OK, I know of some friends who dislike listening to ghost stories. If you happen to dislike ghost stories, then you can stop reading and go somewhere else. But I do hope that you will continue reading because what I am going to tell you is not a ghost story. Well, not really.
If you have been following my blog, you would most probably know by now that I like to go jogging in the parks. And one particular park I frequent is the Taman Lembah Kiara in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.
As I don't like to jog when the park is crowded with people, I normally choose either late mornings or early evenings to do my jog. To me the less people, the better. I can enjoy my exercise without getting interrupted by screaming kids and people talking loudly.
Well, a few months back, I went to the Kiara park for my usual jogging routine. It was a Sunday and I remember waking up very late as I had a good outing with friends the night before. I think it was almost noon when I reached the park. As usual, I would run up the stairs that lead to the jogging trail in the forest.
On that particular Sunday, there were not many people around. It could be because it was already noon and people would be having their lunch by then. Who in their right mind would be like me, jogging at that hour?
Anyway, as I crossed the suspended bridge and ran along the jogging trail deep into the forest, I noticed how quiet the surroundings were. There was not a human being on sight. No birds chirping, no monkeys playing with each other. Only the rustling of tree leaves and my own breathing were heard.
Out of this quietness, suddenly I heard a man's voice singing. I stopped dead on my tracks.
Where did the voice come from? I could not see anyone in front or at the back of me.
It was a loud, booming voice singing a song that I do not recognise. I could not even identify whether he was singing in English or some other language.
The first thought that came to my mind was the voice belonged to a ghost! But I have never heard of a singing ghost! Except a female ghost that sings some sad haunting songs. This one was different. The song was neither sad nor haunting. It sounded like an anthem a soldier would probably sing in the military. Should I turn back or continue ahead? I could feel my heart beating faster.
As I was trying to decide, the voice became louder and louder.
Then ahead of me, I could see a figure emerging from the forest. It was not very clear, but I imagined it must be a man.
I braved myself and decided to walk ahead, although I felt like running away in the other direction!
As I walked closer and closer towards the figure, I began to see it was actually a man, somewhat middle aged. He was dressed like a soldier. He saw me and stopped his singing abruptly.
We were now within metres of each other. I gave him one quick look and immediately looked away. I did not dare look longer. His face was pleasant enough, not hideous as I so fearfully expected. I was pretty sure he was a Chinese man and I would say he would be somewhere between 45 to 55 years old.
I think he looked at me and smiled. I did not know if I imagined it or not, as I was in a state of fear bordering on panic. We walked past each other. I quickened my pace and did not look back! What if he suddenly decided to turn around and tap me on the shoulder? I would surely die!
I did not know how long I took but when I came out of the forest only did I notice my hands were shaking and I was sweating like mad!
To this day, I do not know why a man would want to dress up like a soldier and sing alone loudly in the forest. It gives me the jitters just thinking about it.
I have never bumped into him in my subsequent visits to Taman Lembah Kiara. Nor do I wish to!
So was it a man? Or was it a ghost?
You decide!
Probably a soldier who got conned by his fellow soldiers to stay in the jungle! :-)
That is very strange either way although I love your story. I am going to say ghost. I am glad you were okay. I would have been terrified. How lucky you have a park with monkeys to run in! I would love that.
Strange to see a soldier singing in a suburban park but then perhaps could be his off day....hahha..you should have asked him and see what's his reply :)
I have some strange encounters too but I chose to believe they are good spirits. I wasn't harm. Thank God.
Maybe he is Malaysian Pavoratti lorr.
gallivanter, possible but very unlikely : )
health nut wannabee mom, thanks. I thought you would like to see a ghost in real life? Haha! Yes, the park here have lots of monkeys running around - it's great! : )
my bug life, yeah maybe I should have asked him and the story may turn out to be different. But then again, I don't have the guts! Already panicking with fear, how to open my mouth and speak? LOL
eastcoastlife, that's a comforting thought. Yes, I was not harmed either. So if he's a ghost, he's a good one, I guess : )
pete, haha! He did have a good voice : )
an initiation rite? hehehe
I've never seen a ghost in broad daylight, but Japanese soldiers in the middle of the night, marching away - yeah.
Maybe you can try and bump into him again and ask. Hehehe...
lina, I don't ever want to bump into him again, ever! And so far I've been lucky : )
Aiyo!!! Another scary post ah? And again it's nite time! He he... I glanced through and saw ur last line ...I don wan to know the answer la Foong he he! ;)
its a ghost! hehe but a handsome one. how about that? :P
yes, I love ghost story but it's 2AM now! and I'm alone in the dark :-D
Hmmm, could it be one of those forest spirits?
Dropping by to say Hi!!
foong,
if it's a forest spirit, lucky he didn't hold you there, then all of us have to form a search party for you!*touch wood*
you know lah, forest spirit can make people get lost one!
Hahaha
Well, I would say, don't scare yourself. LOL.
wow, such a bizarre encounter. you must be watching too much 'halloween'.hehe
mariuca, isn't it more enjoyable to read a ghost story at night? : )
faisal admar, a handsome ghost? Anything's possible! Nobody says a ghost must be ugly! : )
monica, 2am and in the dark is the best time and place to read a ghost story : )
babette, I hope not! : )
heartbeats, thanks for dropping by! : )
lina, if it's forest spirits, I would like them to look like those fungi spirits you see in Princess Mononoke. See them here
day-dreamer, maybe I shouldn't scare myself. For all I know, maybe it's just a man practising his singing alone in the forest so that no one hears him. But why dress up like a soldier? Strange.
life ramblings, haha! I don't think so. Halloween was not scary at all, it didn't give me any nightmares : )
Hello, Have a nice week ahead!!
It it was a ghost, then there's something wrong with you. Chinese say something in u is very low...otherwise ghosts would not be visible to u! Go and bathe in water with petals of flowers of seven colours. LOL!!!
ellen, thanks for dropping by! : )
suituapui, you mean "si wan" low, right? OK, I'll quickly bathe in water with those 7 colored flower petals! : )
I thing it could very well be a ghost...but a good one. =) Well, you are still ok right? so this means the ghost you have seen didn't hurt you or anything lor. But on second thought, it could be a man too. Ha =)
I think it was a man. He, like you, may also prefer afternoon jogs when there are no kids and people talking loudly. Or perhaps he likes to sing loudly in the wild. Who knows!
I always thought ghosts only appear at night when there is no sunlight. No?
You know, you may want to bring a friend or two go jogging there again at around the same time and see if the gentleman would appear. At least, you could draw a realistic conclusion. Eh?
tekkaus, well, sometimes I think it's a man, but at other times I think it's a ghost. I guess the truth is still out there : )
happysurfer, you may be right! Maybe he was practising his singing in the forests because he thought there's no one around that could hear him.
Ghosts do appear in the daytime too, although they appear more often at night - well, that's just what I think!
Yeah, perhaps I should bring someone along, but it'll be worse if my friend could not see him while I could! : )
Then, you would know for sure.
Word verification: mists
See what I mean? WV now writes English. LOL!
that was me ........... haha
happysurfer, yeah, I will know for sure and pengsan! : )
So now the word verifications writes proper English words? Or is it just coincidence? Haha!
johnny ong, I know how you look like from the photos on your blog, so pretty sure he is not you. haha!
I'd say it's a ghost. I've stories abut that park and they were all not good!
nick phillips, gosh, pls tell me those not so good stories about the park!
I jus want to add my two cents. I believe it was a man. I make that assumption based on my personal experience that I have never had any visible encounters in broad daylight or fluorescent tube kind of lights.
i dont know if a 'ghost' was htere but it would unlikely to b visible.
i think it's a man, if not, it's your vision lo~
i had this experience b4 and this vision came true XD
i think ghost won hang out at daytime.
bengbeng, thanks for your "expert" opinion. I guess ghosts don't come out in the day, yes? But the forests were pretty dark, so....
vincent, thanks for your comment. Are you very sure ghosts won't hang out in daytime? They probably do, only we could not see them. Btw, just visited your blog. My goodness, you are only 15! Good job on your blog! : )