Have you ever get stuck in a city, helpless? While carrying two bags of luggage and walking around aimlessly?
Technically, I am describing what pretty much happened to me two days ago. I was a prisoner in KL, or fondly known as Kuala Lumpur.
No, not the Alcatraz or Azkaban or even Penjara Pudu kind of prison. It was just a metaphorical term.
Back to what happened.
I was going off to my class as usual on a rather dark Friday morning, by using the train from Asia Jaya. 6.54am, if i remember correctly. Of course, I planned for that very day to return back to Seremban via the KTM commuter trains, after I am done with my classes at around 10am. And I promised a couple of friends of mine in Subang Jaya that we would return to Seremban together, with us meeting at the KL Sentral station.
Well, I carried a couple of bags with me. Nothing much, but it is enough to make me look like someone is on his way home. Queer thing in the morning.. isn’t it? I got a couple of passengers looking at me curiously while wondering what on earth that this guy is traveling a heck early in the morning.
So to say, my train ride was uneventful, save for me standing throughout the entire journey to Ampang Park station. All of a sudden while in the train, I received an message on the phone from from the class representative, saying, that there aren’t any classes in the morning. Let me ask you at this point, how would you feel when placed in my situation? And I checked my wallet feverishly after reading the message, checking for money. I had only RM5 left for expenditure.
Cursing the class rep silently, I stopped at the Ampang Park station to find an ATM to get some cash for breakfast (I haven’t had any). I checked the time. It was already 7.10am by the time I was walking to the ATM. I slotted in my Bank Islam card and input the PIN. Guess what, it REJECTED my card, saying my PIN isn’t correct. I was surprised and frustrated at the time and after several failed tries I took out the card and put in my CIMB account card. The machine blatantly CANCELLED my transaction, for no reason.
At that point in time, I felt completely helpless. No money, carrying the luggage. I felt like a prisoner in the heartland of KL. Fuming, I walked my way up to the taxi and bus stop. Then i was wandering aimlessly, don’t know where to go. Then I checked my watch again, it was already 7.30am. I decided to go to Damai and camp out for a train that heads to KL Sentral. Using my Touch ‘n’ Go card I went and waited, luggage in hand. I looked ridiculous, honestly.
I promptly took the train and it headed off to Damai. As i was getting ready to leave, I then saw the throngs of people waiting for the train going to KL Sentral. And that moment I saw the train came with it jam packed of passengers. I dropped my bag I hoped that at the Wangsa Maju station (which is a couple of stations after Damai) I might catch a less loaded carriage. Then it was already nearing 8am.
Guess what when I reached there. People are practically LINING up for the train. I am serious. Like KFC or McDonald’s during lunchtime. That very image snuffed out whatever I planned. I shook my head, went down the stairs and found an ATM. I was afraid my Bank Islam (that’s my study loan account) card was truly hacked, so I used my savings account, CIMB account. To my surprise, I could use it without hassle and took out RM50. Then, out of curiosity, I tried my Bank Islam card. When I inputted my PIN, surprisingly, I could withdraw cash. Cursing my luck, i removed the card and walked my way to a nearby mamak stall.
Had my breakfast there and met a couple of my friends on their way to class. Nothing much to tell here. I camped out at the mamak stall until 10am, resplendent with my luggage bags, before taking the LRT to KL Sentral to meet up with my  travel partners.
So, nice story eh, although it is a bit long..
I learned to never take things for granted and, KL is a pretty UNPREDICTABLE place.