Monday blues.

5.8.2008.

Tuesday, 5th. August. I used to get Monday blues - when I worked. I didn't think the affliction would affect me when I'm retired, but it did yesterday, so I mooched around and made some trivial notes.

The trains are very popular now - they're always full, especially on weekends and school holidays. The KL Central-Kajang stretch is standing room only, as is the KL Central-Subang portion. But I notice it's mostly under 50s. Wonder why. 

The constant fixture is that the trains are NEVER punctual. KTM could mean "Keretapi Takikut Masa", and MRCB should mean "Malaysian Railway Class B". 

Hamzah "Hank" Pilus should read the article making the case for control of swiftlet farms. It said putting them near homes could pose a danger for humans because of the presence of the fungus cryptococcus neoformans in the bird droppings which is blown up in the air when the droppings dry. This fungus can attack the central nervous system and cause swelling to the brain and the spinal cord. Needless to say,it can be fatal. So, you London visitors (Malaysians always flock to London) don't open your mouth when stopping at Trafalgar Square, or you might join Lord Nelson sooner than you expect ! 

Students benefit the most from the modern user friendly buildings. You see many plug points on the walls. I saw a student happily pecking on his console, with his pc plugged in one of these terminals - free power courtesy of the landlord. 

The foreingners are taking over the country ! They're everywhere. You see them, you hear them, you even smell them. You go to a restaurant, and who serves you ? Brother Bangla. You say you want the croissant and he gives you a blank look - because you pronounce it like a Frenchman. You go to the mall, and who's the security there, a Nepalese, unsmiling, unspoken. You sit in a train, and you hear all kind of languages spoken except Malay or English. And when the musical cell phone tone rings you hear all kinds of songs you don't even know exist. I go to one golf club where they still have caddies - it's a dying breed - and it's all Indonesian. I go to another club and it's mainland Chinese. At least all of us understand Indonesian. The Chinese caddies speak only Mandarin.  Malaysian Chinese speak only their own dialects. And the reason for these foreigners here ? Young Malaysians can only work where the hours are daylight ones, and the ambiance is air-conditioned.

In the meantime I linger at the Indian bookstore, looking for "best buy" golf magazines. The magazines maybe old, but the golf lessons are ageless. This time my browsing is fruitless. Just like my search for a working cash deposit ATM in the premises - I found 4, but all signed "off line". And it's only 3 p.m. Monday.

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