Exploring Option Three

The journey to Singapore was relatively smooth. Except maybe I didn't quite have the appetite to eat anything, even though the coach steward served muffins, tuna sandwich and chocolate cake. The Filipino man sleeping across me in the lounge had his leg sticking out in my direction, not bothered with his daughter, and his wife who was seated next to me. The scenery along the way would be refreshing for city dwellers; expressway lined with rows of oil palm or rubber trees.


In less than five hours, the bus arrived at the Singapore Customs and Immigration checkpoint through the Tuas Second Link. If not for the heavy human traffic (mostly Chinese nationals), I think I would have reached the city centre sooner. Since the appointment with the neurologist at Mount E Hospital is at 12.15PM, there was still a lot of time but I tried my luck by going there earlier and see if I could fit in a preceding slot.




The wait for the neurologist took longer than I expected. At his clinic, a couple of other patients were waiting. What drew my attention were rows of awards hung on the wall and the many souvenirs he received in the course of his service. "Fancy and flashy." That came to my mind the whole time I was there. The meeting with the doctor was brief and his assistant explained to me in detail the kinds of treatment Mum should consider. They are definitely very pricey but I was gonna hold that decision until I have discussed with my relatives.


The journey home stirred a lot of thoughts in my head. I was thinking about the many questions I would have to answer back in KL. The ring tone on my phone turned soundtrack in the whole five hours I was in the bus. Thankfully, and surprisingly, First Coach buses are upgraded with a mini TV set on each seat so passengers get to enjoy movies and music by picking from the list on the panel - a private entertainment. By 9PM, the bus halted at Bangsar LRT station. And I didn't miss much of the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics!

08.08.08: Daytrip Express

The Friday we have been waiting for finally came, oblivious to the fact that I could miss the live broadcast of the Beijing Olympics opening show at 8.30PM. It didn't matter to me as I wanted to get the decisions done with, having possible treatment options for mum laid out clearly to be considered. The night before, I called and booked a taxi, scheduled to arrive at my place at 4.45AM, just so I would reach the departure location; Côrus Hotel, Kuala Lumpur before 6AM.

The taxi driver who waited downstairs is his mid-twenties, a pleasantly friendly Indian man who chatted with me all the way to the city centre. When I needed peace and quiet, he got the idea and just concentrated on the driving. A relatively smooth ride all the way there, with hardly any traffic, left me indulging deep in my own private thoughts.

I was greeted with a yellow and grey coloured Aeroline bus when I arrived at the hotel with more than enough time to hop on the bus. Reached for the ticket to be processed by the Aeroline receptionist. It wasn't long before the passengers were told to board on the bus. I chose the seat in the lounge as I figured it'd be easier for me to get out of the bus when I arrive in Singapore. A Filipino family of three was seated next to me. I was half expecting to have the whole lounge to myself so I can rest peacefully without anyone babbling away. Fortunately, they slept all the way to border. So did I.