Questa è Enida

I thought I have told myself enough that there were so many things to re-learn. One thing I didn’t do was to tell myself that there were as many things to un-learn. Malaysia is not the Malaysia I used to know, or what I selectively wanted to remember. Na’ah. She has changed. And so have I. My expectations back then were different probably because I didn’t know any better. My expectations these recent years were different again perhaps because I thought it WAS going to be better here. Some things are, many…not so.

I had forgotten how a customer could be passed around like a bottle of kicap tamin at a dining table that didn’t have much. Or like a pinggan of nasik tambah at a table that did have lots. Customer service? What’s that? Mistakes at any scale are expensive here. You kiss you pay, they kiss you pay, no kiss also you pay what? Malas nak citer the details. If you are here, or when you are…you know lah what I’m talking roundabout.

On a happier note, we got a car now. Too bad for Be since KLCC is just a stroll away from our apartment – it doesn’t pay to drive. I went for a melaunching session yesterday sambil getting some chores done. Off to Bukit Permai, Cheras Baru to take a look at BHE yang tersobek in the auto crash last Saturday (Be escaped unhurt). Then off to Section 15 Shah Alam, and then lunch at C & R 24 Bangi for an authentic Pahang’s Masak Lemak Tempoyak Ikan Siakap. Pehhh! That was beyond sedap.

Today, I let Key drive. My nauseousness was the worst yet. Even a can of Cream Soda couldn’t really keep it down. But got a lot done. Took a look at another house in Taman TAR and we are making an offer for rent tomorrow. So, I guess this might be it for the coming year. The house is nice. I can see myself living in it for a year, I guess. Be and I are on an agreement that houses in Malaysia are unrealistically expensive. People are basing on sole speculation to make money on real estate.

We have looked at new houses…five years old and less. But I must admit, the ‘older’ houses were better built structure-wise and finish-wise. Berlagak tak berlagak, I cannot stand looking at walls with uneven plaster surface, or tiles senget-benget. No, not me. They can have it lah. Call us fussy, but a home is where you land your body and spirit. Even for a while, details count for something.

Reality bites, and this time around it bites harder than either what it used to or what I remember.