Final working trip to Kuching

When I first joined the civil service, I was looking forward to working trips. I always thought the government officers' jobs were wearing suits to work everyday, having meetings, flying here and there, having meetings, nice fancy dinners...

I was told that life as a government professional staff USED to be like that. But time changed as more and more people being employed into the system. Last week, Beckman Coulter sponsored my trip to Kuching for a user's meeting session.

A view from the 11th floor of Pullman Hotel, Kuching

I eagerly checked on every buffet available during the days, especially Japanese food. Yeah, I know. Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins. But the excitement dwindled as I had my breakfast in Puzzle Restaurant on my first day of the meeting.

My appetizer consisted of oatmeal, numerous types of cheese and simple salad drizzled in olive oil.

For the main course, I had nasi lemak. With non crispy chicken rendang. Hahaha...

My final plate consisted of sauteed vegetables, chicken sausage, very tough beef rendang, slices of cold chicken and ham. And lots of capers and olives which I enjoyed much. Hotel buffets seemed not to excite me anymore compared to olden days. A good sign of ageing in me perhaps.

I asked the Kuchingites of which last meal would they liked on their last day on earth. Many mentioned RJ Ayam Bakar which located near the Carvery Restaurant. I would love to have a meal in Carvery but in the end, I sat in the air-conditioned section of RJ Ayam Bakar restaurant. I asked the waiter for the specials. He recommended either roasted chicken (which I had) or fried chicken. Personally, i didn't think my RM9.50 meal was worth spending. The sauce was diluted. the cabbage was raw, the measly slices of cucumber, forget about the chicken. I don't even want to think about it.

I walked away dejected. I walked around and bought the new McDonald's Pineapple Sundae. And I watched the new Avengers: Infinity War for a price of RM13.

I went to sleep that night with a happy heart.

Sunday evenings at the Beach

We went to the beaches for the past two weekends. It was Lutong beach at first. It was Angeline's first experience getting wet with sea water. She was enjoying herself to the max! We let her walked towards the sea water. She was puzzled when the sea water splashed onto her. She was bewildered when the water receded from the beach line. She almost lost her balance as the sand below her was washed away. But she was casting smiles at us, every now and then. The boys were running here and there. They were poking into the holes on the beach, looking for the elusive small crabs. Then, they ran far away into the sea and we had to shout at them, not to get too far away from ashore. The weather was nice and windy. The sunset view took my breath away. Far away, in the horizon, I could see the oil platforms and wondered how were the lives of people working there.

Standing at the seashore, I almost forgot about my worries. I felt free, like a bird. A great feeling that I did not experience when I was in Sibu.

Seeing my boys enjoying their time. Watching them growing up fast.

As the sun set, we called up the boys and relunctantly walked back to our car.