I survived

I survived not yet another long run (i wish), but the night-walk. Yup, no one injected me with HIV infected syringe or tailed me with maligned intention. The night-walk is a midnight venture out to the city, armed with packed food (yummy fried rice, sausage, crab stick, etc prepared by the lighthouse volunteers) and mineral water to be distributed to the vagrants. Many can be found sleeping or loitering at pavements near Komtar, Chinese Temple and Perangin Mall. It was quite an experience for me. At the hour when I'm normally having adventures in my slumberland, there are so many adventures happening in the tangible world. Happening people clubbing away in pub & disco, football fans having supper at mamak with their eyes glued to the huge flat screen TV and many other late night "business" going on. The 2 hours of night-walk, brought me to the darker corners of the city, the red light districts, gloomy back lanes; many of which I never know exist before; and crossing path with all sorts of people. Nevertheless, it turned out to be a pretty calm night with no much major surprises except that some of the volunteers saw on-going drug trading in process. All that I did was to greet those homeless people or tried to wake them up from their sleep (not to try to hard because it's difficult enough for them to fall asleep on the cold hard pavement or bus stop), smile, then offer them some food and drink (hoping that they won't have to sleep with empty stomach that night), politely chat with them if they were into it or to entertain any request if there is any, then ciao to the next person sleeping beside him/her. Each of the faces has his/her own story to tell; a sorrowful one most likely.