Of Deja Vu and Misc

Ever since my first business trip, I always make it a point to carry one or more books with me on the trip to keep me occupy while waiting at the airport. The books too also double up as my "sleeping pill". If I don't don't already have an unfinnished book before a trip, then book will be one of item in my to-get list during preparation for a trip.

With all the bad vibes and rush for early month Pakistan trip, I didn't have get buy a book until I was at the airport. I normally try to avoid getting a book as the airport as I have a feeling there is no much choice and the price is being markups, more than in normal bookstore.

Anyway, I've got myself an Amy Tan's The Bonesetter's Daughter in one of the bookstore. Since I have plenty of time to kill after check in, I went into another bookstore and came across the same book at the price of almost RM10 less :(

With 8 hours to kill during the transit in Bangkok International Airport, by the time I reached Lahore almost 12 hours later, I have almost finnish first part of the book. As I read through half of the first part of the book, I started to have an uneasy feeling that I had read and knew the story before. I tried to recall if I have read this book before, but I can't recall any. I even searched through my book shelf when I was back last week to make sure I didn't read the book before, and I can't find any.

Luckily as I progressed further to second part and third part of the book, on the bed in the hotel, the familiar feeling quickly dissappear. No more I have read this book before feeling. I finnished the whole book by the end of first week.

* * *

Finally my car is out of workshop, during early part of the week. Or that's what I thought so when I receive a call from the service center to pick up my car. Took a cab there late morning the next day, and ended up paying about almost three times more than what was being displayed on the meter. The cabbie wasn't confortable receiving so much, but I insist because I have no time to spare. I have no small change to pay for the actually fare but the RM50 notes, and he has not enough small change as he just started his shift that morning. So I told him to just give me whatever change that he has.

Go down from the cab, and head into the service center. I was make to sign some paper and brought to my car. I pretend to do did some basic visual check, and was also informed that all the demages part has been replaced. Everything seems fine and dandy, yeay! Took the car and drive straight to office.

Only after 5 mins did I noticed that the aircond wasn't functioning. The air blown out from the vents is not cold at all. As the car was parked uncovered, initially I thought it take time for the aircond to cools the air. I was thinking if I ought to turn back and have the aircond check or head straight to office first as I was already pretty late (even on my own standard of reaching office normally around 10-11 am). So head straight to office without aircond.

This weeks is full of meetings and workshop. In between break, I tried making call back to the service center. Everytimes I called, the service agent handling my case was always not at his desk. Only the on the second day afternoon I manage to get hold of him, and book a slot to have him inspect what's the problem with the aircond.

Brought the car in the next morning, and he asked me to wait at the waiting section and brought the car into the workshop for checking. Within 5 mins, he already out with my car and told me the aircond is working. I tried asking him what is wrong, and he seems trying to avoid giving me a straight answer. The technician must have left out a certain thing before the car was handed to me earlier, what I don't know. I hate confronting other people, unless it is very neccesary. In this case, I think I'll just him go since now my car is back to normal again.