Arrived at Kranji station around 1040 hrs. The line for the bus to Johor went around 2 corners around the building. It's gonna be a long day.
Took a bit of time to get on the bus. There was quite a jam near the Immigration Check Point even for cars. Looks like on a Singapore holiday, only option is to go really early. At the checkpoint, pedestrian/walking commuters were also up for a long queue for a bus from the Singapore checkpoint exit to the Johor checkpoint. I obediently stood in a queue that was so long, there was a u-turn to fold the queue onto itself. I finally got frustrated enough to risk getting out of the line to ask an officer if i could walk across instead. The officer said that people are not allowed, as per the rules. However, i spied a steady stream of people walking down the stairs that lead to the foot paths along the causeway. I quietly joined them.
The sun was at it's zenith by then and i would have run across but for the congested foot path, speeding motorcycles and cumbersome backpack. With the brand-spankin new flyover installed, that meant that all the pedestrians (technically jaywalkers) had to walk under the hot sun along the jammed flyover. It was really far to walk. One might imagine that when designing such a new immigrations building, a design would have been made for pedestrians even if none were meant to go on foot.
My personal rule of thumb is design everything so that it may still function after a total technological breakdown. That means nothing mechanical , electrical or electronic works, it should still serve a purpose. Guess that is just me.
The air conditioning brought some measure of consolation once i got inside the building. Expectedly, the lines were equally long at the counters. Even the Malaysian Automatic gates had equally long lines. By my estimate, there were easily one thousand people in there. Even with the people moving out the gates after clearance, I think the inflow was just too much.
So , after clearing customs , I made a bee line for the Sushi King at the basement level. Along the way, I changed some dollars to Malaysian Ringgit. Rates were at 2.35 flat. I seem to always feel cheated at these croupiers. No matter when or where I do the exchange. Before I went in to the restaurant, a fruits stall caught my attention. So I decided to get myself some soy milk served cold, and some Dragon Fruit. Appetisers, to help me not feel overly hungry when I order lest I start pointing at everything on the menu.
I ordered a set meal and asked for some Ocha, then waited. I had about 3 plates of sushi from the conveyor belt before my main course arrived. It was delicious, although deep inside i harboured some suspicion that perhaps it would have been better if I had ordered ala cart. I must remember to do that the next time. The meal was very satisfying and once I had my fill, everything felt slower. Somehow I felt calmer. Perhaps it was the absence of thirst and hunger. Whatever it was, I proceded to my next task.
At Public Bank tower, I used the cash deposit machine. I noticed that my ATM card was damaged, perhaps the plastic had become brittle over time. So , since it was a working Friday then, I went into the bank and got myself a waiting number. Only then did i realise that I did not bring the right account book for the ATM card. Woe ! Dejected, left and promised myself that I would remember to bring the account book the next time I am at PB on a working day. I simply must get a new card. Who knows how long this one will last.
Well, after that, it was just shopping for me. I went to the book stores and had a look around. I was looking for a card holder, one that can hold my credit, atm or library cards. Specifically, one that had plastic envelops to hold the cards, while a hard casing will hold all those envelopes. The envelopes would be bound to the cover by a nail or rivet like thing in one corner. I had seen one such as that before, but luck was not on my side that day.
I bought a book called “Fatimah’s Kampung” about a girl and her fast changing village on the island of Penang. Some magazines also caught my attention. I also bought some socks for work. The current ones, some have holes at the toes, while others have loosened that they would fall down towards my ankles. After that , I headed home.
The immigrations checkpoint was clear on the other direction. I promptly got onto a 170 bus, although there were no seats available. The rest of the journey was quite comfortable in comparison. The sky was down cast by the time I exited the Singapore checkpoint. It started to drizzle soon after the bus went on its way towards the MRT station. I got off at Marselling (or was it Kranji? ) to get on the MRT.
I look forward to my next day trip to Johor. I have been keen on catching a movie at Ringgit rates although my past ventures were not fruitful.
Took a bit of time to get on the bus. There was quite a jam near the Immigration Check Point even for cars. Looks like on a Singapore holiday, only option is to go really early. At the checkpoint, pedestrian/walking commuters were also up for a long queue for a bus from the Singapore checkpoint exit to the Johor checkpoint. I obediently stood in a queue that was so long, there was a u-turn to fold the queue onto itself. I finally got frustrated enough to risk getting out of the line to ask an officer if i could walk across instead. The officer said that people are not allowed, as per the rules. However, i spied a steady stream of people walking down the stairs that lead to the foot paths along the causeway. I quietly joined them.
The sun was at it's zenith by then and i would have run across but for the congested foot path, speeding motorcycles and cumbersome backpack. With the brand-spankin new flyover installed, that meant that all the pedestrians (technically jaywalkers) had to walk under the hot sun along the jammed flyover. It was really far to walk. One might imagine that when designing such a new immigrations building, a design would have been made for pedestrians even if none were meant to go on foot.
My personal rule of thumb is design everything so that it may still function after a total technological breakdown. That means nothing mechanical , electrical or electronic works, it should still serve a purpose. Guess that is just me.
The air conditioning brought some measure of consolation once i got inside the building. Expectedly, the lines were equally long at the counters. Even the Malaysian Automatic gates had equally long lines. By my estimate, there were easily one thousand people in there. Even with the people moving out the gates after clearance, I think the inflow was just too much.
So , after clearing customs , I made a bee line for the Sushi King at the basement level. Along the way, I changed some dollars to Malaysian Ringgit. Rates were at 2.35 flat. I seem to always feel cheated at these croupiers. No matter when or where I do the exchange. Before I went in to the restaurant, a fruits stall caught my attention. So I decided to get myself some soy milk served cold, and some Dragon Fruit. Appetisers, to help me not feel overly hungry when I order lest I start pointing at everything on the menu.
I ordered a set meal and asked for some Ocha, then waited. I had about 3 plates of sushi from the conveyor belt before my main course arrived. It was delicious, although deep inside i harboured some suspicion that perhaps it would have been better if I had ordered ala cart. I must remember to do that the next time. The meal was very satisfying and once I had my fill, everything felt slower. Somehow I felt calmer. Perhaps it was the absence of thirst and hunger. Whatever it was, I proceded to my next task.
At Public Bank tower, I used the cash deposit machine. I noticed that my ATM card was damaged, perhaps the plastic had become brittle over time. So , since it was a working Friday then, I went into the bank and got myself a waiting number. Only then did i realise that I did not bring the right account book for the ATM card. Woe ! Dejected, left and promised myself that I would remember to bring the account book the next time I am at PB on a working day. I simply must get a new card. Who knows how long this one will last.
Well, after that, it was just shopping for me. I went to the book stores and had a look around. I was looking for a card holder, one that can hold my credit, atm or library cards. Specifically, one that had plastic envelops to hold the cards, while a hard casing will hold all those envelopes. The envelopes would be bound to the cover by a nail or rivet like thing in one corner. I had seen one such as that before, but luck was not on my side that day.
I bought a book called “Fatimah’s Kampung” about a girl and her fast changing village on the island of Penang. Some magazines also caught my attention. I also bought some socks for work. The current ones, some have holes at the toes, while others have loosened that they would fall down towards my ankles. After that , I headed home.
The immigrations checkpoint was clear on the other direction. I promptly got onto a 170 bus, although there were no seats available. The rest of the journey was quite comfortable in comparison. The sky was down cast by the time I exited the Singapore checkpoint. It started to drizzle soon after the bus went on its way towards the MRT station. I got off at Marselling (or was it Kranji? ) to get on the MRT.
I look forward to my next day trip to Johor. I have been keen on catching a movie at Ringgit rates although my past ventures were not fruitful.
