Last call for passenger...

"Last call for boarding for Ishak Mas'od, Noraishah Anjang Abd Hamid, Rahimah Ishak, Muhammad Nazim Ishak.."

That is the normal situation of the Ishak's family on any airplane travel. We never missed to be announced over and over in airport for boarding. I cant count how many times that when we just enter the plane, the door of the plane immediately close and plane ready for take off. But, not once, never once, a plane will left us behind. Does not matter how pissed off they were with our lateness, but they will wait. They will ensure we safely and successfully board the plane.

Those good records came to an end 2 years ago when a plane decided to left us behind. We felt that we were cruelly undone by this airplane company. We checked-in on time. Early in fact. One mistake we did was, we went for quick lunch at the food court nearby and made way to boarding area only a few minutes before take off. When we arrived at the departure entrance, we hear the last call for boarding announcement and we all running like crazy. When we finally arrived at the door, the staff said we cannot get to the plane and our luggage had been off-load from plane. We was like WHAT?!!! We just hear our names been called, 1-2 mins ago..and its not like we can contact the staff saying that we are running our ass off for boarding and vice versa and scream wait for us!..wait for us! It was not even the time for take off yet.. There were 5 of us, my bro, my sister-in-law, my mum, Zulaika and I. Zulaika was just 1 year plus at the time. They can simply decided to off-load all of us. Really cruel. Because of that, we need to buy a new ticket with higher price. Our conclusion was that, yeah.. that's how this company make their money.

Recently, I, together with my mum and Zulaika traveled to Bandung taking this airplane company. Yes, we did not failed to be late this time too.. hahaha.. family tradition.. always like the chaos, 'Home Alone' style.. this time it worse than the last time.. We late for checked-in too. The flight was 6.40am in the morning and we arrived airport 10 minutes before 6 a.m. The check-in line for all Indonesian flights were quite long and I just got into the line nervously, while Dahlia, my sister in law tried the self check-in kiosk, in case, we still can. From there, she got to know that check-in for Bandung flight had closed and we need to go to this special case counter. The staff was busy to get to us immediately, as there were other peoples with all kind of problems too.When the staff finally got to me, and we state our current dilemma, she also got worried for me. She called somebody to ask if she can still check us in. Then she asked if we got luggage. "Yes" I said. The the staff said, if got luggage, we cannot check-in. Dahlia and Ajim, my brother then both said, "No..No. Tak de luggage. Check in jer". The staff then proceed to process our boarding pass.. In mean time, Dahlia and Ajim told me, "Imah check-in jer.. nanti kita pindah sikit barang dari lugagge dalam bag-pack..brg tak penting..daripada rugi tiket".. OKla I thought. As long as I can get to the plane. If I missed the plane, no way I can afford to buy new tickets.

After I got the boarding pass, we ran off to the departure gate. There, we opened the luggage and shove in as many things from the luggage to bag-pack that I carry. Then, we were searching for plastic bag. Good thing, mum packed this 1 empty plastic hand-luggage and we managed to get all the stuffs from luggage to this bag - all clothes, pampers, shampoo, shower gel etc etc. We continue our conquest to catch the plane. 3 of us, ran towards immigration counter. We got the next road-block to our journey. The security check! After our bags got through the scan, we were asked to open our bags. Yes, we got a lot of stuffs that we cant put in hand-lugagge. I told them.."we are in a hurry, please just take whatever you need to take". After finish with the first 2 bags, mum just ran off from there with Zulaika and left me with the last bag to inspect. That bag was obviously full and packed and no way I can get to the things they want, so I just told them, it might be the bottled water for my childs milk. So I was let go. I ran off as fast as I can catching up with mum to the boarding counter.

The door for boarding was obviously already close. The staff communicate to the cabin crew to ask, if they can let us to board the plane. Was asked again if we got luggage, and I quickly said no. Because of that, the crew, said we can proceed to the plane. Thank God! The staff quickly informed us the gate number. "Gate number 74 tau. Ingat Gate 74. Lari cepat!". 3 of us got running again to get to this Gate 74. Since mum was fully occupied with hand-luggage in both hands. I got the bag-pack and Zulaika. Zulaika and I ran as fast as we can. Obviously, Zulaika almost 4 years old legs can't compare to my 30 years old legs, so I decided to cradle her instead. Just imagine, running with almost 6kg bag-pack on your back and a 14kg child on your arms. That was the biggest work-out I ever did in my whole life. While running, I was searching around for Gate 74. Where the hell is this gate? It is incredibly far! Really far! The furthest of all from the door we came from. I didn't ate anything the night before and obviously got no time for breakfast. So, with all the running and weight, I feel like I was going to pass out at that moment. But yes, the spirit of Bandung is strong, I successfully got there.

Yes! We got to the plane!
I thought, pheww, we already inside the plane. Everything will be OK.
But being me. It's not the end of the drama yet. The careless Rahimah decided to turn up that morning. The sling-bag that had money, phone, Zulaika's Mickey-Mouse shades, went missing from my shoulder. No! Oh No! I might have left it at the security check scanner place! I quickly told the cabin crew that was helping us with the bags of my situation. That was the most important bag. The cabin crew told me, they can't go there for me to search for it. If I'm going to get the bag, they will probably need to off-load me from the plane. Oh, no! Off-load. I'm quite traumatic with the word off-load already. In the sheer panic, I told myself, that it's OK, I still got half of the money in the other bag. It should be more than enough for 1 day. I will contact Ajim once arrived to transfer the $ to our trevel agent the next day (Monday). However, I still worry about the bag. I still got millions of ruppiah in there plus the Note2 phone. I asked the cabin crew, if there's a way for them to check if the bag is really at the security check place and safe? I don't mind if I cant get the bag but I want to be sure that the bag is there and not somewhere-else.

The cabin crew care about my situation as he thought, I got all my money in that bag. So, he went to the pilot to discuss the situation. He came back with a good news he said. Pilot gave permission for me to go back to find my bag and I got 7 minutes to do it. After 7 minutes, he'll fly the plane without me. OK, 7 minutes. I don't think much and just ran out from the flight to get my bag. I mentioned that the distance between the plane and airport building is far right? The first round was already exhausting. I doubt that I have enough strength to go back inside the building and ran back to the plane. But 1 need to do what they need to do rite? So I just move along. While running, I was thinking, Can I do it? Can I get back to the plane within 7 minutes? I'm not so much of a marathon person, yet alone a sprinter, but I just ran. I don't really count the time.

I got to the security check place and asked for the bag. The guy asked a few question like what were inside the bag. What phone brand was there. and I thought, yes, they got my bag. What I was told next disappoint me a bit. "Kami dah bagi beg Cik kepada adik Cikla. Ni nama, nombor telefon dan nombor IC dia".. Siiigh.. I ran for nothing then. I took the tissue where my brother wrote in his details, check if there are true and ran back to the plane. Part of me feel relieved because at least I know that my belongings are safe, but part of me feel that, it will be much better if I have the bag. Nevertheless, the most important task was to get inside the plane again.It will be like triple blow if I missed the plane too. At that point of time, my mum was waiting inside the plane. What she told me was, if I didn't get to the plane, she will just left me and travel with Zulaika. huhuhu..so much of motherly affection eh?

I managed to get to the plane and the flight took off on time and arrived Bandung as scheduled. I'm totally grateful to the cabin crew and the pilot of that flight. If it was a different crew and different pilot (like what we got 2 years back), they certainly will not entertain that kind of 'situation'. We may not be able to board the plane in the first place. And then, no way a pilot will allow me go search my bag and wait. Even the cabin crew told me that I was lucky that the pilot is super-kind. Normally, pilot will not give permission for passenger to do what I did.

It was really an unforgettable experience for me. I told myself 2 things. In future:
1. Never ever dare to book early morning flight - risk of overslept
2. Plan to check-in at least 2 hours before boarding

So, now I'm waiting until my next international travel, to assess if things will changed and if I will ever listen to my own advice.. hahaha..

Closure

I had a strange dream last night. In the dream, I met this guy who is or was a friend of mine. I'm quite upset with him for a lot of things. From how he suddenly ignore me, never reply my messages, when I hi-ed him on chat.. he'll offline himself and he sort of shut me out from his life. I don't mind if he does not want to be my friend anymore or mad at me or hates me. It is when you dont know WHY. Yes, this I mind.

I, however, never really confront him for reasons. For me, his actions speak louder than word. I got you, my friend. My last sffort on communication was just a Frienster message for Hari Raya wishes or something, and I asked for his forgiveness if I ever did something wrong to him. Yes, he never replied and we have not communicated or spoken since then. I just hope, if I ever have done wrong, he had forgived me. I so wish that there'll be time and place that we may cross path again and I will get some answers. Insya Allah...

Back to the dream I had. Yes, I met him! After all this years.. finally I met him! OK, it's just a dream. But I met him. We talked. I told him what I felt. Why he didn't this? Why he didn't that? Why he did that? He gave his answers. He gave his reasons.

Then, I woke up. Weirdly, I felt relieved. I felt like a huge burden from my thoughts, my heart had been lifted. I felt like I got my freedom. MY CLOSURE...

Sofia-Zack Wedding Saga

Sorang lagi my younger cousin is married. I think ader sorang lagi yang akan memintas imah early next year. Seronok jer diorang sumer nih dah kawen and nak kawen eh.. hihihi

Here I share the moment of happiness of my dearest cousin.. kawan imah main masak2 waktu kecik2 dulu.. hihihi.. This is my first attempt to sort of doing video clip.. ooops, wedding video clip.

Really happy that they had met their 'jodoh'. May the live hapily ever after...

Adamu.. Hadirmu.. Jantungku

This is one of my effort to make me believe that I do have a heart... and feelings. I was once capable of loving and being in love...

Dengan lafaz Bismillah
Langkah mula di atur
Dengan kalimat itu
Entah bila... bagaimana
bermula...

Kita tidak sedarah
Darahmu, darahku berbeza
Oksigen memisahkan kita

Namun
laluan kita searah
Terus tidak berpaling
Injapmu membuka keyakinanku,
menutup keraguanku

Tanpamu
tiada lub-dubku
Walau paling kecil
pentingnya dirimu
Kaulah nyawaku

Di sini kita tetap bertemu
Di persimpangan ini
jantungku..

The Meet Cute

I've always been fascinated with the story of how 2 people meet. Even in movies, I always look forward to the 'Meet Cute' part, a part where the hero will meet the heroin for the first time. I like to know the things like how they come to know each other?.. What are their feelings at the time of first meet?. Do they experience the 'love at the first sight'? or is it just an attraction?

I would say that, my parents had a unique 'Meet Cute' moment. They had known each other a few years before their first meet. My father was studying at MRC at the time. I was told that, it was required by the senior that everyone must have a girl picture stick in their locker . You know back then, ragging can be pretty tough. Mom told me that someone had told her that my father was once badly injured by his seniors. I don't really know what he did that had caused that, but I got the picture of how bad the senior 'bullying' can be at the time. So, I understand, if senior had asked to do 'A', so, by hook or by crook, you have to do 'A'.

My father don't have any girlfriend at the time. But, his best friend has. So, his best friend suggested that, while he'll be asking his girlfriend to post her picture over, he'll ask his girlfriend to send a picture of her friend too, for my father. Just so happen that the girlfriend is mom's best friend. So, as you all can guess.. A pic of mom had also travelled all the way from Kuala Kangsar to Sg. Besi. Yes! My father finally got the girl picture stick in his locker as directed by the senior. Very little that he knows, the girl in the picture will be his future wife. What a fate eh?

I come to know that they become acquainted after that. Due to the distance between them, they only communicated via mails. Obviuosly, no mobile, no e-mail and definitely no facebook/twitter. But they managed to be friends. I never asked, what kind of things they usually write to each other. And my parents never really reveal this part of details to us (my brother and I). So, I guess, this is one of those things that they just want to keep it as confidential matter.. hihihi..

They've been mail-buddy for quite sometime because, they only meet for the first time when my father is already in the army. If I remember this correctly, he was stationed in Kluang, Johor. He had some kind of training or something in Taiping, which bring him to the state of Perak. He rides his scrambler motorcycle from Kluang to Taiping together with a friend. I repeat.. ride!!! After the whatever-business-he-had-in Taiping ended, my father's friend invited him to go ride with him to Sg Siput to meet somebody, who I don't remember who. Perhaps his family.

So, while riding south to Sg Siput, he came to a junction where one directed to Sg Siput and one directed to KUALA KANGSAR. Out of sudden, he thought of mom. What he said next, was really the turning point of the story.

Ishak: Eh, aku ade kawanla kat Kuala Kangsar. Aku ingat aku tak jadi ikut kau pegi Sg. Siput.

The friend is OK with that, and they both continue the journey in separate ways. My father reached Kuala Kangsar not long after. From the letters he always wrote to mom, he knows what is the name of the kampung he should head to. The only problem is that, he don't know where and how to find the exact house. Luckily, there's a small grocery shop at the village So, he decided to stop there and ask. Tauke kedai runcit must know everybody, he thought.

Yes! He did know everybody. In fact, the owner knows mom personally too. So. he himself, helped my father to give directions to mom's house. I can't recall if my father ever told me his feeling at the time. Anxious? Nervous? Excited? But I'm sure he is very brave of doing this. Never have met mom at all. And there he was, riding his scrambler to mom's house. When arrived, he did not only meet my mum for the first time, but he met Opah too. When asked about, what he thought of mom when they first met, he said, mom looks smaller than he thought. I was like.. that's it? But that's all he's willing to share. huhuhu...

Even without the exact details of everything, I always consider their 'Meet Day' as the best story ever! This, I think had put a very high standard to my mum and I on how I would meet 'My Guy' and how 'The Guy' should treat me. My father was very gentlemen and respectful in his way. From the first meet and later meets that follows, he always come to mom's house first, ask permission from Opah to take mom's out and so on. And this perhaps had put an expectation to me, that someone I date should be at least very respectful, if not very gentlemen-ly. I may have had my 'Meet Cute'(s). One perhaps belong to my 'jodoh' Or, I may yet to experience greater 'Meet Cute'(s) in the future. hmmm...

Life without My-Vince

Wow! I actually had lived without a car for more than 3 months!! The only car available at home is a manual car which I'm so suck at driving it, which make, my mum and the rest of house members as my official driver.

Throughout this period.. I enjoy not paying for car loans. I enjoy not have to be the only person that mum has to depend on to do anything or to go anywhere. I like it that I contribute less to air pollution. I like it that I save so much of not spending on petrol. I like it (sometimes) that I go to Carrefour or Wangsa Walk or Rampai LRT station walking.

But... there are also a couple of things that I do not like...

I hate taking public transport. OK, I seldom go to office. But instead of usual 30 mins drive from home to 1Utama, it actually took me 2 hours to 1Utama by public transport. It not even cost savings (perhaps, just slightly) and definitely not time savings! I hate waiting and wasting time. That's why I don't like to go to office. Even with driving, I can lost at least 30 mins where that 30 mins, I can perhaps finish 1 or 2 budget report or even better, an extra sleeping time. hahaha..

I hate depending on people too. I'm so used to of doing anything or going anywhere by myself. So, it is tiring that you need other people to help you to go somewhere. Not everybody or everytime, people are free and available for you. I always feel bad if I need to bother anybody or being such a hassle although the person may be sincerely and willingly helpful. Maybe I should not have to feel so bad. But hey, it's just an imah-desease kind of thing. I just can't help it.

I hate to make decisions. It's easy if you like a certain car and money is never a problem. No point of liking this 1 car but you can't even afford the monthly payment. I was going through so many doubts and second thoughts on what my second car would be. The situation is like I just get a divorced and now I'm searching for my second husband. Obviously I want my second husband to be better than the last one. And this time, I need to make sure that I got the 'blessing' from my whole family in hope this time it can last longer. Uuurgh! I just hate deciding and it was so hard to make up my mind.

Thank God. All that is already in the past. Thanks to Him, for helping me to get through the period without my dear 'Vince' and help to guide me through making the decision. I know I would be lost without You.

p/s: I still missed my 'Vince'.

Oh No! Not me please...

I don't mind be friend with a married man. I have friends who are. While some, I have their wife as my friend as well, but there are also some that I do not. Whether I know their wife or not or their wife know me or not, I know my limit as a friend and respect their marital status. As far as I know myself, I do not have any feelings to any of my married friends. Of course I do have a lil' bit of interest to 1 or 2 of them before, but the feeling did not continue once they have officially 'owned' by other women.

I do have an issue however, if the friend would like to take an advantage of our friendship and trying to get 'itchy'. If they are a true friend, and really know me, they would never ever trying to make a move on me or even thinking about it. I knowla I'm 'andartu'. But, pleasela don't let that give you an idea that I can consider anybody and entertain your 'itchiness'. It's not that I'm against poligamy. If it was written in my fate that my 'jodoh' is with a married man, then I do need to accept that. Dah jodoh kan? But I know that the decision will come if and only if the situation is right and it is for the good and happiness for all parties and not my own.

I can't predict the future. And I don't know where my heart will 'fall' and all. But I do appreciate the co-operations of all my married friends or any other married man out there (who might read this) that if you are looking for a new 'branch' please please and please..try your best to look at other area and not mine.