Misfortune Seldom Comes Alone To The House...

4 November 2009, Wednesday (16 Zulkaedah)

When It Rains It Pours
Did you ever have a day when everything went wrong? I mean a day when everything you did just didn't work. This was my day. This was the day when not only it rained, it poured!! 

Myanmar Here I Come
30th October was the day I was supposed to go for a week's vacation to Myanmar. First thing after I got out of bed, I searched for my luggage locks and couldn't find them.. After frantically rummaging through all my luggage, I finally found them right at the bottom of one of the bags. Thank God, but I was kind of flustered by then. It was the start of bad things to come.

Row "G"
After my husband had dropped me off at the airport, I looked up the flight information board to see which row I needed to go to, to check in. And the flight to Myanmar read "Row G". 

Row "G to Row "F"
So, after Sharon, a Myanmarese (my ex student who was traveling with me) arrived, we both pushed our trolley and queued up at Row G. Once we reached the front of the queue, I asked the Customer Service (CS) staff manning the queue which counter to go to since most counters had indicated "Hongkong" as their flight destinations, only to be told by him that the row we should be queueing should be Row F. I muttered under my breath, "If it's Row F, why on earth did the board display Row G"????

In any case, I thought, "No big deal. We'll just have to queue again. I was still high-spirited. After all, I was going on a much needed holiday. 

Row "G" to Row "F" to Row "C"
So, once again, we both pushed our trolley, and this time we patiently waited for our turn to check in at Row F. Once we reached the CS staff, he asked for our destination. Would you believe what he told me, "Sorry, if you are going to Mynamar, you should go to Row C, that's the counters for all flights to Asia."

Boy!! This time, I was beginning to slowly simmer. I was cursing under my breath. Why couldn't they get this simple thing right? If it's Row C for all flights to Asia, why couldn't their board display the correct information in the first place???

Row "C"
And once again, we quickly pushed our trolley to Row C.  And this time, just to be sure, I had crossed to the front of the queue to ask the CS staff, and this time, he confirmed that we were at the right row. 

Ticket and Passport
Phew, we heaved a sigh of relief. Once our turn came, we happily walked up to the counter staff and was greeted warmly by a young male staff. And I thought, "Finally, things were looking positive, and I was well on my way to Mynamar." I placed my ticket and passport on the counter and started day dreaming.

Moh Moh Lwin, Tun Tun Oo, and Aung Kaung Myat
I've been planning this trip with Sharon the last couple of weeks. And I was so looking forward to meeting her mum, Moh Moh Lwin, her dad, Tun Tun Oo, and her little brother, Aung Kaung Myat. 

Daydreaming
And my mind raced to the interesting places/spots that Sharon was going to take me to. And I was relishing the thought of all the shopping that I was going to do. 

Visa, What Visa?
As I continued day dreaming, suddenly I realised that the counter staff was talking to me and asking me a question, "Maam, where's your visa?" I was thinking, "Visa?" My brain couldn't compute the word. What was he talking about? "Yes, you would need a visa to go to Myanmar!," he continued.  

Exemplary MAS Counter Staff
My jaw dropped. I actually felt like crying at this point. There began an exchange of civilised (note, I didn't say "heated") conversations between the counter staff and me, and later, he even spoke to his superior to see if he could help sort out my problem. I actually admired his cool demeanour, given how frazzled I was, and the circumstance I was in. I was quite stressed out, to say the least, but keeping my cool as he was very patient and professional as he went about trying his best to help me. 

Why the Exception?
He had advised me to go to the Myanmar Embassy to apply for the visa and directed me to go to the 3rd floor to the MAS ticketing office to change my flight to another date. I had told him that I wasn't even aware that I'd need a visa to go to Myanmar.  I don't need visa to go to SEA countries. So why the exception?? 

Oh Boy, Myanmar: Only in My Dream
Finally, reality hit me that I was not flying to Myanmar today, as without a visa, I would be refused entry upon arrival. The counter staff tried to get the telephone number of Myanmar Embassy but for some strange reasons could not obtain it. He then directed me to the Customer Service counter.

Sharon Left Without Me
By then, I was resigned to the fact that Sharon had to travel back to her country without me. So, we quickly told the polite and exemplary staff that he should proceed with checking in Sharon, and I would have to deal with my situation later as time was running late for Sharon. We spent almost 45 minutes at that counter!!! In any case, I would like to offer my bouquet of appreciation to that staff (sorry I didn't manage to get his name, but hoping to meet him again next week, so I could find out his name).

After Sharon had headed towards the Departure exit, May (a fellow Myanmarese and Sharon's best friend, who accompanied her to the airport) and I proceeded to the Customer Service Counter. I had wanted to confirm with the Embassy first whether I could get an express visa before I changed my ticket to enable me to travel the next day. 

Frantic Calls To No Avail
After obtaining the Myanmar Embassy's telephone number, I dialled numerous times but there was no ringing tone and had requested for an alternative number. Again, I called many times, but to no avail.  No one was picking up the calls despite it being past 9.00 a.m. 

Snappy Decision
By then, I was frantic and had to make a quick decision. I made a call to my husband who was shocked to discover my predicament. As he was busy, he sought his secreatry's assistance to call the Embassy to make some enquiries.

A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed
Meanwhile, May spoke to her Myanmar agent, Hayman to seek her advice. And she gave me her Myanmar Embassy contact who could help me to process an express visa, of course with an extra fee.... Given my situation, I was prepared for anything..

Later, my husband's secretary even gave me her contact, a Myanmarese professor who happened to be at the Emabssy at that time, if I needed his help. 

Lugging My Luggage Home
Since I couldn't get through the Embassy, I decided to go there myself, with May. So, we took a taxi back to my house to drop off all our luggage (mine plus Sharon's as her load was ovedrweight). And later we took a different cab to Myanmar Embassy. 

Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover
When we arrived at the Embassy, the taxi dropped us off at the entarnce to what looked like a very sleazy and rundown place. Never in my wildest dream did I imagine an Embassy to be looking like that. It looked very lifeless and dreary, just like the predicament I was in. 

Oh My, A Hidden Connecting Door
I made a call to Hayman's contact, and shortly later, he emerged from a side door, and then only I realised that that was a connecting door to the actual Embassy.  Where we stood was just the section for visa applicants. 

You Wait At the Canteen!!
And once we introduced ourselves, he asked whether I had filled up my visa application form. After telling him that I had not, he said, "Okay, you wait at the canteen. I will come back with the form'" which I found very amusing and hilarious. 

For Once I Felt Good That Morning!!
The so-called canteen was across the same ground, so May and I proceeded there, and saw many Mynamarese sitting and hovering at the canteen. When I saw the contact approaching with the form, my heart was lifted up at this point, and I really felt good for once that morning. 

Light At The End of The Tunnel
I was told to come back to collect my express visa by 5:00 p.m. Finally, I could see light at the end of the tunnel. 

KL Sentral
Right after we left the Embassy, we hailed a cab to go back to my house before going to KL Sentral to the MAS ticketing office, but I changed my mind mid way, and decided to go straight there using the same cab. 

My Jaw Dropped A Second Time
Once my turn came at the ticketing office, I told the staff that I wanted to change my flight to the next morning, but was shocked to be told that all seats were fully booked and the only available seat was in business class. I needed to fork out RM1300, which was way too expensive. No way did I want to spend this kind of unnecessary expenditure!!! 

When It Rains It Pours Again and AgainI was utterly disappointed as I was very confident of getting a seat. And if I thought that the misfortune that had befallen me was about to end, I was wrong. To add salt to the wound, I was told that because I had missed my flight to Myanmar, they had to cancel my flight back to KL too. 

A Worthy Penalty
My mind quickly went back to why I was here in the first place. My heart sank once again. I wanted to curse the day, but for some reason, I held my tongue. I politely asked her to see if there were other available flights to and fro Myanmar at a more affordable fare as I had to pay penalty for changing the flight dates. Finally, she confirmed that I could fly on the 11 November and come back on 18 November with a RM350 penalty. 

Finally, I Could Smile Again
I smiled as I realized my day was getting better. This was a better deal than I had expected. I had anticipated to be penalised for both sectors.

And I got May's help to call my Mynamar Embassy contact to tell him that I did not need the express visa after all, as I was only travelling much later. So, I saved a bit on the processing fee plus I needn't go back in the evening to collect the visa. By then, I was already dead tired. The whole fiasco was draining my energy, both physically and mentally. 

Betweeen Us, We Could Eat a Horse
Neither May nor I had taken our breakfast.  For me, with all the morning's happening, I did not have any appetite to eat. But after leaving the ticketing office, suddenly we both were ravenous. We were so hungry we could eat a horse.  As May wasn't too keen on spicy food, we stopped at KFC for lunch, as by then, it was already almost 12:00 p.m. 

I Was Sure Enough Misfortune Had Befallen Me, So I Thought....
On the way back home via LRT, I finally started feeling like maybe the day wasn't so bad after all. Even though I still had to send May and Sharon's luggage back, things had started looking up. I had everything I needed, and was well on my my way to getting things taken care of. And so I thought. 

Lurching Escalators Anyone?
We had to take a train from KL Sentral to Masjid Jamek (MJ) and another train from (MJ) to Bandar Tun Razak. As we were taking the escalator at the Masjid Jamek station, suddenly, the escalator lurched violently and halted, with most commuters thrown and kissing into one another's back!!! On reflection, I realised I might have suffered my third whiplash, because since that day, I have had excruciating pain in both my cervical and mid spine. 

Bad Karma
Once we reached the top, both May and I burst out laughing when I commented to her that I had never experienced a lurching escalator ever in my life, despite taking many escalators before. And I jokingly told May that maybe her karma was not so positive...

After my son and I sent May home to Shah Alam, I went home, actually feeling quite relieved that my holiday was not meant to be, just yet. 

True Value of Friendship
My bad day turned out to be a day that I learnt the true value of friendship and what the maxim "A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed" actually means.

I learnt to keep my cool and fortitude when I was under duress. I also learnt to laugh at myself for my sloppiness (in not finding out beforehand about the requirement for visa). 

Blessing In Disguise
And I'm grateful too that I got to spend more time with my kittos and husband, especially in the absence of a maid in my house. At least, I didn't feel so guilty about leaving them in the lurch while I went vacationing. As a minimum, they still got to enjoy their favourite dishes (like daging goreng, daging masak hitam, kueteow special, mee bandung muar, nasi lemak, kari udang, asam pedas), to name a few, within these few days. In fact, it was a blessing in disguise.

Thank you Allah for this day that though it seemed very bad, became one of the greatest blessings I ever received.

I Wanna

4 November 2009, Wednesday (16 Zulkaedah)

This is where I wanna be. 

I wanna laze around by the beach, without a care to the world.

I wanna hear the rush of the waves.

I wanna walk along the pristine white beach

I wanna dip my feet in the unspoiled white sand

I wanna look up to clear blue sky.

I wanna feel the soft breeze against my skin.

I wanna inhale the fresh unsullied air. 

I WANNA be here!!!

WanKinsella@Lubukhatiku

Lucky Despite One or Two Bad Apples

3 November 2009, Tuesday (15 Zulkaedah)

Yesterday afternoon, as I was peeling the tons of onions, shallots and garlic (as my kids are crazy over fried shallots), I was thinking about the Indonesian maid that my agent promised to bring in by the end of this month.

I missed having a maid to do all the routine and mundane chores in my house. I do not mind doing most housework but peeling onions, pounding stuff in my mortar, and ironing, are certainly not my cup of tea, chores which I'm not passionate about at all.

I'm very much looking forward to the arrival of my maid to lighten my burden as I'm still nursing a spinal problem.

Just as I dream about the maid's arrival, I received a phone call from my agent who told me a piece of bad news. He said that because of the recent brouhaha about Indonesian maid (the murder and abuse cases), Indonesian government has put a stop (temporary or otherwise) to the inflow of new maids. Gosh, there goes my dream. I was fuming and was thinking why the majority of employers are penalised because of one or two bad apples!!! Urggghhh!!!

Immediately, my husband asked me to contact the company providing weekend help as he reckons I would need help now that no maid is forthcoming.

As luck would have it, later in the afternoon, I received an sms from my sister asking if I still needed a maid, and gave me the contact detail of an agent who could supply Indonesian maid. Hmmm... I was surprised, what with the recent spat between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Without a moment to lose, I called this lady, by the name of Ustazah Jeliah and she confirmed that she has two maids waiting to be employed. Both are on social visit pass, and I could try one out. And if I find her suitable and competent, she would look into processing her work permit.

So, later that night, we drove all the way to Taman Kosas to meet the agent and brought our new maid home. Her name is Sulis Stiyani, 38 years old.  Looks decent, but through my experience, looks are belying, and I've learnt not to judge a book by its cover, like decent face, monstrous character; monstrous face, timid character, or the likes of it.

I pray to Allah that she would turn out okay. I fervently hope that she would treat my father in law well, and not abuse him, like my previous schizo maid. Also, I'm tired of training new maids. I have to start all over again once I hire a new maid, and let me tell you, it's no mean feat training them. I hope she'll stay long with us and alleviate my burden.

Ina and I Declared War on These Creepy Crawlies!!!

3 November 2009, Tuesday (15 Zulkaedah)

While I was preparing breakfast for my family today, I felt something brushing my feet, and as I was AVERSE to creepy crawlies, especially cockroaches, I shook off my foot, and true enough, I saw a roach flung a short distance near my feet. I felt revolted and sick to my stomach and quickly looked for my insecticide, but couldn't find it in the kitchen, despite having bought 2 canisters recently.  I rushed to my bedroom, and believe it or not, couldn't locate them either.

When I entered the kitchen again, I was looking high and low for that miserable, nauseating, horrendous and revolting lone ranger, but it probably was hiding from me, lurking somewhere. I was tensed and on my guard, when suddenly, through the corner of my eye, I saw something crawling near my feet, and this time, no way was this wretched beast going to get the better of me! I quickly stomped my slippered foot and snuffed the life of this good-for-nothing monster!!!

I do not know about you, but I will go berserk if a roach crawls up my legs. Once, when my eldest son was about a year old, and I was carrying him at that time, I felt something creeping up my leg, and I knew for certain it was that stomach-churning beast.  I was hysterical to say the least, and was screaming my head off, like a stark crazy woman. I almost dropped my baby at that time. Of course, after shaking off my legs repeatedly, the fiend scurried away!!!

Anyway, coming back to this war that my daughter, Ina and I had declared on this brute. Right after breakfast, I saw that there were two messages on my mobile.

Upon checking, I realised that there were 2 messages from Ina and they read, "Ma, Ina wants to declare war on roaches starting today. Urggghhh..They love entering my room, especially when I'm studying.  Urgggghhhh!!!"

And the second message read, "Because of the roaches, I dropped my laptop and the cooling pad wire snapped! The roaches drive me crazy and I'm having tension early in the morning!!!

That made the two of us. Like my daughter, I too have declared an all-out WAR against these hideous and stomach churning skunks!!!

Cruise To Nowhere

1 November 2009, Sunday (13 Zulkaedah)

Whatever you do, let yourself dream, let yourself fantasize about where you'd like to go, even if you may not be able to pull off your ultimate journey just yet.  Wherever it is, begin to plan and make your adventure a reality.

I have been fantasising and dreaming about going on a cruise to nowhere.

Just me and my soulmate.

Would this just remain a fantasy, or would it, one day, be a reality? I will begin to plan and make this dream a reality......

Your Life’s Ugly Moments

31 October 2009, Saturday (12 Zulkaedah) 

 

Ever wondered when your ugly moments are? 

I’m not referring to the morning look 

Or the look when you’re not feeling well 

 

Think about the time you answered your family rudely 

Just because you think you had a hard day at work

Try to picture your own face when you are doing that
How about the time when you cursed while driving?
Do catch a glimpse of yourself on the mirror the next time you do that

Think again about the time you were in a bad mood
For whichever reason that you may have
And how you showed a black face when you are with your friends
Making conversation was the last thing on your mind
So you punish them with the awkward silence
That’s another ugly moment that is similar in kind

How about the time you saw a beggar
But quickly averted your eyes?
It may be brief, but it doesn't mean it's not ugly
Or that time when you told a lie
And hoped no one saw the flicker of your eye
As subtle as it is, it still doesn’t discount the fact that it is ugly

There are many moments in our lives
That when we are not careful
We can show our ugly side
Take note today and make it right
We don’t always have to hurt the people we love
We just have to try to show our good side...

This Life Is Just A Test

31 October 2009, Saturday (12 Zulkaedah) 

this life is a test
it is only a test
had it been an actual life
you would have received
further instructions on
where to go
and what to do.................

Friendship is Continuous

31 October 2009, Saturday (12 Zulkaedah)

Footprints To Nowhere....

30 October 2009, Friday (11 Zulkaedah)

 

The rain wiped off my footprints from 

my house to the airport.... and 

everywhere I went today. 

And the funny thing was, 

I went to so many places 

without actually 

reaching my 

ultimate 

destination!!

Life's Predictable Rails and Ohhhh....Not So Predictable Rails

29 October 2009, Thursday (10 Zulkaedah)

I was reading this book, Life Lessons for Women, and the author had suggested that at some stage in our life, we need to reevaluate our position, in what she termed as Life Review.

This aroused my interest as I reckon this will help me recognise who I am and the path that has led me to where I am today.

The author, Stephanie Marston had said, "Although your life must be lived by moving forward, it is best understood by recognizing what you have already lived through and how far you've come. Just as your fingerprints identify your unique physical makeup, your life choices will reveal the person who did all the living - your self."

It is important to assess yourself  in order for you to know yourself more intimately. Stephanie had suggested we divide our life into decades.

Personally, I would have preferred to term it as Life's Predictable Rails. A woman usually goes through life's predictable rails, and stopping at the usual stations, i.e. birth, childhood, work, marriage, motherhood. Is my rail predictable? I would say Yes, and No.

It's really fascinating, mesmerizing and enthralling when you pull out your old photo albums and look at pictures of yourself during the different stations of your life. It's wonderful to trace your life back to the different platforms you were on in Life's Rails.

Sometimes life affords you many choices... but in the end is it your choice, or is there a switch operator somewhere who has you on a predetermined path... On what track will you enter the station?

I've stopped at the following stations in My Life's Predictable Rails, and Oh...some Not So Predictable Rails...

Birth Station, Platform 1 
Childhood Station, Platform 2 
Mugging Station, Platform 3 
Slogging Station, Platform 4 
Marital Station, Platform 5 
Motherhood Station, Platform 6 
Semi-Retirement Station, Platform 7 
Retirement Station, Platform 7 
Blogging/Facebooking/Twiteering/Enjoying Life to the Fullest Station, Platform 8

Check out this space - All the Stations are Under Construction.