News from Kuantan

I bought myself an ipad4 and I've been neglecting the laptop ever since. Poor laptop. As a result, it's been a while since I posted. So it's time for some updates.

• We are watching with interest the war that is being played out in Lahad Datu, East Malaysia, between Malaysia and the invading Sulus. The Sultanate of Sulu is a long and historical saga of an island of the Philippines and their sultan who was given the land of Sabah long ago from the then-ruling Sultan of Brunei as a gift for helping him in war. Despite Malaysia's independence, which includes Sabah, the sovereignty of this portion of land has now been brought back into the spotlight by these invading Sulus who claim it still belongs to them. Whether it's all a political ploy with the Malaysian general election coming in a month's time, is debatable, but nevertheless, we are keeping updated with the latest news as Malaysia has rejected the Sulus proposal of a ceasefire and are now on the attack.

• The rainy season seems to have finally gone for good. Yay! But now we are facing the familiar hot and humid afternoons as life beside the equator heats up once more!

• Lauren is enjoying kindergarten. She wakes up with a smile, goes to school with a smile, and comes back home with a smile and many stories to tell. So that makes us happy :)

• I got myself a 4-year visit pass from the Kuantan Immigration! That is amazing news for us! Once those 4 years are up, I can apply for PR (Permanent Residency). It means I no longer have to worry about making those frequent trips to Singapore and back just to get my passport stamped. I can't begin to tell you the degree of freedom I feel now that this is all sorted out. Living and working in Malaysia for our own business is the best possible life I could have dreamed of and I feel thankful to God each and every day for this life He has given me.

• I'm feverishly working on the A-Z April blogging challenge. With under a month to go, I'm busy preparing two separate A-Zs. One is for this blog and the other is for our Horne Learning Services blog. I decided to do the second A-Z as it will help attract more visitors to our business, via both our blog and our facebook page. I'll be taking you through the alphabet including some of my favourite words, English language grievances and other associated thoughts.

Well, you are all updated. Sorry that there are so many words to read, and so little photos! Here is one recent picture showing the lovely weather we are enjoying right now. Have a great day, and thanks for reading!

Verbose visa-giving

"verbiage" - an excessive number of words used to express an idea. -verbose -verbosity




Verbose visa-giving

Every time I travel to Singapore to renew my visa, I always have a tough time re-entering Malaysia. I've never had any problems with the Singapore side, but exiting and entering Malaysia sometimes feels like trying to part the slim sea between these two countries.

The venturesome immigration official at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex flips through every page of my passport, as though trying to find a fault with my international movements.

I'm asked various questions about what I'm doing in Malaysia, the perfectly viable validity of my last visa, and why I don't just renew my pass at the Kuantan Immigration.

"Erm, because I want to visit Singapore...I have friends here (I really do)...because the Kuantan Immigration tells me I have to leave the country after each time I get a sticker from them..."

It seems that there are so many various immigration policies in conflict between Kuantan and the CIQ in Johor Bahru, that it causes great confusion to the innocent traveller. Or, the officials don't really know how to do their job. I'd side with the latter.

After I've been questioned, the onslaught of verbiage between the officer and the boss, whom he has consulted, could last as long as 5-10 minutes while I stand at the counter, waiting.

The end result is always the same: I receive my 3 months visa which could have been done with much less verbosity, Singapore-style, in say 30 seconds.

Since 2002, I've filled an entire passport and am half-way through another.

How many passports/pages have you got through in your lifetime?

Immigration

"immolate" - kill or offer as a sacrifice, especially by burning




Immigration

I have a love-hate relationship with Malaysian immigration, somewhere in the ratio of 10:90.

It's been almost five years since I've been living in Kuantan, and I still have to leave the country every three months as a condition of my social visit pass. It remains difficult for me to obtain any kind of longer visa. I was told recently that I may apply for a renewable 6-month visa, but that it would set me back RM1,700!

On previous enquiries the sum has been set at RM2,000, requiring tons of paperwork, the necessity of finding employment, an employers' letter etc etc... Far too much of a hassle.

Being new to the ordeal of leaving a country, the immigration officials looked dark and scary as they sat at their counters, rigid face, eyeing me suspiciously. Now five years on, the fear has departed as I've realised the rights of entry I possess.

So I've been travelling to Singapore regularly, looking forward to visiting that beautiful country each time.

The Kuantan immigration has been particularly helpful to me during one pickle I was put in, but I've had an abundance of difficulties exiting and entering Malaysia through the Johor Bahru (now known as CIQ) complex. At times I wondered if they wanted to immolate me! I won't detail too many of my immigration complaints, but if you follow this link you read of a couple of my experiences.

Has anyone had troubles/experiences entering or exiting certain countries?