This time, we return to tie up the loose end we left hanging 3 months ago - Pekeliling Flats. We traveled to subject matter in a 3-man team, but only 2 made it into the building. Our honorary 3rd member activated flight mode.
From what little research i did on Pekeliling Flats, i cite from Wikipedia:
"Better known as Tunku Abdul Rahman Flats was the second high-rise apartment building in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after Suleiman Courts. It was built in 1964. The 11 blocks of the flats (Block A, Block B (both demolished on 2006), Block C, Block D, Block E, Block F, Block G, Block H, Block J, Block K and Block L) were located on Jalan Pekeliling (now Jalan Tun Razak) and Jalan Pahang. On 2008, this flats will be demolished to make way for development. It will mark an end an era when public housing resembled matchboxes in which 10 people sometimes lived in a room."
Demolition in 2008 my ass. Its 2009 and counting and its still hogging up the space. Well, to our benefits anyways so heck.
Standing at its full height of 17 floors (counted and audited), Block E emanates forsaken darkness that saps your energy as it encompasses you. As before, the horror value of the building was just as charming.
Stepping through the threshold (no door), we were greeted with filth everywhere, aching both our sights and smell. There was a lift shaft to both sides of the entrance, both stripped off the metallic vessel they used to accommodate. Here's looking up an empty lift shaft:
The center courtyard is littered with assortment of garbage, presumptuously thrown by tenants from all levels whilst vacating their units.
Without wasting much time, we progressed up the stairs steadily. The ambient light wasn't much to complement our sights but it was there through the windows (or lack thereof). Guided with only 2 mini torchlight, we had to watched our steps through the ubiquitous filth.
Once in a while, we were displaced by the various sounds reverberating through the flats. The water dripped like steps of a man on our tail. The banging of something solid against the zinc roof sounded like someone just jumped on it. But amidst the ghastly environs, we persevered....
We got caught sight of some graffiti promoting a Mr Yuci:
Taking a break, we made ourselves welcomed in this unit still occupied with abandoned furnitures.
Before long, we reached the 17th floor....but how do we get to the rooftop? After a quick look around we discerned the stairway to the roof to be across the other side. Crossing seemingly empty rooms to our right, we soon reached the other side...
Remember the lift shaft we looked up? Here's the shaft looking down...
Taking the final step onto the rooftop, numinous panorama came into view. 17 floors glossed with confining darkness and peppered treacherous trash separates the ground level from the seat in heaven. Take a gander for yerself...
One side overlooking the LRT railway...
With Petronas Twin Tower somewhat faded against the background the other side (no thanks to the current haze attack)
We took some shots of ourselves as trophies...
...before Chid marked his territory from 17 floors above ground. I should have saved some pee myself...
And here is the view of my car from atop Block E. Sitting in the backseat of the car (it's subtle, but it's there) was our honorary member Ckent, all safe and sound.
Then it was time to go. So down we went...
Now, all the up, we had little disturbances save for the random sounds. However, on our way down the stairs from the 12th to 11th floor (i think), i felt this raspy dry tickling against my left elbow and left back. I was startled a little, thinking i might have stepped on a branch or it might be "that". Shining the spot where i got "tickled", it was totally clean, which was kinda queer what with nearly every other floor space filled with rubbish. There wasn't even an insect in sight. Nonetheless, i shrugged it off as nervous attack. Going down another floor, on the very same spot i got "tickled" the level before, i got same feeling again. Now, this time i was freaked out. Again, there was nothing solid anywhere near me that i could have brushed past. From that floors downwards, i crab walked all the way, splitting my sight between my front and back. Fortunately, the feeling never came again.
Finally, reaching ground floor, we took a final shot at the entrance in our glorious Buntut pose...
Yet again, we survived unscathed...save for this little mark on my right hand which i only noticed the next day. Could it be.... a stigmata?....
