Category: Thoughts

The Junkyard Dog Sleeps Tonight

Scrap collectors hauled in a discarded mattress or two. The faithful junkyard dog finds a comfy spot different from the usual rusted metal, cardboard and other junk.

Saw this dog during my exploration of Hulu Bernam area recently. The junkyard dog is a popular movie trope often used to set up a scene with impending sinister activity or hostility.

For all its movie reputation of aggressiveness and alertness, it possesses a less-recognised attribute in real-life. Unconditional loyalty to owners who provide scant creature comforts.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f5.6, 1/160 sec.

#streetphotography #documentaryphotography #junkyard #scrapyard #bicycle #dog #junkyarddog #olympus #omd

There Is No Fire Without Smoke

Suddenly, there is news circulating about people’s car getting sabotaged when they stop at PLUS rest areas. It is an old story. A few years ago, it was quite rampant and was reported on forums.

One of the tricks deployed by the crooks was to release air or stub the valve and your tyre will go flat when you drive.

They can also puncture your radiator from under the car and your car will soon overheat. A mechanic or tow truck will show up when you stop. He was following you.

The crooks will offer to repair your car or tow it away. Should it be towed, it will be held at ransom or at their mercy. It happened to a friend of mine. When he told the “mechanic” he has no money at the breakdown spot, the guy even drove him to an ATM.

I think many of the reported cases happened on the north bound side between Malacca and Seremban and usually at night. People stop to eat or go loo.

One trick was to pour diesel on your tyres. When they get heated up after driving, heavy smoke will come from the tyres. The panicking driver will pull over, straight into the trap. To be safe, don’t leave your car unattended. If you are alone how? Pee into a can or plastic bag.

Bang The Rusty Gong. Hail The King! – Part 1 of A Two Parter

I was talking about flea markets with my friend T Muhamad IJ. In the 80s, Singapore had a charming roadside flea market near or on Sungai Road, outside the legendary Sim Lim Tower, the forerunner of Sim Lim Square.

I remember the area well because it was where Malaysian cars go to get a sun roof installed. A guy in the car accessory shop will cut a hole in your car roof with a electric jig saw and power grinders. It was mad but Malaysians loved it. Never mind, it will eventually rust like crazy and leak. As long as they can drive around Ampang Jaya or Taman TAR and let their kids stick their heads out of the roof. Style and gaya.

Eventually, the flea market in Singapore was to become the famous Thieves Market. I used to enjoy going there as one can find the rare vinyl record and other junk artifacts, if one is lucky. Can any Singaporean tell me if they are still allowed today in clinical and sterile Singapore?

I liked it because it was just outside my favourite electronics mall Sim Lim Tower. Sim Lim Tower was special because you can buy almost any electronic component or spare part (IC, resistor, capacitor, fuse, etc) and those nasty VCR spinning heads. If you dont know how to fix an appliance, there were also many shops there that sell repair or service manuals and schematics for every model sold on earth.

I also like the many ham shops there where I was fascinated by the many transceivers that cannot be sold to foreigners. I eventually became a licensed ham operator or amateur radio operator with my own call sign. There used to be many African shoppers there buying stuff by big bag loads for reselling back in their home country. I remember one guy buying a cordless phone with a 100 mile range capability (claimed specs on the display window). Common sense tells me that anything with that kind of transmitting power is illegal and can fry your brains.

End Of Part 1 – To be continued in Part 2 in next post.

Memories of Qingming – Part 2

The Pirate And Cupcakes. Lonely As A Cemetery Dog.

It was both heartbreaking and heartening to see this eye patched dog that turned around to smile at me when I called out in 2016. I am guessing she was probably abandoned here as a puppy.

The dog must have grew up very lonely in the normally deserted and vast graveyard where she ruled. Heartening because, once a year, there is an abundance of food for her to scavenge. Visitors leave behind prayer food such as Chinese cupcakes.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, f10, 1/320 sec.

#qingming #grave #pirate #dog #stray #cemetery

Julio Iglesias Could Be From Kuala Pilah!

If you are in Kuala Pilah and a suave Latin stranger asked you “Passar Di Mano?” Don’t panic as the Mat Salleh was speaking loghat Nogori (Negeri Sembilan) dialect and wanting to know directions to the market. Tell him the famous cendol stall is outside the market. Anyway, I think he was singing in Italian it may have meant passing through Mano.

Saw this post on Instagram by Zet (@zeti__) and thought it was quite cute and humorous.

I shall ask my Italian friend Elle Effe (@ellecina) what it means and where is Mano. Mano isn’t the name of an Indian actor either.

#negerisembilan #nogori #julioiglesias #spanish #italian