A HijabMan Sandwich In LRT Putra Or How To Survive A Train Ride in Kuala Lumpur At Rush Hour
It was 7:30 AM, on Monday when I met Uncle Bob, as little Faaris called him. Uncle Bob is the taxi ( teksi! ) driver that gets my friend A.‘s’s family to wherever they need to go.
In this case, Uncle Bob dropped me off at a train station so I could take the LRT Putra back into downtown Kuala Lumpur.
If you’ve never been on a train in KL during rush hour, and want an authentic work-day experience, go for it. Five trains passed me by until I was able to squeeze myself onto one with my large backpack. New York Subways have nothing on KL, no joke.
The first few stops were a bit torturous, but nothing out of the ordinary, as I was stuck in the middle somewhere squeezed between about three different men. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, I moved as close to the door as I could.
The sweetest spot on one of these trains is against the door. Facing the door is best, so you don’t have someone sandwiching you in an uncomfortable position.
Specifically, you should stand near the side of the door that corresponds with the train’s direction. This way, you have your own personal fan. The cracks between the door and the wall of the train are not air-tight, so a nice breeze keeps you cool while everyone else sweats it out.
I tried to maintain that position for as long as I could, stepping off to let people out, but always coming back to the spot right up next to the door.
Unfortunately, I lost the spot as a large number of folks squeezed on at KLCC. So many that I ended up in the worst position— the nook near to the door, facing outward. Needless to say, someone was pressed up against the front side of my body for the remainder of the trip- along with the hundreds of extra pounds of force that were sandwiched up against her.
To reiterate, the safest place on the packed LRT of Kuala Lumpur during rush hour is against the side of the door that corresponds with the direction of your travel.
This has been a public service announcement from a sweaty, stinky, and happy HijabMan.
Now, off to Cameron Highlands to dance in the tea plantations and pretend I am Aamir Khan
Did I just write that out loud?
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Fatima at 20 April 09 :: #
LoL!! Nyla and I gave a lecture this past weekend to a bunch of Muslim high school kids about pursuing the arts as a career. We gave you as an example and talked about how you’re still globe-trotting. :)
A at 21 April 09 :: #
Uncle Bob, the friendly taxi driver who has Australian accent.
why amir khan? why not shah rukh khan?