I’ve decided that September 2025 would be a month of exploring local destinations and reconnecting - with relatives, colleagues and old friends. As it turned out, I received four wedding invitations this month and went to three of them to reconnect with old friends and colleagues.
I’d also decided for some months to pay my aunt a visit. After looking at the calendar and the wedding invites and taking into account the school holidays, 8 September 2025 looked to be a good date to make my way down south. I didn’t call my aunt beforehand to let her know as I wanted to surprise her.
So I boarded the bus to Larkin Sentral and the bus left at 09:32, only a couple of minutes after schedule! I was quite impressed. We stopped somewhere to use the facilities before continuing on. We reached Larkin Sentral at 13:50 and I was lucky to catch the T10 bus to Pasar Pandan (yes, there’s Pandan in Johor too!) where I changed buses for T20. Must say I was impressed that we could use bank cards to pay fares on the local buses.
It rained along the way to Larkin along some stretches of the highway and it started raining again just as we were approaching Plentong. I stayed at the bus stop waiting out the rain and made my way to my aunt’s when it petered off. I didn’t call her ahead as I wanted to surprise her.
When I arrived, an unfamiliar elderly woman was there and I asked if that was my aunt’s house as I was confused. She said yes, and I entered, giving salam. My aunt just woke up for her afternoon nap and she was a but disoriented until she saw it was me. We hugged each other and she demanded to know why I didn’t call her to inform I was coming before catching herself and remembering that her house phone was actually out of order. Oh and the elderly woman was my cousin’s sister-in-law who’d been staying there for a few months.
She quickly busied herself and it wasn't long before I was at the kitchen table, having a cuppa and eating some cakes. She then served me curry noodles that she happened to have. We caught up as best as we could before I performed prayers. After Asar prayers, an elderly neighbour dropped by. She didn’t stay long though.
Later in the afternoon, I went up a small hill and discovered a path. I followed the path before turning back and going up the other way before returning back to my aunt’s. In my absence, my aunt rang her son and daughter and have them come over at night to meet me.
I had booked a room at a budget guesthouse reasoning that if I felt uncomfortable, I would leave the following day. Well, my cousin’s SIL was starting to bother me. She didn’t help my aunt unless asked, she was glued to the TV, she didn’t chip in with the groceries or pay the utility bills and she even wore my aunt’s clothes! I know it’s not my house but I was bothered by this lazy woman. She acted like a VIP guest, my poor aunt did most things, and she would also do something when asked like boiling water and making drinks.
On Tuesday, the elderly neighbour who came the previous afternoon came. My aunt invited her to have breakfast. After breakfast, she joined the lazybones in the living room and next thing I knew, both were dozing away with the TV blaring and the fan on. She must be so familiar with my aunt, she must’ve done this for some time to be comfortable doing so and yet I found it disgusting and disturbing. It looked like a few people are taking my aunt’s generosity and hospitality for granted. I mentioned this to her and she said she liked it when guests dropped by. Yes, sure, but neighbours who drop by almost daily for free meals? Oh and guess what? The elderly neighbour stayed until lunch! Yes, come for one free meal and get another. What a great deal! And she came empty handed. No sense of shame at all!
I’d told my aunt that I needed to leave around noon so we had lunch at 12:30 before performing prayers. My cousin came to send me off despite my protests. Anyway, the rain that started in mid-morning showed no sign of petering off. We made good time despite the lunchtime traffic and rain and arrived in downtown just before 14:00. I then walked to my guesthouse about 25 minutes away. I didn’t let my cousin drop me at the guesthouse for specific reasons.
I arrived at Memory Guesthouse at 14:40 and checked in. After some brief information, I was shown to my room. I waited out the rain before venturing out. Dinner was had at a newly opened restaurant near Pasar Karat. I had mee bandung served in claypot and it was pretty good. I asked what the operating hours were and was told the restaurant opens at 09:00. Not being in the mood to shop or browse, I turned and walked back to the guesthouse.
On Wednesday, I went out to have breakfast at Raden Cafe nearby. I checked out of the guesthouse at 11:45 and walked to downtown to meet a colleague. To my annoyance, the restaurant where I had dinner and asked twice if it would open today from breakfast was closed. So we had our lunch at another restaurant which to me cost higher than in KL
After lunch, we parted ways and I went to perform prayers at a nearby prayer room built by the city hall. After prayers, I hurried to City Square to find shelter as it was starting to rain. And boy, did it rain! The mall was crowded by shoppers, travellers and those seeking shelter from the rain. I crossed over to JB Sentral and waited for my 17:00 bus to Senai Airport. My flight had been retimed from 18:40 to 19:20 and it was either kill time in the city or at the airport.
The bus took 55 minutes to reach Senai Airport. My retimed flight arrived only just before 19:00 so we only landed at KLIA at 20:20. And when it did, it took so dang long before the door was opened and we had to take the bus to the terminal. Which all meant that I missed the 20:52 train.
I reached home well after 23:00 in the rain.
|