The Journey – to Naza Hotel via Singapore: 7 th May, 2009

(English Version - for the 1st time)
Till today, sometimes I keep on wondering what, why and how it actually happened – yet it happened. And it happened so fast and that ‘adventurous’ moments passed by quickly too. Between 6 to 8.30 p.m., on the May 7th?
We ( Azuan , Sal and I) were on our way to attend a marking course for Pre - U students somewhere in Johor Bahru. Azuan was driving. Of course not me. Never drive to JB unless someone beside me. We started our journey after Asar, me, leaving hubby and two sons behind.
Reaching JB we tried to locate the hotel. We saw a signboard showing a straight direction. We followed. Somehow the signboard was no where to be seen. Me and my big mouth saying its near the Zon. ( another famous hotel in JB) Then somehow we missed a turn and we had to find the road that we used before. Simon called us telling that we were on the wrong way. He was driving behind us and he saw that we were turning left instead of right.
However, we told him that we would be alright and he should continue to the hotel. Our intention was that we would not want him to wait for us so long. Then the ' journey' began.
First we asked a passer- by and asked for the direction to the hotel. Somehow his instructions not accurate. We asked another person at the bus stop. Also wrong. Next we saw a police traffic. ( The funny thing is , we could see the top of the hotel but could not find the way) Confidently we thought the police should show us the right direction. Instead he asked us to go somewhere where 2 immigration officers were standing there. We told them we were lost, and we were allowed to make' u- turn to turn back ' to the hotel. Instead they asked to go inside to meet another officer at the office. We repeated our stories again. This time they take note. The car's plate number, type of the car and the total of the passengers. He told us to report at any of the counter and the officer in charge would open a gate for us to u- turn to JB. Another officer asked to continue the following exit road. Then, we went further down..and we saw WOODLANDS CHECKPOINT. Oh, dear, don't tell me we were headed to Singapore. I tried to think its not true.
As I thought I should calm the driver or trying not to be panicked because it may disturb the driver to focus on the road. Deep inside feeling helpless, hopeless and trying to be smart by cracking a joke! Hmm...Silly me... And what we were afraid of actually happened. The road led us to Singapore instead!
When we were already on the causeway, I got panicked and scared...frankly speaking. .Ya Allah, we were actually going to Singapore. I pretended to say that Singapore is on that side, to calm myself and the driver and also Sal who is very quiet at the back. luckily at that time, there were not many vehicles and we could think for a while trying to figure out the next step. When we were drawing near to Singapore’s Immigration I could think nothing else…prison! Why not? I don’t have any passport except my IC and driving license.
The driver was wise enough to pull over and had to walk to ask questions regarding to the directions. He and i take turns to ask anyone that wwe could ask for directions. Till now I still could not believe that we were on the other side of JB. After asking the young Indian lady officer in the check - point booth of Singapore Immigration we had to give our ICs and had to follow the cycling guard to take us to the office. My feet were cold you know. Even though the old, Chinese officer did not seem to be friendly, we wouldn’t care. Our main intention at that time was to get out from the island ASAP! We were led to a tall iron bars near the causeway. Later, we were back to mother land- Alhamdulillah...Thank Allah for answering our prayers.
Thanks to Fizah too for helping us out...and concerned...she kept on calling us now and then. The funny thing is she waited for us at another branch of petrol station and we waited for them on this side of petrol station.
However, I never hate this experience. I like it instead. It’s just that when I think about it I feel a little shivered deep inside. Actually we were not that stressed. Everyone was calm, patient and know how to control things.
I still can recall, why we were laughing all the way..?I managed to step on the concrete pavement floor of Singapore building car park without my shoe. (Pretended that my shoe slipped from my foot. So I managed to step on Singapore's earth. Ha..ha..!) Next, how silly we were at the toll pole. We were waiting patiently and nothing happened. What now? Why this pole has not been raised? And suddenly this toll lady appeared...and told us to buy " Touch and Go Card" Ha! Ha! I wonder if she actually knew that we were lost our way? It reminded me one of Mr. Bean’s sitcom where he wanted to get out from the basement parking. I laughed aloud and long. Over and over again. Sal laughed till she shed her tears. One of our Custom officers also laughed at us. How suspensed we were at the Singapore Office when they go through our IC's. I called our PK Pra- U telling we had a small problem, Did not want him to worry about us) but he knew our lost journey already..Giggling the other side of the telephone line..
Well, what i could say that, a journey to NZ hotel via Singapore.
Well, there' s a lesson to learn. Give and take directions accurately.
Ya Allah, thank U so much. You care. Amin.