The Return Visit to the Central Valley – Day 2 – Dr. Thet’s Meeting & Mid Valley Encounters

Wednesday, 18th July 2007.

There was a dim glow as I opened my eyes slowly. There was nothing to be heard. It was quiet. The fan was still blowing. I looked at the time and it was 9:40 a.m. and I’ve recovered a little. I felt a lot better than the day before. My sore throat was most of it gone. I cleaned myself and got dressed then walked to UCSI to visit some old friends.

It was never cool walking under the sun but at least I don’t sweat as much here as I do in Penang or SP. I proposed the idea that Penang is an island, and SP is somewhat near the sea and is a low land, so it would be way warmer and damper, but my mother said these are all rubbish and that I was just crapping.

The university did change of course. Within one year, quite a lot of expansions it had. The gateway was now functioning, with the ugly eagle skeleton structure intact to the central guard house. The noisy clanks made by students when entering or leaving through the gate bars by rotating them were irritatingly deafening. Nabeh!

Ascending the stairs of Block A, I passed through a group of students who happened to wear seafood clothes. Seafood, you know, as in, LaLa or Ah Beng, or some call them Ah Too Ah Kow Ah Lian Ah Hua... I reached the platform outside the front doorway of Block A and something new was there. Many tables were set and if I’m not mistaken, food stalls too with some other product stores. I didn’t pay much attention to the place, so I might be wrong.

It was lunch time when I got there, so Block A was crowded with people. Nothing much had changed internally since I last came to the place. I did see some familiar faces but I don’t think they would recognise me, so I just kept looking around, ignoring them. I proceeded to Block C. On the way there, I passed through Block B, which now had a see-through lab for food science, nutrition and biotechnology. Last time, it was still under construction. The library was further up the block but I did not go there. I met Hou Boon and Esther separately at the stairways and I talked to them for a while.

Getting into Block C’s ground floor, I saw the stall still operating. The aunty from Taiping still manages it. I passed through the Medical PBL rooms as I was walking to the stairs. I ascended the stairs to the second floor, searching for the School of Pharmacy. I reached the blue door. Ms. Kitty, the course coordinator, was the first staff I greeted. Then, after exchanging basic news, I asked for Dr. Thet’s room. She has moved opposite from where her last room was, into Mr. Jony’s former room. She was still sharing the room with Ms. Pryia, but Ms. Lyna was nowhere to be seen. I knocked the blue door, and entered.

Dr. Thet was facing side-ways direction, so she did not see me. Ms. Pryia was the first to see me. Dr. Thet then slowly turned and her jaws dropped widely. Surprised, I guess. I was exalted to see her. Near ecstatic. As usual, we exchanged words and news. I told her briefly about my life in AIMST, complaining about the food especially.

It seemed like only a short while I had been chatting with her but it was already 1:00 p.m. and the CB-Sakai Gang had already finished their lectures, so I hurried to the lecture hall to meet them. Mr. Lokesh just finished the lecture on Pharmaceutical Analysis I and I waited outside the hall, greeting anyone that came out of the hall this way. Now, it would be rather a long list of names to name them all but I will list them down. Wei Fuen was the first I greeted, then of course, if she was there, Kan Mi would be there. Then it continues with Joyce, Li Ying, Wai Yee, Min Min (Super Mint), Sok Nee, Poh Kheng (Michelle Saw Kheng Kheng), and Pei Wee (Teochew ‘Pontianak’ from Nanas Town). Then came Tay Hui Zhong (my piano master), Teh Kee Shiuen (Kepong Laksa), Kien Ching (Dai Ga Jeh), Vivian and Wai San San (cik umuk 33 tahun). Kay Poh Leen was there and with her, J. Lo the Staphylococcus. Then came Hwee Feng (Khai Yang’s friend), and Seng Chew (CHEW!!! A.k.a. Ms. Angkasa Lepas). The guys, of course, Yong Wei, Teng Feng (Nicholas Tse’s clone), Chyi Ing, Jivan, Chen Leong (itu Thomas Chow lah), Mun Kit, Jason, Chun Wei, and Kuan Poh! Oh! Was missing him so much... XD Then followed Chia Leng (Selyn), Wei Nei (Winnie) and Mei Mei (Puchong lady). Joycee, Wen Chian (Mickey Mouse – lau ee version), Sing Shia (UVTSS), White Lady Sue Zin, Super Lenglui Jay Chow Soon Yee, Tang Sia Chin, and Melissa came last. The Eastern girls: Belinda, Jin Ling (Nicole “Ni-kO-Le”), Yen Jun, and Kristine were nowhere to be seen. Loges, Irwinder, Min Han, Mahmood, and Yew Kheng too.

I would have talked more to Hui Zhong but she was in a rush, so she left first. I never knew that I wouldn’t have much chance talking to her after that. San San wanted to have lunch together, so our initial plan to go Neway Karaoke was cancelled as she was busy. Instead, we had lunch just outside UCSI, among one of the shop houses. Wen Chian didn’t join as her cousin came down to KL. Sing Shia had other plans. So it was Sia Chin, Super Lenglui, Sue Zin, San San and I only that ended up at the place. I couldn’t remember the place’s name but it was some kind of air-conditioned cafe that had no chairs. There were low tables and we were to sit on the floor. That means we had to take our shoes off before entering the cafe.

Customers were predominantly UCSI students. I ordered some kind of herbal chicken rice instead of the usual spicy one I would order as I was afraid I hadn’t fully recovered from my sickness yet. While waiting, we played UNO Spin. Since all of them speak Cantonese, it was my chance to improve and polish on my Cantonese speaking and understanding skills. I didn’t care much if I used the wrong word or spoken wrongly as I was already familiar with them, and I talked freely in Cantonese with them. Otherwise I would have stuck to Hokkien or Mandarin. Phiaw Chong then SMSed me asking me whether was I enjoying, and I replied saying that I was. He was to meet Zi Wei in Times Square. Seng Chew came up to meet us after we finished our lunch. I asked her a few words in FooChew and continued our game.

After lunch, San San went back. Seng Chew too. Since it was already late, Neway was not an option anymore, leaving only Mid Valley and Leisure Mall. Who would ever want to go to Leisure Mall? =.=” Sia Chin wanted to get some salted duck egg for her mother, so Super Lenglui drove her SLK, NO! SLRK (improved & integrated version of SLK), taking us to Yulek to get some salted duck egg. It was kind of tough to pronounce it properly in Cantonese, so we had a good laugh pronouncing HAM GA CHAN instead of HAM NGAP DAN. =.=”

Yulek seemed to have changed slightly. It looked like it was cleaner... hehe... Again, I see familiar roads and surroundings. The route to Super Lenglui’s house, the route to Pantai Cheras, Blue Dragon, and of course, Yulek market! Used to accompany my aunt to the market to get some cooking ingredients. The most memorable being the eve of Medicinal Chemistry paper, which I thought I had screwed up but instead I did quite fine. Then there was this 7-11 store that I always went and get some drinks during midnight, and the event when Super Lenglui accompanied me to get some paracetamol, also during midnight.

After getting the ham ga chan, I mean ham ngap dan, we sent Sia Chin back to her place, Cloud View Tower, the Cloud Tower. Again, familiar roads. I used to send Yong Hoe (Daniel) back also, who lives somewhere near the Cloud Tower. It was to Mid Valley then! Vroom!!! Super Lenglui drove her SLRK Jay Chow style! We flew in her SLRK through the rain to Mid Valley Megamall. Of course, there were people in Mid Valley but not that many, or shall I say, not that crowded.

We visited many shops, mostly clothes as I was looking for some clothes. Here and there we entered and it was in G2000 where the White Lady Sue Zin was reluctant to go because there was a price drop in the dress she bought earlier, but Super Lenglui was like so eager to go. XD Sia Chin remained quiet most of the time. I tried a few clothes but didn’t seem to fit. It was not until they went to ZARA that I met my worst daytime nightmare! The girls were busy looking for their clothes while I walked over to the gents’ section. To my horror, I suddenly saw a familiar face as one of the salesperson there – my EX! Cipiang leh... such bad luck...

My hair was long that day, and I wore a pair of mirror-coated glasses, so I think my ex did not recognise me. I darted out of the gents’ section and blended into the larger ladies’ section. Super Lenglui saw my expression was kind of green and she asked me what exactly happened. I then told Sia Chin, Sue Zin and Super Lenglui that I saw my ex, which was kind of good-looking though. I told them to go to the gents’ section to have a look if they wanted to, and I waited outside, reluctant to go in again.

Nabeh! They were laughing at me as they came out. Then we got to the Central Court. Going peripherally, Sue Zin got to a Watson’s promotional store and asked for some contact-lens solution. She was attended by a salesboy while the three of us waited for her. Then Super Lenglui got her eyes caught on moisturising lotion. She then pulled us there but I told her to go first while I waited for Sue Zin. When Sue Zin was paying at the payment counter, the salesboy came up to me and promoted some stuff, which I declined. Then he asked me which college we were from. I just plainly said, “UCSI, but I am not studying there.”

He looked at me puzzled. I gave no response but just stared blankly, expressionless at him. Then Sue Zin came and we left smiling at him. Super Lenglui was stuck with the salesgirl promoting the lotion. The salesgirl was kind of pretty. She was slender and fair. She was beautiful. The way she spoke was also soft and polite. Super Lenglui then asked a lot of questions. Answering her questions with confidence, the salesgirl brought forward some samples to be tested. Many types of lotions there were – moisturising la, whitening la, scar therapy la, cooling la, lanciao la, cibai la, nabeh! So many... crazy!

The sales girl approached the rest of us and I entertained her by asking about whitening. I told her that I don’t like my hands being oily or something like to have a layer of greasy stuff on my hands, especially my palms. She told me that nothing like this would happen. She let me had a try and after applying some to my hands, I took Sue Zin to a jewellery store nearby. We didn’t enter but just stood outside. I asked her to look into the display piece. Of course, when something valuable, AHEM! not valuable, I mean something expensive is being displayed, there would be a layer of thick glass covering it. I pointed to Sue Zin the piece and then, when she was looking at it, wondering why I would ask her to see such a thing, I pressed my palm against the glass.

“Hypothesis accepted!” I told Sue Zin.

Sue Zin gave a giggle and we turned and walk away, leaving the greasy imprint of my palm on the glass. Super Lenglui was still influencing us to buy some lotion as she was captivated by the gifts she would get if she spent more than an amount of money. In the end, it was Sue Zin who bought something to aid Super Lenglui to get the gift. The salesgirl then asked me whether I wanted the whitening lotion. KNNB! I know I am tanned, and I am proud of it! The salesgirl then gave some gifts extra to Super Lenglui.

Then we were off home. Cipiang! It was Wednesday! Pasar Malam at Taman Connaught! Shit! It was going to jam! But then, I thought, it would not be me driving, so why worry so much? Super Lenglui will take care of the jam Jay Chow style! On the way to Jay Chow’s SLRK, Sia Chin went to the bakery to get some polo bun for each of us. It tasted very nice. It rained and jammed all the way back to Cheras but with Super Lenglui around, never fear!

Sue Zin and I reached back home finally and it was already dark but still raining. So the pasar malam plan had to be abolished. Seng Chew and Loges came to Sue Zin’s unit and talked a little. Then I came to know about the story of Ms. Angkasa Lepas. Legend has it that long ago at Angkasa Condo, a girl named Teong Seng Chew was called Ms. Angkasa as she was the most beautiful of all the inhabitants there. However, the authorities thought that was not really right, so they upgraded her title to Ms. Angkasa Lepas. Why? Because in Angkasa Lepas (outer space), there was said to be no human. If there were life, it was said to be martians and strange foul-looking creatures (now don’t quote me yeah! It was said only, not I say one! Whoever quotes me, wa tiok hor lu SI!). So Ms. Angkasa Lepas would be the prettiest person there as there was no other human around to rival her.

I had ‘ninner’ with Sue Zin, Loges and Ms. Angkasa Lepas, then I headed back to Sue Zin’s room to online. There was nothing planned for the following day, so I thought of hanging around in UCSI. However, I asked Phiaw Chong for his plans tomorrow but he himself had no plan. I felt tired early and went to bed early too.

The Return Visit to the Central Vallye - Days 0 & 1 - Abang Handsome & the Red Kancil

Monday, 16th July 2007.


Foo Phiaw Chong came over to Penang Island, and I took him to Queensbay Mall, for what? Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix. Now this is the second time I watched this movie. Though personally I do not like Harry Potter but I kind of like this particular part. Many of Harry Potter freaks say that this part is very dull but it is my favourite among all Harry Potter stories so far.


Before going for the screen, we took a walk around the mall and had late lunch at the Manhattan Fishmarket. Well, thanks a lot to Phiaw Chong for treating me such a great lunch. KAMSIAH. Then after Harry Potter, we had tea in Old Town Kopitiam, sitting there gossiping for a long while before continuing walking around the mall and outside the mall. After that, we went straight back home without having ‘ninner’.

Tuesday, 17th July 2007.

Early morning we followed my father down to my grand aunt’s (Ah Poh Ee Poh) place as we were following my uncle’s (Ah Chooi/Kwang) car down to KL. We went to my uncle’s office first and stayed there until 12 p.m. before we hit the road. At first, I thought I was going to follow only Kwang and her girlfriend, Ah Wen, down to KL, but it turned out that Kwang went down to KL with two of his employees instead. One was around his 30s, another was younger, mid 20s I guess. And another twist was, I was to follow the younger man’s car instead of Kwang’s.

The younger man’s (lets call him Abang Handsome or Entau Koko) car was a Proton Waja, and I was to sit at the front passenger’s seat while Phiaw Chong sat behind. It was kind of comfy, and Entau Koko didn’t really drive very fast (I am not sure why though). We set off first and reached Auto City first. It was there Kwang asked Entau Koko to meet up as Kwang went elsewhere to get some exhibition stuff for the exhibition of his company down in KL. We waited near KFC. While Entau Koko went down to get something to fill his stomach, Phiaw Chong & I were gossiping a bit. He was saying that Entau Koko looked very ‘yeng’ with his hairstyle, the way he dresses, his sunglasses... suddenly... Teet Teet! A polyphonic Nokia phone... wow... when it comes to his phone, a bit outdated XD... We had lunch at a mamak place and after that, we set out from Auto City at around 1 p.m..

Along the way, we didn’t really talk much as we weren’t familiar, and I guess it’s because of the age gap. Phiaw Chong and I felt bad talking openly, so we SMSed instead. Stupid huh. Entau Koko did ask us where we were going to stay though and I said I would stay at my friend’s place and Phiaw Chong would stay at his friend’s place. Entau Koko was kind of surprised to hear that and said that we were really enjoying our lives. During the first half of the journey, I noticed some drivers of the opposite current flashed their lights. Speed trap I guessed. Mid way through the journey, there really was a road block by highway police.

“Shit! Don’t know whether I exceeded the limit or not,” exclaimed Entau Koko.

From behind, Phiaw Chong heard Entau Koko uttered something but didn’t quite catch what he was saying, so he SMSed me asking me what Entau Koko said. I told Phiaw Chong and we remained silent. The police asked for Entau Koko’s driving licence and said that Entau Koko’s car went at the speed of 145 km/h (highway limit was 110 km/h). Of course Entau Koko was shocked as well as I was too. He gave a shout of surprise and said that he didn’t go so fast. Then the police read out the number plate W-something something, KL car. OH! PLEASE!!! Entau Koko’s car starts with a P-something something. Of course the police re-checked the number plate then apologised and let us off. Very... amusing...

Throughout the journey, I noticed that Entau Koko was kind of tired. I wanted to ask him whether would he like to let me drive so he could at least rest but in the end I just kept quiet and let him drive. We stopped over at one of the resting sites in Perak as I needed to go to the restroom and Entau Koko also wanted to have a face splash. There, Entau Koko had a cigarette and then we continued our journey. The next halt was at Sungai Buloh (not the bridge restaurant though) to meet up with Kwang to lead the way to the hotel they were supposed to stay in KL.

KL was drawing nigh. I was getting excited. Somehow, my heartbeat rate increased. Things I never thought of started popping up in my mind. For a year I had not been in KL. For a year I had not seen the CB-Sakai Gang. Excited. Finally, we reached KL at around 5 p.m.. Sue Zin SMSed me telling me that their lecture ends at 6 p.m.. Wow, I couldn’t believe I was in KL already. The roads were familiar... The people, the crowd... The cars... The jam... The signboards... The buildings... Ah... I was back in KL... I couldn’t believe it... It was incredible... The feeling was unexplainable... I can find no words to describe it...

Memories crept back into my head. Pudu area – the place I ran here and there when I reached KL with Christopher and Jason almost two years ago. Town peripheral roads – the roads I used to simply bang with one of my ex about one year plus ago. Times Square – last late night hang out with CB-Sakai Gang one year ago. It’s all coming back to me now.

We reached KLCC around 5:45 p.m. and we thank and bid farewell to Kwang and Entau Koko for bringing us down to KL. Now, we were on our own. Journeying to the LRT station of KLCC, we passed through the lake garden... hence, another memory... New Year’s Day countdown with Zen Chia, Geok Im, Hoay San and Yoon May one and a half years ago.

Reaching the KLCC LRT station, it was time for Phiaw Chong and me to part ways. He was to take the train to Wangsa Maju station to get to Qi Xian’s place while I had to take the train to Masjid Jamek then switch to Star Line LRT to Bandar Tasik Selatan station to get to my dear friends. Upon entering the platform of the station, as usual, people mountain people sea... Gonna be sandwich-ed again. Since Wangsa Maju station and Masjid Jamek station are in the opposite direction, we had to go our separate ways. I thought I wouldn’t be able to get in the first train, so I called Soon Yee and told her that I was at KLCC LRT station and I would be late. Soon Yee told me that they were going to have steamboat although I told her I was not feeling well. How would I have known that I managed to squeeze in the first train that arrived. I later learned from Phiaw Chong that he had to wait until the third train.

After sandwiching for a few moments (thank God it was only a FEW moments), I switched to Star LRT going to Bandar Tasik Selatan. I called Soon Yee telling her that I was upon reaching the station already and asked her to come and fetch me. In Star LRT, when I was looking out of the windscreen, familiar stations and sceneries my eyes rested on. Plaza Rakyat... Pudu... Chan Sow Lin... Cheras... Salak Selatan... Bandar Tun Razak... BANDAR TASIK SELATAN... Wow... I’m one step closer to the place where I learned a lot and the place I found my own self...

I was carrying my light blue Body Glove bag upon my bag with another dark blue Body Glove ‘pouch’ strapped upon my chest with another medium green bag which I carried with my hand and my shoes on top of it. At the stop, I rushed out of the train alongside with other passengers. Typical KL scene. Quickly, I got out of the tracks and looked for the Red Kancil... Super Lenglui’s Red Kancil... SOON YEE!!! I looked around and finally found Soon Yee’s car waiting right in front of the station’s doorway...

How delightful I was to have just spotted the car, I couldn’t find a word to describe. I could see Soon Yee the ‘driver’ and two other people’s silhouettes. One of them must be the White Lady Sue Zin I guessed. I opened the door of the back passenger seat and saw that Super Lenglui Chow Soon Yee, White Lady Wong Sue Zin and Ms. Tang Sia Chin were there. Everyone looked almost the same but there were variations, notably their hair. Super Lenglui seemed to have gone for a hair-cut. Sue Zin seemed to get cuter and cuter and her body size seemed to have shrunk a little. Sia Chin’s hair had gone back to how it looked like how her hair looked during first year, and that was like more than one year ago.

I was indeed very happy to see them. I am not sure about them but I am very happy to see them. They were already on their way to the place to have steamboat first when I called Super Lenglui and told her that I was reaching the station, so (sorry yeah) she turned back to the station to pick me up. We talked a little bit on the way to the place we were going to have steamboat, exchanging news and life stories among both sides.

Super Lenglui squeezed through the traffic despite the jam on the road. Typical KL situation. Typical KL driver. Typical Jay Chow. On the way there, I felt as if I was driving through the roads long, long ago. Finally, we reached the steamboat’s place at Taman Taynton. There, Sing Shia, Wen Chian, along with Joycee, Selyn, Mei Mei, Mun Kit, Chun Wei, and Jason. Sadly, Kuan Poh wasn’t there. Wen Chian’s hair got way shorter and she looked more ‘woman’ now. Sing Shia, =.=” no comment... Others, err, so so la... I chose to sit in between Super Lenglui and Sia Chin. The situation was a bit stiff that night as not much conversation took place.

Since I didn’t really feel very well, I only drank three small bowls of clear soup with some vegetables and minimal meat. I did not de-shell the prawns like I did a year ago. Funny. No urge to do so. So, after ‘ninner’, we went back. Super Lenglui sent Sing Shia, Sue Zin and I back to their place, Angkasa Condo. Since the following day they only had lectures in the morning and no lab in the afternoon, they dated me out. I was to stay over at Sue Zin’s room while she went over to Loges’ unit. (Sorry yeah Sue Zin... very sorry... and thanks a lot... very very much)

I followed Sue Zin down to get some water and to meet her boyfriend, Choo. Her housemates were a little bit cool, but I didn’t really mind that much since I should be thankful I had a place to stay in KL. Phiaw Chong already was at Qi Xian’s place. That night, I slept quite early since I wasn’t really feeling well. The fan was blowing. I felt comfortable, suddenly very comfortable. Darkness...

Goodbye Foundation...

Foundation finally over... glad it is... Hell for one year... hopefully when I am doing my degree here would be better... Though a lot of grieves and regrets, there were happy momnets too, though they could never outweigh the former...

Foundation for me wasn't really difficult as I have done sixth form and further, but the only challenge for me is to wake up so early and Physics... I failed Physics in term 1 though but da whole course wasn't really that hard. I came to love Physics in term 3 and I find it quite interesting, or at least more interesting than term 3 Biology and term 2 Chemistry. Seriously! Maths was kind of easy. In fact, everything is easy. The syllabi are not even half of STPM syllabi. They mentioned that AIMST Foundation covers a narrower range but goes deeper and more detailed relative to STPM... I say: AIMST, tsk tsk tsk, save your saliva la... They are, the scopes, narrower, yes but not more detailed... "lau lang eh"...

Well, the best time throughout the whole course for me is not the holidays (frankly, I hate holidays and semester breaks because I have to come back to Penang to face my parents) but the study breaks before exams. It is the time I can really relax and learn effectively without any hectic lecture hours and worry-fying assignments. Anyway, instead of worrying about exams, I find myself indulging in Jin Yong's novels especially Legend of Condor Heroes.

I took only a few hours to cover everything in Biology and then I switched to the novels. I couldn't sleep the night before my Biology paper, so I read novels instead until 2 to 3 a.m.. The exam was held in Semeling Campus Exam Hall. Comparatively, it is no better than UCSI's. The lighting is like, quite dark in AIMST's and ventilation is poor. What is worse, the hall is not well soundproof and people keep banging the door when leaving or entering the hall. There is even a few spots where students cannot see the clock... CHIPZZZ... I was on that spot for two papers...

Nearly before every paper I slept at 2 a.m. at least, and while everyone is tensed and stressed, I am kind of ... ... err... relaxed... The papers were all fine and everyone didn't seem to have a hard time. After the exams, a group of us planned to go to Penang Island. Actually a lot of them were in Penang. As usual, I took some of them round island, bla bla bla. Then suddenly they said about spending a night in Penang, OMG, so sudden... I didn't really have time to plan. Everything went a bit hay-wired (my side only). In the end, nearly all of them spent the night at my grandmother's place in Sungai Ara since she was away in Ipoh. Typical places I brought them to: round island, Gurney Plaza, Crown Princess beach, Nagor Place Steamboat, bla bla bla. The next morning, we had dimsum before heading back to the Stupid Place...

Then one by one, everyone went back to their respective hometowns. I resided here in Penang for about a week before going down to KL...KL!!! The place I had not been for one year plus. During the week in Penang, I only met two Penang freinds, Ai Ling and Cheng Wei. The others had already gone back to their universities scattered over the whole Malaysia. Well, this, I have to thank AIMST for setting such stupid sessional calendars. Even Zen Chia had a difficult time in meeting the others let alone me.
Stupid AIMST...

CNY - Big FIREWORKS!!!

What a great new year I had... As usual, I would spend my new year in Thailand, my maternal grandparent’s place. It was kind of nice as usual, though this year, short of my eldest uncle’s family. It all started with the ending of Physics lesson.

FRIDAY, 16th February 2007, 29th day of the 12th Moon of the Chinese calendar. Physics with Themudu as usual would be a good time for a nap. I’d just finished my news casting the previous night and then went for a long drive to the town of Yan with Qiu Ping where I found Pantai Murni, a beautiful place to look at the setting sun upon the sea. We went to the pasar malam there too.

After Physics class, we quickly had our lunch and I was to return to Penang as soon as possible as I cannot afford to lose any time. I had to start my journey to Thailand by 4 pm as the bridge would jam at around 5 pm. With me, were Ken and Yik. Though their flight was on Saturday, but I sent them to the airport on Friday as I had to leave for Thailand.

After sending them to the airport, I went to visit my paternal grandmother. She looked thin. Nothing much I said to her as I really found nothing to say. I passed the oral rehydrating salt to the Indonesian maid then I went back home, waiting for my parents to return. After they returned, we packed the things to bring there. As usual, there would be a lot of things. Things my maternal grandparents want, things my uncles & aunts want, and even things relatives from Penang wanted to send to those in Thailand.

We set out from Penang home at around 6 pm. I drove. God! The traffic was massive! JAM!!! We took 2 hours from the Penang home and cross the bridge, reaching Butterworth at around 8pm. Stupid. My father even had to get down of the car to stop the traffic so my lane could move as my lane was blocked from moving due to the breaking down of a car in front.

We reached Hadyai at around 10:30pm Malaysian time but aunt Lay Choo wasn’t around. Ish... what to do? We had super late late dinner at a restaurant nearby and I SMSed my friends to divert my attention while waiting for the food. Frankly speaking, I do not like the idea of spending one night in Hadyai before going into Yala because the thought of travelling actually disturbs me. However, due to the dangers of bombings and terrorists attacks, we had to spend one night in Hadyai before going into Yala as we were already late.

SATURDAY, 17th February 2007, 30th day of the 12th Moon of the Chinese calendar. Its Chinese New Year’s Eve and we left for Yala early in the morning. This time, my father drove. Nothing much happened today, just the usual praying to the Ancestors and God. We went to Aunt Nok, Uncle Ah Keong’s wife’s to have Koay Chap, then, later I had my hair dyed copper. At first I thought of dyeing it red but I had done red before, so I tried copper.

At night, instead of steamboat, we had home cooking by my maternal grandmother and my father. Reunion Dinner? Maybe. Uncle Ah Kheng was there, Uncle Tin Tin & Family were there, Uncle Ah Keong & Family were there, my grandparents were there, and my family and I were also there.

SUNDAY, 18th February 2007, 1st day of the 1st Moon of the Chinese calendar. CHINESE NEW YEAR’S DAY!!! The first day of Chinese New Year came, and in the morning, I went to pray at a temple near my grandparent’s house with my parents, grandparents, and my cute cousin, Zi Long. It was kind of a pleasant morning. After praying, we went back straight home.

My parents and grandparents then went to the factory to pray at the shrines of the Gods. I refused to go, so I stayed at home. My third uncle, Tin Tin, came by with his family but I was the only one there. I told them everyone went to the factory of course. Then suddenly the phone rang. I picked it up. It was my eldest uncle, Bee Bee. He wished everyone Happy Chinese New Year, bla bla bla.

Then everyone came back home. Aunt Lay Choo was there also with Uncle Ah Kheng. Everyone was like talking non-stop to each other and we ended up eating Swenson’s in the shopping complex opposite my grandparents’ house, Coliseum. I think it is because nothing is more interesting than ice-cream and movies there, but it was actually the fact that my grandfather loves ice-cream.

Upon entering the complex, I should feel tensed, but instead, I felt nothing. It was like I had no fear for any bomb assaults. Maybe it was because Uncle Ah Keong mentioned about it was safe at Coliseum as the people working there are of Muslim believers. Also, the owner was a Muslim also. He also mentioned the safest place to go is the old market in Yala where Muslim density is very high...

I ordered a strawberry shake but I had to eat extra as my grandmother could not finish her ice-cream. Ish... if I knew it earlier, I wouldn’t have ordered my strawberry shake. After ice-cream-ing, it was time to go back home. My mother went shopping with Uncle Tin Tin’s wife, Aunt Ciap. Uncle Tin Tin, his son Wei Long, Aunt Lay Choo, with my father, took my grandmother back, leaving behind my grandfather and I. So what should I do? Since my grandfather doesn’t like shopping, I accompanied him back also.

While waiting for my mother to return with Aunt Ciap, I went online for a while. Not many were online. Then they came back. It was time to visit my 2nd granduncle with Uncle Tin Tin & Family. We went to my granduncle’s petrol station, as usual, and we found something amiss there. His office was locked! He was inside though. His workers were outside his office, in their respective seats in their own common office. We asked the workers what happened but none really knew the reason.

We asked the workers to inform my granduncle of our coming but they dared not even speak to him through the phone. My mother and Uncle Tin Tin talked to my granduncle over the phone but he doesn’t seem to be welcoming us. He kept on saying that his eyes hurt, tired, not feeling well. This was really strange indeed. He used to welcome us warmly no matter how his conditions are. He used to be very happy whenever we visited him, but not this time. This time, he said he wanted to rest and he refused to unlock his door. He refused to meet us. Instead of resting, we saw that he was reading newspapers.

After we waited a while, he reluctantly unlocked the office door and let us in. RELUCTANTLY. He didn’t seem happy. He was agitated. Something was bothering him. He mentioned about not giving any angpows this year. I had no intention to ask angpow from him but this was really not right. Something was very very very not right. Angpow wise, I know it wasn’t because of me or my cousin, Wei Long, because at that time, only both of us were present.

Before this, a group of my cousins and I paid him visits every Chinese New Year but he didn’t even hesitate to give us angpow money. He even gave money, bank notes! So I was very sure it wasn’t due to me or Wei Long. He kept on mentioning that he’s very worried and sad. When asked what he was worried about, no definite answer came, no definite answer he gave. What could be done? Nothing. So we went back home.

On the way back home, we went to Uncle Tin Tin’s first house as I wanted to look at some Ophthalmology & Eye Pathology books. Many books I found there. Even Goodman & Gillman’s Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics was there. My main aim was to find books on glaucoma as one of my friend’s mother seems like having symptoms similar to that of glaucoma. Then it was off home. Evening came and Aunt Lay Choo left Yala going back to her house in Hadyai. The remaining people planned for a dinner at a coffee shop a few houses away from my grandmother’s house. We were to meet there at 6:30 pm Thai time.

After Aunt Lay Choo’s leave taking, I followed Uncle Tin Tin back to his house at the Yala Provincial Hospital. The house was really cool and cozy there. It was peaceful and nice. I was to sleep there that night. I found a few books of Therapeutics and Internal Medicine Principles there too. 6:30 pm came very fast and off we went back to my grandparents’ house to have dinner nearby. It was really a short walking distance, so we walked to the coffee shop from my grandparents’ house.

I wasn’t really surprised to find Aunt Lay See & Family there, instead, I was kind of... like... oh, you’re here (so lame)... Annie was there and the very first thing she asked was – my laptop. Unfortunately for her, I left my laptop at Uncle Tin Tin’s place – hahaha... Food was kind of nice there, I was supposed to sit at the grown-ups’ table but due to the sudden presence of Aunt Lay See & Family, I was reverted to the children’s table, with Annie. Pity the both of us.

In the children’s table, food, of course, would not be as good as the grown-ups’. What’s worse, I had to deal with two small kids – Zi Long & Zi Xiang, sons of Uncle Ah Keong... ish... thanks to Annie!!! Half-way through the dinner, around 7pm, the lights suddenly dimmed. They didn’t completely go out, just dimmed, so it wasn’t pitch black. However, it was also only for a moment before the lights came back to the initial brightness. The television set went static for a while also, together when the lights dimmed.

At that instant, I heard the grown-ups conversing about bombings and something about the faint sound of a distant bomb explosion. I heard nothing but they claimed that they heard a faint explosion. They doubted. They hesitated. They were afraid of the repeat of the incident last time in Yala where the whole town went blackout, and bombs started exploding. That time, 22 banks were targeted.

A police truck was seen rushing here and there. Uncle Tin Tin called to the hospital to confirm about the bombing. He confirmed the bombing was at a karaoke somewhere further down town and he said that we had to leave the place as opposite the coffee shop, there were a few rows of motorcycles parked there. This is a favourite spot for bombs. If one were to explode there, we would all be doomed. The shattered pieces of motorcycle and debris would be shot across the road, hitting us. His phone kept ringing – he knew it was from the hospital. He refused to receive the call as it was not him who was on call on that day, and the route to the hospital was dangerous that time.

My grandmother started asking everyone to go home. Aunt Lay See, I don’t blame her as she was shocked before, also asked everyone to go back to my grandparents’ house. With them, went the small kids Zi Long & Zi Xiang, Wei Long, and Annie, who I was not sure whether she was afraid or what. Annie’s father, Uncle Danny, was looking across the road to the shopping complex, Coliseum, where swarms of people started to leave the building. They must have heard rumours about a bomb might explode at the complex.

My grandfather went like: “If you people are scared, you people go back home first.” He stayed back as there was food left. I stayed back. My mother was there, my father too. Uncle Ah Kheng & Family, Uncle Tin Tin, Aunt Ciap, Uncle Ah Keong, Aunt Nok, & Uncle Danny were all there. Uncle Danny was still standing outside looking at the commotion opposite while others remained inside eating Lat Na.

Suddenly I heard an explosion. This time, I HEARD IT! It was clear and loud. Somewhere near. I supposed it came from somewhere behind the shop. Upon hearing that, everyone automatically stood up. My mother got excited saying that we had to leave now. Uncle Ah Keong, who was cool all the time also shouted: “This time its real! Gotta leave liao! This time gotta leave liaw!!!”

We all moved out of the shop. Instead of moving back to the house, all were too stunned to move, they remained outside the shop. Then Uncle Tin Tin and my mother shouted at all of them to move, then only they moved back home. On the way home, Aunt Nok and I supported my grandfather. At this time, the feeling was really unexplainable. Scared? No. Fear? No. Happy? Of course not lah! Anxious maybe.

I heard Uncle Ah Kheng’s wife asking her children to move forward, not to look back. Uncle Ah Keong took the Lat Na he was eating halfway together with him. Everyone was like moving. I wasn’t sure whether they were panicking or not but I wasn’t. I kept urging my grandfather to move forward. I applied some pressure forward as he was moving like a turtle. He got angry and said: “STOP PUSHING LAH!”

Upon reaching the house, most of us stood outside. Uncle Tin Tin then asked everyone to come in. My mother, who experienced the 513 incident before also asked everyone to stay inside the house. My grandfather, being as stubborn as usual, stayed outside. My father and Uncle Danny then accompanied him outside while all others went inside. I went to the third floor where there was an open space for us to look out to what was happening.

I went up there and found that most of the family members were already there. Suddenly there came an explosion, louder and clearer than the one I heard before. It came from opposite – Coliseum shopping complex. I saw nothing as it was dark. I only heard the explosion and shattering of glasses. I then saw police jeeps and ambulances rushing to the complex. One person was injured.

I saw many took their motorcycles and rode away. A few dragged their motorcycles away – why? I don’t know. I saw two youths running towards a jeep. Upon approaching the jeep, both dropped to the road as if they played tripped. They were looking under the jeep for bombs before driving away. The explosion could happen anywhere, even my grandparents’ house! I should be afraid. I should be in fear. However, I felt a sudden surge of rage and anger in me. These terrorists are really CB! I would say no more of it. Idiots! PK!

After that, I heard about four more explosions but all were far away. The news reported 11 bombs were found and they were targeted on small hotels/motels, karaokes, and petrol stations. When they heard the news casters mentioning about petrol stations, the first thing came to their minds were my 2nd granduncle & his petrol station. This answered most of the unsolved riddles playing in our minds earlier about my granduncle’s worries. He might have already known about the bombs in his petrol station, the only problem being he doesn’t know where the bomb was placed.

That night, I stayed at supposedly the safest place there – the hospital. I stayed over at Uncle Tin Tin’s place. He told me that according to the news, 11 bombs were found in Yala, 3 in Pattani, 22 injured, 1 killed.

Intermediatary 2006-2007 & Crazy Thaipusam Holiday

Well, 2006 was really an extreme year for me, good things come at their best and best things come at their worst... What a very ironic introduction to my adult life... OH NO!!! I'm no longer a youth... gosh... I couldn't believe that my 21st birhtday is spent in AIMST... =.=" I dare say that I really regret coming to AIMST! Living hell! I hate this place! 2006 had passed by and now 2007 has come. I hoped that 2007 would be a better year than 2006! Well, at least I got a very crazy Thaipusam holiday.

On the 1st of February 2007, I had no plans to go anywhere. I was supposed to go to Aman Jaya campus to meet Khim Yik to explain some Chemistry to him. However, he cancelled it as there might not be a bus to Aman Jaya as it was Thaipusam. So I woke up relatively later that I used to - 10:00 a.m.. After bathing and having burger for breakfast, I turned on my computer, and I went online.

My aunt asked me whether I would like to have Maggi Mee for lunch, and I told her I did. Suddenly, I saw a familiar name came online, it was Pei Ling! How glad was I to see her online until I called her by her full name, Neo Pei Ling! Then she felt awkward why I called her her full name. She prefered me to call her 'nini'. XD yeah, nice joke, Nini...

I asked her where she was that time and she told me she was in a very 'ulu' area - Nibong Tebal. I was more than delighted to hear that and I asked whether it was convenient for me to visit her and my other ex-schoolmates there, and she replied: "why not? We can have lunch together, with Ai Ling too. You serious of coming?"

I told her I was serious of going, and that time was 11 a.m., so I still could cancel my Maggi Mee lunch. Pei Ling gave me directions to their USM engineering campus in Nibong Tebal, and I left for it around 11:22 a.m. and reached there within one hour. Along the way, I saw a signboard showing the way to a recreational park and a forest reserve. Upon reaching USM, I had to pass the guardhouse. Two guards in blue were there. I slowed down my car. They watched me pass by, still. So I ignored them.

Next, was to find Ai Ling and Pei Ling. Took me a while before I could get to their hostel. Then as usual, Inn Cheq was there also, with a Johorean girl, from Pontian. I later found out that she knew Pei Wee, from Pontian also. They took me to Parit Buntar to have lunch, and I had Maggi Mee also but Bak Kut Teh version. Not bad. A group of other girls were there also, led by Lee Ting. I spoke little that time as I was the only guy there with about ten girls. I overheard Ai Ling mentioned about her eagerness to go to Ipoh.

After lunch, we went to the supermarket there. Very 'BIG'... =.=" Well, they were there for some Chinese New Year decorations. After that, I asked my friends to accompany me to go to the forest reserve, which signboard I saw earlier. Pei Ling was reluctant to go at first but in the end, because Inn Cheq came along, she came too. For long we searched the place but we could not find the forest reserve, thanks to the very misleading signboards.

Four of us, Ai Ling, Inn Cheq, Pei Ling, and I, journeyed to look for the forest reserve but failed. Nibong Tebal is a very unique location. It is a boundary between three states, namely Kedah, Penang and Perak. Nibong Tebal is of Penang, Parit Buntar is of Perak, and I am not sure of the Kedah's town but it was somewhat next to Serdang, a place famous for its fried porridge.

Parit Buntar is separated from Kedah by a river. It was the place they took me to have lunch earlier. Earlier, when we were having lunch, they looked across to the other side of the river and wondered where it was. After long searching for the 'hutan lipur' (forest reserve), we ended up at the other side of the river. Oh how excited they were to have discovered it that day.

Where to next? Serdang to have friend porridge? No way, it was too early, 4:00 p.m., and they didn't think the shop would sell on public holidays, so the plan was cancelled. I drove along a road and saw the signboard pointing to the highway. It was written there: Pulau Pinang (Penang), Ipoh. Then I asked them, "Wanna go Setiawan? Ipoh?" They answered, "Sure!!!"

Off we went, to Ipoh!!! OMG, spontaneous events are the best. No planning, no nothing. We had a great talk along the way about our lives and nonsenses. Well, the way to Ipoh really brought back memories to me. I used to travel that route frequently, Penang-KL and KL-Penang. The landscape changed from flatlands to hilly contours. Looking down the beautiful greenish valley from the high highway was breathtaking.

Not long later, we reached the Northern toll of Ipoh. The very first spot we spotted was Perak Cave. It looked interesting, so we entered the compound, only to learn that it was already passed 5 p.m. and it was already closed. We took pictures just outside the cave. We convinced ourselves that we should leave this visit for our next trip, where we would come down to Ipoh, then 'spontaneously' go further down to KL.

Well, we got lost in Ipoh, as I've been there only twice, and I could not really remember the routes there. We searched for the famous spot for beansprout chicken, for rounds and rounds and rounds, only to find that it was actually very near to us. After the beansprout chicken dinner, we got ourselves some famous Ipoh biscuts. I got some for my parents and a good friend of mine.

Then it was time to go back. 7:30 p.m. we started our journey and reached Nibong Tebal around 9:05 p.m.. We said goodbyes to each other and I thanked them for accompanying me. I went up the guys' hostel to look for Boon Peng, Han Yang and Wee Keat but they were not there. Only Han Yang was there, I spoke to him for an hour before heading back to Sungai Petani. Thus, ends my Thaipusam holiday this year...