I dare say I am a relatively adventurous and spontaneous person. I and a friend have planned a trip to Malaysia one Chinese New Year over a coffee on CNY eve. He was lamenting how CNY is always so boring as he does not go visit his relatives. I told him I will be free after visiting relatives in the morning. We arranged very tentatively that we will go to KL the next day after visiting.
Chinese New Year came and after the usual 'Gong Xi Fa Cai' and collection of ang pow. I waited at home for this friend to call to leave for KL. 3pm, no call. 5pm, no call. 7pm, no call. Finally at 11pm, I called him. 'Eh! Thought we going KL?!'. He said 'Gia la!' (Let's go in hokkien). Hopped into my car, went and picked him up and realized in between us we had less than RM$10. We couldn't go to KL, at least not on the north south highway. We did not have enough to pay for toll. We changed plans and decided to go to Kuantan using route 3, so the only toll we have to pay is the one at Woodlands.
Off we went entering Malaysia just past midnight. We figured we can just try and find a resort in Kuantan and since it's CNY there should be rooms. As we got onto route 3, me being relatively familiar with the roads because of my frequent dive trips to Tioman, I told my friend that he has got a very important job: look out for cows. Those were the days when cows still roamed freely along route 3, they have since installed electric fence along the route to prevent stray cows getting onto the highway. I knew it is going to be at least 5 hours to get to Kuantan.
About 2 hours into the drive, we were chatting when over the hill coming from the opposite direction another vehicle with its full high beam on, we were blinded. 'This fella so inconsiderate' (language used was far more colourful, adjusted for the purpose of this blog post) 'never mind, we high beam him back!'. Just as I flicked my high beam on, my lights caught the silhouette of a cow, it's ass taking up half the lane I am on. Instinctively, I swerved into the path of the oncoming vehicle and swerved back into my lane to avoid a head on collision with the vehicle and successfully avoiding the cow.
We were silent for awhile, knowing that we were so close to getting into an accident either with the car or cow. Both would not have ended nicely. But as the initial shock faded we joked about it nervously and carried on our way, but at a relatively slower speed.
We got to Kuantan at 5am plus, went into some more decent looking resort just to find out they are mostly full too! We forgot that it's Chinese New Year, the other non Chinese holiday too! Oh no! We are in Kuantan at 5 plus in the morning and no resort! My friend said :' bro, I've got friends in KL at the moment, we can bunk in the hotel room till we get a room tomorrow.' Ok, I said. KL then. I know that from Kuantan to KL we have no need to pay toll and therefore the lack of Ringgit will not cause any problem. But little did I know I will get a shock when I reach the highway.
I kept thinking that Kuantan and KL is on the same plane on the map. It should be a short drive from the east side to central Malaysia, when I got to the highway the road sign read: Kuala Lumpur, 270km. OMG! It's another 3 hours of driving! We have not slept at all and I know I am feeling sleepy. I looked at my friend and he was nodding off to sleep. I told him to sleep first, I will rest when I cannot take it. I drove for another one and a half hour and saw a petrol station along the highway and told myself that I better not push it, rest so that we can go further. So at 7.30am I parked the car in the petrol station and slept.
Woke up at about 9am and continued our journey. We arrived safely in KL.
I took up diving in 1994 and have not looked back since. Diving is a great sport accept that it is still dangerous if not practiced properly. You may get decompression sickness, you may get lost at sea, you may be compromised if the boat you are on sinks. But if done properly all is good.
Got my driving license in 1994 and got my motorbike license in 1996. Upgraded to class 2 in 2002. Bought my BMW and eventually my Harley Davidson 5 years ago. Met my wife in 2004 and made frequent trips back to her hometown in Malaysia. Took my bike up to Melaka, KL, Cameron Highlands numerous times. Flew to Vietnam twice to rent Motorbikes to go up their mountains.
Visited the Demilitarized Zone in South Korea on the day North Korea said they had missiles that can hit US.
There are so many things that I have done and still doing that increases the chance of a hospitalisation. But never was I hospitalized for 38 years of my life till 24th July 2014. And the reason I was hospitalized: an infection on my left butt cheek......
In the course of my career as a financial planner, I have seen and heard many that have told me that it is not going to happen to them. I admit that I am guilty of that thought too. I never thought I will ever be hospitalized for an infection on my left butt cheek. I should be hospitalized for a collision with a cow on north south highway or falling asleep over the wheel. Maybe a diving encounter with a shark or poisonous creature. Or maybe an over ambitious attempt at a corner on my bike. Or maybe a food poisoning from an over adventurous try out at some Bangkok food street stall. But no... An infection on my left butt cheek.
And I will tell you my left butt cheek now cost $8,000 after a 2 night stay. Almost $1,000 from daily dressing change. And all I can say: thank God for insurance!
So I urge you that if you have not re-looked your financial portfolio recently especially your insurance, please email me tngjinyau@gmail.com. Even if it's just to ask me out for coffee to find out more.
