Of Cars and Traffic Lights

Last night was a long night and I just have to write about this.

I was driving with my wife along LDP towards TTDI and had stopped at the traffic light at exit 1104, which was under the viaduct, turning right into SPRINT highway. As usual, traffic from the left coming from Kepong and going to SS2 under the viaduct is low as only those who miss the viaduct would use this route. As there are construction works going on to improve the interchange, there were boards put up which restricts the view, meaning one cannot see the other lanes.

When the light turned green, I did not notice and my wife had to remind me that the light has turned green. As I moved forward, a car came from the left, and smashed his right front corner into the front of my car, right in the centre. The other driver had obviously beaten the red light and after having hit my car, was able to stop only some 10 metres away to my right. Seeing that my car had stalled, to my horror, the car drove off. As the car stopped only for a short while and the lights were quite dim, all I could make out were the numerals of the car number plate, 5371. I didn't even catch the make of the car, except that it is a saloon and japanese make.

The time was about 7:55pm. Thus started my long night. I called my insurance agent, who managed to get a workshop from the approved panel to come help me get all the paperwork done.

8::07pm - called my agent

8:15pm - the workshop agent called me

8:45pm - the workshop agent arrived.

8:55pm - the tow truck arrived

9:10pm - arrived at PJ police station

9:35pm - wrote out my police report

10:00pm - received my police report, signed and asked to meet with the IO.

11:30pm - interview with the investigating officer (IO)

12 mn - left police station

The most inconvenienced part of the whole episode is the long wait. Experiencing this for the first time, this is innately long to make an accident police report. The 1.5 hours wait for the IO is just too long.

However, I am thankful that both of us are not hurt, that we were not in a hurry and so did not move out as soon as the light turned green, as if I had moved out earlier or faster, the other car would have slammed into the passenger side where my wife was seated.

Below is what the front of my car looked like after the accident. This was taken by my phone camera is a dark area but you can make out the extent of the damage.

My agent had called me and informed me that other than what was visible, the radiator and the compressor are also damaged. The repair is going to be quite extensive. The good thing is that as the car is less than 5 years old, they will be replaced with original parts and the workshop owner is a good friend of his.

Overall, we are thankful that save for the inconvenience, we are all ok. On a personal basis, I just cannot comprehend why people who drives beat red lights. No matter how much of a hurry you are, a 2 minutes wait at the traffic light is not going to make that much or a difference. It is one thing to endanger your own life but please do not endanger the lives of others. And the interchange at exit 1104 is a busy one.

To the driver of car number 5371, please do not endanger the lives of others on the road. I pray you will change your driving habit as you may not be so lucky the next time.

Agra and Taj Mahal

As I wrote in my previous post, here is a highlight of my visit to Agra. I had to stay back on one of the weekends when I was there on business and I decided that I will take the opportunity to visit Agra. I booked a package with an agent in the hotel that I stayed and took this 1 day trip.

Below are some of the photos that I took when I was there. The information that I provide was what I was told by the tour guide who was assigned to us.

Direct view of Taj Mahal, as seen in many advertising posters. In the centre is usually a pool and one can usually see it filled with water. However, there is a drought in Agra for 5 years now and there is a shortage of water. The pool has also dried up. It was a clear day and the blue sky makes an excellent background for the monument.

A view from one of the arch near the entrance to the compound of the monument.

Angle view taken from the compound. The inside is quite different from outside the monument ground. Inside, it is full of greenery and it is quite well maintained.

A closer view at a similar angle.

This is from the side of the monument, behind me is a mosque. You can perceive how huge the monument is by comparing it with the people on the monument platform and those in the foreground.

The arch of one of the doors entering the monument.

A close-up of the marble beside the door in the above picture. An attraction of Agra is the unique kind of marble they have which allows light to shine through which they imbed with semi-precious stones to give it a very nice pattern when lighted.

This is the entrance to Agra fort, where the Mughal rulers used to stay.

This is in the compound of Agra fort, plenty of greenery. The army barracks are also within the walls of Agra fort.

This is within Agra fort. Notice the symmetrical architecture on the ceiling. Very impressive architecture.

This is the area where Shah Jahan was imprisoned. At the left bottom corner is actually a small pool.

This is the view Shah Jahan has of the Monument that he built for Mumtaz Mahal from Agra fort, where he was imprisoned by his son for 8 years after the battle of Samogarh. At the left of the monument is the Yamuna river. It is reduced to almost a stream due to the drought. I was told that the vegetation in the foreground were covered with water and is part of the river before the drought.

The is the entrance to Sikandara, the tomb of Akbar the Great.

Following 2 pictures were taken with my 2 megapixels mobile phone camera. With sufficient light, the phone camera does take reasonably good pictures.

This picture was taken from the garden entering the Taj. I like this as there is this single bird flying in the air just above the monument. The speck is not a blemish in the photo.

Another photo of the entrance to Sikandara.


We were at Agra in September, which is still quite hot. It is about a 3.5 to 4 hours drive from Delhi. Although it is highway all the way from Delhi to Agra, the car cannot go too fast as there are people crossing the highway at certain points. I am glad I booked the car and the visit through a travel agent at the hotel where I stayed. The payment included a car, a driver and a guide when in Agra to explain the various attractions and to take photos for us. And yes, lunch is included as well.

The monument is said to be very symmetrical. It certainly is very majestic. I am glad we made the trip. It certainly deserves to be voted as one of the seven wonders.

Back after a long hiatus

I did not realise it but it is almost 1 year since I have updated this blog. Many events have taken up my time, including spending many weeks in India, reading and commenting on other blogs about the events in Malaysia. It has been so long that I almost lost this blog. Had to do a few things to get this blog back.

Well, one of the good things that happened on my trip to India was a visit to Agra and Taj Mahal. Other that the 3 major cities of Delhi, Bombay and Bangalore, I also stayed in Pune in my last trip, a growing metropolis with many industries being set up there.

For my next post, I shall talk about my trip to Agra and post some photos of the majestic Taj Mahal, recently voted 1 of the 7 wonders of the world. Till then, take care.