Note to all readers: When I write Malaysian taxi drivers, I don't mean all of them, just some of the 'er~hemm' more unscrupulous ones that I had the misfortune to encounter when I was in KL.
I'm going back to Malaysia in 3 weeks' time, i.e. on the 19th July. Now, all of you are going to start asking, "But hey, isn't that a Thursday? Don't tell me you're planning to skip classes?? *eyes widening in pure horror*” I know, I know, I have to admit I'm no angel in this compartment, but I miss my country, mate! Especially all the 'cheap' food and cool shopping malls which I think are, believe it or not, more hip than the ones in Tokyo. I have to admit, I don't really like their sense of fashion here and not to mention the exorbitantly priced items on sale here. Trust me, you'll exhale deeply in shock when you glance at the price tag (while converting those yen into ringgit mentally) and pass out, not waking up from deep coma until the next millennium. Okay, that is so exaggerated but whatever...
Okay, as I was saying, I'm really looking forward to going back to Malaysia but in KL, one need to get around right? And what other means of transportation to use other than the train (which moves at a snail's pace if compared to even the slowest train Japan) or *gasps* TAXI!!!!!
For a country developing so fast, it is indeed surprising that Malaysia hosts one of the worst taxi systems in South-East Asia. Okay, let's not compare Malaysia with Indonesia or Thailand or Philippines or Vietnam for that matter. But look at Singapore! I've read so many stories of Singaporeans being cheated by KL taxi drivers that I hang my head in shame every time I think about it. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure not all you taxi drivers put there are crooked but a good majority sure are because (I'll get to this later) I myself have been conned many times in the past 2 years.
By the way, I thought Malaysia is more developed that the aforementioned countries in SEA (excluding Singapore of course). Therefore, the public transport system should be better, right??
Anyway, the most common way for these scumbag taxi drivers' to rip their innocent passengers off their money is of course by sabotaging the meter. I mean, why put a meter there when you clearly want to overcharge them? Just name the price and if they want to pay, so be it. But no, the taxi associations have to go and boast about their 'good' services because their taxis have meters that have been obviously been rigged.
There was this time me and 2 other friends were coming back from KLCC having watched the movie 'Casino Royale'. As usual, we took a cab back because, hello??, it was the cheapest means of transportation around and who in their right mind would take the LRT and be like sliced tuna in cans?
Okay, let me make this clear, a 'normal' ride from KLCC to my hostel in Setapak Jaya usually only takes around RM6, maximum RM8. But that day, we were having a heated argument about the movie and then, halfway through the ride, I realized something wrong with the meter. Yea, 'I' had to realize it, not my other friends. It was only halfway through the ride and the meter was already past RM11.
!!!!!!!!
Yes! I know! That was clearly a blatant rig-off by the Indian (no racism intended) driver dude but hey, what can we say? And then, making full use of our Japanese, I asked them, in Japanese, that there is something terribly wrong with the meter. And then we looked around for the driver's particulars like most cabs usually have in front of their cabs but there was none. So what could we do? We're just a bunch of uni students, right? So when we got out, I quickly took down the taxi's plate number and lodged a complaint to the complaints hotline. But like any usual government hotline, I doubt any action was taken.
Crooked sonofab***h!!!!!!! I was so pissed I wanted to kick the cab's door when I closed it X(
And then there was this time when my friends wanted us (me and a friend) to 'tapao' something back from MacDonald's. And, let me stress this: NORMALLY, taking food into the taxi has become a norm for us because not all of us go out during weekends, right? And that fateful day, the assh**e of a taxi driver just starting preaching (actually more like scolding. Yes, I mean it! He raised his voice and all!) about how we're not supposed to bring food into taxis and that we would make the drivers feel hungry and not able to concentrate on their oh-so-important driving.
Sure, I wouldn't mind not bringing it into your sacred taxi because I sure don't want to get into an accident or anything. BUT CAN YOU PLEASE MIND YOUR G*D**N TONE AND SPEAK A BIT MORE POLITELY??? Hello? There wasn't a 'No Food or Drink' sticker on your taxi windows the last time I checked, so just quit it, ok??
Even after we apologized profusely, he continued to nag "Yadda, yadda..." and I said to my friend in Japanese (once again, Japanese proved to be one hell of a useful language) "What's wrong with this 'pakcik'?" I mean, it wasn't even Ramadan or anything plus it was already dark so even if it is Ramadan, its buka puasa time so there's only one other explanation for this:
He's having PMS.
And these taxi 'incidents' don't end here.
There are many cab 'companies' in KL where you can call and they send a cab to your location. Ok, here's the dig. There's this time when several of us were stranded at this place called 'KL Performing Arts Center (KLPAC)' and there were no cabs available. Thus, we had to call one of those many companies I know and request for a cab.
This company (I won't mention the name for fear of being sued or whatever) was really like really popular among KL-ians. You know, having many taxis under their wing and crap. Their receptionist was like way rude to me. It was something like this:
Me: Can you please send a cab to the KL Performing Arts Center?
Receptionist: HAH??
Me: Can you please send a cab to the KL Performing Arts Center? It's in Sentul Park.
Receptionist: Where is that? Wait.
And I was put on hold like forever. I wouldn't have minded but hey, it's only MY PHONE BILL THAT I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT!!!!!! And then, after ages of waiting,
Receptionist: I'll get back to you later. Can I have your phone no please?
And after that she hung up. Then, after like 10 minutes, she FINALLY called.
Receptionist: Sorry, there are no taxis available.
Then she hung up! It was so abrupt ok? And I was still staring at my handphone in shock . Great service, all right!
And then, there's this bad habit of taxi drivers to be really damn choosy of the place they can bring their customers. Sometimes I have to ask several (more than 5 drivers, sometimes) drivers before they finally give me the thumbs up. What's wrong with this picture!!!! Malaysia is going to be a developed country soon! Why are there still so many barbaric people out there???
Oh, yea, before I forgot, there was this time when I first came to KL. I asked the driver to bring me and my friends back to our hostel. That time I was still new to KL. BUT NOT THAT IDIOTIC TO NOT KNOW THE WAY BACK TO MY OWN HOSTEL!!!!!! The driver took the long way back. He could have driven there straight but he had to use the highway. The difference in fares is like RM7 you know! What, do I look like a stupid Sarawakian girl who has the words "CHEAT ME" stamped in red across my forehead is it? It really pisses me off to be cheated by taxi drivers! And don't even get me started on the budget airline's services in Malaysia.
Once in a while, I do come across kind and friendly taxi drivers who, upon finding out that I am a Sarawakian student in foreign KL, would be more than happy to offer a smile that says 'Welcome to KL' but these occurrences are really those once in a blue moon kinda thing.
One thing is for sure, consumerism in Malaysia is dead. And Malaysians are all so ignorant to consumer rights. I don't really like comparing my own country with Japan but once I came here, I really wished that Malaysians could be more like Japanese. It's the mindsets of Malaysians, not technology that is the reason why it's hard for us to develop. This kind of 'Stone-Age' mentality that saddens me at times.
And knowing that when I go back to my own country, I have to face this harsh reality, I find myself wishing that we could just change this 'culture'. That way, after finishing my studies here in Japan, I can still consider going back to my homeland.
I took a what seemed to be a normal pic of the interior of Japanese train but, unfortunately (well, unfortunate for the smart-ass who is my mortal enemy, but for me, rubbing my hands in glee...) something unexpected turned up in the pic. LOL. Can't see it? Here, lemme enlarge it for your benefit...
So damned dirrrty k? Yikes! Warning to all Malaysians: Please don't do that on the train lest you want to embarrass all your fellow Malaysian students. Ewww...
Finally reached Nogi town. So small and quaint. Just like Sarikei.
A blur-faced me in a cam-whoring pic with the 'landmark' of Nogi behind=>
Nogi has lots of Japanese traditional houses with bonsai in front ^o^
More bonsai
And even more bonsai...
And the journey in search of the Town Municipal Center(NMC as you know, SMC, lol...) continues. Notice something in this pic? Nope? Here, let me show you in the next pic...
It's a bit blurred [cos, hello~, I took the pic while trying to catch up with the guys :-( ]
Finally arrived at the NMC!!!
Bigger than Oyama's Municipal Council? Definitely NOT!!!
The look on my face says 'Support Pirates' (Not da DVD cetak rompak pirates kinda pirates la of coz ;-P)
Bought this at a nearby convenient store. POTC's limited edition hp chain!
The udon here is so damn nice lo~
Forgot to take pics of the udon but at least I know the name so I can come again, which I highly doubt ~_^
Group photo at Nogi's monument @_@
