Posts Tagged ‘Mentakab’
I Drove Around The World
Jan 2, 2009 – First work day for the year and I was driving back to work when it dawned upon me that I have actually been driving up and down the KL-Karak highway or the E8 for the past 10 years 10 months. When I did the math, I was even more amazed that an average of 250 km weekly return journey would work out to be a total of 140,750 km.
This is 3 1/2 times round the earth’s circumference of 40,000 km. This is purely the weekly return journey distance from my home in Bukit Jalil to my office in Mentakab, Pahang. I have not factored in my daily commute, my mid week trips and my outstation journeys. Then it struck me that at RM 0.20 per km for petrol consumption, I would have spent a minimum of RM 28,150 for my weekly travel.
The time for each journey would be about 1 1/2 hours in the morning and 2 hours return on Saturday afternoons due to the heavier traffic. The 3 1/2 hours spent weekly worked out to be 1,970.5 hours or a total of 82 days on the road.
I have been questioned before why I travel like I do, week in week out. Well meaning colleagues has suggested for me to move in permanently to Mentakab instead of wasting my productive time and splashing money on petrol. My superiors even doubted my loyalty as it was viewed that I was not willing to commit myself permanently in Mentakab.
Well, the answer is simple. The money and time spent is well worth keeping in touch with the world, keeping up with times, having a grip on reality. Mentakab is a very sheltered place living in its own time and oblivious to the outside world. The sacrifice I made is worth keep my feet in both worlds, the little town of Mentakab and the greater world out there. Even though I was amazed how much I have driven over the years, I have no regrets and will continue to do it if I have to.
If my superiors ever question my loyalty, with this new insight, I will just tell them that I have driven round the world three and half times for them. 
Stupid Dog, Stupid(er) Owner
Apr 30 – May & I decided to walk to the Store on a warm April evening when the antics of a dog owner neighbour almost brought me rolling down the ground laughing. The dog, a light brown mongrel came speeding like a bullet to the gate barking at us even though we were walking in the middle of the road, some 20 feet away. Next came rushing the owner, an old man in his late sixties with a little cane (those outlawed ones used for spanking your kids) and hit the dog real hard. I was momentarily shocked but then had to suppress a laugh. I was almost in stiches as I kept my cool front and continued walking.
Never seen such a stupid dog which would bark at anything that moves. Never seen a more stupid(er) owner who is training his dog not to bark. The scene was then so amusing that I just have to use the word stupid(er) as I felt it describe the scene prefectly.
I can imagine one fine day when the burglars break in and the well spanked dog said to itself; I am not suppose to bark. Ok. Just let it be!
Listening to Anwar Ibrahim
February 27, 2008 – Mentakab was buzzing with anticipation of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit for an opposition rally. I am not a fan of Anwar but curiosity got the better of me and I just had to attend this rally.
There was no way that I could stay at home when the only man who had caused Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammed endless nightmares, would be speaking blocks away.
Big Flood in Mentakab
Dec 13 – I have been living in Mentakab, Pahang for more than ten years without any major events occuring. On the day I was visiting Bangkok, the biggest flood since 1971 hit town. By the time, I returned to Mentakab on Dec 17, the roads were opened and the flood waters were subsiding. But the floods which has eluded me, had brought a lot of hardship to thousands of inhabitants.
It is really sad when you lose everything which you have worked for all your life in a flood. I know at least two persons whose houses were under 6 feet of water. No words can describe their loss and grief.
The following pictures which were taken by friends who experienced the floods in Mentakab would cast some light to this display of destruction by mother nature.
Main Street Mentakab
