My First Aerolining Day

I was surprised to know that I woke up at 10am and I can't really remember when I did this years before. Maybe I'm just too tired and have a good sleep with them. Facebook, make light breakfast and watching movies with kids was my brunch because all of us were very lazy and wanted this moment for more. About 2:30pm, we have to go out for brunch and have to take taxi send them home then to Chorus Hotel, for my Aeroline back to SG. A bit nervous because this is my first experience too and hope no obstacles and difficulties for this trip.

After lunch at McD (can't enjoy the cheap value meal as it was over 3pm when I bought it), we went down to the bus stop for taxi. From far, I can see few taxis already in queue. The one I got was Indian driver, which I don't feel good because I was advised by another driver before never take Indian taxi if possible. Since it's broad day light and I've few members with me, so I take the chance.

That fella must be young driver as he drove like monkey, indeed. Drove like his father bought him the road. Even he know from far he should turn to left exit but still at right lane. Right before he went pass to the exit then he took immediate left turn. There was once not sure if he purposely but he fail to turn into the junction so went to another route. I sensed something not right and hope he did it because of the traffic jam. But approaching another junction, he should have U turn but seems waiting for the traffic light and took longer route which is popular for its bad traffic. Before he went pass the U turn, I quickly asked him to U turn and took another way.

Luckily I'm local and know all the turn and junction and pity for those foreigners. This is exactly how they rotten our name in the traveling industries. I do know not all were the same but 50% of my past experience weren't good. I hate to admit this because our taxi driver would have changed during recent years but ... speechless. For single ladies out there, try to avoid these drivers unless no choice. For additional safety, act to mark/remember their driving plate and pretend to call someone to let them know the taxi number you've boarded. Not 100% fool proof but it's better than nothing.

First stop was Pudu, to drop my family first. Once they got down, I wanted to bid them goodbye but that driver seems in rush and speed off. In order to avoid him to detour, I asked him to use Tun Razak toward Chorus Hotel. I don't even need him to U turn as I told him to drop me off right opposite of Chorus Hotel. The damage is RM17.40 but I gave him RM18 instead. While walking toward the hotel, I get to see some scenery such as the Quan Yin temple which I visited 20 years ago and now they have grow and renovated.

It used to be old and aged. It has some mural about hell too

Now 2nd challenge, where to board the bus. I've seen Aeroline buses drop/pick up customers at the taxi stop right in front of Chorus Hotel. So I thought I would just need to sit there and wait but somehow, something just make me walk to the hotel lobby to ask around. Luckily I did that because the bell boy told me I need to check in and the counter located at the left side of the hotel main entrance.

See the taxi/bus stop? That's the boarding area

Feel like checking in at the airport because they need your confirmation sleep and credit card for verification and the best thing is they have a complimentary tea/coffee. So you can just walk into the hotel's coffee place and redeem it. It feels like you're entitle for golden lounge at airport. Besides complimentary coffee/tea, they do sell some pastries with reasonable price. Now, I get to enjoy a tea, air-conditioned coffee house seat while waiting for the bus. See, you pay peanut, you get peanut ... I always believe this.

The coffee table ... hospitality table ;)

My boarding pass. Take a look at lower right corner

This is the coupon for redemption of complimentary tea

There it goes, in fact there is some smoke from the tea

Aeroline Hospitality Lounge (sub-rent from Chorus Hotel :p)

It doesn't look like check in counter, rather look like bell service counter

About 4:30pm, the bus has arrived and everyone started to park their luggage into the bus while I went to gents before that to avoid having too much pee during the journey. It was a double decker bus and all seatings are at upper deck. There was a small room with few sofas and small toilet at the lower deck. Cozy and nice. This round, I got 7A, a single window seating, spacious and aircond is just nice.

Here it come ...

Kiasu lang rushing for boarding (going for re-incarnation?)

Front view before I get in

The stair to upper deck, see that room right in front?

It's a 2 by 1 seating layout

They even have free electricity for your electronic devices

Free Sky Juice

You need to buckle up too, just like in air plane

Free rental of blanket

and headset for the in bus entertainment ... TV and Radio, no game :p

When it's driving off, they broadcast a slow sentimental music, which make my feelings become blue and down. My brain keep replaying the things and moments since last week. Also because I'm not driving and in day light, I get so see so many places along the way to highway like places I went with my family, places I've been and visited during school days, some relatives house that near highway. Keep thinking what they will do at this moment, what's their dinner later and imagine if I take train, I'm still enjoying the quality time with them. Sigh, I really hate this feelings ... not sure if you can really understand.

Back to the coach, it's space and cozy transport. At first, they really broadcast stuff that we heard in plane like who's the crew, trip duration and even fasten your seat belt for safety. After that, they deliver the blanket and headset for music and movie. Talk about movie, it's a bit disappointed because they only have 2 small TV (maybe 21"?). One in front and one at middle. The front look very small to me and the middle it right next to me. I can't see both clearly so I've decided to watch movie with my own laptop and write this blog ;)

About 30 mins later, they started to serve meal (or dinner) which is way too early for me. But anyhow I will still need to eat now and if I really hungry later, then I can eat dinner cum supper when I'm back to SG home. The dinner is very disappointing because it look like left over from lunch buffet to me. Cold white rice with some stir fried vege and tomato chicken. See the picture and it tell you how it taste.

Arm rest?

Cover can be open. See something?

The multipurpose board has emerged

There it goes ... ready for meal

The left overs ...

Hashbrown, baby corn, slice carrot and mushroom

It's chicken in thick gravy/soup. So tomato and tasteless

Shall I eat or not to eat? No choice it seems

All in one, simple and easy to eat (pig food?)

After the meal, I continue my blogging session then watch TV. I wonder what will happen few hours later when the bus reach Woodlands :S

About 7pm, when I was about to doze off, another announcement is out and this round we will be having 20 mins toilet break at Pagoh Rest Area. Initially I don't feel to go down but after some thought, better go down for some walk to relax and also offload some water ;) After coming out from toilet, went pass some fruit stall and their jambu merah really attracted me. Bought a pack of 7 at RM8 and plan to eat it tonight at room. After that, I also feel to grab some tid bit so ended up with a cashew nut @ RM2.60 and 100 plus @ RM2.20. I did some survey and all stalls seems have common agreement where all their price tag are the same. Hmm ... no good for consumer :(

The hawker center area, so stuffy and crowded

I thought R&R mean Rest & Relax for the past 33 years. Rupa-rupanya Rehat & Rawat?

At the same time, someone suddenly strike my mind ... how nice if I'm traveling with my family because I can stop at those rest area along the highway and had some snack/dinner with them. I wish I can really have a long weekend trip with them. Start drive in the morning, visit the cities along the route and a relax trip where we don't have to rush here and there. Sleep, eat, rest, visit some popular places and have movie. I think the earliest would be somewhere mid or end next year because Kai Meng finally in primary school and afraid he might not cope up with the education and Violet will be having her PMR ... sigh.When I return to the bus, it seems both driver and conductor were away too so better take a sit at roadside and call up the family (also took this photo) :-

When the bus continue its journey, I notice tonight is a bright full moon. Suddenly made me feel down as I will be apart with them for sometime. I really wonder if I can see them thru the moon especially during the coming "Guo Dong" and birthday? Anyway, I can really understand one of the Chinese poem which make me feel the moon was a webcam and thought/imagination is medium to deliver the message in the ancient time. This is how it goes :-

It suppose to be a nice view. If I ever have my dSLR at that time ...

床前明月光

chuang qian ming yue guang

(the moonlight before my bed)

疑是地上霜

yi shi di shang shuang

(leads me to believe it is frost upon the floor)

舉頭望明月

ju tou wang ming yue

(I lift my head to gaze at the moon)

低頭思故鄉

di tou si gu xiang

(but my thoughts are with my home)

About 8:50pm, my bus finally reach 2nd link MY immigration checkpoint. To my surprise, not much people there and the whole bus, I'm the only one using the automatic gantry for M'sian passport. Sh*t, am I spending too much for the bus? About 10 mins later, we continue our journey and entering SG immigration but the queue was too much. It was started way before the bridge that lead us to the immigration checkpoint (I can't even see that building) and I think to myself, "That's it, I will caught here for at least an hour". It seems my prediction is correct because I only reach Harbour Front around 11pm. After this experience, I feel by train isn't that bad because bus took 6.5 hours and train is about 8 hours but you can sleep in train and doesn't require to queue for immigration checkpoint which may take 15 - 60 mins.

See the buses? From far look like traffic light but IT'S NOT!

Crowd in 2nd Link (Causeway)

The bus is awaiting for us and I'm the third one to reach there ;)

Ok, I'm home now and it's clocked at 11:20pm. Once I opened the door, my wish to see my family there turn sour and feel very lonely and down. I imagine as if Kai Meng playing computer on my desk, Violet playing her computer at her spot and Shireen resting on the bed :'( Guess it will take a while for me to come over this. Hmm ... I better go shower and had instant noodle as dinner. After the supper and when I went to bed, again I imagine Violet and Kai Meng were beside me and this feelings really tough. Hopefully I can wake up early tomorrow :(