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.