The Green Minded

THE RED BUT "GREEN" BICYCLE

Bicycle! Bicycle! Bicycle! I want to ride my bicycle. I want to ride my bike!

As enthusiastic as Queen’s song, I can say that I am a bicycle enthusiast. Before I learn how to draw, got addicted to computer games and learn other stuffs that God forbids, riding a bicycle is my first love and favorite past time during my younger years.  

The first gift that I got from Santa Claus was an auto mechanical bicycle toy that moved only in circular motion. I was the happiest then because, for weeks, I have been staring for that toy in a glass display box in one of the toy stores in our town.  I was wondering then on how Santa knew what I wanted for Christmas. I just hanged a small sock near our window, but in the morning ofChristmas day, there was a large blue plastic bag with candies and at thebottom is my precious bicycle toy.  I wonder what Santa did to my sock? Maybe he used it to wipe and clean his sleigh.

I still remember vividly the day my mom and dad bought me my very first bicycle. It was a gift for me because I got the top place in our class during my first grade.  My mom and dad asked me to go to the market with them as they were going to buy me “something”.  When we arrived at the store, my eyes glowed as I saw different kinds of bikes in different sizes. My father asked me to select what I want in a group of bicycle for kids. I selected the red colour with two sets of extra small wheels at the back for beginners. When I sat on the bike, I did not have any plan of alighting it. As a result, my mom and dad have walked home for around 6 kilometers, pushing my bike, with me riding it like a pro. I can still remember how envious my friends were upon seeing me riding a brand new red bicycle. How selfish I was that time, but I knew that my parents were happy seeing me enjoying the present.

When I learned how to ride the bike without support at the back wheel, I usually go secretly to my classmate’s houses without the knowledge of my parents. We would play the whole day and when the sun is about to set, I will ride as fast as I can to go home. The funny thing with me every time I pass by subdivisions was dogs always chases me. I did not know the reason, but it seems like dogs are mad at me. I tried to drive fast, but I always end up getting an accident and when the dogs saw me crashed, they will just walk away as nothing had happened.

When I grew up, I usually borrow my brother’s BMX bike (a BMX bike is an off-road sport bicycle used for racing and stunt riding). The body of the bike is a shining stainless steel which my brother always polishes every morning. The handle bar or cock pit set has a rotor which you can rotate 360 degrees during stunts. Both of the wheels have stunt pegs if we want to ride with my brother.  In our town, if you have BMX bike you are “cool” as what they will call you and you will have more friends. Mainly, because they want to borrow your bike for a quick test drive (just be prepared if they don’t bring it back to you on time).

During summer breaks, the open field near our house was used as bicycle track for exhibitions and competitions. Most of the popular bicycle stunt drivers compete there and we would learn lots of new bicycle stunts which we usually tried to imitate. The results were bruises, broken bones and long sermon from our parents telling us to stop doing it. But it did not stop us from doing our own stunts.

After I moved to the city to study Architecture, I lost my interest with bicycles as I got pre-occupied by deadlines for papers, plates, exams, etc. Even though our campus is bicycle friendly, even if I want, I don’t know have money to buy a bike. Right now, I am trying to get back to my old hobby as I am starting to grow in size without proper exercise. Two weeks ago, we hit the road with my two colleagues and we were able to ride for 5 hours setting up a record of 72 kilometres.

THE WALKING GREEN

I love walking. I usually spend 1 to 2 hours of my time walking and finding my way home without the help of any global positioning system (GPS).  After every walk, I alwaysfeel like I was able to release all the stress that my body is holding on.

When did this habit started? At a very young age, I have developed this habit of instead of taking a public transportation; I would rather walkhome alone. I don’t know why, maybe because I am saving my money to buy a new toy, or maybe simply because on my way home I would pass by my classmate’s house and wish that I can see a glimpse of her inside through their window.   This walking habit continues until I graduated high school. When I entered college, this habit became more frequent as the school I went to have a cool environment that is suitable for running and walking. As time goes by, I just noticed that great ideas come to my mind when I am walking. Most of my life’s endeavors, I solved it also while walking.

I created this page to satisfy my cravings for writing, not because I am a good writer, but because I am a frustrated writer.  I grew up reading our local comics and pocketbooks, where in the story plots are always about love and vengeance. I used to write my own experiences in our local language, but this is the start where I will try to write it in plain English. Please excuse my grammar and bear with all the nonsense things that I will post here.