“Your room booking was done. The hotel will hold the reservation for you until 5pm”. My assistant’s short message received.
Monday, 8 July 2013. Everything seemed OK, that morning. I drove to KL Sentral and parked my car safely. Upon getting my KLIA Express train fare (RM70 return ticket), I tapped my train ticket to the gate. Nope..it didn't open. The security checked on the pedestals and asked me to tap the ticket again. Ok, it worked. I rushed to the escalator going down to where the train was. Just on time for the train to move.
During the journey I recalled my friend talked about the Law Of Attraction. Me too, read it from the book titled ‘The Secret’. So I tried to forget about what had just happened at the entrance. “Hopefully everything else will go smooth throughout this trip” I whispered to myself. But deep inside, I kept on recalling those stories told by my hubby, who had vast experience handling tour. “Once something bad started to happen, the others will follow”.(Oh-No..)
28 minutes later voice heard from the speaker “ The next station is Kuala Lumpur International Airport”. I got all my stuff ready to disembark. As I touched the ticket on the pedestal gate to exit the platform , the gate wouldn't open. I tapped it again and again, it wouldn't open.
ok..ok..take it easy…..relax…breath-in….breath out….smile...
With smile, I approached the staff on duty. He assisted me to the counter. Later he came back “You’ve used up the access, madam” He said. “WHATT..??” I was shocked. He asked for a proof. I searched high and low for the receipt. No where to be found..!! great..!
Anyway… I took the ticket from him and told him that I had to catch a flight and I asked him to sort things out and I dont want to get stuck again on my coming back from Sabah.
At the Checkin counter, I checked in without problem, and walked in to the Golden Lounge, not to miss the comfort of having my cappuccino and light breakfast on a cozy place, while there were staff to ensure nobody miss his/her flight, although it happened to me once. I relaxed and wished for God to grant me a safe and problem-free trip. I could not afford to be late to the meeting with my clients that afternoon.
In the flight, I kept myself busy reading. 2:30hrs later, the flight landed safely at Kota Kinabalu International Airport. I went straight to where the car rental agent waited for me, to pick up the car. RM178 per day for automatic Sedan was reasonable. I drove off happily to the hotel, which located about 45minutes drive from the airport.
“No reservation under your name , Ma’am”
huwaaaaaa…. what a welcoming remark I received from the counter staff at my regular hotel Grand Borneo. “here comes the trouble again” I thought.
“FINE! now just get me any available room please”.
Suzy the kind lady found me a room at an exclusive floor. 
I requested for a change to a bigger room. With extra charge of RM25 for room change request, I moved to another room. 
That afternoon, I reached my client’s place just in time for the meeting. The discussion went well, alright.
On the very next morning, nicely I walked into the coffee house.
‘Room 1208. Breakfast not included’. The lady told me.
I just looked at her, speechless and embarrassed. I clearly remembered the receptionist’s statement ‘Breakfast is included’. I nodded my head, disbelieving. Again I prayed to God to keep me away from more troubles during this trip. I looked at the lady and smiled, not knowing what to say. “This is embarrassing” my words came out. She apologize to me for the misunderstanding and insisted for me to proceed to have my breakfast while she tried to sort their records. I reluctantly waked in, but had my juice and coffee anyway.
I walked back to my hotel room, wondering if my access card would work or would fail on me. WHEW..! It worked.
I logged in to the internet and wrote an email to the Hotel. In my email, I told the management of Grand Borneo to keep their recording and their workflows, organized. I was not complaining, I just wanted them to improve their service. The hotel has the best location to stay for those who have dealings with the university. The staff are helpful and friendly too. What a shame should this disorganized situation continues.
It was time to leave to the airport. I drove out a little earlier than my planned time. While driving out of the hotel area, I recalled something that I read from one of my books collection. “take a new way every time..you will learn new things”. So I decided to use another route to the airport. It was a nice drive passing through the new LINTAS highway…but.. little that I knew, the traffic was quite bad at certain points.
I kept on looking at the time.
As I reached the airport, the counter was close..!!! OH NO..!!!!
“I’m afraid there is no more seat, ma’am” The airline counter staff said.
“But let me check” He added.
He picked up the phone. I watched him with my heart pumping hard. “Oh God..pleassseeee….” Thats all I could think of.
He put down the phone and stood up. “Hold on ,ma’am”. He walked out of his counter to the end of the row. I watched and trying to figure out the situation base on his body language while talking to his colleague.
“eerr…. I ‘MIGHT’ miss my flight” That was my first word to my hubby, as I got him on the phone.
“What happened??” He asked.
“I’ll tell you later” I quickly put off the conversation the moment I saw the guy walked towards me with a boarding pass in his hand.
“I got in? ooohhh… thank you..thank you…” I took the boarding pass and rushed to the departure gate.
I thought the game was over… but no…. not yet. Those 3 people in front of me took so long to pass the security gate. I could tell that, they were travelling by plane for the first time. They kept on triggering the alarm. More and more stuff were taken out of their pockets. Coins, mobile phone, bunch of keys. One after another. I could only look with agony. Relax…relax… fuh..fuh..fuh……. at last I passed through.
The waiting lounge were empty. Everyone were in the plane, except me. I walked in to the aircraft pretending to be relaxed. I felt sorry for causing a slight delay to the departure.
In the plane, when the stewardess served coffee, I spilt coffee on my pants. While eating, I dropped curry on my shirt. I was wondering if the unluckiness would ever stop.
As I landed at KLIA, I’ve expected for the gate at the train platform not to open. It wasn't shocking anymore.
On the way to KL Sentral I prayed “Oh God , please don't let anything bad happen to my car”. I walked out of the train wondering.
While walking toward the elevator, one stall caught my sight.
Wow..!BOOKS.!!!
Book is something that I could not resist myself from buying.
Guess what…..
I met this Indonesian writer.I didn't know who he was until the cashier asked if I wanted to have his autography on the book I was buying.
Later I reckoned, that I actually bought one of his master piece not too long ago.
On that day, I bought another one ‘Luqmanul Hakim adalah Socrates Berkulit Hitam’. This time I had the author’s signature on it. I was excited and couldn't wait to show it to my hubby.
As usual, I started reading the book even when I have not completed a few others. Like the above book, this is also a historical document, debating and proving who is Luqmanul Hakim, the great individual described in the Quran, Surah Luqman, ayah 1-34.
YEAY..!! I have the author’s autograph on my book..!!
Muhammad Alexander is his Pen name. Wisnu Sasongko is his real name. He told me that he is from Malang , Indonesia. ‘Malang’ in Malay language means unlucky or unfortunate. Throughout this journey of mine, at last, I felt lucky and fortunate to have met in person, this young author of Malang. Good to to have met you , sir.
I reached my car happy and double happiness added when I saw my car safely parked untouched. I drove home with smile and with hope for all negativities to get out of my way.
