After reading car troubles from Jasmine & Jess blogs, I would like to tell my bad experiences.

Driving License

I took my driving license when I was 18. I didn’t pay any kopi-o, legitimate license. *saint* I took like 10 hours lessons before going for the test. You wouldn’t believe what happen on my first test. As I was reaching the final route, 1 min away from the driving test location, this car came from nowhere came crashing onto my L plate car from the side. *BANG*. The driver was a Japanese lady. I was stunt, I didn’t move. My driving invigilator went out and talked to her. After that, my driving license was history. After 1 month, my driving instructor called me and asked me whether do I want a second change. He asked me to take at least 2 more hours. I did and took the test again. I passed!! Hooray!

First Car

My first car was a Satria Auto 1.6, yeah the ugly looking green car. I was 24 when I bought that car and never drove since I got my driving license. After 6 months of driving my Satria, I smell petrol. As I was sending it for service, I told the Proton mechanic about it. He said he will fixed it for me. He changed the entire petrol tank. One fine day, as I was pumping petrol, the dreadful smell came. I look at the bottom of my car, petrol were spilling all over the floor. Fortunately, my car engine was off. It could have exploded. The station attendant, move my car to the side while I called the Proton mechanic. At that time, my work place was near the Proton service centre. He came and I told him what happen. He drove the car back to the service centre to fix. I was amazed that he still dared to drive while the tank is leaking. I took a cab back to my office.

First Tyre Punctual

I went for an IRC gathering, was waiting for some friends near the HELP institute, old immigration place. I parked the car and I realized my back tyre had no air. Fortunately my friends came and 2 kind gentlemen helped me to change tyre. Funny thing was I only met them for the first time.

First Major Accident

As I was travelling on Federal highway, someone made an emergency brake. I guess you know what happened, I was sandwiched in between. The van behind me, his brake was not working. It was dreadful, not because of the accident, it was mostly not having a car. *Geram* My car was sent to workshop to fix. I had to suffer taking public transport for a month. The worst is chasing the car insurance to pay.

First Time Driving In US

I went to US on a business trip. My company provided me with a rented car with GPS. After a few drive, I got used to left hand drive and driving on right side of the road. There is also a peculiar way of driving at the junction, first come first go policy. It is very orderly and do not require any traffic lights.

Anyway, I was happily driving one day, about 5 minutes I smell something burning. Guess what? I forgot to release the hand brakes. The hand brakes were located on the left side, near the window and you have to pull it. I didn’t get used to those type of hand brakes. Fortunately it is a rented car.

Nothing pretty much happen after marriage, no more car troubles. *Smiling, Grinning from ear to ear* My hubby saves all my car troubles.

Last Laugh

My brother and my hubby both cannot start the car. Both call the mechanic. Both got scolded because both started the car when the gear wasn’t on neutral or park. It happen at different time and place.

One day, I found out that Emily has a good sense of direction like me. She was at MPH in Gurney Mall, not as big as the one in MidValley of coz, probably 1/3 of the size, maybe smaller. She wondered around on her own. She walked so fast and didn’t realize mummy was behind or she was lost. She just walk and walk, she went pass 6 to7 shelves. She didn’t even look scare, just happily browsing through. I was hiding behind the shelves and overlooking what she is doing. I was caught, she turn around and saw me. She smiled. I asked her where is daddy? She walked back to where she came from without mummy guiding her.

She reminded me of my childhood. My family went to Japan for a vacation. I was only 11+. We went on the tour. At night time, the tour guide took us all to the shopping arena and it was free and easy. I wonder off on my own without my family. The shopping arena was about 10-15 minutes walk from the hotel. I browse around for a while on my own and I thought I had enough, wanted to head back to the hotel. Now this is in Japan, if I get lost, I will not know how to ask for direction as everyone spoke Japanese. I didn’t even remember the hotel name. As I was walking home, I saw my family. They were lost and didn’t know which direction to go. They wanted to take a cab back to the hotel. I told them the hotel is just a short distance away. They argued and say that they have been walk for more than 30 minutes. It is so funny I had to take them back to the hotel.

On the first day of my arrival to Sydney, I went to the city on my own. At that time, my sister was working there, she had to work, no time to take me around. I took a bus to Circular Key where the Opera house is. Actually there is nothing much there except for the Opera house. I walk from there to China Town. Of course, I asked for direction while I was there. By the way, they have really good maps, if you know how to read it. The public transport is pretty good and punctual. At the end of the day, my sister was worried because it was my first day and I haven’t returned home. I took the bus back and my sister was shocked that I actually told her I have seen the famous Opera House. I was only 19 then.

I have tried walking from my school to my home. By the way I studied in BBGS, so sad to see the school is gone. I will blog about that later. Yesterday I just knew some mothers who are from the same school but different generation. My home at that time was in Jalan Raja Laut. I was only Form 1 when I did that with another friend of mine.

I have good sense of direction when I am walking not when I am driving. When you drive, you cannot turn back easily. I am having great difficulty recognizing roads in Penang and worst is most streets are one way. If you make a wrong turn, you have to go around in a big circle. In KL not PJ, I am better because I know the small roads around town. In PJ, it is pretty confusing especially the names of the roads, SS2, SS3, section 17 and they don’t go in order. I always have to refer to the map if I want to find places in PJ.