The Changing Scene of Bukit Bintang...

I took a walk at Bukit Bintang on Tuesday April 15, 2003 and saw the construction of the MRT there. With work in progress there are many detour to make walking along the road easier for the local and tourists. The Bukit Bintang area is a tourists paradise and as usual the place was throng with tourists. I walk all the way from the KLCC using the Tunnel/Walkway from the KLCC to Bukit Bintang which make it easy for people to walk to and fro the two destinations. Below are some image that I snap while there. Enjoy it folks.

Have a nice day.

The Outward Bound School, a Reflection...

On going through some old album recently I found some photos that brought memories flooding back to my mind. It was really nice to see all those photo of the past, some taken in Black and White, an era before the advancement of colour photography. Above is a photograph taken in the early sixties when I attended the Outward Bound School course at the school in Lumut, Perak. I was just in my early twenties and apply for the scholarship to attend the course there. I was told by friends that it provides good leadership program but it tough. One had to go through endurance programs that lasted for almost a month, living in camp, excursion into the tropical jungle, boating, canoeing on the high sea around the island of Pangkor.  Since l love adventure and had been in the Scout Movement from my primary school days I love to go to such training and meet others of the same mind-set. I was awarded the scholarship and went all the way to Lumut in the state of Perak to attend the month long program; the 50th course. We went through a tough and challenging programs on various aspect of leadership as well program on civic. We were not spare the task of keeping the pit toilet crawling with maggots clean every day and had to sleep in the jungle where at time it rain and rain. Even having our meals was never at the same place, from the hall to the beach or in  the  middle  of the jungle. We were told to go on a jungle expedition to nowhere and expect to survive the track on our own. It was tough sleeping in the middle of the jungle among leeches and wild animals but we endure and manage to get through it all. We had to canoe into the open sea the whole day. I did get seasick and vomited when reaching the shore. We had to scrap boat and paint it underside, thus we learn the skill doing painting works. We had to keep our sleeping quarters spot clean all the time. Everything went like clock works from breakfast time till bed time. Because we were all dead tired it was easy to sleep. 

The whole programs toughen us all and did teach us all various leadership skills that we could use in any endeavour we took. As for me the training did help in my career in the government agency that I was working. Until this day I still could remember vividly the time we had spent in the school.  It turns out to be the best leadership training that I had ever had in my whole life. The Outward Bound School did made what I am today.   

Have a nice day.

Kluang, Johor.. 44 years later...

December 23, 2013, on the way to Port Dickson from Johor Bharu we make a stop at Kluang where I work in 1967, some forty four years ago. Kluang is special to me since it was there I first start working as an officer of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, a Federal Government post. The designation was the District Cultural Officer where I had to cover three districts; Kluang, Segamat and Mersing. It was a challenging job where I had to travel to various places in the rural areas in the three districts doing social change programs. This is the first visit since I left that place on a transfer to Malacca in January 1969. Kluang got its name from the Malay word for Flying Fox... Keluang, thus the town is name as Kluang. On the way to the town of Kluang from the North South Highway exit I saw lots of changes, all land that was once rubber plantations are now develop into residential estate, schools, shop lots and other government institution like the Agricultural experimental station and Veterinary research and development centre.

When we arrived in Kluang I hardly could recognise it. It used to be just a two streets town divided by a railway gate with the the hospital on the other side. Thus when the gate is closed to allow for the train to pass by one cannot get to the hospital on the other side. I notice the railway gate is still there but the township has developed on both sides. On looking round the places I still could remember the Railway Station and the Telecom Department where my spouse once work as well the two streets, now known as the old part of the town. Other than that the whole town is strange to me. Forty four years has changed the town totally and I just could not figure out some of the places where I used to roam daily.

I stop at the Railway Station to have a look at the famous Kopitiam shop the serve great local coffee and some snack but that day it was close for business. The train station looks almost the same with very little change. While I was there a train was just coming into the station. It was indeed a fortunate time to be there where I got to watch the train arriving and the arrival of folks as well the departure of others. I snap some picture and sharing it here.

We then tried to look at the government quarters where we live once but I just could not remember the exact location. I knew it somewhere near an Army Camp but because of the place have been developed it was difficult to remember the exact location. So with whatever memory my spouse and I could remember we try to look for it. It takes going round and round until our son in law who was driving the car found the place. He parked the car nearby and we went out to have a look. The house is still there but had been left to rot. Looking at the building memories of past happening came rushing back. At that time we were just a young couple in our mid-twenties, with two young kids who were as yet to go to school. Asmah my spouse was working at the Telecom Department and I as the District Cultural Officer for East Johor with a base in Kluang. I remember there was then only one semi-detached house, one of which was occupied by us and the other by a friend who work in the hospital. It looks like they have built more such houses nearby so it takes time to recognise the house we live in. Sad to see that house is in ruin and left to just rot.

Happy with the find we left the place and before proceeding to our next destination, we went to have lunch at the a new Kopitiam, a much modern and spacious place than their original outlet at the Railway Station. While having lunch there I met an Indian couple with three young kids. We got connected and exchange notes on the development of this place where I once call home. They had come all the way from Batu Pahat to enjoy their meals here. The foods was good and the ambience cosy and we did enjoy our lunch there.  After a while we proceed to our next destination, Port Dickson.

Have a nice day.

The Binary code...

It the school holiday; our eldest grandson [16 years] is redecorating his room. He had painted the room and decorating the wall his way. I went to have a look and he shows me what he has painted on one of the wall. I was surprised seeing it for the first time. It takes lots of planning and ingenuity to get that binary code on the wall. Above is what I saw on his wall. I ask him to translate that binary code onto a language that I could understand. He smile and said that it is his name. He then explains of what each line mean. Yes from the age of 2 years he has been interested in computer and its technology and now every time I get stuck with my computer I would turn to him for help. I am glad that at least one of our own is going into studying the IT [Information Technology]. The IT industry is in its infancy and there are move developments to come. It would be great to see this generation of Malaysian get involved in the invention and innovation of new IT products in the not too distance future.  

Have a nice day.

KLCC to Bukit Bintang - Aircon Tunnel/Walkway...

Friends say that the new Walkway is worth a try if one wants to get to and fro KLCC - Pavilion - KLCC. It was open to the public since January 2012. I had planned to try it since it is easy to get to the Pavilion Mall without driving to the mall. I could just park my car at the KLCC parking area as I usually does and take a walk using this Walkway. KLCC is my favourite mall. It is just a five minutes’ drive from my home in Ampang Jaya. I spend lots of time there shopping or just whiling my time enjoys my golden years my way. I decided that I must make a point to go and see for myself this new Tunnel/Walkway that link the KLCC to the Bukit Bintang area of the city. 

So on a beautiful Saturday morning December 8, at just past eleven thirty I drove the Honda to the KLCC parking lot, park the car there and went up to the mall. I then took the tunnel and take my time and enjoy the walk. I ask a few guards as to the direction and continue walking among the lunch time crowds. I have used this part of the tunnel before to visit the Aquaria, an aquarium attached to the KLCC complex. That was a long time ago. As I walk I notice the tunnel look different. It has since been renovated and new space added along the way. As I approach the Aquaria I notice there is a food court there throng with people enjoying their meals. I was indeed surprise that there is a food court there. I then ask a guard for direction again and was told just to move forward. I continue my walk while enjoying the scene of advertisement and decoration that had been painted on the roof and on the wall all the way. It does add colour to the environment of the tunnel and I like it. It creates a feeling of happiness as one walk. On the left is an image of the painting on the roof near the Aquaria. I passed the Aquaria and move on and eventually got to the front of the Convention Centre. A few steps outside the centre a stair let to the Walkway. I walk up to the Walkway and continue my walk. 

I later found that the tunnel is 563 metre long. That meant I had walked more than half a kilometre already.  I continue walking on the Walkway and soon found there are many exits where one could take to get to their destination along the way. There are stairway, escalator and lift to make walking and going up and down a pleasure. I believe the Lift is for those wheelchair people to get to another level. My destination was the Pavilion so I continue walking at my own pace and at time stop to take picture of the scenery along the way.

In less than 20 minutes I am already at the Pavilion. The side where there are many Cafe and Bistro. I went to order coffee and a snack at Starbucks and sat there to enjoy my drink. With the free WiFi I surf the net using my Samsung Galaxy. I posted a picture of myself on Facebook and soon got respond from friends. I while my time on Facebook while enjoying the coffee and the sandwich. That area of the Pavilion is sort of a walkway with eateries on both sides. Thus there are many people passing by to and fro Bukit Bintang area to the KLCC. I then went inside the Pavilion Mall and window-shop all the way to the front. Amazing with this short-cut I could be here any time I am at KLCC without having to drive all the way to the Pavilion like I used to do before. 

I love to walk and this is one place where I could walk in the cool comfort. The whole tunnel and walkway is air-condition making the walk a cool comfort all the way. There is an exit to the KLCC Park outside not that far away from the Aquaria. It would be great to walk in the park as well in a cool morning and then get to the Pavilion for a drink and snack. The distance one way KLCC to the Pavilion is 1.173 Kilometre; so a walk both way would be 3.346 Kilometre. Nice distances for a healthy walk. Well folks I did enjoy my little adventure that morning and would surely do it again. 

Have a nice day.

Using the Public Transport in Kuala Lumpur...

I had to attend a meeting on Sunday December 2, a very important one at the IOI Mall at Puchong. The mall is on the other side of the world as far as I am concerned. To get there either I drive using the MRR2 and then the Subang Jaya Highway or take the public transport. I check the route on Google and found it just a straightforward drive but knowing KL traffic and with the raining season I thought it is best that I find an alternative way to get there. I then call a Blogger friend Lily Fu who to me is an expert in getting around the city using the Public transport system. She say she has not been there but advise me to check the Rapid KL portal where according to her give detail information of how to get around the city and its suburbs with ease and cheaper too. I check the site MyRapid and found wealth of information there so after thinking over it I decided to go to the meeting using the LRT and the Rapid bus. I told my spouse that I am not driving to that place since I would get depressed if there is a traffic jam. Moreover I am not that familiar with the place and it would be a nightmare.

So on that beautiful Sunday morning at about eleven in the morning I  decided to drive to the KLCC car park and park my car there then take the LRT from there. Just as I was about to drive out of the garage my daughter Lin arrived at the house. I then ask her whether she could send me to the nearest LRT station. She says yes. I re parked my car in the garage and after a while she sends me to the Datuk Keramat LRT station. I board the train there and try to find a seat. Then a youth stood up and I sat down making myself comfortable on that long stretch of ride. I took my cellphone and snap a few shots of the scene as the train move toward the inner city. On the left is a scene I snap from the moving train as it passes the Elevated Express-way. I look at the youth who was sitting near me and he told me that his leg is broken after a fall. I believe he start talking about his leg because he felt guilty sitting on a bench reserved for senior citizens. We continue to talk as the train move. He told me that he is a pilot in the Air Force and was training using the Russian Jet Fighter and did a few jumps from another plane and in one jump he broke his leg. We chat on various subjects and I ask him why he did not want to further his study but as usual he has his reasons. Since my train stop at the last station I did not worry of missing my stop and kept on chatting with this youth until he left when the train stop at his destination. Then I talk to another young man who introduce himself as from Acheh, Indonesia and is going to work at Kelana Jaya. In the conversation he told me that it is easy to make money here as well to acquire knowledge and skill especially in the construction industries. He wanted to learn as much skill before going back to Acheh to work there. We parted when the train reach the Kelana Jaya station.

I then when out of the station and look for a transport to get me to the IOI Mall at Puchong. I saw some taxi and ask. The driver says that it cost RM25.00 to take me to the Mall and that he would pay the toll as well. I decided to try another taxi but to no avail. So I decided to just take the bus as suggested by the Rapid KL portal.  I ask for information from a person in uniform and he told me just to wait pointing to a waiting area for the relevant bus which has yet to arrive. The arrival of buses is shown on the electronic board nearby. I have check at the portal as to the number of the bus [Bus Number U43] and wait there and in less than a minute the bus arrived. After the passengers had descended I went to ask the driver if the bus stop at the IOI Mall. He says yes and I boarded it and ask him the cost of the ticket. He says it is RM1.00. I then give him the money and move to take a sit but he say to hold on and take a receipt. I thank him and ask him to let me know when I reach my destination and then I took my sit and enjoy the trip. The bus was air-condition and comfortable just like the couch that ply cities all over the country. I have not been to this part of the city before and take my time to enjoy the scenery along the road. The road was not that busy since it was just before noon on a Sunday. I saw many new buildings and new construction in progress. In less than ten minutes the bus stop at my destination as indicated by the driver. He told me that the IOI Mall is on the other side of the road. I took a slow walk and ask a few youth of how to get there. Taking the overhead-bridge I got across to the other side and then walk to the front of the Mall at the Starbucks store. As I was walking I got an SMS from Maznah telling me that she is in the vicinity too. I replied saying that I am at the Starbucks.  Then Col.Yap the chairman of the Owner association of the resort arrives and we move in to find a place to sit and ordered some refreshment. As we sat to chat Maznah and another committee member Nizam came in and took their sit and later on Jeff arrived too. I ask everyone to give a ride back to the Kelana Jaya LRT station after the meeting and because most want to go back early I settled for Jeff to take me there since he had plenty of time to go for lunch with Col. Yap and me.  By 2PM the complex were crowded with folks shopping and even parking became difficult. I am glad that I did not drive for it save me getting into that Sunday nightmare at such a big shopping complex. With that I was able to move around freely and enjoy myself with friends here. Jeff gives me a lift in his Mercedes to the Kelana Jaya LRT station around 3.45PM. I then took the LRT to the Jelatek Station.

I am glad that I check the Rapid KL portal as suggested by my friend Lily Fu. With the information I got it makes it easy to get from one place to another without getting cheated like by the taxi I tried to get at the station. I would not take a taxi to anywhere when the driver did not want to use the Meter. I always give a tip to the taxi driver when I arrived at my destination but not this kind of daylight robbery. Had I not done my homework of how to get from point A to B I would not been able to have an enjoyable trip there. In this case the ride both on the LRT and the Bus was great. I got to my destination in good time and learn that the public transport system in Kuala Lumpur and its vicinity is as good as that in other countries. It was raining and had I drive it would be a depressing trip all the way. The ride on the LRT helps to get me to and fro my destination with ease and in good-time. I end my journey at the Jelatek station, the nearest station to get home. I then took a taxi that used the meter for the last part of my journey home. On arrival at my home in Ampang Jaya the meter read RM6.50. I give the driver RM10.00 and told him to keep the change. I am happy and I believe so is that driver. It does make my day; a colourful day indeed.

Have a nice day.