He would have witnessed his daughter’s marriage and later, the birth of twin grandsons, but he died at 23 in a motorcycle accident after fracturing his skull when he tried to avoid a suddenly errant pedestrian.

His daughter - my cousin - was not even born then.

I always felt it was a pity - one, that we never met, and that he was one of only two sons among eight daughters in a traditional Chinese family. I could have found out more about his love for motorcycles and why he chose riding. I would have known this cool uncle.

I don't dislike motorcycles. I have had brief stints as both rider and pillion, and readily admit I liked the throttle and "cutting through the wind" part. But I've chosen to "retire" as I know now what might come my way one day.

Nevertheless, I think motorcycles are tools of convenience and more affordable and handier than a car.

Through my exchanges with interviewees and bike lovers, I've come to understand that riding a motorcycle is an attitude as well as a choice - a form of lifestyle for some, pragmatism for others.

However, I also believe riding a bike has to be an informed choice. It cannot be motivated by either recklessness or exuberance. It is a choice that cannot be regretted, what with the risks involved.

Riding on two wheels exposes you to the elements and leaves almost no room for wrong moves.

For some of my interviewees, brushes with death did little to deter them from riding.

Associate Professor Joseph Thambiah, head and senior consultant of the musculoskeletal trauma division in National University Hospital, says he sees "patients coming back after being patched up". They never seem to learn, he adds.

And for interviewee Koon Heng, an untimely cocktail of drinking and riding 21 years ago left him permanently paralysed from the neck down at the age of 23.

It altered not just the course of his life, but also that of his father, who took on the role of caregiver. Koon Heng made his choice, and the result is one he has to accept, no doubt with regret.

But regrets are for those who survive. For those who don't, the family grieves for a lifetime.

Click here to watch a multimedia story about Koon Heng on Through The Lens.

ST Photo: Kevin Lim

Armed with a torchlight and basket, durian pickers are out in the pitch dark plantations of Pahang as early as 5 am. There, Mao Shan Wang durians are currently in season. Here, durian lovers' insatiable appetite for the thorny fruit is the reason. About 70 per cent of every morning's best picks from Pahang are delivered to Singapore during the abundant period of August. With a 500 km journey to cover, it is a season of mad rushing.

It was supposed to be a documentary of the journey of Mao Shan Wang durians from Pahang to Singapore, and that led to a deeper insight of the work unseen to many.

View an audio slideshow about The Durian Express here:

http://blip.tv/file/3951303