Last Minute Getaway

I made YET ANOTHER trip to the ICA on Tuesday to collect my TEMPORARY travel document. I came well-prepared this time: two books, a fully charged PSP, a book of sudoku puzzles, full stomach, empty bladder (well, not for long after having a full stomach). I was mentally prepared for a very long wait, but was also hoping that it would not exceed the previous waiting time of FOUR hours.

One thing I learnt from this particular visit:  it doesn’t pay to come early. My mom advises me (not that I heed that advice) that I should come at opening time to get a good number, but apparently EVERYBODY ELSE has the same idea, you know? The last time I came here, I arrived at 10am. I left the building at 2pm.

This time round, I decided to come nearer to the closing time. Heh. I came at about 3pm. Well they can’t make me wait till 7pm, can they? The officers have GOT to go home and fix dinner for their kids, correct? So who’s the smartypants now, huh?

And whaddya know? I got my temporary passport in just over and hour lah! How wonderful was that? And the officer who served me was real nice and was at least emphatic about my plight. How sweet. No ‘tsk tsk’s or disapproving frowns from this one.

So it’s set- I AM going away to this holiday. Having less than a week to book return flights and hotel rooms, we weren’t left with much of a choice. The initial plan of going to Bali, Sabah, or Langkawi was foiled due to unavailable flight tickets or hotel…. ah well. There’s always Chinese New Year and the June hols (by which time I HOPE to be granted a passport since the ban is technically over in April.

Oh me, oh my! (Ooyah’s favourite phrase these days) Is that only FOUR months away?