As time progresses, LRT becomes a significant part of my life. Other than being a convenient mode of transportation, LRT rides help me to develop my social aptitude – or vice versa. I have met ( though not necessarily lost ) some very interesting characters, as well as observed several antics or probably demonstrate my own frolics which can be a source of amusement to the others!
LRT helps nurture ( or vice versa ) our social skills. This is particularly true when you’re riding the train with your loved ones ( your other half, your close friends, your family members ) or when you are standing / sitting next to somebody that you need to form an impression on! Isn’t it amazing how much can you discover about your potential partner just by being in the rides? Some people also secure career-related opportunities just by being on a train.
Being on an LRT is also the best time for you to practise your acquired Double O Seven license; either checking out the cute guy who is standing at the end of the train (it would be even better if he noticed you too! or criticizing the fragrant, outfit, hairdo, accessories adorned by the gorgeous lady ( NOT ) that everyone is checking on right now – including your very own partner! This kind of rides often ends with you sulking all through out the journey or end up at a god-knows-what station just because you want to prove a point! It also helps some of us to practise on our pinching or boxing skills with of course, our other half as the target. Hey, it’s their fault of course! We were checking on the guys too but we were very discreet – unlike them!!! ( For once, don’t you just wish that you are going out with someone with an imperfect sight? )
LRT also develops our kiasuness. Admit it: how many times have you pretended to be sound asleep ( or that you’re the one with that imperfect sight ) just so that you don’t have to give up your seats to the elderly couple or the pregnant lady? Very bad of us, right! Okay, so probably you have given up your seats or chose not to sit ( so you won’t be caught in this predicament ) but have you REALLY talked to the ones seated / standing next to you? Really, really talked? ( Definition: NOT asking for time / station or asking the person to move! )
We let people intruded into our personal space by letting them sit / stand so close to us, but it always amazes me on how we remain very cordial strangers! We try so hard not to look into other people’s eyes as if each has a secret to guard. But most often that not, our eyes would wander around especially when we thought that people are not looking! ( Guilty! ) Talking about this, I know of a friend who brags of the fact that he is often surrounded by beautiful flight attendants!!! Ya, right… (Anyway, I won’t be talking much of this individual as he has been kind enough to accompany me on several rides home – though half-way - especially when it is very late. Thank you and therefore, my lips are sealed. )
My LRT ride last Thursday evening gave me my first encounter with a ‘special’ character after all through the years. A 20-something chap came into our coach and before we could say anything, he started doing a scene from the Coyote Ugly! He started rotating his body to left and right while holding on to the post in a provoking manner! Trust me, it wasn’t a sexy sight! The next thing I knew, he was doing some push ups on the floor while speaking to himself! Words of encouragement, maybe? What surprised me was… his perfect English!!! Anyway, the whole exercise must have tired him as I saw him taking a sip of drinks from what used-to-be a Coke bottle. Of course, his announcements from time to time simply amused me. Being a very polite young man who decided not to bother the rest of the commuters, he bowed and thanked the door before getting down at the next station. His exit was accompanied by sighs of relief from the others.
Certain stations evoke special memories which of course, relate to certain noteworthy individuals in my life.
Cempaka: The safest LRT station in the world ;o), probably because Cempaka happens to be the station where my daily LRT rides start / end. Regardless of the time of days, I would actually feel safe and secure. The only disadvantage of the station is that – being the third last / the first three station ( depending on where you start your journey: KL or Ampang ), I often found myself lulled to sleep and sometimes missed this stop!
Pandan Jaya: Used to be my premier destination – Everyday, both my partner and I would stop at this station before heading for dinners together. Sometimes, when either one of us had to stay back after work, or being on medical leave ( that would obviously be me ), we would meet each other here. Over the years, I have familiarized myself with Pandan Jaya night markets and all the neighbouring food stalls – Kedai Abang whose owner would be wondering what has happened to the couple who loves his nasi goreng kampong and sambal belacan , or the Roti John stall that serves the best Papa John and Mama John with a good return for money, or even the RM8 stall! Why RM8 stall? Simply because whenever we had our dinner there, the amount would always be RM8.
Hang Tuah: A historical station indeed. It was during our ride from the office after work one day that we discovered that somebody ( that would NOT be me, of course! ) had actually driven to office that morning! He had forgotten all about it. As a result, I became the punching target for I couldn’t stop laughing as we disembarked from the train and took the next one back to KL. ( Surely we couldn’t expect the car to make his own way back home, could we? ) On another occasion, I couldn’t help laughing when the train driver forgot to make his stop at the station even after announcing “ Stesyen seterusnya, Hang Tuah ” much to the horror of those who wanted to get down. As a result, the train had to stop in the middle of the track before pulling back into its actual destination. I don’t know what was going on in the driver’s mind that day as I also caught him announcing “Stesyen seterusnya, Sultan Ismail ” even though everyone was aware that the coming stop would be Masjid Jamek. Oh well, it must be his had-hair day.
Bandaraya ( aka Sogo ): Everyone’s favourite! A station that is famously associated with shopping, shopping and more shopping! The fact that this used to be my daily destination ( the good old days of
Titiwangsa: My current destination, before hopping into the awaiting Monorail in order to proceed to
LRT would always play a significant role in our country’s development. Now, this is beginning to sound like an introduction to a Form 3 essay …
Anyway, life is… an LRT ride.
There would be many characters that you’ll meet – and lose - along the way. There would be many stops – and every stop has its own story to tell.
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