29 Nov - My first colour story
I was awakened by Kiok’s snores at 4.39am. I couldn’t get back to sleep. Once again, I had to rely on my mp3 player, even after I brought in an extra pillow from the hall. A short nap later, I was on my way to the gym downstairs. Some Japanese were already on the treadmills.
An hour of work-out later, I jumped into the shower with Kiok trying to explain to Wendy that it was me getting out of the apartment early this morning. It was definitely not some eerie things. Haha! Kiok didn't even realised that I was back in the apartment and was already in the showers.
Our view from the apartment was amazing as it faces the sea. But the utility room behind the kitchen has best view. And it was a joke between us that the maid gets the best view of the apartment.
Breakfast at P9 was quite good. A few different varieties of bread, and a small spread of continental breakfast for us to choose. With my stomach problem, I couldn’t eat much. Still, I knew I had to eat something. And Kiok had to start a debate with Wendy on the noodles she brought. Sigh…
While getting ready to go to IBC, my stomach problems were so bad that I had to lie on my stomach as I rested on the bed. I could hear Wendy and Vivian laughing away in the hall at the local dramas. Kiok then broke the news to me that Alvin's dad condition had worsen and he might have to go home. I shrugged. I will deal with it when the time comes.
Soon, Wendy set off to the IBC with Simon. I went with Biao shu and Alvin on the second trip. At the IBC, Alvin threw the IBC colour story on my face. Luckily Prem was there to help. He told me what footage to get and promised that he would write the story after I put down the skeletal of the story. Filling up a form, I requested an interview from the Media Manager of the IBC, Reg. The interview was supposed to take place at 2pm, but Reg didn’t get back and I could not edit the story without the sound bite.
According to Rabi, the canteen that provided free flow of dinner or lunch for those with coupons will be closed at 3pm today for the Samsung party. I told Wendy to go eat before they closed. It would be easier for Kiok and I to settle our food.
Throughout the entire afternoon, I slogged away, getting the medal tally done. Then I realised I was missing one blank background graphic and had to sms Lionel to do for me. To my astonishment, he delivered within the next hour! Whow! I must really get the bottle of sand for him.
Before I knew it, I was running a temperature, having stayed too long at the panel with the equipment heating up the room. So I took a walk outside, bringing back bottles of water that is free for all. Not only was the bottled water free, they provided us with cans of coke, sprite and mini-bottles of fruit juices, in addition to the instant coffee and tea-bags at the drinks stations around the IBC.
Later in the evening, while everyone was at the Samsung party, I made a phone call back and was caught in the act by Wendy. I even nodded when she asked if I was calling my mum. Aiyoh! Guilty!!
At 8.30pm, we closed shop for the day. I accompanied Kiok to the bank in the City Centre to settle her travellers’ cheque. The rest proceed to the food court for dinner. We ended up waiting for two hours in the bank. Vivian sms Kiok if we need them to buy dinner back for us, but we said no. Those who had their dinner went back to their apartments, leaving Alvin and Ghandi to escort us. It took the bank about 30 minutes to clear one travellers’ cheque, and there were like three to four Malaysians before Kiok's turn. We turned out to be the last customer. The security started locking up. Kiok was shocked when we could not open the door to leave. Of course, the security came and unlocked the doors for us.
During the two hours in the bank, we talked about a lot of stuff. We both thought we had come a long way here and we would just have to make the best of everything.
The two of us finally can have our dinner at 10.30pm. Knowing Kiok would like to have Chinese food, I opted for the Golden Dragon Chinese Food at the food court. The mushroom chicken slice that I ordered was too large for me to finish and similarly so with Kiok and her fish set. I asked her how come our supposedly Chinese food is being cooked by an Indian chef? She laughed and then tasted my sliced chicken and commented that it tasted the same as her fish set. Hahahaha!
As Kiok has already paid for my food, I bought her tea. She drank her tea without thinking and burnt her tongue. It wasn’t till later that she realised it was tea and not milo as she had thought. She was the one who told me she wanted tea.
While walking back to P9, Ghandi, Alvin and I made fun of Kiok about her going shopping on our next trip – SEA Games in Thailand. She really couldn’t shake off her “shopping aunty” tag!
Anyway, the joke of the night wasn’t that. It was when she asked me if I want to change my handphone sim card to kill time in the bank and I told her I would rather do it on the bed. And she commented “go back slowly do on the bed”!!
