City Meandering Ride in the city of Kuala Lumpur 2022

It has been a long time since I last posted in this blog probably a 9 months lapse. Some mentioned that it as "stale" but nevertheless I am back again to activate this journal of mine.

A poster made (using an old photo dated 2014) to create and invite members of Happy Cycling to participate in this evening ride via a Facebook posting. We gathered at the Police Golf Club at Titiwangsa on 19 January 2022 and kicked off the ride at 4,30pm. The weather for the day wasn't looking good but our spirit was as usual high and ready to go.

We started the route using our favourite bicycle lane next to Pulapol, Titiwangsa to connect us to Kg Datuk Keramat.

Since the start of the new year 2022, we have clocked in 2 Wednesday rides so far and hopefully we will continue to ride more for this year. I have decided to bring the group through this hole as part of the city meandering adventures, it even has a "My Sejahtera" check-in QR code at the entrance. I call this hole the "Black Hole of Datuk Keramat" 

Let us zoom into another horizon, it always amazes many especially for those who have not done it before.

Welcome to the underworld of AKLEH highway built over the Klang River linking Ampang and Kuala Lumpur city centre. It was opened to the public in 2001 but definitely not through this hole.

Underneath the elevated highway is another world by itself, there are many interesting art murals painted on the walls and occasionally you will also find anglers patiently fishing at the river edge.

It was time for the next itinerary and up we went ramping for the next connection.

So much of the artworks and taking lots of photographs at the playground we continued to make our way towards the city centre using a pedestrian bridge crossing Klang River.

A short cut from Kg. Datuk Keramat to Jalan Ampang was ventured and it's only accessible to pedestrians and bicycles.

Coming out from Jalan Damai we managed to converge at Jalan Tun Razak and at a blink of the eye we found ourselves waiting at the traffic light junction of Jalan Ampang/Jalan Tun Razak.

The drizzle was getting heavier and we had to take shelter at the LRT Ampang Park station.

Though it was still drizzling lightly we moved on to the nearby KLCC to steal a couple of photo shoots of the surrounding.

At my favourite spot for another group photo with the Twin Towers. Cheers!

Still along Jalan Ampang we took a pitstop at the Matic Building which was once upon a time the residence of Eu Seng Tong. After independence the building was then used to conduct the initial Parliamentary sessions before the actual Parliament House was built.

A relaxing wait at Jalan Ampang / Jalan Sultan Ismail junction traffic light, looking cheerful as we maneuvered on the streets of Kuala Lumpur. The blue lane indeed is a great path for cycling during the rush hour.

The rain was playing with us, sometime it stops and sometime is back we simply love the cool "winter" feel.

A turn into Lorong Yap Ah Loy for a quick Yap Ah Loy's story, yes you can find a brief history of Yap Ah Loy well written and depicted on the wall.

 Well done Think City for such an awesome effort, making KL a wonderful city to live.

Another stop at Chinatown for another art mural depicting the old days of Petaling Street.

At the fringe of Chinatown, we then stopped at Chan She Shu Yuen Ancestral Hall 陳氏書院 (GPS: 3.140157, 101.698232) along Jalan Stadium. It is fronting the Merdeka fountain and opposite of Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

The more the merrier as we had the luxury to order and savour 4 types of steam fish head besides other delicious dishes at Restaurant Mun Kee Steam Fish Head. It has been my favourite makan place and was glad that everyone of us have enjoyed the food. The place is located at Jalan Seladang, Off Jalan Pasar, Pudu. GPS : 3.137023, 101.715712

In order to complete a satisfying dinner we decided to finish it off with a dessert stop at Restoran Ruby, Jalan Kancil, Pudu GPS: 3.136222, 101.713500

Followed by a stop at Pavilion Bukit Bintang just to have a feel of the coming Chinese New Year celebration.

The Tiger ushering the coming Chinese New Year. Let the Year of the Tiger roar loud with lot of good things showering upon us.

Crossing the "Shibuya" of Bukit Bintang in a wet evening.

Lastly pushing our bicycles through Saloma Link and some must take photos session before linking us to Kg Baru for our onward ride back to Titiwangsa. It was unfortunate to find out that folding bikes were not allowed to use the lift anymore. It was allowable previously.

A video clip of the evening ride.

My Share of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery - CABG X3

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic I have to be admitted 2 nights earlier before the surgery which one has to undergo a swab test for Covid-19. The date of admission into IJN was 06 August 2020 and the actual date for the open heart operation was 08 August 2020.

It was a triple bypass grafting surgery where veins from my right leg will be taken for grafting for the creation of "highways" to bypass the 3 severe blockages.

06 October 2020

Jo and Zu Yi accompanied me to the hospital and both enjoyed their O'Briens' breakfast at the small sixth floor.

The spacious room with good window view. There is spare bed for one who wishes to stay and accompany the patient hidden in the wardrobe.

Sometime in the afternoon I was ushered to a room for the Covid-19 swab test. The result came later in the night and it was negative. Which mean, I was allowed to proceed with the surgery. 

My lunch and dinner prepared by IJN nutritionists and a variety of choices that you could pick from the daily menu.

Wearing a sarong is not a common practice for me but it was necessary in the hospital. Anyway I adapted it well.

07 October 2020

Good morning and breakfast is served.

Without realising the time lunch was served. 

Next I knew was part of my body had to be shaved, ensure my bowel are cleared and no more intake of solid food before the operation. Antiseptic body wash and mouthwash were used during the shower in the evening.

Physiotherapist came and briefed on the do and don'ts that I had to observed after the operation. A blowing apparatus was furnished called spirometer, this is an important apparatus as far as life is concerned. The patient needs to suck in air as much as possible and the purpose is to build back the lung function. A bench mark was set as to what level to reach and the no. of time required to execute this exercise daily.

The chest before incision.

Looking relaxed and ready for tomorrow's big day.

My loving wife spending the night with me, giving me strength and comforting me as much as possible. Frankly speaking I was prepared for the entire procedure. I was told that I will be the second patient in line into the operation theatre. By the way my surgeon is Mr. Pau, a senior and very experienced surgeon in IJN but kind of strict too.

08 October 2020

One by one my loved ones took their turns to visit me before the operation as only one visitor is allowed at a time.

I was all ready for the op, waiting patiently to be called and it should be around noon time.

Then the nurse alerted me to standby at around 1pm but there was a delay. I put on the surgical cap, seated and waiting again..... We were told that the first operation has encountered a complication and the surgeon had to take a longer time to work on it. Me & Jo were worried on the delay and also worry the Mr.Pau might be stressed out from the first operation.

Finally around 2.30pm the stretcher came and it was time to go into the theatre. I will be put to "sleep" for the next couple of hours.

The final moment as I was approaching the operating theatre and final comforting words from my dear wife. The rest of the events I could not remember what happened. According to Jo the operation completed around 7pm and stayed at the ICU that night.

A nurse started asking me what is my name in the ICU as I woke up again to see the world. There were a few more patients in the ICU.

My Pre Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery - CABG X3

Many have asked me what actually prompted me to go for a heart check-up without any heart related crisis. The last one year I started to feel chest discomfort whenever I cycled up hills coupled with slight short of breath and it happened for many occasions.

01 June 2020 - I decided to do a check-up and my first visit to IJN (Institut Jantung Negara) or National Heart Institute in English located at Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur.

A clip of my visit click here.

Since my first visit to IJN Private, I have consulted Dr. Emily Tan and went through several tests where the stress test was the most crucial, the report could indicate a high possibility of artery blockage in me.

13 July 2020, I visited Dr. Emily again and decided to do an angiogram test. And if required I was willing to go ahead for any angioplasty procedure. The date for angiogram test was then fixed on 17 July 2020.

16 July 2020 - I was back to IJN and to be admitted into the ward for angiogram test.

IJN Private clinic and the wards are located on the 6th floor.

Here I was, at the ward undergoing the necessary preparation for the angiogram test.

17 July 2020 - I was the first patient sent to the theater for the procedure. The room was super cold. Then Dr. Emily came and conducted the test, a screen was hung beside me and could see my heart and its arteries. The finding wasn't good, 2 severe calcification and 1 mild segment. In another words - 3 blockages found and require to be cleared.

While waiting for the next course of action to be taken, a substantiate amount of medication was prescribed, eat healthy and to go back to see Dr. Emily on the 17 August 2020 to decide on choice of revascularization. To stent or go for a triple bypass heart surgery.