This past week has been a whirlwind of activity, filled with everything from passport renewals to last-minute travel changes. To top it all off, I was down with a cold and a blocked nose, no thanks to the flu bugs from the mil and Sherilyn.
The week kicked off with a mission to renew my passport, a crucial step in preparing for an upcoming overseas holiday. However, the journey to the Immigration Department was not without its challenges. Despite waking up early on Monday and attempting to secure a queue number via the QMS app on my phone, I found myself thwarted by the limited availability of slots. By 6.30am, the numbers for all three UTC offices (Pudu, Keramat and Sentul) were already snapped up. I then enlisted the help of Alycia the following morning to help me stay glued to the phone to grab a queue number, and after a few hiccups, we managed to secure a spot at UTC Keramat, albeit not the location I initially intended. Hubby and I were hoping to get a queue number at UTC Pudu.
Fortunately, the waiting time at UTC Keramat was pretty fast. When we arrived at 8.30 a.m., the number that was called out was 9005 and my number was 9032, while hubby’s number was 9064. Within one hour, my passport was done and collected. I am impressed with the efficiency of the staff.
With passports in hand, the focus now shifted to planning our holiday. Alycia was eager to make the most of her semester break, and together we scoured for overseas tours. Meanwhile, amidst the hustle and bustle, I lent a helping hand to my mother-in-law as she prepared for her journey to Hong Kong and London. She will be away for four months. From organizing travel insurance to running last-minute errands for her, it was a flurry of activity before her departure. Alycia also went to Hong Kong, albeit on a different flight from her grandma. Alycia took Air Asia while the mil boarded Cathay Pacific, an hour difference in take-off time. Alycia will be spending a week in Hong Kong.
As plans for our trip began to take shape, fate threw us a curveball. A visit to the travel agency on Wednesday to book our Seoul trip ended in dismay as soaring airfares dashed our hopes of a getaway within my budget (RM12k for the entire trip). When the travel agency staff quoted me the price for two pax to Seoul, Korea a few days ago, it was about RM9k. But a few days later, the air fare shot up and now the price went up to about RM16k for the two of us. This is only for a 4D 3N stay in Seoul. It’s a crazy price to pay as in essence, we only have two full days in Seoul.
After we left the travel agency office, we walked to Pavillion KL for lunch at Ichiban. Alycia led the way with the help of Apple Maps, the default map system for iPhone. She used Apple Maps to help her get around Singapore when she was there recently for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert.
Despite our best efforts to find alternative options at Air Asia, the steep increase in prices during peak season left us reeling. The Air Asia’s flights are all at odd hours or with a stopover in Bangkok. April is spring time in Korea with sakura in full bloom and one of the best times to visit, thus the soar in air fare prices. After much deliberation and consultation with my parents and hubby, a spontaneous decision was made to switch gears and opt for Bangkok instead. I am still determined to go to Korea but will have to do so during non-peak months.
I have tasked Alycia to do the homework of searching for hotels near the places that we plan to visit, restaurants, and other essential information needed for our holiday in Bangkok for 3 nights and 4 days. She’s now in Hong Kong and very eager to do the homework coz it’s something that’s fun.
Today, as I celebrate my 51st birthday, I find myself reflecting on the whirlwind of events that transpired throughout the week. Despite the challenges and unexpected changes, there’s a sense of excitement and anticipation for the adventures that lie ahead. With plans to book our air tickets to Bangkok and finalize accommodation in the coming days, I’m reminded that life’s greatest adventures often begin with a leap of faith and a willingness to embrace the unknown.
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