I am BACK!

September 24, 2006 at 11:15 +08:0009 (Travel)

Hei I am back!

I survived Petaling Jaya, affectionately know as PJ!  

I was a MICE in PJ for 5 days and got a few stories to tell… I can’t say my experience is typical of a MICE (meeting, incentive tour, convention and exhibition) tourist but there are a few surprises that I like to share here. Some regrets though but then too few to mention. Was in this part of Bolehland for 5 days last week chasing a certificate in infrared photography. There were 2 Nigerians, 2 HK, 3 Thais, 2 Eastern Malaysians, 4 Western Malaysians, 1 Pakistanis and moi in this class of 15. Trainer was a Swedish angmoh based in Thailand. Paper chase… little dot favourite pastime and survival need in this competitive jungle we called city garden. A little “bomb” waited for the class at the end of the course as we had to sit for an exam to get our certificate. Boys! I was totally stressed throughout the week juggling study and a list of bloggers people to meet. Surprise no: 1, didn’t expect to see such a diversified nationality in this course. 

I stayed with a friend who lives in Kota Kemuning. This area on the outskirt of PJ is like a little oasis and the layout is so well planned out, it is near to impossible to get lost here. The landscape is resort-like with lake and tree-lined boulevard and just the perfect welcome for a tired soul driving back at the end of the day. For the lack of a better word, the place setting & layout is not unlike a country club. But the familiarity stops here as people here are really close and friendly. My friend’s house has a public park in front of it and people come out from their houses in the evening and hang out in the park…. The ambience is very much like in the olden days in the kampong! It has this kampong (village) feel of neighbourliness and familiarity. People can’t be friendlier than this. Can you imagine this? My friend’s neighbour kids will go to his house to borrow his badminton rackets to play badminton in the park. Don’t see this type of behaviour in city living anymore. Everyday when I was there, I would do some horsing around with my friend’s and his neighbours’ kid in the park before dinner. My friend will be there too, everyday, playing with his 4-year old kid. This scenario breaks my stereotype of city living where people seldom stay outdoor and generally, both parents hardly see their kids before sunset… Surprise no: 2. 

I am pleasantly surprised by the traffic and the lesser known PJ food but this will be in another entry. I also have to register my gratitude to bloggers who had in one way or another provided a welcome break to my stressful stay here. It will be insincere to just do a cursory mention of them here so I will also hold my horse back on this one for a later post.