Saturday, April 4, 2009

The Things We Do For Love

As I mentioned in my previous post [ a couple of posts back], my friend/ex-housemate from my university days was here for a visit.

So, we were playing tourists. I've been loving the fact that I apparently can pass as a tourist too, so it's been great fun. Anyway, she managed to coax me [or was it coerce?] to visit the Batu Caves. I'm sure you'll find plenty of info on the Batu Caves on Google or Wikipedia.
We climbed about 272 steps of stairs whilst monkeys were freely roaming around practically molesting the visitors. My legs felt like jelly by the time we reached the top [after much whining and whinging on my part about how tired I was, though we completed the climb in under 10 minutes] and I took almost as long going down as going up. My friend stopped for a photo op, and I leaned back against the banisters. Big mistake. My hand touched this soggy, squishy thing which totally grossed me out. It turned out to be a half-eaten rice cake, the remnants of a monkey's meal.
I whipped out my Dettol Wipes [being the germaphobe that I am] and scrubbed my hands. Euwww... Monkey germs!
Once we reached the bottom, I was feeling dizzy from the climb and from the heat and was appeased [or bribed] with an isotonic drink and an Indian sweet. [Gosh, I'm easy.] We went somewhere for lunch before I took her to Petaling Street [also on Google, I'm sure - I'm too lazy to link it] to buy souvenirs.
Honestly, what a difference having a tourist by your side makes. The level of respect [read: greed] in the faces of vendors was palpable. We had to take the side lane because I was afraid she was going to get pounced on. Some guy even referred to us as "pretty ladies" to which my friend replied [under her breath], "Oy, mate. I'm not a lady. My name's Bryan," which left me in hysterics. Also, I was trying to avoid the smoke from a roasted chestnuts cart and nearly got run over by a taxi. Brilliant.
Ah, monkey germs and near-misses. The things we do for love and friendship.

P/S I know this is different from my usual poetry-style posts. Thought I'd give you a break from that. And also show you I'm not such a downer. =D

7 comments:

ScoMan said...

The Batu caves sound like a lot of fun.

I love monkies. They're like little people.

Feel like climbing those steps again? For me? =D

Badriyyah said...

Urrrmmm... sure. I have to warn you that it might cost you some Indian sweets and a drink, depending on how fitness level and weather conditions.
There's a cave off to the side too that my friend wanted to see but I wasn't all that keen on it that time.
Care to go there with me?
Of course that means you'll have to actually come here. =P

ScoMan said...

For monkies, I'll be there!

Oh, and I guess to visit you as well as the monkies.

Badriyyah said...

Nice to know I come after the monkeys. =P

ScoMan said...

It's only just after the monkies.. it's like

- monkies
- you
- shiny things
- 272 steps

Badriyyah said...

Okay, I'll just have to be satisfied with that. Haha.

Anonymous said...

Badriyyah,

I read with amusement your article on the goblins--and it made my day. I always suspected that it wasn't my typing that has frustrated many of my friends. I am planning to get some "Goblin" traps at the local Home Depot. I think that will take care of the problem. I've also enjoyed reading some of your other writings.

Pineapplegus@hotmail.com