. November 28, 2008

I arrived around 2030 at the Mamak Double Trouble at Precint 9 and I did not see anybody on bike or with bike in sight. The rain had stopped so I was pretty sure the PCM was on but if we were to roll off at 2100 surely there already at least few people around already. I parked and walked around a bit and then only I saw a rider riding around, obviously, trying to find cycling soul mate. Seeing him I went into a mamak sundry shop to buy two bottles of 100 plus.

As I was walking back to the Ranger I saw Kol cycling searching I gave my salam. That surely indicated the PCM is on so I got ready and unloaded my bike.

Kol and I stand with our bikes at the curb watching cyclist slowly trickling in. It was then obvious to me we were not going to roll off anytime soon. Had it was not my first PCM I would have rolled off on my own. MBA brought free t-shirts courtesy of REDTone for our group. I met the rest of what was known for that night the REDTone riders. Abedib and other SDARAs decided to skip this PCM and I am lucky that I cycled with Alif, Shahrin, Kol, MBA, and Taufik before so I did not feel alone that night.

We eventually rolled off close to 2200 after a brief briefing from the organizer. I purposely did not bring my camera as I wanted to enjoy my ride. We rode slowly out in group out of Precint 9 towards Dataran Putra for our first stop. During the briefing it was made very clear that the PCM is a community ride for everyone to enjoy, safety is paramount and no speeding. With the roadies with their high performance bicycle I wondered how long that going to last. Well their patient lasted until Alamanda when most of them sped up the climb and blazed their way towards PICC. The Marshall caught upwith them and they eventually waited for the other groups to at least in decent size before we rolled off again and this time they had no intention to slow down or stop and sped towards Precint 9. I was initially with the group in the middle and having an easy ride. However when we got to the climb at Alamanda knowing that a major group would find the climb a bit tough I sped off trying to catch up with the leading group. With my bike I knew it was a futile effort but I just went off with my own pace. Along the way I met a fellow REDTone rider and chatted as we cycled. We shared the shame predicament pf not being a serious cyclist early. He was surprised that I have a 21 year-old son at home. We continued to cycle and chat until we saw the first group waiting at the top of a small climb. I hate to stop in the middle of a ride when I was already in a nice rhythm. But I knew I must stop and waited together. It was then already half past eleven.

At the PICC I decided to hit it and go home straight away once I reached Precint 9. I told Kol who was then already cycling with us that it was too late for me to join them for a Teh Tarik after the ride and would want to proceed home immediately. With that I sped off alone all the way to Precint 9. It was just few minutes after midnight when I got there. Since I had to bowl the next day I immediately loaded the bike and drove home.

I enjoyed my first PCM. Had we rolled off early I would have rode easy and stayed back to chat with other cyclists to get to know them. I do think that my PT buddies would not like the PCM but I would do it again in the future. Most of the riders are season roadies and MTBs with their near sophisticated machines. But there are rooms for beginners like me who were there just to have a nice ride and trying to get to understand their bike better. But one thing that we can definitely improve is to start on time.

Thank you everyone for the company and till we meet again in the next PCM.