JB

Eventually, we didnt go JB. Err... we did go, or at least we passed the custom, but we didnt set foot on JB. -.o" We were not well-prepared and a whole lot of stuff screwed up.

I packed the bags and I assumed that Daddy Lim would check the map, which he did. We assumed that we would find the hotel with no trouble since Daddy Lim had checked the map and we could find the hotel when we went on foot many years back. We didnt have the white cards too as the last time that we went JB, the custom have loads of it. The custom has changed, remembered? The Causeway was revamped, making it much more complicated than it used to be. We duno where to get the white cards and were told at the Malaysian Immigration that the white cards should be obtained somewhere earlier before the Immigration. The officer only gave the white cards to us after we pleaded with him. Then there is this lady who spoke in Malay to us to ask us to purchase the "Touch & Go" card to pay the toll. She knew we couldnt speak Malay but refused to speak English to us. Daddy Lim had to second-guess her while she spoke in displeasure and frustration, as if it is our fault that we couldnt speak Malay. There were many loops and turns and we finally excited the custom after getting stuck in the jam for at least an hour. Surprisingly, Lil Shauna was pretty cooperative while clearing the custom.

The real problem started after we exited the custom. It started raining and we were totally lost bcos we only had the old map, the one before the custom was revamped. We found our location on the map and realised that we had to turn back, but kept driving in loop bcos the map was either inaccurate/ outdated, we duno how to read the map or there were roads that were not shown on the map. Things were made worse when LiL Shauna started fussing. There was no way that I could entertain Lil Shauna (to stop her from fussing) and read the map at the same time and Daddy Lim couldnt read the map and drive at the same time. So, we were very, very lost. Daddy Lim was very frustrated with getting lost and Lil Shauna's fusses made it worse.

I finally surrendered and told Daddy Lim that I will concentrate on entertaining Lil Shauna and he find his way. Just when Daddy Lim tot that he was getting it, he probably made a wrong turn again and we were once again lost. He muttered that he really couldnt do it and headed back to Woodlands (Singapore custom). At that point, I felt helpless. I was frustrated too, I was tired after trying to entertain Lil Shauna and I knew suggesting that we tried again wun do any good. So we headed back to Singapore. But I tot we could have at least stop somewhere to get a breather 1st before heading back - Lil Shauna needs to "stretch" her legs a little. She was cooped up in the car for too long. As predicted, the traffic back to Singapore wasnt that friendly either. So we were again stuck in the jam for at least 30 mins. This time, with a fussing baby, which totally dun help with the situation.

We stopped at the old Woodlands central right after we cleared Singapore custom. Lil Shauna was glad to be out. We were having KFC for dinner and Daddy Lim dropped another bomb - what if we still have to pay for the hotel that we asked our colleague (the groom) to book despite not turning up? Win... We wanted to ask people to help us check the hotel's no. online so that we could call to cancel the hotel. We didnt want to bother the colleague. Then we realised that we couldnt call out bcos we were still on Malaysia network.

When we finally reached home, we realised that the hotel has no contact no. on its website. Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. We have no choice but to call the colleague to ask for help. Of course he didnt pick up his mobile and we had to sms him. -.o" Until now, we have no idea if we need to pay for the hotel.

Daddy Lim thinks that we shouldnt have brought Lil Shauna. I think that it is bcos we were unprepared. With the map that we have, even if Lil Shauna didnt come along, we would still be lost and the ending would still be the same. In fact, I felt bad towards Lil Shauna - she didnt get to sleep on big hotel bed, she didnt get to eat hotel breakfast, she didnt get to swim in the hotel pool and she didnt do shopping in the big JB shopping mall. However, we tried to make it up to her. She slept on the big bed with us last night, we brought her to IMM for breakfast, we brought her to the swimming pool this afternoon and we brought her to Causeway Point for lunch and shopping. Oh, her passport got "inked" too when we crossed the custom. :)

Surprisingly, she enjoyed swimming today. During her last encountered with the pool (2 weeks back at the zoo), I barely got her to wet her feet. Today, she actually enjoyed her "swim". She sat in the water and played with water. We spent at least 30 mins in the pool. So, all are not lost. But we do feel stupid. Haiz...

Mummy Lim

We Are Going JB!

My heart ached when the Chan Family zoomed off to KL leaving us behind bcos Daddy Lim kena recalled for night shift. -.o" Daddy Lim informed last week that a fellow colleague, a Malaysian is getting married in JB this weekend and he has invited us for his wedding.

We wun be keen normally. JB leh, not AMK or Tampines leh where it is only a MRT ride away. Got to cross the causeway and chop passport leh. However, desperate for a trip and to expose Lil Shauna's passport to some ink, I jio, jio Daddy Lim to go. Coincidentally, the wedding will be held in a temple near to Pan Pacific Hotel, which we stayed in when we when to JB by foot donkey years ago. So, we got the colleague to help book a hotel room for us and we are finally getting out of Singapore and we are driving there!

It is not gg to be a fantastic holiday, but desperation does great wonder. We are just gg to laze around in the hotel, swim in their pool, do some shopping, eat some hotel & JB food before heading back to Singapore. We are not too sure how Lil Shauna is gg to take the car ride, but hope that the jam at the custom wun be too bad. I also hope that we wun get lost in JB. Well, this whole week of training on taking care of Lil Shauna alone will be put to test...

Mummy Lim

P.s - Xiao Yi, you want to go? You can share the room with us, maybe ask for an extra bed or something. The front seat is not taken anyway. :)