Adventure of SuperDaniel: The Story Part I

I decided to go to KL by public transports to avoid the traffic. And Nisa somehow warned me about the emerging riots and the road blocks all around KL. So, I took Daniel to the nearest commuter station (walking distance from Mak's temp home), parked my car and proceeded to take out all the things that we will be needing for the trip. Upon reaching the ticket counter, I began to think a hundred times. I needed to climb up 5 steps. I think I can drag the stroller with Daniel up. Problem solved. Another problem rose: Either I take the overhead crossing or cross the railway tracks. I am not willing to risk our lives to cross the tracks, so I needed to climb up the overhead crossing- with the BIG, BULKY stroller and Daniel.

I thought to myself: There was still quite some times until the next train arrive. I could take my time dragging everything up and down the stairs. The train going back will be stopping by this side, so no problem for me later in the evening. OK. Up we go!

I unstrapped baby, climbed up the first flight of stairs, and put him down on the first landing. Asked him to stay put, face the stair handle and hug the beam. He obliged (hehe) so I proceeded downstairs to pick up the stroller. LUCKY US! As I was just about to drag the stroller upstairs, a gentleman KTM staff offered to help me carry the stroller. Alhamdulillah. I couldn't thank him enough. He crossed the tracks carrying the stroller (dia takpela..Memang tempat kerja dia). The other waiting passengers just looked at us with smiles on their faces. I just smiled back (bukan rugi pun), drenched in sweat.

The train came, and we hopped in. I just realized that the commuter is not so disabled-friendly. The floor of the train is much higher than the platform, so it was kinda difficult to get inside if you are using a wheelchair. I never realized this before (how ignorant?). Daniel was quite edgy at first, but he soon fell asleep along the journey.

We arrived in KL Sentral about an hour later. We changed trains and it was quite packed inside the Putra LRT. Daniel was scared the first time we took the LRT a couple of weeks back and refused to sit in his stroller, but this time, he just asked me to hold his hand.

We reached Wangsa Maju Station where Nisa was waiting. Another problem: The elevator was under repair. We needed to take the staircase down. No choice. I unstrapped baby, went down the first flight of stairs, put him down, and asked him to hold a beam. He obliged again- that's Mummy's boy! As I was climbing the stairs to claim the stroller, 3 school girls came to my rescue. Alhamdulillah. They offered to bring down the stroller. Pandai cikgu dan mak bapak kamu ajar kesedaran sivik. Thank you adik-adik!

We proceeded to Melawati, where we had actually wanted to go to a particular bank but it was closed for Friday prayers. So, we had lunch at a nearby restaurant where Daniel refused to sit in the high chair. Finally, at about 1.30pm, we made our way to the Zoo.

Nisa and I were more excited than Daniel inside the Zoo. Daniel pulled off his bored look most of the time (even during the animal shows) and refused to look at the animals. Only the fishes fascinated him. Bought a Zoo t-shirt and shorts for him as a momento.

It was Nisa's and my first visit back to the zoo after a very, very long time. And we thought it lacked something. It was not as what we remembered a long time ago. Maybe it was because there were so many empty cages. We made jokes that the animals were on animal-exchange programs with overseas zoos. Maybe because it looked untidy, not well-kept. Maybe they lacked staffs and volunteers. My nose got so itchy as soon as I entered the premises. It wouldn't go away no matter how much I tried washing my nose etc. The itch diappeared as soon as we were out of the zoo. The verdict: I was allergic to something inside the zoo. But I don't remember having any itch when I visited the Chiang Mai Zoo a while back..Hmmm...

to be continued

Adventure of SuperDaniel: The Story Part II

We went for a drink afterwards to replenish all the fluids that we lost doing the walk in the zoo..hehe.. Mind you, I and Daniel had 3 glasses and Nisa had 2. Haus sangat la tu..

By Maghrib, Nisa offered to send us straight to KL Sentral. You're the best, babe! We reached KL Sentral at about 8pm. And boy! It was packed!! When we were about to walk into the commuter station, I heard the announcement saying that the train to Port Klang would be delayed for about 30 minutes. So, I thought of strolling around first. Then, suddenly another announcement came saying that the train would be arriving in another 5 minutes. Main-main kah? So, we rushed downstairs to the platform. Lucky the elevator was working fine.

But the sight that greeted us on the platform was not fine at all! It was filled to the brim! I suspected that the earlier trains were delayed, resulting in people flooding the platform. There was no way that we could board the train. When the first train arrived, a police even forbid us to join in the crowd for fear of our safety. So we passed.

But there were still hundreds of people left at the station after the first train left. The policeman was still standing next to us. Rasa selamat sikit..hihi.. Then, I saw 2 matured ladies talking to a KTM officer. Looked like they knew each other. I also saw them looking at us while they were chatting.

Then we heard the announcement that another train was coming. The officer asked the policeman to escort us to board this train. "Yahoo!" I shouted to myself. Alhamdulillah. But when the train was really approaching the station, suddenly the policeman disappeared because he was supervising the other train which was moving out to Seremban.

The officer then called out to me to follow him. The 2 ladies also escorted us. The officer asked the crowd to make way for us and asked us to stand in a place which was supposed to be where the door would be at when the train stopped. He also called another mother with her baby in her sling baby carrier. Alhamdulillah.

But alas! The train was the other type! Not the dual-door type. It was the single door at the end of the cabin type. So, we were at the wrong spot! Hahah! The crowd was already pushing and pulling at each other towards the small door. The 2 ladies dragged us to go near the officer whom was waiting at the door but failed to content the wild crowd.

The train was nearly filled already and then suddenly the officer blew his whistle and finally managed to stop the crowd. "Bagi baby lalu! Bagi baby masuk dulu!" The crown parted and we were ushered in with the 2 ladies in tow. Alhamdulillah. People inside the train also helped to pull in the stroller. Daniel freaked out because of the huge crowd inside the train, so he refused to let go of my hand.

When the train was about to move, one of the 2 kind ladies exclaimed "Alamak! Handphone I! Handphone I hilang!" Dah kecoh satu cabin. We tried dialing the phone but it was already switched off. Cepat betul dorang ni buat kerja. It was a matter of a few minutes only and it was gone. I pun cuak jugak takut I pun kena pickpocket, tapi tak dapat nak check sebab Daniel didn't want to let go of my hand and I couldn't move because of the crowd.

The KTM officer held the train and within seconds, a policeman appeared. The policeman summoned a brother standing behind the lady with a backpack. "Abang, keluar bang!" The guy looked shocked, but he obliged. Kantoi or not, I didn't know, because immediately after the guy stepped out of the train, the train moved away from the station. Drama habis! I heard the other train which was scheduled to Sentul was asked to make a turn back to Port Klang to cater for the rest of the crowd in the station.

When we finally arrived at our stop, it was about 9.30pm already. Alhamdulillah my stuffs were all intact. When I thought the action was over, I was stumped again. The train still stopped at the other side of the station! Meaning I still had to climb up the overhead crossing! Aiyoh! And nobody was in sight to help. Adui la! I tried to wave to a pakcik KTM staff on the other side of the railway tracks and asked whether anybody could help me with the stroller? He practically saw through me! Alamak..Dah la malam. So, again, no choice, I had to unstrap baby Daniel and began the slow climb up.

Suddenly, a young man wearing JTR uniform (must be from one of those IKBN or such) asked me "Kak, nak saya tolong ke?" Alhamdulillah. Allah permudahkan semua urusan hari ni. Thanks dik. Adik memang best! Semoga grad nanti dapat kerja best-best ya dik? Amiin...

The pakcik helped me to carry down the stroller for the last few steps going outside of the station. He was a bit crippled. Patutla tak dapat nak tolong. Anyway, thanks la Pakcik for your help. Allah je yang membalasnya.

Sampai rumah, terus mandi manda. And then, I caught my flu..Woohoo!

So, there you go! Adventure tak?? hehehe...

The Adventures of SuperDaniel

Nisa and I had planned this for quite a while, and last Friday, we executed it. I only had my otai camera, so we had to make do with these:


Daniel inside the morning commuter train (muka cuak)


Let me introduce to you: THE BEAR


Aunty Nisa and Daniel posing with a 'friend'


What a beautiful sight


Daniel boring tunggu Aunty Nisa gi toilet


Daniel was only excited when we were in the fish section. He managed to pull off the bored look in all the other places


"Harimau? Awwwwmm" - Daniel's favorite Q&A topic



This is the closest we can get to them without being eaten



A dear waiting for us to feed them the yummy leaves, tapi Daniel buat dekk je..



Kawanan sang kancil tengah relek-relek menghirup udara petang


Elie Pocoyo in real life




The flamingoes yang jinak dan tak takut orang. Sebenarnya kitorang yang takut kat dia sebab dia buat selamba je tak nak berpecah daripada satu kumpulan sampai kitorang takut nak lalu..hehe



I love the giraffes. Looked so surreal



These two photos were of Aldabran Tortoises. They are HUGE!


Pity them. Nak bergerak pun susah. Their feet looked like the elephants'




Berposing sebelum balik


Daniel relek je dah tido..


On the commuter train back


This photo was taken by Daniel. Tak sangka jadi..hihi..









Boy! What an adventure!! Stories in the next post.. Believe me: IT WAS AN ADVENTURE..

Crash course

I spent most of the Deepavali holiday learning... accounting! It was HARD! The last time I did ledgers and balance sheets was waaaay back in 1993 during third former's Kemahiran Hidup's Accounting sessions. And now, I need to do management account and balance sheet for my own company. I know engineering language, but accounting language: totally blank, totally zero knowledge.

Alhamdulillah, help was around. I attended a crash course by my cousin brother at his house in Semenyih yesterday. Thanks bro! Spent most of the day day, trying to update my accounts and trying even harder to grasp the concept and everything that I needed to know for my management account. We are due for audit soon, and I am very lucky that somebody was willing to help me all the way, alhamdulillah.

And I spent the whole of Friday night until the wee hour of 5am the next morning balancing my sheets. And I must say, I am quite proud of my achievement..hehehe...

A walk in the park

Daniel hates walking on his own when there are people around. Usually we had to carry him (well, most of the carrying would be done by his Ayah lah..Mummy dia tak larat) So it came to our surprise that he wanted to walk on his own that day @ KLCC.











DANIEL AND FRIENDS