Gnap - Whatever..

Yesterday once more...

Posted by Gnap @ Mon 04 Sep, 06, 12:04AM under Ngam2 Cham2
This blog has been viewed by 310 visitor(s)

I used to attend Convent Primary school near a rubber estate. D huge field behind d sch was surrounded by tall rubber trees. At d far end of d field, behind d shadows of trees n bushes, was a solitary attap hse. Rumour had it dat a yellow-eyed potianak lived there. Every Mon, Wed n Fri; after sch (1pm) n b4 track training (4-6pm), I’d go peep - hoping to catch glimpse of our “potianak” (at dat age, i hadn't yet learnt d words "fear" or "horror"). But what I found was a very old lonely malay woman (70ish or so I guess). She was d so-called pontianak. I liked chatting with her, n occasionally helped her sweep d leaves outside her house. We got along fine - my pontianak n I. Mom never knew abt this.

When I was in form3, I used to go for Bahasa tuition classes in another hsing estate every Thurs evening. I’d need to take a 10min bus-ride to n fro. After tuition, there’d b this old man who’d always hang around d bus stop, n we’d hv long chats while I waited for my bus home. Sometimes, I’d let a bus or 2 pass, bcos we’d been too engrossed in our topic of discussion. Mom never knew abt this.

During A-levels, I’d walk ~20km home fr school, alone, instead of taking a bus, bcos I din like sitting around waiting for one. I liked walking n taking in sights along d way. Mom din mind.

Some yrs ago, when I was single, I’d sometimes drive home alone 3am in d morning after goin out with frens. I’d hike up Bukit Pasir (near EQ) 6am every wkend morning, b4 sunrise, alone. I’d drive 450km south-wards (balik kampung) almost every other weekend, alone. I was always surrounded by people, so these were moments I enjoyed – being in my own company (there's somethin empowering abt it). Mom din like this, but she had no choice.

Life was so very blissful then. I never worried much.

Today, I think I’d faint, if I had a daugther n she did any of d above…. What if that old woman was a Mona Fandey? What if the old man was a child molester? What if someone abducted her on her walk home? What if she got carjacked driving home alone at nite, or even in broad daylight along d north-south highway? What if …. ~endless possibilities~ I’m not being paranoid 'ere. These crimes r happening everyday - anytime, to anyone - especially women. You read it in d papers.. - hear it in the news. Lots of ppl still don’t feel d real fear yet. I do now, bcos I was robbed in broad daylight in a private hospital carpark not so long ago. I'm thankful I only lost a handbag (din see it comin or what hit me, but in a split 2nd I was lying on d road - thank God my head landed on my arm. :P). Now, I almost never go out alone, except to work.

The world today is no longer as safe as I remembered it to be. If we value life, we have to make all sorts of precautionary measures. Measures that take away d simplest pleasures in life, like getting to know an old man, or taking a nice walk to enjoy d view u pass by. Isn’t it ironic? That in valuing n protecting life, you can no longer live life to the fullest…

I swear. If I had 1 single wish that will surely come true, I’d wish for a peaceful world, free of crime/terror. Alas… that’s too much to ask.

leave me a message

	Gnap @ Wed 06-09-06 10:40AM Yep. Sgp ain't perfect, but far better den here. Certainly won't rule out possibility of movin dere 1 day. Meanwhile, we all take care, ya. N stay in touch with GOD always!!

	Guest @ Tue 05-09-06 10:42AM the answer to all ur woes: Live in Singapore! Best in class safety, public transport, facilities, the list goes on..

	madman @ Mon 04-09-06 01:52PM I totally agree with KKWife on this one: "prisoners even in our own homes"...

	gnustiy @ Mon 04-09-06 01:22PM I sincerely hope that your wish will come true. It's my wish too. Let alone the world, I think that the citizen delegates in Malaysia should do something to curb the crimes instead of fighting on who should be the next CM of Penang, why the scenic bridge project was halted, pin-pointing other parties of taking advantage when ARM-NO is at their weakest era...bla bla bla. While far down below the hierarchy, the people we paid for civil security are actually acting like robbers, scavenging for timid civilians who once in a while forgot to tie their seat belts despite the fact that kidnapping of young teenage girls, snatch thefts, touts taking tourist for a ride from KLCC to Kuala Lumpur for RM500...bla bla bla. ~Peace~

	Gnap @ Mon 04-09-06 12:45PM BH, Wiaol... go to my post "Room52 Update", u'll know.... :)

	BH @ Mon 04-09-06 12:15PM Blindfolded, your blog empty...can't figure out who you are, sorry :)

	Big D @ Mon 04-09-06 10:26AM Sigh! We all do wish for it but the world is not as what we used to know. I recall being able to cycle to school but I don't even dare to cycle..2 risky.. guess that's why they call it '..BACK in D GOOD OL' DAYS...' Peace 2 y'll

	Blindfolded @ Mon 04-09-06 09:45AM And yeah, Gnap will have all the protection from King and Archangel! :-)

	KKWife @ Mon 04-09-06 09:27AM I wish our kids could enjoy the things that we enjoyed back then during those good days...now we are practically prisoners even in our own homes - double padlocked front grill door & double bolted wooden door. Where's freedom ? All this to protect the lives of our loved ones..

	Blindfolded @ Mon 04-09-06 09:21AM You're lucky girl. I kena once threatened to give up RM50 to a rascal when I traveled alone in a bus (when I was 16), and that happened in Ipoh. I met a gay molester in MBI swimming pool about 10 years back (of course I know how to defend myself back then! :-)) As my parents hinted, it seems that all these terrible happenings increased tremendously over the past 3 years, and it happened mostly on chinks. I wonder why... On a hopeful side, let's live on our promise that God will protect us lest "our feet hit the stone". I heard testimonies that a prayerful and righteous lady is saved from a rape case, just because the attacker saw two 7' tall men (they were angels) following her as bodyguards! God is good! :-) P.S. Ethan, long time no see nor hear from you lar...

	kusanagi @ Mon 04-09-06 09:14AM with the spate of crime activities thus far, mortality rates has been surging like there is no tomorrow. Something must be done.

	BH @ Mon 04-09-06 12:55AM WC, I fully share your sentiments. Today's world is just too convoluted and unsafe. I used to cycle around the whole of Penang in what I would consider today a dangerous activity. As scouts, my friends and I used to go camping and hiking in weird places. I used to rebel when my parents didn't allow me to attend certain scouting functions. I rebelled again when my parents didn't allow me to ride a motorcycle. Today, I just cannot imagine or allow my precious kids to do any of the above. Being overprotective seems the better options these days. Life is just too precious...