Thai Lemon Grass 0 lalalas
Last night my family and I went to the Lemon Grass restaurant to have our dinner since my mother and sister said that the food was pretty good. It's quite expensive, and the food was ok. Until something foul happened...
My mother ordered turkey ham sandwich. The waiting time was incredible. It only arrived after all of us almost finished our meal (fried rice, noodles, etc.), and that thing turned out to be a cheese sandwich. We summoned the waitress, who, after consulting with her superior, helpfully and brilliantly explained to us that "ham" in Thai means salad, so there wasn't supposed to be any ham, as we understood it, in the sandwich. Unfortunately we weren't retards, so we asked her to check with the chef again. A moment later, another waiter came to retrieve the dish, admitting (finally!) that they have made a mistake; while the waitress was so cowardly that she didn't speak to us again.
After that, we have to wait like 15-20 minutes for the replacement, already cold, to arrive. The sandwich was not bad, but heck, like any other dishes in the restaurant, it's overpriced. We asked for the bill, and it only arrived like 15 minutes later, with an excuse that the cashier was busy; then the change also took 6-7 minutes to arrive. This is what we call 5-star service.
Conclusion: I'll never eat there AGAIN
Time is running out 1 lalalas
I'm going to fly on 29th this month (less than two weeks from now), 11.50 p.m. to Vancouver, Canada. Days are passing me by, and every day I'm playing Diablo 2 and not driving and seldom meeting friends and feeling like a total loser. I'm so bored. I sleep late at nights, stretching to about 3 a.m. some days. I can't understand myself at times.
Despite the shortness of time, I haven't really confirm my flight date. You may ask: what about the time you wrote up there? That's right, I'm not sure. It's just a rough estimation judging from what the JPA personnel told us (that all of us are flying at the same time). The thing is that they didn't manage to get my ticket by the time the pre-departure briefing (on this monday, 14th) ended; the sole consolation being that our flight is most probably not passing through London, but through Frankfurt in Germany. But on the flip side of the coin, I get this late flight time and no putting up a night at London, only a brief 5-hour transit at Frankfurt.
Frankly speaking, I'm tired of the nonchalant attitude of JPA. They claim to read your emails but they don't reply because they are too "busy" to answer emails about trivial things. Heck, how long does it take to answer my emails asking the departure date, the briefing date, financial claims? Judge for yourselves, is these trivial? And good luck triyng to phone them. Chances are there is nobody to answer the phone. Again, they claim to be so "busy" that they are not in the office some times. However I won't say that it's impossible to contact them, it's just that I have yet to try calling them like once every 15 minutes.
The MAS people wasn't available on the day of JPA pre-departure briefing. So we're basically have no insights on issues like whether extra baggage weight is allowed for students, what to bring/not to bring, baggage size, and yes, the departure date (for me and some guys). And JPA, ever so helpful, provided us the reputed-to-be-high-and-mighty MAS officer's cell phone number, so that we can find out for ourselves.
Another thing that was bothering me was JPA's speed of approving claims. The official statements of 45-day-processing-time and several cases of problems concerning late payments do not offer much assurance. For example, meal plan is compulsory for my residence in UBC. The JPA officer previously told us that JPA wasn't going to pay for it but recently (during the briefing) she told us we can claim the fee from JPA. I have to pay the first installment (CAD$1000 plus, which converts to more than RM3400) by myself lest I want to wait for more than 45 days for JPA to pay the amount (which means I don't get to eat for at least a month: not bad, I can lose some weight, eh?). I have claimed most of the payments (including university application fees, visa application fee, etc.) from JPA but I'm expecting a long wait before my bank accounts are refilled. I am really thankful that my parents are financially able to support me partially while I pay first and claim later.
Does JPA care about us? Maybe a little. Personally I liked the officers because they are friendly and they look kind and helpful. But I don't like the efficiency of the delivery system. A lecturer of mine accurately pointed out that there's something wrong about how information is passed and circulated in Malaysia, particularly in the government sector: it's too damn slow. Putting the problem with departure date and flight tickets aside, JPA's been sluggish in other things. It takes a lot of effort and perseverence and patience to get any information from JPA. Things used to be better last time when they still replied my email, and the last reply I got was from 3 months ago, despite my constantly mailing them. Take the pre-departure briefing for example, we only get to know about it like 2 weeks before through a phone-call from JPA, that is, without any black-and-white.
Sometimes my mind is divided. Here I am, only a 10A1 and 1A2 SPM scorer, inactive in extra-curricular activities, not very outstanding among the brilliant ones who can score up to 17 straight As (who use Steadler pencils for optimum performance in exams) and representing states in competitions, yet I was blessed with this scholarship, when some students with more As and better extra-curricular participation have failed to obtain it. Without this scholarship, chances are I won't get the opportunity to study overseas. Why should I complain this and that? Am I so ungrateful to those who are willing to spend hundreds of thousands on my tertiary education? Yet sometimes the JPA's "efficiency" in handling things get on my nerves. I'm not trying to condemn JPA or teach them how to do things, but I think at least I deserve to be more well-informed than this, not to mention faster response to my inquiries.
Enough about JPA. I'm about to leave now, but there are still a lot of loose ends to tie. I felt like being shot 3 times when a computer technician told me that the cpu fan, the graphic card, and the motherboard in my old computer was busted. I certainly didn't expect that - 3 parts malfunctioning at the same time. At least RM300 is needed to replace the motherboard. RM300! I originally intended to fix this computer so that I can sell it 2nd-hand, but now this! I'm torn between fixing or not fixing but most probably I'll fork out the money since turning back now would cost me more. Crap, now the margin of profit will be much smaller, and probably end up in deficit. The estimated cost (including some replacement I did) will be about RM620 and the maximum selling price would be about RM1000, which is too high to be practical. Anyway, this is going to cost some serious thinking and headaches.
I still haven't planned what to pack and how to pack. I don't even know the specifications of the baggage. I still haven't bought my laptop. I still haven't bought a backpack. I still haven't bought my coat that JPA requires me to wear when I board my economy class flight. I still don't know how to mend clothes. I still...
I need some rest. (To my brain) Give me a break, will ya?
Fed-up 0 lalalas
Major disappointments:
1. Bought a DVD-burner; after 8 or 9 months (in which I only used it a few times) the computer started failing to detect it at times.
2. Tried to fix my unused computer but never really succeed. It failed to boot up. Got conned by a computer shop which claimed to have fixed it.
3. Arranged for my early-arrival at University of British Columbia because I'm going to arrive there before my official move-in date which is 2/9/2006. JPA couldn't/never tried to confirm the date of flight, so I put the move-in date for my early arrival as 27/8. Recently heard my friend said JPA officer told him MAYBE we're going to fly at 29/8. I've already paid CAD$150 (CAD$25 per day) for the early-arrival housing. Busted!
4. Tried to get off my computer games addiction. Now I'm hooked up with the trio: Oblivion, Diablo 2: LOD, Heroes 4. Home is so damn boring.
5. Tried to keep fit but there's no motivation nor persistence for me to exercise, not to mention my computer addiction hindering me too.
6. I didn't drive even once duing my holidays.
7. I didn't go anywhere during holidays except for a school governor conference in Taman Negara.
8. I don't like what I'm seeing at home. Rotten -
9. Stupid modem problems, or is it Streamyx's problem? I don't know. Internet's been very buggy + unstable + lagging these few days. Yahoo and MSN Messenger keep disconnecting at regular intervals.
(Sigh) It's driving me nuts. I don't know what to do. Is this a trial that I'll come out stronger? Is this purgatory? I'm cursing almost everyday now, thinking of all those problems. It's not that I want to think of them; they just sort of creep into my mind and linger there. Am I fighting against Circumstance itself?
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?
Taman Negara Trip 0 lalalas
My first trip to Taman Negara! Sound exciting? It does to me, or so I thought....
Last Saturday, my father and I, along with some school governors (a.k.a. "Dong Shi" in Chinese) embarked on a trip to the Taman Negara by bus. The night before I slept at 3 a.m. so I was extremely tired, and then the road was extremely bumpy (like riding a horse, but I've never ride a horse, so I don't know), so I did nothing at the bus (can't read because my mata is bouncing like a bola keranjang) except sleeping.
We stayed at the Woodland Resort. The food, despite served as buffet, wasn't nice, my mother's cooking is at least a million times nicer (You go, mum!) 2 hours later or so, we went for the Canopy Walkway, for which we have to pay RM30 to walk (Damn cutthroats), We took a boat there which is about 10 minutes.
And so, we walked the hanging bridge, which was quite a new experience to me. The bridge kept on swaying here and there but there's no danger. The whole bridge was wrapped by safety nets and ropes that you have to literally jump out of there in order to fall down. Safe, too safe perhaps. The absence of any animal was a major disappointment. It's a bore to look at trees and plants all the time, especially when there were no exotic species to look at (like Rafflesia). I asked to tour guide about our relatives (we're animals also) and he told me that they only show up at night (ow, man! What a waste).
With nothing much to look at or to do except taking some not-very-interesting pictures, I finished the journey. So much for the longest hanging bridge in the world (well, according to the guide). I think sitting on the boat and playing with water is much more fun.
Later when we returned to the resort, I discovered the greatest secret - it's not a tour at all, but
a conference on Chinese education and Chinese school governors' awareness campaign! Holy smokes, not my stuff at all. No no no no no no no no no no x100! I've been so very tricked! You got me this time, dad.
I decided to play along (one of the most important thing of surviving in the society nowadays) and listen to the talks. I didn't like it at all. I picked up some interesting things though. I found out that the governors, technically speaking, have more power than the headmaster!! Some of the people even condemned a few Chinese politicians for being indifferent and infirm in protecting and upholding the rights of Chinese schools. Then a lot of comments about discriminations towards Chinese and et cetera (basically, racist talks). I'm not going to reveal the names of the incompetent politicians since the government has vowed to punish those who slander through their blog (wow, scary!)
Most of the school governers strikingly resemble the baddies in Hong Kong martial arts drama. Despite that, I was reminded that appearances are deceiving, a theme emphasized in books I learned in my English course at Taylor's. Perhaps they are wise, capable men. Who knows? I only know that they show great enthusiasm in the food.
The next day was almost the same, only more boring. I even slept when people are giving talks (yeah, me is bad!). I'm sorry to say, this is a waste of time, not that playing very nice computer gmaes like Oblivion is not, but at least it gives me great satisfaction. However, I've learnt a hard lesson: Don't sign up for anything unless you know where you're getting yourself into.
p/s: I'll upload the un-interesting photos when I feel more like it
Delays 0 lalalas
I found out on Friday that I need a financial affidavit from JPA for visa application. Poof! Considering JPA's efficiency, it may take a while. So I can't expect to settle it quickly...Aih!
In case you didn't know, I'm living in my friend Nick Su's unit in the same old Ridzuan Condo, albeit in a different block. I haven't been, and do not feel like, doing much. I'm undergoing a period of lethargy. Yesterday I tried to watch World Cup - the match between Czech and Ghana, but all I could manage was only the first 5 minutes and the end of match (No surprises here, I slept in between). I think Ghana won by 2-0. It gives me consolation that at least I didn't miss the first goal which is scored on the first minute. The Italy vs U.S. match... I couldn't wake up to watch it. See, I tried to get half-an-hour's sleep after waking up to find the Czech-Ghana match has ended. Instead, I was blessed with 5-hour sleep. Cis!
I don't quite know what I should do here. Perhaps I should write some blog, buy the computer hardwares, and read. But yeah, I've been a bit tired. Yesterday was very hectic, continuing an hour of Pride and Prejudice, I slept for 2-3 hours for the night before last. Then yesterday morning I went to visit Inti's 20th anniversary celebration. It was great, with all kinds of food and drinks stalls, games, even stalls that sell 2nd hand books and cds. There was a lot of live performances by some of the students and also by some invited guests - almost all local. The performances were so-so. Music's too damn loud and I can't hear the damn vocal. Don't they ever realize that? I know some can sing, but heck, the guitars and drums sing better (at least much louder) than them. So the singing part wasn't that great. But the finishing performances by the Indians were excellent. There were the lively drummers, the graceful dancers, and the street dance team. Save the best for the last eh.
But the best was the world record breaking part. Inti actually managed to squeeze 21 people inside a mini Cooper. I was so proud to witness and video-recorded the event (a bit sad I couldn't a participant, never with my 2X size). Malaysia Boleh!!!
That's all for now. I'm going to upload some pictures when I'm free-er. Ok, signing off.
Headache over course registration 0 lalalas
Wow...I've spent about 3 days trying to figure how the registration at UBC works. I've paid the registration deposit early, faxed my acceptance of admission offer early, and followed all the steps: choosing an STT (standard time table) and choosing my elective and english courses. What was the reward? Poof! A error message showing that I'm not eligible for the STT. This has happened for 7-8 STT despite their status being "available". Damn frustrating... Seeing all the classes being slowly filled up and I still could not f***king register!!!
Thank you for a service well done, Transnasional! 0 lalalas
I was going back to Kuantan on Saturday evening when this happened.....(click on the picture, look at the time for Kuantan, then compare it with the time on the clock..).
Finally I get to board the bus at 4.05 p.m. And the conductor, so conveniently, said that it was caused by the traffic jam (Yeah, right.)
Shit + Water = Subang Water 0 lalalas
I just returned to Subang Jaya today, in case you guys didn't know that I went back to Kuantan last Friday night. Everything was okay, except that the water stinks - besides being yellow, as usual. Really stinks of shit. As if someone pooped in the water tank. Nevertheless, I have to bathe in it. Yucks! This proves again that while KL may be a good place for shopping and having fun, it may not be an ideal place to live in - traffic jams, dirty water, air pollution, etc. Gets on my nerves sometimes. Cis!
