Renew Passport in Malaysia

I have been to Immigration department several times. For me, is a crowded place and it takes whole day just to renew the passport!!? I refuse to renew my passport even it has expired because I am scare of the long waiting hours. However, foreseeing overseas trips in coming months, I have no choice but to go through the “torture” again.

Prior to the day, I try to find out how many nearby immigration branches but  very disappointed to find only two outlets at Kuala Lumpur, one is at the Damansara which is the main branch, another located far end corner of Kuala Lumpur at Wangsa Manju. The branch near my office at Wilayah Complex which someone told me “nobody-punya” (not so crowded) unfortunately closed. In Selangor, the nearest is at Subang Terminal but also crowded with people. After considerations, I decided to go Damansara branch thinking it will be faster due to more manpower at the main branch level.

On the day, I woke up earlier than usual, rushed into the Immigration Department. When I drove in, I saw an open air parking bay next to the building and happily turning in. While passing by the auto gate, I saw the parking rate table and to my horror, oh my goodness, the first hour is charging RM6.00 and RM3.00/hour for subsequent hour. You don't need a mathematician to figure out if I stuck in Immigration Department, say 6 hours (quite normal), then my cost easily be RM21.00. This is too much, like a day time robbery. Later, I lagi frustrated when I found out the basement parking in building is charge much lesser. It charged on RM3 for first hour and subsequent hour at RM1.50/hour only. 

This is the Parking Bay I mentioned. I don't know the name but you won't miss this car park when you reach the area.

Oh Goodness!! What’s a wrong decision to park there, (1) the parking is located further from the Immigration office; (2) it is not even a cover parking which means my lovely car is under the torture of the hot sun or the rain. Why pay more and getting less ….. Ah yoh. Stupid system – what's a dog eats dog world. So I re-parked my car after 2 hours lapse. If you are happen to read my blog, please please please take note of this blood sucker and let boycott this stupid parking bay.

Anyway, after I entered into the immigration office, wow, so long queue, the queue was started from the counter, right across the hall and move on to the corridor, and it was a terrible countless long queue…… What can I do, wait-loh. You see, in Malaysia, our genius department is very talented, they ask you to queue for number first, after you “qqq” queue for the number, you need to queue for form submission, after you have submitted the form, then you have to wait and queue again for payment. After the payment, you need to wait again and again for the completion of passport. What a lengthy process …….

Finally, I got my number and it was at least 100 people away from my turn ... ah yoh....

As I was walking around and notice banner about Kiosk, out of curiosity, I asked around and I was told I can renew passport at the Kiosk. After searching for it, the Kiosk outlet was located a few blocks from the main branch (I don't understand why it has located from another place .... like scare people would know about it.. lol)

There are about 20 people there, but with 2 Kiosks working (2 out of order), I only queue for 20 minutes and it took a few minutes more to register my old passport including the payment. A small slip of acknowledgment is then printed out from the Kiosk informing me to go to a special counter after 1 hour at 10am.

The Process of Kiosk is simple, please read above.

Deep inside me, I felt sorry for those who came earlier in the morning for queuing using the traditional way. I think the Immigration Office should expand this Kiosk services in a bigger scale and do more publicity. People should be educated to use the process. I even won’t mind come one day earlier after work and return to collect the passport the following day.

This Banner said "Siap 1 Jam" (Finish by 1 hour), who can believe it !! Lol!!

With my smart move, now I can take my own sweet time seating at the air-con restaurant for breakfast and surfing internet while waiting for my new passport. Cut the long story short, it indeed faster as compare to the traditional way. The only mistake I made was that I assumed I  would get my passport after 10 am. So I did not follow the slip return to the counter by 10 am, I gave them another hour thinking by 11 am, my passport should be ready. But when I reached there, oh-no, I was given another number again. Because I had taken a later number, those people who had queued behind  me have finished earlier than me. I have to wait one and half hour more before I got my new passport. Ah - Yah ... 

Too Late

By the way, just to let you know, although the Kiosk operating hour is stated from 7.30 am to 3.00 pm, don’t believe it, all Kiosk will become "out of order" by 9+ am, it force to close because of the backlog at the backend office. Therefore, If you are renewing your passport using Kiosk, you still need to go there early. Good Luck

Take Train In Kuala Lumpur

I travel with car where ever I like to go. I believe most people who stay in KL do the same because (1) we have rather good highways in KL that link easily to many places, (2) we have rather lousy public transport system, we called LRT (Light Rail Transit) that link with limited places and very inconvenient to travel. Malaysia’s LRTs are operated by various operators (LRT, monorail, KTM, KLIA Express) and their connections between stations are lousy. I have been hearing from my office colleagues complaining with their services suck such as late arrival, insufficient of train services that causes delay or over-packed in the train etc.

However, occasional, during lunch hours, I do take opportunity to travel by train. Instead of having lunch at nearby places, I like to travel to a bit further places for lunch. My office has two nearby operators, one called LRT (previously known as START) and another called KTM (Keratapi Tanah Malaysia). I like to borrow my friend monthly passes to travel ‘freely”).

But now, I want to tell you an incident that very “fish” (embarrassing) that happen to me in last month (why fish? It is because in Cantonese word, embarrassment is same pronunciation as “fish”. … hahaha!!). It has happen in KTM train. I would not blame myself but I would blame the operator that comes out with this “weird” policy. I remember KTM operator has implemented a new ruling a few month ago that certain train cabins are restricted for “lady” use only. If you are non-Malaysian, please do not be surprise…. In Malaysia, such thing do happen, in Kelantan, you may even find male and female cashier counters, so, when you queue up for payment, make sure you stand at the right lane …. Can you believe it !!? LOl….

So, I think by now you know what happen to me. Although there are sticker sticking on the window cabin, but during rush hours, who can see? It has blocked by people. No wonder when I walked into the cabin, all the ladies gave me a stare look. The cabin was packed with people (ladies) and I am standing in between. Initially I wasn’t notice until I saw a reverse signboard on the window. Oh, my goodness, no wonders everyone look so funny, I am the only leaf among the roses (Kekekekeke!!) and I have to wait for a few stops before my destination arrive …. 

Anyway, in the next stop, I quickly rushed out and entered into another cabin without such restriction. Huh!! What a relieve, man!! The cabin has less people and everyone has a place to sit comparing to the earlier cabin because all the ladies went and stuck in the “lady” cabin and make other cabins so empty.

So, if you are a foreigner visiting Malaysia, please take note of such policy, don’t end up like me in an embarrassing moment!! If you do, just enjoy the moment. Wahahaha!!

What the Heck is Aperture ? A Good Write Up.

Sometime you may find hidden treasures in the internet. While I was surfing for information on photography editing tools, I clicked into a “Lady” website called “The Pioneer Women”. Wow! When you see this type of website which was fully dedicated to lady, as a man figure, what is your first thought?  Well, we (all man) will normally click back key or anything link to get out from the website (Ha! ha! excuse us because of the men ego centered).

But hang on! Before I manage to click away, I saw this title “What the Heck is Aperture?” It is a series write up about the Aperture and things related to camera. It caught my attention because I am interested in photography. Recently I even paid to attend photography workshop hoping my skill can improve. Although after workshop, my brain still very much confused and stuck in aperture setting, shutter speed setting, shallow field of depth etc, etc, etc …. like a plate of Rojak (Malaysian famous dish with all sort of fruits mix around using prawn paste sauce).

But, wow! I find the write-ups were fantastic, she used simple English, the way author wrote like she is talking to you verbally (although in writing format). The write-ups are very clear and easy understand. She is gifted in writing and made many readers enjoy her writing.

Anyway, cut the long story short, for people like me that wish to  know more about “what the heck” thingi of the “A”, “S” “M” and etc on your camera, you may check out this website.

The Pioneer Women

Or, If you like to take camera and you wish to know How to Start a Profitable Photography Business, check out this site : Click Here!

Bye, see you (LOL, start to write like her …. Hei, Hei, Hei)

Oh, Oh, Oh, I almost forget, tomorrow is Deepavali, so I take this opportunity to wish all my friends who celebrate Deepavali, A HAPPY DEEPAVALI, may the festival of light fill with joys and happiness to you and your family.

Cheer :)

First Time Visit KLPF 2010

I don’t remember I know KLPF (Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival). Even if I have heard about it or see it before, it doesn’t matter to me because I am not interested. Well, it is not that I don’t take photographs; I do, in fact, I love taking photographs and carry my digital compact camera with me most of the time.

Until recently, after I bought my new camera – Olympus Pen E-PL1, I became interested and be serious in photography. I sign up photography workshop, start mixing with other photo fraternities. I sign up flicker, start posting photos to get comments from others. I start giving comments on other photos too. I change the way i shoot photos, previously, I take photograph on people that I know but now, I take photo on strangers, funny stuffs, surroundings etc… I even drove to Taman Tasik Perdan with purpose to take photos only …..(Oh dear! I think I got “addicted” … hahaha!)

Cut long story short, Now, I’m interested in KLPF. I visited the recent 2010 KLPF which was held at Mid Valley Exhibition Hall on 29 – 31 October 2010 and I am really enjoy it.

The Photography Festival was fantastic. There are many booth selling camera and accessories with special discount, free gifts and many more. Special snap zones were created for visitors to take photographs. The organizer organized activities such as photography workshop, fashion show, talk shows to attract the publics. Celebrities were invited to live up the environment. Many stunning photographs were displayed in the hall for viewing. Wow, all these efforts aimed get people like us to be excited.

The only regret is that I didn’t reserve much times attending workshops because of my prior appointment. I hope next year I would be more prepare when attend the festival. Emmm, Look forward the next year event.

If you want to see more about the photographs, you may visit my flickr account at the following link:-


http://www.flickr.com/photos/yaptzeemeng/sets/72157625267547310/