Troll-Drivers

Everything is derived from the nature, even synthetically made, the idea were first inspired by Mother Nature. Car itself, were first powered by steam and it was said that the first steam-powered vehicle was built by Ferdinand Verbiest; somewhere around 1672. It was then meant to be just a toy to entertain the Emperor.

From a mere toy that cannot carry passengers or load, it transformed into a vehicle which later benefits the whole world. With that, we no longer need horses or donkeys to carry either us or our luggage but we can dump everything into the Car and jump into the seats and then drive awayyyy (for both vacation, convenience or crime purposes).

Innovations were added to the original idea, from Europe to Russia and back and finally a Swiss inventor managed to improve the whole design with the birth of the first Internal Combustion Engine. It was fueled by hydrogen and oxygen and let's give him a round of applause for his environmental-friendly masterpiece (which although was a failure but nontheless, it is environmental-friendly).

Many tried and failed attempts were taken and finally one person make it. Karl Benz built a vehicle powered by four-stroke cycle gasoline engine (expensive and to some; prestigious stuff, ruins the environment along with other things). So, after Benz, came Daimler but as history was written, Benz merged with Daimler due to economy downturn and soon a couple of years down the road, names like Ford and Citroen popped up. Interestingly when I google a photo of a Ford model, the photo reminds me of the go-round-the-park 'train trail' in Genting. I was, at most...5? Maybe, and that was the 'train-compartment' which I rode. Cute stuff I call.

Many people enjoy car ride tremendously and ever since that little toy car existed back in the 1600s, it has changed the life of mankind and how history was created. Today, especially in Malaysia where the public transport system is pretty retarded,private car remains the most convenient and luxurious way of travelling.

Imagine to have to take the LRT/monorail which drops you miles away from your destination and that forced you to walk miles to your destination. You walk in the rain, under the sun, or may be robbed en route..etc etc. Now, I wouldn't say Malaysia is not a dangerous place, in fact; all places have its own level of safety -- it's just that there are much rooms for improvements in this case.

Among all the public transport, I would rate monorail being the best among the 3. Star LRT is fine but it would bring you to a station where the RapidKL buses would take forever to come by. Or, they would drop you at a place it is dominantly surrounded by massive amount of low-cost flats. I wouldn't deny that LRT will be able to lessen the burden of the lower income groups but hey, they have to take care of the middle class too. Being in the middle class of the society doesn't mean that these people are not struggling. Putra on the other is not much better. My hatred goes to the one station called the Melati Station. For the convenience of both students and residents, a station was built there but I would say that the planner did not take their construction planning any further than building the station. The stretch of road from the station to the college is poorly maintained and there is very little room left for the usage of pedestrians. No road and not even an overhead bridge.

Now, don't even get me started on the KTM. I have not been taking it ever since I've got a car but the very last I used, I was to wait for 2 hours for the train to arrive to take me to MidValley.

That's not the worst of the rail transport system but the inability of all these trail to meet at a common point for commuters to efficiently and safely change track and head to their respective destination. Hong Kong's MRT is a very good model to be set as an example. They have got a good system and timing that the station is convenient to all at a reasonable rate. No one gets late and no one gets stranded. One card for all transportational usage. Oh yea, we do have a touch and go...convenient but they charge you for the convenience. Rm 0.50 for top-up at automated teller and RM 0.50 for using it for parking purposes. (Speaking of which, the service doesn't extend to regional parking. You've got to pay at the machine; RM 0.60 as a minimum).

So, you see, having a car is considered a luxury when you do not take the fuel price into calculation - first. Be it a Kelisa, Subaru, Honda, Toyata, whatever brand it is, as long as it is a gasoline powered four wheel vehicle, it gets you to where you want to go: shop, school, work, holiday, yum cha...etc etc. It's like a part of you, your robotic limbs. Like a Bumblebee that protects you like no other when you are on the road. You cry when it gets injured (due to the repairing cost and possibly the inconvenience of being without a car for days or weeks), It shield you from terrible drivers (women drivers...my SLK got bumped by this lady -- again).

On my part, I really enjoy driving. I am not that fantastic with driving (woman driver but hey, I'm skillful to an extent) but I'm ok and I'm driving OK. Even with the hefty cost on the fuel, I still enjoy being in a car, being the driver or passenger alike. I especially love to be the passenger during a rainy day or the driver during the night.

However to be able to enjoy the whole driving process owes it a lot to road etiquette. It is like playing MahJong. It says a lot when you do certain gestures or utter certain words during the driving process. But then again, nowadays, a majority of drivers out there who claimed that women were the lower species in car handling, have very low sense of road etiquette. Perhaps, they pay so much attention in sharpening their driving skills that they forgot entirely about their manners.

In a case when you are trying to move onto the middle-lane (where the driver on that lane is unable to make space for your car due to space constraint) on a three-lane road in order to avoid blocking the whole stretch of the left lane during a stop before the traffic lights, those on the left lane (who possibly been using that road since they started living in that area) should be considerate and understand. The left lane is for those who wanted to make a Left turn while both the Middle and the Right lane are for those to go straight ahead.

It is rather obvious when they do not understand and express it out in physical form. They will Honk like if they have never Honked before or they roll down their window, slow down a little, and Smack you side window and drive off (I'd say, this is the lowest of all mammals as they chickened-out and run off instead of stopping their car aside, show their face and be daring to admit why are they doing it). Some others would give you their Golden Finger and muttered/shouted at your direction.

On another hand in a case where cars were parked on a the left lane on a two lane road which is bumpy and in a sad condition (pot holes and rough), an inconsiderate driver from behind would flash both his headlights and finger at you for driving at 40km/h. Then again, the road is bad and narrow, I am wondering how fast that 'super race car' wants to go at that kind of road? He sped off once he got a chance but we meet again at the traffic light that is 50km or less away. He dared to glare at me with the kind of look that says, "Should you press your accelerator, I would have beat the light!"

Damn right. He is a Biatch with pea-size brain and a malfunction penis stuck at the wrong end.(Ah..so that explains why he barked)

So, it all boils down to the few things we always hear on the radio: Be courteous on the road.
You may scold and curse if you have the rights to but it's better to keep your cool. Overtake if the car in front of you is slow, give way if you know you are slow or leave home slightly early to avoid being late or get stuck in a jam.

Practice it as an adult and your next generation will appreciate the teaching.