Horsin' Around

HORSIN' AROUND

The American West. Have you ever wondered about it? What is it like to ride in a rodeo? Or how to bust broncos? Well, take it from me, a Colorado cowpoke. It's a little like riding a mini bus around Kuala Lumpur. Now if you think I am, then may I suggest you saddle up to one of these steely steeds.

One go around the Federal Territory should convince you it's every bit the four-legged critter. Because nothing snorts or fumes, or for that matter, bucks like it. But then, I should give the cowboy at the wheel his due.

Why, were it not for his ability to spur the accelerator, gun the gears and tighten the rein, this mechanized stallion would be nothing more than a nag rusting outside a scrap yard.

He really is quite the horseman, the mini bus driver. I tell you not many folks could dodge the pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists at the speed he does and still live to talk about it.

His dexterity is simply amazing! It's so finely honest you'd almost swear he took lariat lessons from Will Rogers, grin and all. I know some folks don't hold kindly to that notion. They've been jostled from their seats. Or they've nearly ended up in some dude's lap.

All I can say is this. Just because some mustang's knocked you to the ground, you don't go crying about it. Shucks, no! you dust off your Levi's, pick up your Stetson and get back on. That's what the "Duke," John Wayne would've done. Gary Cooper, too.

So remount pilgrim! You paid that cowpuncher (the driver) your fare. That 60 sen should at least entitle you to a ride, be it to Pudu, Chinatown or Kampung Karamat.

Take me for instance. I've been corralled into Trojan horses between Damansara and Cheras Yulik. I've been stamped at the Klang Bus Stable...er, Stand. Yet, in spite of it all, I continue to work the rodeo circuit. 

Soon in fact I'll saddle up another horse and head out again. Not anywhere in Kuala Lumpur, mind you. But instead to some frontier town called Klang. There, on the advice of Encik Harun Ghani (aka Mr. Horace Greeley), I'll "Go West" and ride the range.

But before I do blaze a trail into the sunset, amigos, I'd like to leave you with this sharing thought. It's not much actually. Just something I remember Dale Evans and Roy Rogers (no relation to Will) telling me. And that is, “Happy trails to you until we meet again.” Happy trails! Yahoo!

© Breyel, Timm. “Horsin’ Around.” All rights reserved