b3 b0rn.. c0nf0rm, b3 si|3nt .. di3

had to be in btu for two-days as we were conducting training for the users there. left on wednesday and flew back on friday. should’ve taken photos whilst i was there, but as i hv yet to hack my o2 to give me better pictures - decided against using the pda-camera.

this was the longest business trip i had to go to after kya was born. became a bit homesick the two nights just before dozing off to sleep. all my fault though - shouldn’t have gatal tangan to copy those pics and vids of kya into my o2 to show off to my friends @ bintulu. suddenly had the strong urge to hug kya. *bawls!!!*

anyway, the last i set foot on bintulu grounds were in 2001 - and we landed on the old airstrip of an airport. this time we landed on the much improved bintulu airport. i saw a lot more of bintulu this time ’round considering my last visit was a quick flight into btu fr kch in the wee hrs of the morning, a two-hour meeting with bintulu peeps and then it was back to kul in the evening.

the first night, managed to meet up with suwalee and nishat from my uni days - both also turned out to be housemates with my project’s key user. had laksa sarawak at this restaurant called riverfront. it may be facing the river - i couldn’t tell since it was drizzling that night and i was famished - my main objective was to get to my dinner and not to get my clothes wet. i ended up having dinner with the whole household + a lady from permata.

it was good food, good company - though i do have some grouses with the group in the middle of the outlet who insisted on puffing away when there where no-smoking signs around them - illiterate lot? but they’re SIGNBOARDS - with pictures of a cigarette with an ‘X’ over it. surely you could understand signs even if you can’t read.

the 2nd night, headed over to kidurong club. more good food and good company. thanks achat, diamond and hemlet. tried out quite a number of new dishes - midin and sea cucumber soup. will definitely try more of local dishes when i drop by there again (if ever). decided that life in btu ain’t that bad esp. if you’re the type who likes their community small and on talking terms with each other, the quiet life and outings that involve nature-related activities. i could live there (i think) eheheh.

nothing beats being back home though. kya and amir came by to pick us up from KLIA. kesian kat amir - he just got home from work @ 8pm and had to drive out to sepang (our flight ETA was 9:05) whilst kya - she fell asleep in the car on the way. i had imagined hugging kya til she complains but since she was sleeping, had to be satisfied with cradling her on my lap (man, she’s heavy!!).

we dropped ASH off at subang and then headed home. i was rearranging the bed covers for kya when she realised i was there. the expression on her face was priceless - she called out ‘mama!!!’ and then started hugging me like there’s no tomorrow. then she dozed back to sleep.

the next day, woke up with something heavy on my chest. opened my eyes and saw that kya had decided to make sure that i don’t suddenly vanish off to some other place by sleeping on top of me. when i tried to gently ease her off me, she woke and started babbling exitedly - trying to tell me the events of the past few days, i guess. she also alternated between giving me hugs and smooches. 2nd best way to start the day, i’d say! (as for the best way - go figure)