Etwas Gedanken
CARS, COFFEE & THE PIGEONS OF KLUANG
I had an interesting trip to Kluang some time back
Started off with my camera and my favourite back pack
Sipping hot tea on the early morning train ride
Leisurely had a tuna sandwich as I scanned the countryside
But soon the sky turned overcast and it began to rain
I started thinking whether all my plans had been in vain
As the train rolled into Kluang and slowed down to a stop
I alighted on the platform wondering if my plan was a flop
To while away time, I looked into the coffee shop instead
Highly recommended here are coffee and butter toasted bread
The famous coffee shop was packed full of regular patrons
Waiters and waitresses bustled around in caps and aprons
The place had more than enough people to cater
So I decided to push it back to some time later
Starting to amble around the town's central part
I took out my camera and made a steady start
Following Jalan Omar, I started on a brisk walk
And saw the St. Louis Church at the end of the block
I walked to the bridge under which a rivulet flowed
It was now sunny with warm air shimmering on the road
From the bridge, I snapped pictures of the faraway station
With no train, the platform was a picture of desolation
I walked down Jalan Hospital taking pictures on the way
Branching out at Jalan Sekolah where Masjid Jamek lay
Large tropical leafy trees flanked each side
Behind them was a hostel where students reside
I strolled in front of the police station and a school
With mid day approaching, it was no longer cool
I sat for a while at a bus stop, empty and desolate
Drank water, ate some biscuits and cooled off my sweat
How rapidly the weather changed after the morning storm
It was good for taking pictures even though rather warm
The mid day heat probably sapped my energy by two thirds
Jalan Mengkibol and then Jalan Besar took me onwards
On reaching Jalan Lambak, I looked for a place to eat
More than that I wanted to rest my tired, aching feet
I sighted a bistro selling mouth watering chicken and rice
Along with that I requested cold lemon tea without ice
But my need for an electric fan was probably far greater
Still, I was reasonably recharged twenty minutes later
I crossed the river and headed back towards the station
Picturesque squares and lively markets filled me with elation
A naughty boy with his stern mother as she forbids
Happy, tinkling laughter of more playing kids
A couple head to the lush park, walk hand in hand
Fruit juices vendors operate from their small stand
There were offices, travel agents, saloons and banks
And of course stores sell their wares on both flanks
Suddenly, a gray-white pigeon flew right above me
I looked up and was literally taken aback to see
At least a hundred of them, if not more, perched on a cable
Wings flapping, jostling others like rowdies at a poker table
It was easy to see they have been there for a long time
On the road, dried pigeon poop formed a prominent line
Also, I went "shutter happy" on more than one car
I remarked to myself "How well maintained they are"
One of them was an old but shiny blue Volkswagen
Another a black Toyota, couldn't identify the last one
Around four, I headed to the station for my due coffee
It had been a long day, a very satisfactory one for me
Spending a memorable day, now it would be time to depart
After the famed coffee and toast, I was ready to start
Started off with my camera and my favourite back pack
Sipping hot tea on the early morning train ride
Leisurely had a tuna sandwich as I scanned the countryside
But soon the sky turned overcast and it began to rain
I started thinking whether all my plans had been in vain
As the train rolled into Kluang and slowed down to a stop
I alighted on the platform wondering if my plan was a flop
To while away time, I looked into the coffee shop instead
Highly recommended here are coffee and butter toasted bread
The famous coffee shop was packed full of regular patrons
Waiters and waitresses bustled around in caps and aprons
The place had more than enough people to cater
So I decided to push it back to some time later
Starting to amble around the town's central part
I took out my camera and made a steady start
Following Jalan Omar, I started on a brisk walk
And saw the St. Louis Church at the end of the block
I walked to the bridge under which a rivulet flowed
It was now sunny with warm air shimmering on the road
From the bridge, I snapped pictures of the faraway station
With no train, the platform was a picture of desolation
I walked down Jalan Hospital taking pictures on the way
Branching out at Jalan Sekolah where Masjid Jamek lay
Large tropical leafy trees flanked each side
Behind them was a hostel where students reside
I strolled in front of the police station and a school
With mid day approaching, it was no longer cool
I sat for a while at a bus stop, empty and desolate
Drank water, ate some biscuits and cooled off my sweat
How rapidly the weather changed after the morning storm
It was good for taking pictures even though rather warm
The mid day heat probably sapped my energy by two thirds
Jalan Mengkibol and then Jalan Besar took me onwards
On reaching Jalan Lambak, I looked for a place to eat
More than that I wanted to rest my tired, aching feet
I sighted a bistro selling mouth watering chicken and rice
Along with that I requested cold lemon tea without ice
But my need for an electric fan was probably far greater
Still, I was reasonably recharged twenty minutes later
I crossed the river and headed back towards the station
Picturesque squares and lively markets filled me with elation
A naughty boy with his stern mother as she forbids
Happy, tinkling laughter of more playing kids
A couple head to the lush park, walk hand in hand
Fruit juices vendors operate from their small stand
There were offices, travel agents, saloons and banks
And of course stores sell their wares on both flanks
Suddenly, a gray-white pigeon flew right above me
I looked up and was literally taken aback to see
At least a hundred of them, if not more, perched on a cable
Wings flapping, jostling others like rowdies at a poker table
It was easy to see they have been there for a long time
On the road, dried pigeon poop formed a prominent line
Also, I went "shutter happy" on more than one car
I remarked to myself "How well maintained they are"
One of them was an old but shiny blue Volkswagen
Another a black Toyota, couldn't identify the last one
Around four, I headed to the station for my due coffee
It had been a long day, a very satisfactory one for me
Spending a memorable day, now it would be time to depart
After the famed coffee and toast, I was ready to start
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CARS, COFFEE & THE PIGEONS OF KLUANG
CARS, COFFEE & THE PIGEONS OF KLUANG
