The day is Saturday, 12th March 2005...the event...here goes...
Auntie and I went back to Bintong late Friday night of 11th March 2005...Atok and Wan didn't quite expect us to show up that late...but we did...as we always do!
After the usual salam and kisses, auntie headed for the kitchen to boil water for our hot tea and chit-chat. Before we knew it, it was already very early in the morning (2.00am!!) and we had plans when day breaks to go to Repah. Wan's medication stock has run dry and time for replenishment. So we all hit the sack half hour later....
As usual, morning at kampong start with Subuh prayers...waking up to the faithful and quite reliable Nokia 2100 alarm which has been doing us both great assistance for the last 2 years...
By 8.00am, breakfast of mee goreng was soon waiting, specially prepared by Wan...she has never failed to prepare all kind of things everytime we balik kampong...and she just knows who likes what....amazing lady!
After the heavy breakfast, sleepiness sets in...so had to shut eye a while....
10.00am: woke up to prepare for our planned trip to the clinic in Repah. This trip will be without Atok who has to attend a Wedding in Bongek. The journey down to Tampin was just an easy drive. Afterall there is nothing to rush for...we were hoping to reach there round about 11.00am so that the main crowd has already gone home...that was the main strategy.
When we reached the entrance to the clinic, we noticed some police cones placed along the main road. I noticed an opening wide enough for the Wira to drive through...so just went in, ignoring the cones.
To our surprise, the parking lot was so deserted...there was no car in sight except for ours!! At a corner of the parking lot where the covered parking is, we saw a gathering of people listening to a speech. I soon realised numerous pairs of eyes from the crowd staring at me as I got out of the car.
Wan was unsure if the clinic is open since the building was nicely decorated for some opening ceremony or something like that. The usual main entrance door was wide open adorned with ribbon and flowers so I went into the clinic building through the other door (exit door) to find out if the clinic is open from the nurse at the registration counter. She confirmed that business is on as per normal. The whole decor is for the officiating of the clinic building by the lady Pengarah Kesihatan. So that explains the vacant parking lot and the group of people at the corner of the lot...
I quickly informed Wan to get her registration at the counter done before the crowd comes. The registration was fast...but the waiting was long!! The doctor, it seemed was out there among the crowd instead of attending to patients at the clinic...What could we do? The whole force in the clinic seem to be anxiously waiting for the Pengarah to arrive...oblivious to our presence!!!
Soon we saw the crowd heading for the clinic and Wan's No was called then. It's obvious that the doctor on duty was waiting for that moment to impress the Pengarah that she's working!!!
What a shame... the ethics these Govt servants portrayed was really poor. Their focus to serve the public all went haywire...just because the big 'towkay' was around. If only the towkay herself knew...
Among the crowd was Mama of Kg Batu. She came to us as soon as the crowd was in the clinic building. After some hello and how-are-you greetings, we enquired about the kid's exam results. By then, Wan has already finished her consultation with the doctor and was at the pharmacy area to collect her medication...and she had to go through the side entrance to get to the pharmacy!!! What's wrong in allowing an aging lady to just walk through the main door...she is not going to destroy the decor or even cut the ribbon to the pharmacy area. If only the towkay saw this...
The place was becoming more unfriendly, so we quickly found our way out. Its time to leave the territory.
As it was almost noon, I suggested that we have our lunch in Tampin. Atok's has already had his lunch at the wedding ceremony. Wan did not object...so the three of us headed for her favourite Ashraf Restaurant. The dishes were all hot and freshly prepared as it was just about the start of lunch hour for many.
The food was okay...had a tough time to finish the rice which the guy generously put in a hugh heap in my plate...should have halved it. Wan and auntie also had rice (half plate though).
After the sumptous lunch, we headed back for Bintong...all the planning for the Repah trip went well except for the minor unfriendly atmosphere...perhaps we won't have to experience that again...
Thats all folks....
Weekend at Sri Manja episode will follow soon....
PakTeh.
Auntie and I went back to Bintong late Friday night of 11th March 2005...Atok and Wan didn't quite expect us to show up that late...but we did...as we always do!
After the usual salam and kisses, auntie headed for the kitchen to boil water for our hot tea and chit-chat. Before we knew it, it was already very early in the morning (2.00am!!) and we had plans when day breaks to go to Repah. Wan's medication stock has run dry and time for replenishment. So we all hit the sack half hour later....
As usual, morning at kampong start with Subuh prayers...waking up to the faithful and quite reliable Nokia 2100 alarm which has been doing us both great assistance for the last 2 years...
By 8.00am, breakfast of mee goreng was soon waiting, specially prepared by Wan...she has never failed to prepare all kind of things everytime we balik kampong...and she just knows who likes what....amazing lady!
After the heavy breakfast, sleepiness sets in...so had to shut eye a while....
10.00am: woke up to prepare for our planned trip to the clinic in Repah. This trip will be without Atok who has to attend a Wedding in Bongek. The journey down to Tampin was just an easy drive. Afterall there is nothing to rush for...we were hoping to reach there round about 11.00am so that the main crowd has already gone home...that was the main strategy.
When we reached the entrance to the clinic, we noticed some police cones placed along the main road. I noticed an opening wide enough for the Wira to drive through...so just went in, ignoring the cones.
To our surprise, the parking lot was so deserted...there was no car in sight except for ours!! At a corner of the parking lot where the covered parking is, we saw a gathering of people listening to a speech. I soon realised numerous pairs of eyes from the crowd staring at me as I got out of the car.
Wan was unsure if the clinic is open since the building was nicely decorated for some opening ceremony or something like that. The usual main entrance door was wide open adorned with ribbon and flowers so I went into the clinic building through the other door (exit door) to find out if the clinic is open from the nurse at the registration counter. She confirmed that business is on as per normal. The whole decor is for the officiating of the clinic building by the lady Pengarah Kesihatan. So that explains the vacant parking lot and the group of people at the corner of the lot...
I quickly informed Wan to get her registration at the counter done before the crowd comes. The registration was fast...but the waiting was long!! The doctor, it seemed was out there among the crowd instead of attending to patients at the clinic...What could we do? The whole force in the clinic seem to be anxiously waiting for the Pengarah to arrive...oblivious to our presence!!!
Soon we saw the crowd heading for the clinic and Wan's No was called then. It's obvious that the doctor on duty was waiting for that moment to impress the Pengarah that she's working!!!
What a shame... the ethics these Govt servants portrayed was really poor. Their focus to serve the public all went haywire...just because the big 'towkay' was around. If only the towkay herself knew...
Among the crowd was Mama of Kg Batu. She came to us as soon as the crowd was in the clinic building. After some hello and how-are-you greetings, we enquired about the kid's exam results. By then, Wan has already finished her consultation with the doctor and was at the pharmacy area to collect her medication...and she had to go through the side entrance to get to the pharmacy!!! What's wrong in allowing an aging lady to just walk through the main door...she is not going to destroy the decor or even cut the ribbon to the pharmacy area. If only the towkay saw this...
The place was becoming more unfriendly, so we quickly found our way out. Its time to leave the territory.
As it was almost noon, I suggested that we have our lunch in Tampin. Atok's has already had his lunch at the wedding ceremony. Wan did not object...so the three of us headed for her favourite Ashraf Restaurant. The dishes were all hot and freshly prepared as it was just about the start of lunch hour for many.
The food was okay...had a tough time to finish the rice which the guy generously put in a hugh heap in my plate...should have halved it. Wan and auntie also had rice (half plate though).
After the sumptous lunch, we headed back for Bintong...all the planning for the Repah trip went well except for the minor unfriendly atmosphere...perhaps we won't have to experience that again...
Thats all folks....
Weekend at Sri Manja episode will follow soon....
PakTeh.
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