17 July 2006: Mission: Malaysian HICOM, London

Around 5.45 am (mind the a.m.) I took a bus to London. Alone! My main intention was to make a new passport. We discussed quite a bit on the arrangement of this London trip because Atuk wanted to go to MSD London too. In the end, it was agreed that I was to go alone to Malaysian HICOM office.

Entrance of Selfridges

The bus arrived in London half an hour later than scheduled due to traffic jam on M40. Upon arrival, I straight away took a taxi and summoned the driver to take me to Belgrave Square. I think I'd rather not discuss what happened at the office, but I didn't do the passport! (I have all the correct documents, the money, the photographs etc. I didn't fight with anybody as well. Please don't get the wrong idea)

When I left the building, it hit me that I was alone;
1) Yippee, I've longed for this moment. Time alone.
2) No crying kids to worry about.
3) I didn't have to carry that heavy thermos!
4) I could go in and out of any shop I want to without having to push that fiddly pushchair and run over someone's feet.
5) I needn't worry about my children leaving their dirty fingerprints on the shop's items.

Marble Arch

I called home to inform Babah that I didn't do the passport. Babah was cool about it and said something like to go and enjoy myself in London. He also said "Belilah apa-apa you nak kat Oxford Street." Babah was so kind.

Babah also said that Atuk was not feeling very well, so they decided to stay at home that day.

I spoke to Sarah too. She asked, "Mama egi mana? Mama aik bash eh?" She sounded alright and happy.

After that lengthy phone call, I suddenly felt so lonely!

Speakers' Corner, Hyde Park

Then, I called a friend, Kenakelayan just to let her know I was in London. She said, she was sort of free to meet me around lunch time.

I braved myself to take a bus and met KKL at Mawar Restaurant, Edgware Road, around 12.30pm. The only place we could think of that serves ABC. I was so glad to have a familiar face around me. We ordered 2 ABCs, Mee Goreng Mamak for me and Nasi Campur for KKL.

ABC's machine was out of order! I ordered Teh Ais, instead. Then the waitress came and told me they didn't have mee kasar. Cuma ada bihun. So I opted for nasi campur as well.

I know what I ordered were simple Malay food. But they are heavenly food here especially if one has not gone home for quite a long time.

An Unknown location. I took
the photo while I was on a double decker bus.

I can't stress enough how glad I was to actually see KKL that day. We talked and gossiped (heh heh) Nasiblah siapa yang terbatuk tu ya? Unfortunately she has another engagement to attend to that afternoon, so we went our separate ways around 2pm.

So, there I was walking along Oxford Street all alone. Going in and out of the shops. Big SALE signs everywhere. I even went into Selfridges, a place where I usually avoid because of its well known expensive items.

I wanted to go to other tourist attraction spots like, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, and London & Tower Bridge. I was more familiar to reach these places by tube. But after the 7/7 incident, I found myself quite scared to use the tube service.

Of course, there were a lot of buses but I ended up walking to Marble Arch, Hyde Park and a few other places near Hyde Park. Until I felt I was too tired to walk. Finally I took a bus that has "Victoria Station" sign on it. Paid £1.50 single fare and stopped somewhere near Victoria (or so I thought).

London Victoria Station

London is so dull without a company. How I wish Babah was there. Or even the whole family! I think I don't mind them crying now. It's far better than sepi keseorangan!

To make things worse, my return bus to Coventry was delayed for an hour!!! I hate waiting! I was so relieved to finally getting on a bus. It was packed with passengers, and there were at least 3 infants on board. Yes, yes, I'm sure their parents would want to feel happy with their crying children rather than sepi keseorangan.