Clutch of Inspirations.

***

Picture this.

A plump round boy with a chubby face and cheeks turned red from the constant shone of the sunlight on him, squashed right at the back of a van packed with primary schoolkids. His face was practically pressed against the rear windsreen. Another boy, slightly taller than him, took advantage of the shorter boy by using his shoulder as an armrest, weighing down on the squashed boy while talking and laughing with his friend, supposedly. For some reason, the poor boy showed no signs of reluctance, just a forlorn expression as he looked afar, rolling his eyeballs now and then.

It was a somber sight alright. Let's not pick on the taller boy who's in a dingy state himself. Let's think about the driver. The driver who drives with the window open and puffs out smoke from time to time after he sticks his revolting cigarette in his mouth. This action alone is abhorrent enough but the act of cramming all the kids into the tiny stuffy non-schoolbus van is just too much. You don't earn money this immoral way, mister. I hope the police saman you RM500 or hang your license!! >.<

aww, the poor thing...*scene sighted near bulatan at noontime today*

***

The fact that Malaysia has only 1 Visa Application Centre located in KL makes things difficult for us Sarawakians. Waiting for the Visa Letter itself took a long long time, but I'm grateful my air tickets booked for the 2nd time need not be burnt.

Because we have wasted enough money for burning the first tickets, my dad and I opted to stay at a more budget place - YMCA. It's fairly pleasant and clean and simple, situated strategically somewhere between KL Sentral and the KL Sentral Monorail Station.

Looking out from the lobby is Hilton and Le Meridien.

I planned to shop for clothes in KL on National Day, the 1st day I arrived. Sales everywhere. Reached Low Yat first, as it's nearest by monorail after Times Square. Dad spent ages peering at external disk drives, cameras etc there. I was pouting a bit and felt like kicking yeeching whose handphone wasn't even on. (Luckily she called back later.) Apparently we have no mental connection or whatsoever you call it. I told her I was at Low Yat and she told me she was at Pavillion. An hour later, we switched places. So okay, we agreed on meeting the next day.

Salivated at the cakes. Why aren't there such lovely cakes here.

Woke up at 5.30 the next morning and bathed. The air-cond was freaking cold, thank God I remembered to bring along my jacket. After fidgeting around with wet hair, I snuggled back into bed again =.= Free breakfast at the cafe downstairs at 7.00a.m. being the first customers and we were off, hurrying to the VAC at Wisma MCA, Ampang. Catching up with my dad in his step ain't no easy task. His walking speed is almost my running speed. We took the LRT to KLCC and walked to the wisma. I was panting with pale lips halfway on a pedestrian bridge till my dad got worried I was gonna faint. XP

All sweaty when I finally reached there, crestfallen that there are like, 20+ people waiting at the 4th floor already.

Waiting for my turn anxiously.

Things never run smoothly for me. I ran SMACK! into a solid wall after handing my documents to the officer handling my application. He rummaged through the papers and flipped to and fro coming to the end. I knew at that instant something is wrong. He asked,'' Where is your bank letter?'' I went on to say that I have a bank statement and a Fixed Deposit so do I still need a letter.

He pointed out when I showed him the statement,''This is not a bank statement. This is a transaction.'' I swallowed and asked,''Okaayy. So..the FD itself wouldn't be enough?'' He gave me the expected answer, that I can choose to submit if I want, but whether or not the British High Commissioner would grant me my Visa or not would be unknown. THen came the question, ''So do you want to submit or not?'' With the impatient look in his glaring eyes. No kidding, I felt like banging a fist on the desk.

5 mins later, we were asking strangers where the nearest UOB bank is.

20 mins later, we were in front of UOB Bank, the only branch in KL, looking at the Closed sign on the door. Oww, just that it had not opened up yet as their operating hours start at 9.30a.m. It was raining by then, even the sky was feeling sorry for me. Thanks sky for your pity on me x.x

9.30 a.m.. The security guard finally unlocked the main doors. It took 2 hours to beg the bank relationship officer, a tiny-frame young lady, to add more details into the bank letter. The manager's signature was hard to wait for as well, as she was tele-conferencing for ages.

It was 1 something when I emerged from the VAC, drained of energy and spirit. Most of all, I was starving. So we walked to KLCC for lunch. I regretted my choice of meal though, a lousy dumpling mee that costed RM9.50. Brr. Recharged, it was time to find MSL Travel near PWTC to make my ISIC. More trains, more walking and searching. Then we came back to KLCC again for slight shopping. I had to get a dress, I told myself. One in UK would cost me a bomb. I dawdled in Isetan, wishing that the perfect dress for me would fall from the sky.

I bought the black version of this dress. But aww, I like the white one a lot actually. Wasn't thinking straight as I just wanted to get back to the hostel and rest.

Then there was a surprise in store during dinner.

Do you recognize that man in the grey suit?

He was behind me for some time, picking dishes. Passed behind me less than 1m away. I was wondering why he had a guard following around, thinking he must be a minister or what. Dad was worse,''A Japanese, I think.'' Then 10 secs later, he said,''He looks like Mahathir.'' I laughed, then turned around and looked. The man turned his face too, and I went,''He IS Mahathir!!!'' Waddaheck.

Our ex-PM was apparently tapao-ing food for dinner. I guess they were about to buka puasa. 2 Chinese youths in red went up to him and took a pic with him, running away giggling XD I had half a mind to grab this chance to pose with him too but he had walked far as shown in the pic. I was busy shoving food into my mouth anyway.

Sushi and bread for the night, yoghurt and milk for the morning.

Digged through the photos my dad took. I guess he was right about how constantly I was on the phone or typing messages.

If not, I would be eating. I didn't mind eating much cause I walked a LOT until I got out of breathe..

..Like the next morning. My dad didn't want to stay in the hostel, waiting for 11 o'clock for us to leave for KLIA. So, I had no choice but to follow him. We LRTed to Pasar Seni and wandered around the maze of old shophouses. Chinatown@Petaling Street is here too, but it was not open at that hour.

Caught the bus to KLIA at 11 sharp. You think my trip would just end peacefully like that? Nah. The situation was that my aunty asked me to help buy the Gardenia cream buns, you know, those with chocolate, strawberry and vanilla flavours, at the KLIA. So my dad and I were searching for ''Gardenia Bakery'' after checking in. We found none outside, so we entered the err, zone where non-passengers can't get into. Walked and looked, but no, no Gardenia. I was like, uh-oh, did we miss it out there?

I phoned up my mum to ask about it. ''It's in a supermarket at the Arrival Hall...'' ''WHAT??!!''

One glance at the time said we were running out of time. Dad said he would go get them. I argued that he didn't know how the buns look like and how much he needed to buy. He shot back that I walk too slowly. So, fine, I blurted out all the details as fast as I could and he blasted off. I waited there, at the long elevator area.

5 mins passed. 10, 11, 12..Boarding time came and went. No sight of my dad. I was in panic, thinking that we might miss our flight. Because of some buns. How funny can things be? I closed my eyes and prayed to God. 5 secs after opening my eyes, my dad appeared.

Amazing how prayer works sometimes, don't you agree?

Anyway, the flight was delayed 45 mins in the end because the aeroplane we were supposed to take had technical problems. We moved to another gate's waiting area for another plane was to be used. Watched the luggages and food being transferred over. Then we waited aboard for the plane to be refuelled. I wonder why our seat belts cannot be fastened while they refuel the plane.

Finally, we took off at 2 sth. About an hour late. I got the window seat again, yay!

Flying over KL.

KL from the sky.

And Miri. Don't you think Miri's so pretty? I love the coutryside look.

And I'm back.

***

Hold on...just wanna recommend you..

The book I bought at Borders for 25% off and gobbled it down during the flight. It's just RM 24 sth after discount! Love you, Borders! And hey people, this book is g-o-o-d!! I like it. The way Kim Edwards weave the story, the way you get absorbed into the story unknowingly. It tells of how a doctor delivering his own twins secretly sent away his daughter born with Down's Syndrome and keeping only the healthy son. He lied to his wife that the baby girl died after birth. However, the nurse responsible to take the baby to an institution disappeared away to raise the child herself. And from there onwards, the wrong decision of the doctor starts to haunt all of their lives...

Enough said, just read it yourself, can borrow from me if you want! It's a beautifully crafted book. =)

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