Now this is unexpected.

Seri Iskandar-Ipoh-Butterworth-Alor Star-KL-Shah Alam, and everything in between.

(Photos of Alor Star is at Flickr.)

Journey to the North

I was attending my first Arabic class in late Friday afternoon. I still haven't packed yet, nor do I am anywhere behind the schedule. So when the class has finished Yat picked me up with Ijam's motorcycle to get me back to Damar to prepare my stuffs, because we're going to Alor Star that very evening.

Adi and Yat wanted to do a recording - a metal piece - up in Alor Star, a place which Adi calls home. Comet, Ijat and Qayum also tagged along. That evening we walked out of the campus towards the bus stop at the main road outside, together with Syith who wanted to go back to Shah Alam. Hanila and Aqilah joined us later at the bus stop - after an indescribable havoc that caused us all to miss a bus - and we all waited rather very anxiously for another bus until sunset.

I think we were very lucky that a bus finally came. Everybody boarded the bus, rather gleefully, and we were all set to Ipoh's Medan Kidd - the terminal where all intercity buses will head in Ipoh. Medan Gopeng, on the other hand, is the hub for express buses for the city- where we were heading at that time, after stopping at Medan Kidd.

The idea to take a train to Kedah, instead boarding a bus, came to surface when we just arrived at Medan Kidd. It was rather reasonable, considering that we will get to Alor Setar at the wee hours of the morning anyway. So after much discussions, warts and all, we went to have a meal first before heading to the Ipoh Train Station - which is just a walk away - after Syith, Hanila and Aqilah managed to get a taxi to take them to Medan Gopeng at the other side of the city.

The same unfriendly ticket guy I bought tickets to KL from for our balik kampung journey last October told us that the tickets for Alor Star were already sold out. The same goes for Sungai Petani, so stopping at Butterworth was the only option. We waited (of course, the usual 'waiting' was not the only thing) for the Ekspres Langkawi from KL for about two hours at the station, before the train came, and we were bound for Penang.

The route was, of course, the same one I (and the rest of the others) took to get to the north during the Langkawi trip. It is still a nostalgic one, and one thing I regret during that end-2006 trip was I was a little less adventurous, still a guy of too protective ideas. There were so many stars clustering at the sky that night, and the moon, though not a full one, was shining bright. The train passed by gloomy, dark shrouding forests and the wind caused by the train movement was breezy, though sometimes was harsh. After Taiping, I fell asleep at my seat, with earphones attached to my phone, which was still playing my music.

the Butterworth incident

At the break of the morning, we arrived at Butterworth. I was the last to hop off, whereby before disembarking, I was quite sure there was nothing left. I don't know how or why, but I was really sure about having everything with me when boarding off the train.

We then walked out of the station to the bus terminal nearby, where we finally found a bus to take us all to Alor Star. It was 6.30 a.m, and the bus was scheduled to move at 6.45 a.m. I decided to take a loo first, whereby Qayum joined me to the toilet. I boarded the bus, took my seat and put my bag down. I searched for something in my jeans' pocket, then suddenly a surge of blood gushed into my head.

My phone was missing.

I plundered my bag, and then borrowed Yat's phone to make a miscall. A ringtone can still be heard, meaning that nobody has taken it and switched it off. However I heard no Arctic Monkeys around, and I was certain that my phone was not in silent mode. Undesirably, the bus has already started to make its way to Alor Star.

I felt really uneasy. The bus passed the shoreline, with the lights of Penang clearly visible, then industrial areas, kampungs and padi fields before entering the highway. I tried to call Ayah but was of no success. I called Mama after that, who was, of course, startled. I told her the details and asked for Ayah to call back. And I'm already on my way to Kedah, with my phone is, again, nowhere.

We made it to Alor Star, and the six of us went to Adi's place by two taxis. Upon arriving we were greeted by his mother, who had prepared nasi lemak for us. I cleansed myself, got online, and fell for a short nap, before we were all set to go out to the city.

We went to the jamming studio where we met Fariz, also a coursemate, who apparently lives in Alor Star too. I became an observer of this part if the trip as I don't have anything exactly to say (I'm sure any of you would not have a slightest guess that I'm into metal). Yat, Adi and Fariz jammed while we watched, and yeah, they were good. After awhile I decided to take the camera outside, where I tagged Comet along and do a bit of sightseeing while the other guys are still handling their business.

I got a call from Ayah, all the way from Frankfurt, through Comet's phone while I was at Masjid Zahir. There were this and there was that, so I was explaining everything. One thing about Ayah is that everybody knows he will sound OK when he is upset, which is not so OK at all. Then there was a call from Mama, then Ayah, then Mama again and finally Ayah before Comet's phone battery went flat.

So after the mosque there was nothing else, we all went back and fell asleep as we're really tired. At one point I felt like I was ruining everything. Though manageable, it killed my mood. At the same time rashes were appearing at my hands and legs during a very unlikely time, though before there were itches caused by little insects bites and they were nothing serious.

Home: Flying back

As night appears, we prepared to go to the airport, as I'm going back to KL that very night. I sense a guilt in my heart but I really have to take care of things. Later I was relieved, as the guys were being such a sport. So at 9.15 pm I took off from Alor Star, and after fifty-five minutes, the MH1235 safely landed on the tarmac of KLIA.

After settling myself at home, I went to DEMC straightaway where I got an injection from the perky doctor. It was allergy, though I really don't know what I'm allergic of. It could be the damned insects, or our increasingly dusty room, or ikan keli, something distinctively different that I have begun to add in my lunch meals.

Now I'm right here on my chair, swearing that I really think that this weekend could be another empty weekend. I didn't expect it to be so troublesomely adventurous. It did, though it cost me quite a lot.

I hate my notoriously careless habit. Notorious here, by means, it is to some people not so surprising anymore to find me misplacing things or just being absent-minded.

And my horoscope for yesterday reads 'you have dominant stars for travel and long distances', and 'you are in two minds on whether or not you should undertake that journey. Consult your finances and see how much money is left in the travel budget. You may as well grab whatever opportunities that come your way.'

Speaking of coincidence.

Listening to: Incubus - Drive
REMINDER I won't be changing any phone number, so stick to the old one. I just need a new phone :/ PICTURES Top just another freaked out blogger. L-R, Father and son praying at Masjid Zahir, Alor Star; Sign at a pawn shop indicating their upcoming closure. The birthday of the Sultan of Kedah is on Sunday, celebrating his sweet 80 and his 50 years of reign over the state; A woman is using her phone while a graffiti looms behind her at a restaurant in the city centre.