teddY-risatioN™

This post is about my Saturday’s biking trip around my township since there’s quite a lot of photos (and an exciting feature - so continue reading!), so I apologise for not being able to accomodate the needs of those who use slower Internet connection.

Here’s music plug before I start!
Title: Take Me Home, Country Road (album: Poems, Prayers and Promises)
By: John Denver

I first listened to this song during my first music lesson in secondary school. My music teacher brought this John Denver CD to the class and started playing this song. I find this song rather sad, and I can relate to the lyrics pretty well because it was my first month in a foreign country and I having a great deal of homesickness. After the lesson, I ran after her and manage to borrow her CD for this song. It’ve been sitting in my laptop for 6 years! I particularly adore this line:

Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye.

Okay time to move on to the post. For this time, I’ve included something special - a marked Google map (made possible with this awesome Inline Google Map wordpress plugin) so that you’ll have a rough idea where the photos are taken - each marker represents the exact location where the particular photo is taken have fun!

Google Map that tracks my trip

*It might take a little while for the map to load, don’t worry! If you’re bored, start listening to the song I’ve plugged earlier.

Center of map

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I live somewhere here
*My approximate location, so don’t use this to find me! You’ll most probably get to the wrong house.

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Photo #1 - Sun’s Rays!
I was cycling down a small alley when a huge cloud blocked out the sun and I’ve got a fantastic view of sun’s rays filtering through it.
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Photo #2 - Pylons, the Towers of Power.
My neighbourhood is surrounded by a couple of electric pylons. When I took this photo, I was actually crossing a bridge than spans the huge monsoon drain! Of course there’s a sturdy railing separating me and the fall to eternity, don’t worry.
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Photo #3 - Huge Mansion
After crossing the monsoon drain, I took a right turn into a rather posh neigbhbourhood with an avenue lined with bungalows!
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Photo #4 - Graded Intersection
After cycling through a rather torturous uphill journey across the neighbourhood, I arrive at this awesome graded intersection at a traffic circle. It is now having the 4^th level being added that brings motorist across the congested traffic circle.
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Photo #5 - Further up the road
Further up the road (I was cycling northwards), I turned around and took a photo of the viaduct. Instead of merging with the road one level below, the town council has decided to extend the viaduct to the federal highway further north.
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Photo #6 - Life Savers
This is the local hospital called the Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC). It has saved countless of lives since it opened in 1988 (well that’s two solid decades ago!). I was a hard kid to deal with - I had so many injuries and been through so many illness when I was young. SJMC was once my second home.
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Photo #7 - Sheraton Hotel
This hotel has been part of the township for at least 8 years. Being 15 stories high, it’s one of the notable landmarks in my low-density township. I can even see it from my mom’s bedroom
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Photo #8 - Designer Home, perhaps…
The neigbourhood adjacent to the hospital is never lacking of gorgoues-looking designer homes, since the land there can be quite big and if you spent too much money eating junk food at home, you can always head for the hospital for a checkup whenever you like. Just joking. Anyway, shortly after taking this photo the two German shepards in the compound started barking wildly at me. Gee, time to run!
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Photo #9 - Skyscrapers in my township
Riding along a street in the neighbourhood, I’ve spotted this amazing sight of the skyscrapers in my township! Since I’m on top of a gentle slope, I’ve managed to get this magnificent view.
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Photo #10 - Tomoe, a Japanese Restaurant
About 4 years back, this unknown corner unit of a row of bland-looking shophouses got a total facelift, and I love the way they’ve used tainted glasses as part of their facade. Very beautiful, isn’t it? I find the facade to complement very well with the lush green natural surrounding.
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Photo #11 - Underneath the Viaduct
If you would turn 180 degrees after taking the previous photo, you’ll see the road that’s nested beneath the viaduct. They’ve recently got the road resurfaced, thus the very dark grey colour of the fresh tarmac.
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Photo #12 - My heart cringes everytime I see it
The sign reads: CANCER & RADIOSURGERY CENTRE. My heart cringes everytime I see this building - to many patients whose cancer is in its terminal stages, it means the deathbed. Or it can mean a lot of pain and suffering to those who’re undergoing chemotherapy.
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Photo #13 - Under Construction
On my way back home, I’ve decided to go nearer to the flyover that is currently still under construction look at how grand it looks, with all the big machines and safety nets.
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Photo #14 - Expressway
I cycled along the expressway on my way back. Known as the New Pantai Expressway (which roughly translates to New Beach Expressway - that’s weird, my township is at least 20km away from the nearest shore), this expressway was originally just a mud road that ends right in front of my neighbourhood.
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Photo #15 - Turning into my neighbourhood
The mud road which the expressway was once used to be a decade ago ends here. Things have surely changed a lot over the years! Anyway in case you’re wondering, the pedestrian bridge ahead is the place where I’ve done the Evening Photography set.
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Photo #16 - Huge Advertisement
They’ve built this huge advertisement board a few years back, and it elicited an extremely negative response from my neighbourhood residents, especially those who live almost directly underneath it. Currently they have a Digi (one of the few Malaysian telcom companies) advertisement slapped on it.
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Let’s start with my biking trip!

You can always refer to the Google map if you need. Oh, and you can click on the thumbnails to view the original photo in the Lightbox!

Photo #1 - Sun’s Rays! | Map »
My journey started with me cycling through the quiant neighbourhood I live in. With my camera hanging precariosuly to my right palm and using my left arm to steer my bicycle, I’m off the go for my first biking trip. I wanted to start somewhere close and familiar, not too far and devoid of the busy Saturday traffic (you know, at 10am in the morning not every driver is wide awake!). So I’ve decided to explore a little more of the township I live in. Currently having a population of approximate 1.1 million, it is one of the busiest township in the state. This is my first photo for my trip - the cloud caught my eye when it partially covered a sun, producing the so-called God’s rays, which are streaks of light filtering through the cloud.

Photo #2 - Pylons, the Towers of Power | Map »
My neighbourhood is surrounded by a couple of electric pylons. Boy they’re surely tall! In Malaysia these pylons are doom-bringers - people see them as highly undesirable and believe that the strong electromagnetic radiation they give out is extremely detrimental to nearby residents. But I seem to find some beauty in them - when I was a kid I used to see them as kind giants who bring electricity to the people. Yea I know, I was very imaginative back then. Reminds me of the film Bridge to Terabithia. When I took this photo, I was actually crossing a bridge than spans the huge monsoon drain! Of course there’s a sturdy railing separating me and the fall to eternity, don’t worry.

Photo #3 - Huge Mansion | Map »
After crossing the monsoon drain, I took a right turn into a rather posh neigbhbourhood with an avenue lined with bungalows! Here is my favourite one with a really European-like arch over the entrace and having green plants in a neat lawn. How much I wish this mansion is mine! Sorry about the rather white-washed sky - I was more concerned of the guard chasing a curious photographer away than anything else.

Photo #4 - Graded Intersection | Map »
After cycling through a rather torturous uphill journey across the neighbourhood, I arrive at this awesome graded intersection at a traffic circle. It is now having the 4^th level being added that brings motorist across the congested traffic circle. The traffic circle was constructed more than a decade back, designated just to handle small amount of traffic in the new township. Then as more new neighbourhoods are added to the township, the traffic volume increases exponentially without any corresponding improvement in the transportation system. So everyday you’ll get stuck in a nasty traffic jam when you go to and back from work. The town council relented when everyone was writing to the press about their lousy handling method, and they’ve got two new flyovers being built. And now they’re adding the third it’s getting very tall!

Photo #5 - Further up the road | Map »
Further up the road (I was cycling northwards), I turned around and took a photo of the viaduct. Instead of merging with the road one level below, the town council has decided to extend the viaduct to the federal highway further north. Maybe because there’s a horrible lack of space in this overdeveloped township, they’re forced to build a very long viaduct. I sympathise those who live very close to the viaduct - they’ll be literally eating dust and listening to noise if they continue to stay there. The roud shoulder is still under construction - I was planning to trespass into the area and get a good photo of the viaduct but the yellow mud put me off.

Photo #6 - Life Savers | Map »
This is the local hospital called the Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC). It has saved countless of lives since it opened in 1988 (well that’s two solid decades ago!). I went there countless of times - after a broken right hand, a stuck Lego piece in my nose, for a minor operation because of bacterial infection, constipation (don’t laugh!), brain concussion and etc. I was a hard kid to deal with - I had so many injuries and been through so many illness when I was young. SJMC was once my second home. And it brings back sweet memories as well - there’s this particularly sweet nurse who the kids call Aunt Shirley, she’s a veyr caring and compassionate person and yes she’s still working there!

Photo #7 - Sheraton Hotel | Map »
This hotel has been part of the township for at least 8 years. Being 15 stories high, it’s one of the notable landmarks in my low-density township. I can even see it from my mom’s bedroom the most memorable experience with this hotel is when my uncle’s family from Penang came to Kuala Lumpur for a night before heading off to Genting Highlands. I stayed over at their suite for the night, and my cousins and I fooled around in the huge but deserted swimming pool until the lifeguard chased us out at 10pm because the pool was closing. Hell yea it was fun!

Photo #8 - Designer Home, perhaps… | Map »
The neigbourhood adjacent to the hospital is never lacking of gorgoues-looking designer homes, since the land there can be quite big and if you spent too much money eating junk food at home, you can always head for the hospital for a checkup whenever you like. Just joking. The bungalows here are pretty nice, I like their exterior facade which is very modern and minimalistic. Too bad they’ve got high walls and gates to fend off prying eyes like mine - I couldn’t get a good glimpse of the neatly-kept lawn inside. Anyway, shortly after taking this photo the two German shepards in the compound started barking wildly at me. Gee, time to run!

Photo #9 - Skyscrapers in my township | Map »
Riding along a street in the neighbourhood, I’ve spotted this amazing sight of the skyscrapers in my township! Since I’m on top of a gentle slope, I’ve managed to get this magnificent view. As you can see, the storm clouds are starting to roll in, so I think it’s time for me to head home (but of course, grab a few more photos along my way back!). I love the way back because it’s a downhill journey so I didn’t really need to pedal a lot… that’s the good thing that came out of what you get for peddling rather insanely earlier on.

Photo #10 - Tomoe, a Japanese Restaurant | Map »
About 4 years back, this unknown corner unit of a row of bland-looking shophouses got a total facelift, and I love the way they’ve used tainted glasses as part of their facade. Very beautiful, isn’t it? I find the facade to complement very well with the lush green natural surrounding. Oh, and I like it how they’ve used a fake 5^th level to cover up the ugly looking water tanks. But what really strikes a cord with me is the name of the restaurant - Tomoe. If you’ve read the book Totto-chan, the little girl by the window, Tomoe is the name of the kindergarten where she grew up from a mischevious, talkative and irritating little girl to a caring and loving girl. I don’t know if the owner had this in mind when he was naming this restaurant though.

Photo #11 - Underneath the Viaduct | Map »
If you would turn 180 degrees after taking the previous photo, you’ll see the road that’s nested beneath the viaduct. They’ve recently got the road resurfaced, thus the very dark grey colour of the fresh tarmac. Although the viaduct will bring untold misery to the owners of the properties adjacent to it, there’s something good that came out of it - motorists will get shielded from elements of the harsh tropical weather, be it the scorching afternoon sun or the raging thunderstorm. My dad’s boss once had a semi-detached house nearby, and the moment he heard the news regarding the construction of the viaduct, he immediately sold his $2.2m properly. I heard recently that the prices have slipped to about $1.5m… oh mans, I feel so sorry for the new owner.

Photo #12 - My heart cringes everytime I see it | Map »
The sign reads: CANCER & RADIOSURGERY CENTRE. My heart cringes everytime I see this building - to many patients whose cancer is in its terminal stages, it means the deathbed. Or it can mean a lot of pain and suffering to those who’re undergoing chemotherapy. Personally, I’ve lost 2 close relative and friend to cancer - one being my cousin (he died at a tender age of 15) and the other being my parents’ best friend. The latter’s battle with breast, bone and lung cancer etched deeply in my memory - she was moaning in great pain when we visited her, and her husband refused to let us meet her after the first few rounds of chemo. It was really heart-breaking that she have to go through all that pain, travelling between home and the hospital wards, being force-fed with numerous pills after every meal. When she left us, we were relieved that she’s finally being released from mortal suffering and pain. I can imagine her playing with the angels, enjoying herself somewhere in heaven, a calm, peaceful, quiant, and picturesque place where all kind souls go.

Photo #13 - Under Construction | Map »
On my way back home, I’ve decided to go nearer to the flyover that is currently still under construction look at how grand it looks, with all the big machines and safety nets. I was initially reluctant to take this photo because that means I’ll have to trespass into a construction plot, plus having at least a dozen of construction workers passing off as curious onlookers. I’m sorry that the sky appears a little too white, I was too embarrassed at that time to find people staring at me and so I quickly pressed the shutter and cycled away.

Photo #14 - Expressway | Map »
I cycled along the expressway on my way back. Known as the New Pantai Expressway (which roughly translates to New Beach Expressway - that’s weird, my township is at least 20km away from the nearest shore), this expressway was originally just a mud road that ends right in front of my neighbourhood, but after so many years of development it has gradually changed into a main throughfare and finally being upgraded into an 8-lane wide expressway in 1998. It is actually a turnpike in foreign terms, because drivers are charged when they use this expressway.

Photo #15 - Turning into my neighbourhood | Map »
The mud road which the expressway was once used to be a decade ago ends here. Things have surely changed a lot over the years! Anyway in case you’re wondering, the pedestrian bridge ahead is the place where I’ve done the Evening Photography set. I rested my camera above the green direction sign to stablilise it for longer exposure shots. If I do take a bus back from Kuala Lumpur after a day of outing in the city centre, I will alight at the busstop on the opposite side of the highway and cross this bridge to get home. One day I’ll just sneak out at night, get on the bridge and snap the magnificent night view! Just wait.

Photo #16 - Huge Advertisement | Map »
They’ve built this huge advertisement board a few years back, and it elicited an extremely negative response from my neighbourhood residents, especially those who live almost directly underneath it. The property owners have problem selling their homes nearby there because the strong light that is emitted from the advertisement board will bounce off the board and get reflected on the homes underneath it. You’ll need a heavy curtain in the bedroom to block the lights out. Lucky I live 3 streets away from it, and so we don’t get affected a lot. Currently they have a Digi (one of the few Malaysian telcom companies) advertisement slapped on it. If you scrutinise carefully, the word LUAS is printed on it, which literally means WIDE in English.

The end!

I hope you like this post! so that’s all for my Saturday biking trip.