My Strange Sense of Entertainment
I’ve been told, quite a number of times, that I have a strange sense of entertainment. While I do think it is a little bit strange, but it never occurred to me that it is so strange that people are so bothered about it – even when I did not bother them at all.
One of the things that I find entertaining is driving. No I’m not really much of a car geek, but the driving experience in KL is indeed entertaining – ESPECIALLY when there’s traffic jams. Yes, I find traffic jams very entertaining. Some of my colleagues frowned upon the idea of me traveling via LDP every day back and forth from Cyberjaya to Damansara Heights. They will eek at the sight of the congestion of the traffic, especially at the Sunway toll gate.
Here’s where the fun starts – you’ll see human behaviors. Most of the time they’re impatient to go through the toll. Trying to get ahead of everybody and reach their destination as fast as they can. Wow I never recalled people that is THAT eager to pay the toll and come to work – most of the time people tries to avoid tolls and work! During this haste, there’s still entertainment. On a very lucky day, I get to see how a Proton Wira got stucked with a small lorry by the sides, thanks to the fact that both are trying to cut into lanes but do not want to negotiate (give way) to each other. They effectively blocks two tollgate lanes just like that. Of course, they then get out of their vehicles and start blaming each other.
I never had any good luck with BMWs. I love those cars, and not because they’re expensive, classy or a symbol of status, I like them for the built and technology included (yes I know it’s not the most advanced). Most of the BMWs that I saw on the road are driven by middle-aged women, and I can assure you, if you drive side by side or tailing them, you can be entertained forever.
How so? Well, one of the ‘classic‘ that I kept seeing everywhere is the “late decision technique” (note the quotes) – drive on the fast lane above 120km/h and then slam on the brake hard when you’re 50m from the tollgate, sways to the left rapidly, honking all possible other vehicles that will collide with you (even if it is rightfully their lane), and then make sure you enter the leftmost CASH lane (note: on most toll gate arrangement, the SmartTAG and Touch-N-Go lanes are placed rightmost).
Some of the drivers have very positive attitude in life. They have the spirit of “Malaysia Boleh” embedded in their heart, and they practice it everyday. I would normally salute these people – except that when they signify plain stupidity and for a totally wrong reason. Let me give you an example based on what I normally see everyday – yet another BMW (told you I had no luck with them!), also speeding into the toll gate. But this time they’re a bit better, in the sense that they don’t change lane at the last minute and endanger everyone else – but they drive straight into the SmartTAG lane, the lane of haste. But here’s where the problem begins. They don’t have the SmartTAG device installed! Instead, the driver stops the car in that lane, and wind down the window, and hands out a RM5 note to the unmanned toll booth. What surprises me is the driver never bothered to 1) look at the lane’s signboard (it is clearly signed), and 2) see if anyone is actually manning the booth!
Oh I’m not biased against BMW!
Naturally, the stupid acts of these people would anger, frustrate and annoy the hell out of the other people around them. But for some odd reason, they always entertain me no matter what (also if I’m the victim, I’m still entertained anyways). I don’t see a point in getting frustrated over matter that you can’t solve, so why not relieve the pressure and have fun instead? :D
p/s: Oh and if you’re annoyed by those “can’t wait” drivers who always try to kiss your car’s rear when driving in daytime, just turn on your headlights (this will turn on the tail lights too, remember? :D). Most of them will be fooled into thinking that you’re braking. So either they panicked, slammed the brake and drive into something, or they’ll slow down. Either way, they won’t be on your tail for a while. Lightly tapping on your brake might work too, as brake pedals usually have some amount of ‘free play’ position – where the brake is not engaged yet, but often the tail lights will lit. Of course, a better way is to move to another lane, unless if you’re sure you’re fast enough!
[tags]traffic, malaysia, jam, idiot, rush, stupidity, road, car, bmw, hobbies, entertainment[/tags]
