PLUS minus some useful signs...

equals confusion among expressway users.

Last Sunday night, while having Bah Kut Teh dinner in KL, my daughter mentioned that I might be able to save 10% on tolls if we reached exit past midnight. It was past 9.00pm in Jalan Ipoh and I took note of that. My son had to send us back to PJ to take the car.

While on the expressway, as usual, wife was fast asleep in no time while I drove in no hurry, listening to a Laura Fygi cd. I even travelled at 90 kmph at certain stretches and checking on the time now and again. When I reached Tapah Rest & Service Area, I decided to take a break to go to the toilet. Normally I would not, as a precaution because of cases of robbery and so on. Tapah R&SA had undergone upgrade quite recently, with expansion in terms of more toilets and other essential amenities. I followed the sign with a male and female figures, then I was unable to find anymore male toilet sign, just another female and another for nappy change. I looked around again, still could not find any. I saw a Malay man walked out, then he walked back again and I asked him, 'Mana lelaki?' or 'where is the gents?' His answer was telling and reassuring (that it wasn't me alone), 'Saya pun cari' or 'I'm looking for it too.'

This is Malaysia Boleh with signposting, be it road signs, and now signs to the toilets. You are very likely to see a sign, say to the airport. Then halfway, you will be wondering because there are no more reassuring signs until you are already on the right road nearer the airport. There is always a stretch of 'missing link' as if put in by some mischievous minds.

In the case of Tapah R&SA, all that money on upgrade, yet a cheap but more important user friendly sign is missing. I believe there must have been thousands of males who had wanted to use the toilet for the first time and faced this silly problem. Over to you PLUS.

I almost forgot writing about the exit! I should have stayed a wee bit longer at the rest area because when I reached Gopeng exit, it was just 7 minutes before midnight! I missed saving Rm2.30 which worked out at almost Rm20 an hour work. Just my idle mind working the figures at the time.

(Note: When I needed the delay, there were no traffic jams instead! Otherwise, from Jalan Ipoh to PJ itself could have taken longer. In other words, it took me less than 3 hours from Jalan Ipoh to PJ Section 14, then to join the NSE at Jalan Duta and exit at Gopeng!)

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