Returned Home.

#0DCB99

Phew! - Just returned home from Johor Bahru. No gridlock, No breakdowns and No accident. Thank God we're safe.

We left at sunset, yesterday.

(Uncle Fred's 8 hour surgery in Singapore is scheduled for later this morning.)
On the way down to J.B., my aunt, my girlfriend and I stopped to eat àt the A&W restaurant ON the PLUS overhead bridge at Ayer Keroh in Melaka state.

Later, as we approached an area just north of J.B., there was a police speedtrap / roadblock. Many cars were stopped and drivers booked. When it was our turn, the officer looked at the list he was holding, looked at me and waved us on. Glad I learned the importance of using the SEATBELT...and to drive CORRECTLY many years ago, when I used to own a car.

Arrived at Claude's house in Taman Daya at approx. 23:45hrs.

A few minutes later, it was time to leave. Waved goodbye to Miss Day. She looked kinda sad.

Hoped to find a gas station which was on the same route back to the North-South highway. Didn't dare to drive around ìn a totally unfamiliar place, in the dead of night. Found one...Filled 40 Ringgit worth of Shell unleaded "petrol".

The time was 12 midnight.
Back on the dark highway, many vehicles exceeded the 110km speed limit, as usual. These included a number of Singaporean vehicles and two Thai vans. "Wow...pretty far away from Thailand", I thought to myself. At one point, there were about 8 or 9 Express buses behind and ahead. My eyes hurt a little, from the bright headlights in the mirrors. There was lightning up ahead in the distance which produced a slight drizzle. (The lyrics from"Hotel California", come to mind.)

The Getz handled and performed very well. I had no trouble driving it, at all.

The only trouble encountered, was upon re-entering Kuala Lumpur city, às there was this Silver-Grey colored Mercedes Benz bearing registration number: WLE9896, which was swerving all over the Jalan Istana road and braking for no reason. Probably D.U.I.

Driver appeared to be alone in the car. Fortunately at that hour, there were no other vehicles on the road. Anyway, I kept at a safe distance in anticipation, íf he was going to run off the road or hit the guard rail on the median. Finally, when he turned off into the exit lane next to the istana (The king's palace), which leads to the Federal Highway, we caught a glimpse of him. He seemed happy. (Well, Do drunks always have to look sad?) The richer humans get, the more wicked they become.

-
Toll on PLUS highway, from Sungai Besi to Johor Bahru and back:

41 Ringgit 30 sen x 2 ways = 82.60

Toll charges on north J.B. highway:

2 Ringgit 10 sen x 2 ways = 4.20

Toll charge near Eastin Hotel, Jalan Damansara:

1 Ringgit.

Mileage done from the tíme I drove from here to J.B. and back home: 676.2 kilometers.

Yesterday, I was right when I mentioned about being back home Before Sunrise. And only NOW do I feel the stress, aches and muscle pains at the back of my neck, left knee and right foot. Yes, Right foot indeed...from stepping on the gas pedal for so many hours.

ßeen àwake now for 18 hours. Time to go to sleep.