Puduraya, a place that I must visit before I go back to my lovely hometown

After a long and nice holiday in Sarawak, I finally can go back to my hometown. As usual, I went to Puduraya in the afternoon and hoped I could get a bus ticket that departs as soon as possible. Well, my luck wasn’t bad after all, I managed to get one that would be leaving in one hour later. Instead of going to A&W which I always spend my time waiting for ride, I got myself a seat next to the staircase of a platform and started to read my story book.

Just in case you don’t know Puduraya, it is the terminal bus station for all the long journey local express buses. One decade ago, Puduraya actually was part of the Plaza Rakyat’s plan. If the plan succeeds, it will expand its compound, improve its condition and situated into the basement of Plaza Rakyat. However, all of these plans stopped instantly after the government cancelled Plaza Rakyat’s project. The condition in Puduraya is really horrible, bad ventilation, bad hygiene, over-crowded, noisy… Some rumors saying that it is the place for drug-addicts to gather in the night time, sometimes they might just leave some used needles on the road or bench. In conclusion, it is a terrifying place.

(back to my part) While I was reading my story, suddenly a Chinese uncle, around 40+ years old, sat next to me. I didn’t notice his presence until he asked me: ‘hey boy, what’s the time?’ I showed him my watch, then he continued and asked me where am I from, I said Ipoh then he said he was also from Ipoh (I still remembered he said he stays behind the railway station, but from what I know, behind Ipoh railway station has no houses???) He was kinda annoying because I was in the middle of reading a book and he never stopped disturbing by asking all kinds of ‘rapport-building’ questions. Finally he told me he only got 5 bucks and didn’t have enough money to buy a bus ticket back to Ipoh. Once this question was out from his mouth, I just continued reading my book and ignore him. But he wasn’t giving up yet, he kept on building rapport with me. The conversation was like that:

Uncle: So where are you studying?
Me: ….
Uncle: Rahman(UNITAR)
Me: yes
Uncle: What are you studying then?
Me: …
Uncle: accounts?
Me: no, engineering
Uncle: engineering is better…
Me: …

Then he tried to get money from me again.

Uncle: I just wander if you can give me a few bucks since both of us are from Ipoh
Me: I have no more money.
Uncle: I am very pitiful, it has been 2 days I didn’t eat, came here all the way to look for job but (and blah blah)
Me: …
Uncle: Never mind then.

Finally he gave up and left. But the story hasn’t end yet. Around 15 minutes later, another young lad sat next to me and started to talk to me. I knew he also wanted money, but this time I wanted to see how he asked.

Lad: Where are you going? (wow, good question to start)
Me: Ipoh
Lad: Actually I am looking for people to send me back to PJ, do you know anyone from PJ?
Me: Nope. If you want, you should go out of this building and ask the
people outside of this building, all the people here are going out of KL.
Lad: … (then he started his story, I couldn’t hear properly, but I caught 2 key words, bankrupt and no money)
Me: …
Lad: Do you smoke? Can you buy me a packet of cigarette?
Me: No
Lad: Can you give me a few bucks to buy it?
Me: Sorry, I have one 50 ringgit note only.
Lad: …

Without saying anything, he left with disappointment. Then for the rest of 15 minutes, nobody came to approach me, so boring…

I wander why these people want to get money from me but not others who sat around me. I guess maybe wearing a short pant with slipper, plus a thick glasses and a story book on my hand makes me look vulnerable to liars and beggars. I hope they are real beggars, otherwise I feel like a cold-hearted person. After thinking over and over again, if I meet some real people who need help, I will buy the bus ticket for them instead of giving them money.

So people beware when you go to Puduraya!