Zire 71 Photo of the day!
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wMonday, October 13, 2003 |
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Harakiri 3
I'm in McDonald's Central Market. Well, it's not exactly in Central Market, but just next to it. It's barely half past nine in the morning. It's a Saturday. I should've stayed at home chillin. Instead I'm here, outdoors. For a reason of course.
I have a photo-assignment believe it or not. I have to shoot some photos for an online magazine based in the UK. The pay is not much, but I will get credits for my photos. That's enough for me for the time being. I've never intended to be a photographer anyway, well not at least for now.
Actually, I like going out and about in KL in a Saturday morning like this. KL seems to be less congested. Everybody looks less stress out. Everything seems fresher.
I like the Central Market area. It's much better than 'lepaking' in Bangsar or in the Bintang Walk as far as I'm concern (and I do lepak at these places from time to time). There are many more 'real people' of KL than there are in the two places I've mentioned above. To a certain extend, Central Market is very working class. There's of course Liquid, a club that I have a love and hate relationship with – “I love the music but I hate the crowd” sorta way (you can never beat the friendly crowds at Movement... There you go, I'm reminiscing about that place again!).
I like people watching at Central Market. There are all sort of people you can find here. Many of them look lost somehow. Especially those who just migrated here from the kampung. You can almost tell immediately who they are.
I like sitting down munching breakfast at McD. Sitting down by the window while watching the world pass by. Sometimes I can spend hours here, just peering down looking at the pedestrian walking by on the paved road next to Central Market.
A moment ago, there was this three 'lelaki lembut' sitting behind me. I wish I'm still in the States where I can just say a friendly "hi!" to them, without getting stared down as if I'm a MLM weirdo trying to convince them to sell their soul to whatever pyramid scheme they belong to (or worst still, a pervert).
I ate my Big Breakfast meal and listen to whatever gossip they are about to tell. I think they are university students. They talked in a queer lingo I could comprehend, but I suspect, in 10 years time, I'll probably loose it.
And then, they were talking about the gay cruising spot affectionately called 'Titanic' by the local queers. I was surprised, of of them mentioned that he learned about the place after reading 'Potret' a novel written by me. I feel like correcting him. It was not 'Potret'. But I think it's in 'Aku. Rama-rama', and in one of the stories in my short story collection: 'Metro-M'. Whatever it is, I felt rather nonchalance that the boy has read my books. I don't feel the need nor the desire to get myself recognise. I just want my privacy...
A moment ago I took a picture of this guy who was sitting outside Central Market. It just happened that a two tudung-clad girls was sitting near him. They must be thinking that I've taken their pictures. One of them has a camera-phone. So she cheekily aimed her mobile to me.
I should have taken her photos instead. In fact, I have to take some pictures of tudung-clad girls for the assignment.
Oh, it's already 10. I better make a move to Bangsar. I'll be taking bus No. 5 from Klang Bus Stand all the way to Bangsar Baru, where I'll head to Silverfish bookstore.
*
I stayed for quite a while at Silverfish. Raman, the owner was kind enough to allow me to read some of the books he has in his collection. I'm a regular at Silverfish with a ** to prove. So reading is not a problem. Anyway, he asked me if I'm doing a research. I said yes. I read a book by Tome Pires among others. I told him that I'll be writing a novel in Malay...
I bought a book. A collection of Malay plays by Teater Ekamatra called 'bisik'. Can't wait to read the book and review it.
Dia came to pick me up ar Bangsar. After that we went to Komplex Sukan Bukit Jalil to check out their squash court. At six we went there again to play a game of squash.
At night, we spent our time watching Anugerah Era. I was offered some tickets by a friend, but I don't think the idea of traveling all the way to Genting is fun.
I really liked the part when Habsah Hassan won a lifetime achievement award of such. She ended her speech by thanking the people who had manipulated her all these years, hypocrites and opportunist (or something like that). I really respect her for this. Her honesty and all.
When Anugerah Era ended, Dia balik kampung. He has a kenduri to attend to tomorrow.
So here I am alone again. I can't sleep. Probably I'm too excited about an idea of a play that's flowing in my mind right now. Damn! It's driving me nuts. I can't get it out of my mind.
I think I should write the play when I have the time. Then, I'll probably get Teater Ekamatra to take a look at my finished manuscript?
To get myself to sleep, I'm reading Herman Hesse's Siddhartha for the forth time. The first time I read Siddhartha, It was the very same year I had to do my dreaded A-levels exams. The version (translation) I'm reading right now is different from the one I usually read. Not as poetic, it seemed...
posted by Nizam Zakaria
at 9:45 AM |
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