Mad

This is an account about the trouble I went through to renew the Malaysian passport (I returned from Canberra two days ago).

With all due respect, this is not of intention to be critical, and it's my best hope that my experience will be viewed as constructive, and for the crafting of actions yet to be implemented for the betterment of service provided by the M'sian embassy.

Malaysians who are living in Australia are probably well aware by now that a trip to Canberra is necessary to get the passport renewed. Whether you are in Victoria, New South Wales, Northern Territory or Western Australia, you need to take that leave off work to travel to the Administrative Capital City of Australia.

And so I took one and a half day off work to travel to Canberra by bus, a three hours ride down south from Sydney. Forty bucks for a return and 32 bucks for a night stay in Canberra Youth Hostel. Ah great, with approximately 50 bucks miscellaneous. Let's not mention Canberra's blistering sharp cold weather, Mother Nature is not to blame in this matter.

Because I hated wasting time, given my way, I'd like to make a one day trip to Canberra. Unfortunately, the Greek-ish (or perhaps Indonesian-ish) speaking lady on the other line (in Canberra) insisted that I had to be in the M'sian embassy at 9am on spot. I politely requested if a 10am was possible. "No, 9 am or the next appointment will be two weeks from now". Ah, and I thought I was rigid. The earliest bus from Sydney to Canberra was then a 6am, there was no way I could be in the M'sian embassy 9am sharp.

So, I spent an uneventful night in Canberra with the next day setting for the embassy. Malaysians being Malaysians, what supposed to be a 9am appointment was a 11.30am it's-your-turn-now. Why was I not surprised? Three counters, but only one counter was manned, the second being used to sell/promote Nasi Lemak and Char Kway Teow, and the third, well - empty. And the vast cubicles in the background, were occupied by 2 or 3 officers who I hoped, were hard at work, why, of course they were.

It didn't help that there were lots of customers (Malaysians like me who had to travel from Sydney/Melbourne, etc) waiting to get their passports renewed. All were disgruntled, not to mention dissapointed by the unwelcoming state of the mundane office in the embassy.

Each interview took approximately 15 to 25 minutes at its worst. You'd no idea - some customers - were clueless (didn't they do their homework?) - some weren't aware that they needed proves of their student visa and some, well, couldn't get their mobile numbers straight and therefore had to resort to playing up numbers which was oh-I'm-sorry-that's-my-husband's-handphone number, and so the scene repeated itself with the poor officer trying to jot down number by number of this mobile phone drama. When it came to my turn, I got my things ready (beforehand), sat opposite the officer, answered his questions promptly, and I was done within 8 minutes. Please, there were others waiting - who were weary from the long journey to Canberra, cut that small talks and that out-of-context giggles. "Please come back at 3.30pm to collect your passport". So I did, but it wasn't ready, until 4.30 pm.

I was certainly not pleased. I certainly wasn't. In fact, I was mad and terribly annoyed. Nevertheless, common sense denoted that this Medusa-like-madness wasn't the best thing one could exert in this situation.

I could have made a one day trip, knowing the waiting game.

The counters could have been manned more efficiently. May I suggest, hire more officers? No?

Officers could be more professional, not to mention fast and efficient.

I would possibly like an explanation to why Malaysians were sought to travel all the way to Canberra for the renewal of passports, unfortunately no one could give me a straight answer - I gathered it was not an altogether important or vital issue, eh? Very well, so I proceeded as instructed the trip to Canberra, and the documents I had to bring. That was all fine with me.

But, please, please improve the highly unsatisfactory service. Please! A change for the better is badly needed. I can only hope the service after next will be of satisfaction for the unfortunate Malaysians who have to travel to Canberra for similar matter.

Man in the mirror has died

Damnit. He died.

The Billie Jean that was played in the Radiotherapy Room, so that patient wouldn't feel so alone (during radiotherapy, the patient will be left alone in the room, communication with the radio-technician is possible through intercom) will always remind me the plight of cancer patients.

You're not alone, I rammed that on the piano, partly to annoy my then neighbours, and partly because it was one of the few songs I could play without having had to refer to the scores.

Dirty Diana, Beat it, Smooth Criminal were some of the songs that I blasted out loud whenever I worked out in my room when I was still a gym megalomaniac.

And the original DVD of MJ's live performance in Budapest which was on sale, I got the Seal to buy when we were at the Japanese Consulate (because I ran out of cash), is sitting on the book rack next to this table from which I'm typing this out.

I don't think MJ led a more-than-satisfiable life towards the end of his days on earth. Whether he was guilty or not for whatever wrongdoings he had done in the past, he didn't deserve the fairly harsh criticism of the bloody press. People should really begin with the man in the mirror before getting their guns out and about.

But damnit. He died. It's sad. We're all sad.

Pillow talk

Writing this early in the morning with things to be done in my mind.

I have yet to read the many things I have to read.

Please pray that I don't get the swine bug. I know I have been playing down the seriousness of this issue for a fair amount. The last thing I want is not being granted entry for my trip overseas next month.

Some people said it's just another type of flu. Actually, that's what I told most people - and quick to add that it may be severe because it's a foreign viral strain not recognized by the body, and when presents late, the patient will be in deep trouble. Actually... we don't know.

I've even thought of getting prescriptions to buy the meds (amoxycillin & tamiflu) beforehand to take with me to overseas - because I'm stingy like that - medicare that part of the world is bloody expensive so I've heard. I've booked my visit to the GP next week - that paranoid, and oh, also to tell her (hope it will not slip my mind) about not getting the cervical vaccine just yet (she has been asking for ages) because it's so bloody expensive. Unless, unless someone is willing to sponsor AUD500 for the three shots - so clearly, I need to convince myself to part with that kind of money, but not just yet.

And then there's the passport issue - I just can't believe this. Can't believe the trouble I'm going through. Can't believe it! Grrr. Told myself to instead, see the upperhand of the situation, I get to explore the erm over-rated tourist attraction, but of course I wouldn't know how over-rated they are unless I see it for myself. There's always a first for most things and for most people.

Need to hit the sack for work tmmrw and trip down south later in the afternoon.

Unlike most people who have so many things to work on but so little time, I have so many things to do and so much time - so, I convinced myself, and that's for the sake of sanity. He he he.

Papa

It's Father's Day today, you know o' not?

So, I called up Pa who is now in K.T'ganu ("Mit menoa tu, ka mit ari Sibu," he said). At the back of my head, I know it's another gov't meeting of sorts. For some reasons or another, K.T'ganu always makes me think of fish. So I asked him, "Bisi makai ikan bakar sida iya, dik?" Haha. But ah, Father's Day shouldn't be made too rigid - it should be made officially everyday - maybe I will advocate for National Day too.

Oh, I'm getting out out context. But wouldn't it be great - we will have holiday every single day - or maybe three working days per week. Only in Shrek Tale will this materialise.

Anyway, so "Papa Aku" received a call from "Anak Aku". Haha. Whenever I call him up, he will chip in, "Anak aku tu..." or "Oh... Anak aku". Which makes me bewildered whenever I receive a sms from Mum with the "Anak aku" msg, because it is so unlike Mum (Mum calls me erm... something else), it must be Papa, or close, younger sister who loves pulling my legs with the Anak Aku thingy and pretends to be Papa. And yes, it is Papa texting with Mum's phone. Haha. Oh, he calls the rest of us siblings Anak Aku also lah.

Such are the love of our parents.

Happy Father's Day to all Fathers. No matter where or what it takes your son or daughter, they will always, always look up to you. If they don't, it's only a matter of time.

Most importantly, a blast to the greatest dad of all time, Papa Aku. He he he. Love you Pa!

Lunatics and news

There was this one of the many funny stories told by Arun about the drunk personas he sees almost every midnight from his window perched three storeys high somewhere in the eastern suburb of Sydney - which also happens to be the mini city where often when possible, I spend my boredom at, but not so much anymore.

A couple (young adults) so drunk, the boyfriend ran and pushed the shopping trolley his girlfriend was in down the middle of the road, and laughing maniacally the both of them were ala Jim Carey from Ace Ventura, it looked like a slapstick scene from a comic strip. And cars had to honk to bring them back to senses. That regrettably, didn't work.

Like how hilarious and insane that was? LOL! No matter, this road leads to the teaching hospital if by any chance they meet an accident.

Drunkards aside, let's pay our attention to the local news and just like beginners, we turn to The Star.

Ah! The highs and lows about switching back to English (for Maths & Science) and making English a compulsory pass for SPM. I just don't get it? I struggled so bad in Physics when I was in high school that I'd to borrow a Year 10 Physics textbook of the Australian syllabus (equivalent to Form 4 or so) from somewhere else to distinguish jirim from jisim. I was unfortunately that stupid to comprehend the Malay language less than English - so please, English.

Secondly, about yesterday's news. Unless I'm much mistaken, I thought the headline about a girl unwittingly spread the swine flu was very much sensationalised - it almost read like it was her fault. Unwittingly? What is unwittingly?

You know in comics, when the characters, for example, Obelix (in Asterix and the Vikings) punches someone, there bound to be stars or birds circling the unfortunate fellow's head - so as to illustrate the poor guy is blank. The Star is a charming depiction of this illustration - blank of sorts, full of stars. Having said that, we need to be abreast with the news, although sometimes the news read like entertainment in disguise, but still, are news.

Haha, can't help thinking about the drunk couple with the shopping cart. That was so lunatic. LOL!