13/4/12 AS I FORGOT TO CHANGE...I don't keep to Wal Asri!

I have been flying since the age of 12 years old. Then as I joined the Civil Service i 1986, as my responsibilities increased, my flying increased accordingly. There were times that I have to fly on the alternate day. Nonetheless, while serving the Public Sector though I was entitle to the Business Class flight, I choose to take the Economy Class. As many times I was asked to why I sort of refusing my entitlement, my answers were: Firstly, I love Mathematic. In the Business Class, there is less Mathematic as compare to the Economic Class; and Secondly, I reserved my right to use the best flight Hereafter.

(2) By the way, my real reason, was to save as much money as possible so that I could travel more frequently and thus to do much more works as needed. In the Public Sector, activities goes by the Budget.

(3) Now I sort of have quit the Public Sector, and entering into a real Corporate World. Though, in the new position, I get much less monetary compensation than what I used to have, but my intent is to Work in a different level of playing field. InsyaAllah, I will not lost as what many have thought.

(4) In the Corporate World, especially working within the Public Listed organization, certain Corporate Image's had to be safeguard. Thus, to comply, I took what I'm entitle to. This changed is interesting to note.

(5) Though, there is a special Check-in Counter for the Business Class travelers,especially at KLIA, I choose to used Automated Check in. Then as my die hard habit, I went over to the BookStore and pickup some books. One of the books that attract me most was The Malay Archipelago by Alfred Russel Wallace. Thinking I have all the times with me, then I have my normal Moca treat. I quickly run through the Book and was excited on his Wallace discovery of his journey in Simunjan, my home district. He made a special note on a Coelygne a wild orchid spcies found in Ulu Simunjan. In fact, after my graduation in 1984, I did went to Ulu Simunjan and took home the Coelygne, Tiger Orchid and the belian seeding which now are growing well in my farm and compund. I was so engross with my reading that I didn't realized, my boarding time was passing fast.

(6) By 0930 hours I walked through the Security Check Point and later will great pleasure took my nice time going through those ladies perfume. I bought a pack as a BirthDay gift to my loyal friend. As later I walked to the Boarding Hall, I saw the plane was about a meter away off the Aerobridge. I missed my flight just a mere one minute.

(7) Well, I was then extra ordinary patience indeed. With a smile, I just asked the Waitress of what to do. She guided me to the Transit Counter whom later referred me to the MAS Ticketing Counter. My flight then was rescheduled to 1400 hours and I have to pay a penalty of RM100.00. Now I have an idle time of four hours. Thus I decided to write this article at my usual Internet Kioks, costing me RM10.00 for an hour with a per cup Hot Moca.

(8) My mistake was, as a Business Class ticket holder, I should have just gone and do my reading at the Business Lounge. If I have done that, not only I don't have to pay for the Moca which is almost RM10.00 per cup, I would also could enjoy all those nice cakes and drinks. Most important, the Waitress there would alert me of my flight schedule.

(9) Nonetheless, reading Wallace works, gave me the confirmation of what I have been telling many friends:Write what you see, listen, think and experience especially in all of your trips. The easiest is to post yourself a postcard and surely later you'll find it useful. Wallace did this in the 1850s as he traveled the length of 4,000 miles and 1,200 miles width of what he defined as the Malay Archipelago, which I disputed since he seem to deny, Annam (now Vietnam) and Coastal Chambodia were once the Champa Malays land. He saw the Malays as the Islanders, but the Malays are both Islander and Mainland men. I was happy indeed to see (Papua) New Guinea (PNG), he classified as part and parcel of the Malay Archipelago. To me, the Malays should learned enough from the lost of Annam and slowly Pattani as part and parcel of the Malays' heritage. To the Malaysian Malays, our lost in the Batu Putih dispute with Singapore should be understood from a much larger psychological and territorial perspectives.

(10) I hope, one day, the term Nusantara and Archipelago will be of significant contribution to my effort and dream of this Nation.

(11) Well after sort of drafting and launched this article, I then move over to the Business Class Lounge. After treating myself to nice fruits and salads, I then took the opportunities of the free internet facilities to revisit this article. What I saw here are another interesting characters. The Malays by themselves, talking, eating and styling. The Chinese, eating quietly, but look business serious. The westerners, eating and reading. Other Asians, busy with the handphone.


KLIA, Malaysia
24 April, 2012