I’ve been always wondering, what will I be without money? Can I survive without cents in my pocket, when I need to start from zero? All this while, I was always supported financially by my parents, they gave me a comfortable bed to sleep on, healthy food and nutrition, warm shelter, nice clothes, etc.
When I was very young, they provided me with adequate baby milk supply and toys. When I grew up, they sent me into school, bought stationary equipment for me, sign me up for language course. Now, I’m growing up into an adult, still, they financed my daily life necessity, college fees, house rent, and electronic gadgets. It was often, I looked at others who don’t have this kind of pleasure, who don’t have their parents to support them financially, I’ve been always curious, how do they survive? Some of them are very young, selling newspaper and gums at the traffic light junction, they don’t get to study in school, they don’t get into college, they don’t have smart phone and tablets, they don’t possess a comfortable shelter. The best way to find answers of these questions is to experience it. My curiosity drives me to start this journey, the journey I’ve been always planning of but had no time to execute it until end of April 2014, when I had my college semester break and had done with most of my degree subjects. It started with a little bit of hesitation, however was overcame by strong curiosity and self-determination as well as strong inspiration of Buddhism teaching.
30th
April 2014
After
the last final year project meeting with my supervisor for this semester, I
went to cut my hair bald. The reason is, I knew I will not take any bath for
three days once I start the journey, therefore bald is the best option to avoid
extreme bad smell on my head which fairly sweat the most. I went back to
apartment, had my shower without applying shower gel, I told myself “Now
without shower gel, next three days will be without shower at all”. I woke up
at 5pm after my 2 hours nap, and started to brainstorm if I’m ready to go for
this. I sat on my bed and these little sentences came across my mind, “If you don’t
do it now, when else? Don’t tell me you want to do it after you graduate, you
won’t have the chance. You’ll be busy in looking for job and money by then.” After
I checked the ticket price online, these are the things I decided to bring
along : RM121.10 (eventually this was the amount of money I had left in my
wallet), TouchnGo card, Angkasa Resident card, passport, small notebook, pen
and half-broken digital camera inside my self-made DIY belly bag. I ate a
package of Indomie (Indonesia’s popular instant noodle) to fill my empty
stomach cause I expected there’ll be no food at all during 8 hours travel
duration from KL to Hatyai, maybe even more. I made up my mind, left a memo
next to my pillow and took a picture of myself in front of mirror, “I’m
wondering how much I’d be differed from this point to the next three days.” I
could still feel a little bit of hesitation in my mind, however I pushed myself
out from the apartment, locked the door and threw the keys into kitchen through
its window.
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| These are the only things I brought along |
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| Small memo note next to my pillow |
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| Before I left the apartment |
I
walked to Bandar Tasik Selatan, on the halfway I bought one bottle of mineral
water in KK mart, it costed 80 cents which meant I had RM120.30 left. Next, I
took LRT to Puduraya Bus Station (that’s the reason I brought TouchnGo card
with me) and bought KL-Hatyai round trip ticket that costed RM120, specifically
RM70 for KL-Hatyai and RM50 for Hatyai-KL. Hence, I had only 30 cents left. I
could conclude that I was without cash at all, what could one buy with 30
cents? Not to mention Thailand uses Baht as its currency. I sat in the station
waiting room, waited for departure which was scheduled on 10.30pm. I was a
little bit afraid, nervous, and at the same time excited for what will come
next. I’ve never been to Thailand before, wondering how does Thailand look
like, and to the place I’ve never been without any money would be an unexpected
journey, though I knew it’d be tough challenge ahead.
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| Two ways bus ticket (KL-Hatyai) cost RM120 |
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| The only drinking supply I had |
10.30pm
The bus operator informed everyone that bus to Hatyai is ready to be boarded, in that particular second, there were a lot of conflicts in my mind stroke through. “I could still go back now if I want to, I have touchnGo card with me, LRT is still operating, am I sure to do this?” But again, I told myself “If I don’t do it now, when else? I’m almost there, I’m not going back.” I walked slowly from waiting hall down to platform and boarded the bus with no smile on my face, at all. “Now, there is no way back.”
The bus operator informed everyone that bus to Hatyai is ready to be boarded, in that particular second, there were a lot of conflicts in my mind stroke through. “I could still go back now if I want to, I have touchnGo card with me, LRT is still operating, am I sure to do this?” But again, I told myself “If I don’t do it now, when else? I’m almost there, I’m not going back.” I walked slowly from waiting hall down to platform and boarded the bus with no smile on my face, at all. “Now, there is no way back.”
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| I literally couldn't smile anymore when I stepped on to bus |
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| The bus I took on to Hatyai, Thailand |
10.45pm
The bus started to run, I worried my hunger will come sooner than I expected. I knew no one in Hatyai and I had only one bottle of mineral water for my drinking supply. I worried that I couldn’t find any free drinking water in Hatyai, therefore didn’t drink a sip of water at all for the first several hours in bus. Without mobile phone and/or watch, it was extremely difficult to keep track of time, I need to refer to some else’s watch or clock if any. Hence, most of my conversation with other people started with “Hi, may I know what time is it now?” Seat in bus was very comfortable as compared to the plastic chair in waiting room. However, I was getting more and more nervous of what will happen the next morning when it arrives in Hatyai. Good night…
The bus started to run, I worried my hunger will come sooner than I expected. I knew no one in Hatyai and I had only one bottle of mineral water for my drinking supply. I worried that I couldn’t find any free drinking water in Hatyai, therefore didn’t drink a sip of water at all for the first several hours in bus. Without mobile phone and/or watch, it was extremely difficult to keep track of time, I need to refer to some else’s watch or clock if any. Hence, most of my conversation with other people started with “Hi, may I know what time is it now?” Seat in bus was very comfortable as compared to the plastic chair in waiting room. However, I was getting more and more nervous of what will happen the next morning when it arrives in Hatyai. Good night…
1st
May 2014
The
bus reached Hatyai on approximately 7am. I walked down from the bus, my mind
was stunned in seconds. “Now, what should I do? Where should I go?” I walked
around the city and realized that Hatyai is not as big as I initially thought,
however it was an advantage for me, I would get to know the geographical
characteristic of this city in no time. Architectural design in Hatyai has not
much different from KL particularly area of Pudu, the building layout is in
quadrangle shape, block by block. I walked for several hours with a bottle of
mineral water in my hand, it’s proud to say I might have walked across whole
Hatyai completely. Apart from exhausted, sometimes I was just amazed by Thai writings
on the buildings and signboards as well as how people talk in Thai language.
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| Was amazed by Thai writings on every signboards. My half-broken camera sometimes results photograph in unbalance color. |
After sometimes, I was frustrated, I totally had no idea where I should go, I could feel my stomach was yelling for food. I had no friends and money, that left me with no choice but kept walking. When the sun shone on the boiling ground from the middle of the clear blue sky, I ended up in a temple. I sat on its front yard and meditated for quite some times, recalling what is the main objective of this journey and to calm myself down. I saw few beggars in front of temple, so I went out from the yard and imitated them. There were not really a lot of people passed through temple on that hot sunny day, it didn’t work out. That was the worst moment in my life, I’ve never felt that hopeless before, on top of I was extremely starving. I told myself I definitely have to find a way, otherwise I could’ve failed my objective and died of famine in Thailand, I couldn’t let that happens! I stood up, drank a small sip of water and walked around again. This time I talked to every shop owner I met who might potentially employ me, in Mandarin I said “Please let me work for you within these two days, you don’t have to pay me, just give me food once a day is enough.” At first I was surprised that most of Hatyai citizens understand Mandarin, even the non-chinese. First several shop owners rejected me, I kept trying and finally ended up at a small fruit cart owned by a young man. When I approached him, he gave an uncertain answer and seemed to not believe in what I explained. I tried to convince him by showing everything I had, after several attempts, he accepted me. This young man, he’s a very compassionate man, his name is Jiang Ping Li, 24 years old, operates a small fruit stall everyday in Hatyai city centre.
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| I still remember very clearly, I was starving and frustrated when I took this picture |
He
was extremely kind-hearted, I followed him wherever he pushed his stall to, I
helped him push the stall as well, although I know it didn’t help a lot, he is
used to work alone. We went around the city to reach more customer, and along
the way I ate the mango seed left over by one of customer, it was the first
thing I ate since I reached Thailand this morning! It was juicy and extremely
delicious, especially on such hot sunny day. Next, as the deal sounds, he brought
me to have pork noodle for lunch in his so called sister’s place on a narrow
hallway between two store houses. The portion was so big that I had to hold the
bowl with both hands, and not to mention it was amazingly yummy, on top of my
famine. “I would definitely come back here to have this noodle the next time I
visit Hatyai”, I murmured in mind. Luckily, she provides free drinking water
for her customer, I felt relieved when I had my bottle full of water again.
Before we left the noodle place, Ping Li taught me to say “Khapunkhap Na”, it
means “Thank you auntie”. Then, we continued to sell fruits around. He told me
he had never gone to school, that’s why he sells fruits for his life.
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| Jiang Ping Li with his fruit cart in Hatyai, Thailand |
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| Trust me, this pork noodle is super delicious. A must try (non-halal) in Hatyai! |
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| "Na", owner of small noodle stall at the roadside of Hatyai City |
Ping Li operates his fruit cart daily from 9am to 3pm, before he dispatched me on 3.20pm this afternoon, he gave me a bunch of banana and two pieces of papaya, he said “These to fill your stomach tonight, in case you really don’t have anything to eat”. He asked me to take care too, it was really a fortunate in meeting him this afternoon. We agreed to meet at the same place on 9am tomorrow morning, in front of Asean Hotel at town centre.
3.50pm
After half an hour of searching, I found a place to have rest, it was a narrow alley between back-to-back residence houses. I gave one piece of banana to a beggar I encountered on my way to this alley, I started to have empathy to homeless individuals. I couldn’t find any cardboard on the way, so I lied down on cement floor with my slipper under my bald head. I could hear someone was taking bath next to the walls, obviously I was between the bathrooms. Some of times, the water coming out from pipe replaced the ditch’s smell with its shampoo scent. I fell half asleep after I ate one of papayas, there were a lot of thoughts coming to my mind, “Should I just stay in this alley until next morning?” But the day hasn’t ended yet, there is still long hours to go. When the sun started to set, group of mosquitoes started to attack, I could hear variety sounds of insects coming up, including sound of mice’s footsteps went back and forth in the ditch. “This is golden hour, I could hear sound of crowd in the next block, most of tourists came out on this hour to attractive place in Hatyai. I need to go out and look for more experiences, RM120 of bus ticket doesn’t worth if I just stay here until next morning” I looked at myself, I had bunch of bananas, one piece of papaya and a bottle of water. Hence, I decided to sell bananas cause there were quite a lot pieces of them in a bunch, but with a little bit tricky way.
After half an hour of searching, I found a place to have rest, it was a narrow alley between back-to-back residence houses. I gave one piece of banana to a beggar I encountered on my way to this alley, I started to have empathy to homeless individuals. I couldn’t find any cardboard on the way, so I lied down on cement floor with my slipper under my bald head. I could hear someone was taking bath next to the walls, obviously I was between the bathrooms. Some of times, the water coming out from pipe replaced the ditch’s smell with its shampoo scent. I fell half asleep after I ate one of papayas, there were a lot of thoughts coming to my mind, “Should I just stay in this alley until next morning?” But the day hasn’t ended yet, there is still long hours to go. When the sun started to set, group of mosquitoes started to attack, I could hear variety sounds of insects coming up, including sound of mice’s footsteps went back and forth in the ditch. “This is golden hour, I could hear sound of crowd in the next block, most of tourists came out on this hour to attractive place in Hatyai. I need to go out and look for more experiences, RM120 of bus ticket doesn’t worth if I just stay here until next morning” I looked at myself, I had bunch of bananas, one piece of papaya and a bottle of water. Hence, I decided to sell bananas cause there were quite a lot pieces of them in a bunch, but with a little bit tricky way.
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| A bunch of banana, two pieces of papaya and a bottle of water saved my life |
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| Small alley behind residence houses, I spent my afternoon here |
6.00pm
I took a walk around town centre to find required probes, found an old coconut shell and piece of cardboard. I cleaned the coconut shell and manually grinded it to nice bowl shape on rough pedestrian surface. Next, I wrote on the cardboard, “I TELL MYSELF, I WILL SURVIVE. HELP ME BY DONATING 10 BAHT AND TAKE A BANANA”. This way, I offer something in exchange to money they donate, instead of simply ask for donation with no return at all to donators. On the other hand, forming a smiley emoticon with bananas will attract people more too, I assumed. I sat down on the sidewalk in front of a local shopping centre, opened my cardboard, placed the bananas and coconut shell on the cardboard. Within not more than 10 minutes, my coconut shell had contained 140 Baht, one of the pedestrian donated a cash note of 100Baht! Everytime someone donated, I always reminded them “Please, take the banana (and smile)”, but most of them didn’t take the bananas in return. However, after several minutes the mall management officer chased me out from that place, he didn’t allow me to ask for donation that way within shopping centre area under his supervision. I walked away and found another place without authorities but less crowd, and did the same thing until 9pm. The total amount I collected was 299Baht precisely that evening.
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| Sometimes it's more efficient to stay silent and let people read themselves |
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| 299 Baht collected that evening, big thanks to all donors |
9.30pm
I had difficulties in finding cheap guest house, the cheapest I could find cost 350 Baht for one night, not to mention that I have to stay for two nights. I begged the front desk to let me sleep on its couch for 100 Baht, but none of them allowed. After a long walk with cardboard on one of my hand and a plastic bag containing bananas, coconut shell and water bottle on another, I came back to the shopping centre “Lee Garden Plaza” for toilet. I went to its Coliseum Cineplex, had a pee, washed my face and sat on its bench for quite long time, wondering where I should sleep on the night.
11pm
I looked around the Cineplex and found a perfect place to sleep. The gaming section in this cinema seems like doesn’t operate anymore, there were no light at all, all the machines were off and it’s located at the very corner of room, no one gets there including the staffs. I sneaked in to the gaming area when the staff didn’t notice it. I put the cardboard on narrow alley behind basketball machine to its wall and lied on top of it. In fact, I felt it was quite a comfortable place to sleep for a man without home. No one found out I was there the whole night eventually. I could hear the sound coming out from cinema hall and I could tell it was “The Amazing Spiderman 2”. I whispered to myself in mind, “Once I go back to KL, I must watch this!”. It was an exhausting day, I’ve never felt this tired before, both physically and mentally. I fell in to deep sleep in no time. Good night…
I looked around the Cineplex and found a perfect place to sleep. The gaming section in this cinema seems like doesn’t operate anymore, there were no light at all, all the machines were off and it’s located at the very corner of room, no one gets there including the staffs. I sneaked in to the gaming area when the staff didn’t notice it. I put the cardboard on narrow alley behind basketball machine to its wall and lied on top of it. In fact, I felt it was quite a comfortable place to sleep for a man without home. No one found out I was there the whole night eventually. I could hear the sound coming out from cinema hall and I could tell it was “The Amazing Spiderman 2”. I whispered to myself in mind, “Once I go back to KL, I must watch this!”. It was an exhausting day, I’ve never felt this tired before, both physically and mentally. I fell in to deep sleep in no time. Good night…
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| The small space between basketball gaming machine to the wall in Cinema, where I slept the first night |
2nd
May 2014
6.00am
Surprisingly, I didn’t wake up in the middle of night. Cause I was afraid of encountering something unnatural in that cinema, on top of I was all alone in that place and I’ve been always afraid of ghost story. However, when you have no home, no option, you literally don’t care about it anymore. I was glad the moment I woke up, I could hear the sound of birds chirping and see the blue sky from its front ventilation. I got myself ready and went out through emergency lift, I was surprised one of security guards was standing before the lift door on ground floor. Nevertheless, I just ignored him and made my way out of that plaza as fast and as ignorance as I could from its side door next to guard house. Next, I went to morning market, had myself a soya bean for 10 Baht. I had two pieces of banana and a soya bean for breakfast, got ready to start the second day of my adventure.
Surprisingly, I didn’t wake up in the middle of night. Cause I was afraid of encountering something unnatural in that cinema, on top of I was all alone in that place and I’ve been always afraid of ghost story. However, when you have no home, no option, you literally don’t care about it anymore. I was glad the moment I woke up, I could hear the sound of birds chirping and see the blue sky from its front ventilation. I got myself ready and went out through emergency lift, I was surprised one of security guards was standing before the lift door on ground floor. Nevertheless, I just ignored him and made my way out of that plaza as fast and as ignorance as I could from its side door next to guard house. Next, I went to morning market, had myself a soya bean for 10 Baht. I had two pieces of banana and a soya bean for breakfast, got ready to start the second day of my adventure.
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| My breakfast on the morning of second day |
9.00am
The daytime activity was pretty much similar to what happened yesterday. I followed Ping Li in wandering around city and sell the fruits. He had a lot of customers on this day, the climax happened on lunch time when office workers were released for lunch. Most of them are his regular customer, bought fruits from him almost on every single working day. Here, I realized that people in Thailand loves fruits very much, possesses healthier diet than both Indonesians and Malaysians. Similar to day before, I was brought to his sister’s place to have lunch for the second time, and maybe the last time for near future so I truly enjoyed the noodle. I tried to pay back the amount for lunch and banana to Ping Li, but he refused me. For this second lunch, he paid for me as well, I whispered to myself, “When I come back here, I really need to treat him in return, I believe we will be good friend.”
The daytime activity was pretty much similar to what happened yesterday. I followed Ping Li in wandering around city and sell the fruits. He had a lot of customers on this day, the climax happened on lunch time when office workers were released for lunch. Most of them are his regular customer, bought fruits from him almost on every single working day. Here, I realized that people in Thailand loves fruits very much, possesses healthier diet than both Indonesians and Malaysians. Similar to day before, I was brought to his sister’s place to have lunch for the second time, and maybe the last time for near future so I truly enjoyed the noodle. I tried to pay back the amount for lunch and banana to Ping Li, but he refused me. For this second lunch, he paid for me as well, I whispered to myself, “When I come back here, I really need to treat him in return, I believe we will be good friend.”
3.30pm
It was time to say good bye, an awkward moment for both me and Ping Li who just met randomly yesterday yet he was like a long-known friend who helped me all the way within these two days. I got his phone number unfortunately we didn’t get to take picture together, my camera was totally unstable this time. He strongly advised me to inform parents in the first place before traveling, especially to the place I’ve never been to, not to mention without friends and money at all! However, in this case I have my own reason not to tell my parents in advance, I expect they would never allow me to go for this kind of challenge. The second day was not as tough as first day in Hatyai, at least in daytime. On the first day, I totally had no idea where to go and what to do, while on this day, I just repeated the same thing as yesterday and planned to sleep at the same place tonight. However, the day was still long until departure on tomorrow morning, many things may happen within 17 hours to departure…
It was time to say good bye, an awkward moment for both me and Ping Li who just met randomly yesterday yet he was like a long-known friend who helped me all the way within these two days. I got his phone number unfortunately we didn’t get to take picture together, my camera was totally unstable this time. He strongly advised me to inform parents in the first place before traveling, especially to the place I’ve never been to, not to mention without friends and money at all! However, in this case I have my own reason not to tell my parents in advance, I expect they would never allow me to go for this kind of challenge. The second day was not as tough as first day in Hatyai, at least in daytime. On the first day, I totally had no idea where to go and what to do, while on this day, I just repeated the same thing as yesterday and planned to sleep at the same place tonight. However, the day was still long until departure on tomorrow morning, many things may happen within 17 hours to departure…
4.00pm
I went to the same local temple and meditated, this time my mind was much calmer than yesterday, I had a lot of self reflections upon what I’ve gone through and what I gained within these two days. Subsequently, I walked around the whole city again because I don’t know what else to do. I felt time passes extremely slow. So I walked for distance, sat for a while wherever I was allowed, and continued to walk again. This way, I could temporarily forgot on counting time, instead concentrated more on looking and walking around. When the sky started to turn in to dark blue, I sat on a bench in front of another local temple and gastric started to annoy me.
I went to the same local temple and meditated, this time my mind was much calmer than yesterday, I had a lot of self reflections upon what I’ve gone through and what I gained within these two days. Subsequently, I walked around the whole city again because I don’t know what else to do. I felt time passes extremely slow. So I walked for distance, sat for a while wherever I was allowed, and continued to walk again. This way, I could temporarily forgot on counting time, instead concentrated more on looking and walking around. When the sky started to turn in to dark blue, I sat on a bench in front of another local temple and gastric started to annoy me.
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| The temple where I sat down and meditated |
10.00pm
Similarly, I went to Cineplex and got myself ready for the second night sleep in gaming area. I sat on the bench and waited for 11pm to come, when everyone goes to the last movie show. Suddenly, a security guard approached me and asked me to open my cardboard, I told him it was my design drawing for college. He then threw me the next question, “What are you doing here?” I told him I was waiting for the last spiderman movie show on 11pm. He stood on ground and kept looking to my direction. “Oh shit, he got suspicious on me, he wants to wait until 11pm and see if I really go into the movie hall. I definitely need to leave this place, I need to find another place to sleep tonight.” I went to the lift as ignorance as I could and got out from Lee Garden Plaza. I was totally clueless, walked around again to find a place to sleep. “This was going to be a very long night...”, I told myself.
Similarly, I went to Cineplex and got myself ready for the second night sleep in gaming area. I sat on the bench and waited for 11pm to come, when everyone goes to the last movie show. Suddenly, a security guard approached me and asked me to open my cardboard, I told him it was my design drawing for college. He then threw me the next question, “What are you doing here?” I told him I was waiting for the last spiderman movie show on 11pm. He stood on ground and kept looking to my direction. “Oh shit, he got suspicious on me, he wants to wait until 11pm and see if I really go into the movie hall. I definitely need to leave this place, I need to find another place to sleep tonight.” I went to the lift as ignorance as I could and got out from Lee Garden Plaza. I was totally clueless, walked around again to find a place to sleep. “This was going to be a very long night...”, I told myself.
1.00am
I tried to sleep in front of the guest house at the suburbs, it didn’t work, that place was full of mosquitoes. I turned around and found a seven eleven convenient store, luckily it was Friday night, some shop lots were still opened but there were not really a lot of customers. I bought papaya for 20 Baht to fill my empty stomach, I didn’t know why I choose papaya instead of cheaper bread in seven eleven, recalling bread could’ve made me feel fuller than a papaya could do. I guessed working on a fruit cart these two days made me interested in fruits more than any other thing. “Upcoming 5 hours would be very long to go”, I sat on the floor in front of seven eleven initially. The fruit stall auntie who had her fruit stall next to seven eleven offered me to sit on a plastic chair, she was very kind and charming, I was really fortunate in encountering kind persons in my journey.
I tried to sleep in front of the guest house at the suburbs, it didn’t work, that place was full of mosquitoes. I turned around and found a seven eleven convenient store, luckily it was Friday night, some shop lots were still opened but there were not really a lot of customers. I bought papaya for 20 Baht to fill my empty stomach, I didn’t know why I choose papaya instead of cheaper bread in seven eleven, recalling bread could’ve made me feel fuller than a papaya could do. I guessed working on a fruit cart these two days made me interested in fruits more than any other thing. “Upcoming 5 hours would be very long to go”, I sat on the floor in front of seven eleven initially. The fruit stall auntie who had her fruit stall next to seven eleven offered me to sit on a plastic chair, she was very kind and charming, I was really fortunate in encountering kind persons in my journey.
2.00am
This was the longest night I’ve ever experienced in my life up until today. I was all alone, fruit stall auntie had closed her shop and went back home. All left were a big uncle who sells chestnuts watching his TV, didn’t seem like to talk with others at all and few seven eleven customers as well as its staffs. From distance, I could see what’s on TV, heard the sound coming out from that tiny conventional tube TV. The clock in seven eleven store still showed 2am, the staffs in seven eleven started to seem sleepy while counting the stock in displaying fridge. My stomach started to yell, it got hungry very easily especially when I stay awake in midnight. At the same time, I urgently needed to pee, so I talked to that big uncle and he showed me a hotel where I could pee. Surprisingly it worked, the hotel staff was so kind to let a stranger uses their toilet in the middle of night. When I came back, I found the chair I was sitting on earlier was occupied by one of seven eleven staffs. So I put my cardboard on the sidewalk in front of seven eleven and lied down. I was too exhausted hence ignorance to few mosquitoes which fled around and fell asleep.
This was the longest night I’ve ever experienced in my life up until today. I was all alone, fruit stall auntie had closed her shop and went back home. All left were a big uncle who sells chestnuts watching his TV, didn’t seem like to talk with others at all and few seven eleven customers as well as its staffs. From distance, I could see what’s on TV, heard the sound coming out from that tiny conventional tube TV. The clock in seven eleven store still showed 2am, the staffs in seven eleven started to seem sleepy while counting the stock in displaying fridge. My stomach started to yell, it got hungry very easily especially when I stay awake in midnight. At the same time, I urgently needed to pee, so I talked to that big uncle and he showed me a hotel where I could pee. Surprisingly it worked, the hotel staff was so kind to let a stranger uses their toilet in the middle of night. When I came back, I found the chair I was sitting on earlier was occupied by one of seven eleven staffs. So I put my cardboard on the sidewalk in front of seven eleven and lied down. I was too exhausted hence ignorance to few mosquitoes which fled around and fell asleep.
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| I slept in front of 7eleven store on second night. Notice the guy on the top left corner of picture? He's the big uncle I mentioned about, was having fun watching his TV |
5.50am
I was awakened up by the frequent door sensor beeping sound, some workers unloaded drinking water from logistic truck into seven eleven store. I looked into the store and glad to see that clock showed 5am. I slept again for some moment and woke up at 5.50am. I was so relieved to see the sky was gradually turning in to blue color from its previous solid dark. The birds started to chirp and I could hear people started to get ready for their daily activity in market. Seven eleven had turned their outer side lights off showing that morning has came to take place of night. I threw my cardboard and coconut shell away, what belongs to Thailand stays in Thailand.
I was awakened up by the frequent door sensor beeping sound, some workers unloaded drinking water from logistic truck into seven eleven store. I looked into the store and glad to see that clock showed 5am. I slept again for some moment and woke up at 5.50am. I was so relieved to see the sky was gradually turning in to blue color from its previous solid dark. The birds started to chirp and I could hear people started to get ready for their daily activity in market. Seven eleven had turned their outer side lights off showing that morning has came to take place of night. I threw my cardboard and coconut shell away, what belongs to Thailand stays in Thailand.
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| I threw away the coconut shell and cardboard on the third day morning |
7.00am
Similarly, I went to morning market, bought two packs of soya bean then donated all the remainder cash to beggars and monks I encountered this morning. I was totally relieved, I went to the bus pick-up point counter, checked-in and waited for 2 hours to the departure time. I was sitting on the chair, have not feel that kind of comfort since last two days, especially on mental perspective. There were a lot of things coming through my mind. Recalling back what has happened since the journey started, it was really an amazing adventure. The bus took off at 9.15am, I had three bananas and two soya beans accompanying me throughout the travel duration from Hatyai to KL.
Similarly, I went to morning market, bought two packs of soya bean then donated all the remainder cash to beggars and monks I encountered this morning. I was totally relieved, I went to the bus pick-up point counter, checked-in and waited for 2 hours to the departure time. I was sitting on the chair, have not feel that kind of comfort since last two days, especially on mental perspective. There were a lot of things coming through my mind. Recalling back what has happened since the journey started, it was really an amazing adventure. The bus took off at 9.15am, I had three bananas and two soya beans accompanying me throughout the travel duration from Hatyai to KL.
********************************************************************************************************************************************************
I
still can’t believe I started this journey and came across it successfully. In
fact, there are a lot of factors which helps me in overcoming this challenge,
starting from Jiang Ping Li who helped me the most, noodle auntie, Coliseum
Cineplex, fruit stall auntie next to Seven Eleven, the chestnuts uncle, including
the seven eleven convenient store and pedestrians who donated their money. I
shall thank all of them for their kindness and sympathy. I saw how tough
certain people live their lives, without money or shelter. I believe I’ve spent
RM120 for the right reason and definitely worth the experiences I gained
throughout.
I didn’t
brush my teeth and take bath, nor change my outfit for three days. I was
physically broken apart, but mentally very satisfied. I came with my body and
restless soul, but go back with invaluable experience and calm mind. Although
for the first time being in Thailand but I didn’t get to see it from tourist’s
perspective, nevertheless I’m much more satisfied as compared to ordinary
vacation, this has much more meaning to me. From total amount of 299 Baht I
collected, I spent 50 Baht for my consumption needs (one papaya that saves me
throughout second night and three soya beans). I kept coin of 1 Baht for my
reminiscence, while the remainder of 248 Baht, I donated them to local monks
and beggars I encountered on the last day morning. Hatyai is a beautiful
tourist destination, the people here are even more. This journey is the most
valuable adventure I’ve ever had in my life up to this point of time.
To
my dad and mom, I would like to tell you that I love you, and I’m sorry
not to tell you before I decided to start this journey. The support and
love from both of you are the most valuable gift in my life. To my beloved sisters, I want to tell you that I
really love all of you. I couldn’t be here and be what I am today without all
of you. You’re my greatest wealth in life. I miss home very much.
To
my dearest friends, you are the most important influences in my journey of
finding myself. My friends, you crafted and made my life colorful, without all
of you, it’d be pale and a boring story.
To
the people I met in Hatyai, especially Jiang Ping Li, I won’t forget about what
happened in my two days without money. Although it was just as short as two
days, but the lesson you taught me worth a lifetime of remembrance. When I
visit Hatyai next time, there are two things I must eat, Ping Li’s fruits and
his sister’s noodle, will not miss out one of these!
My
sincere gratitude, 48 Hours in Hatyai.
***I
reached Angkasa Condominium (Kuala Lumpur) at 9pm, I cleaned myself up, looked
at myself in mirror, found out I was a little bit thinner after these three day
and my face was full of acnes! After I had dinner, I went to watch “The Amazing
Spiderman 2” in GSC Cheras Leisure Mall on the same night with my house mates.***
After
48 hours in Hatyai, I :
- Love my parents and sisters even more
- Thankful that I have friends around
- Thankful that I can eat anything and whenever I want
- Thankful that I can brush my teeth and bath everyday
- Realized how tough my life would be without parent's support
- Thankful of what I have now
- Thankful that I can go into college
- Appreciate money and its source more
- Pay more respect to low social level individuals
- Love fruits even more
- Appreciate life more
- Am able to sleep anywhere possible
- Had abundant of pimples on my face, really a lot!
.jpeg) |
| Saturday, 3rd May 2014, I came back to KL from Hatyai |
.jpeg) |
| My face was full of pimples after the three days journey |
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