Home, sweet Home!

Tuesday was the day of tearful goodbyes. Seng took me to the Batu Lanchang Road famous curry mee kopitiam, but with my luck, he does not sell on Tuesday! No curry mee? On my last day here in Penang? Hence the tearful part. We had hokkien mee instead.

Mom put in one last valiant try on not wanting to take pills, but I was firm in telling him she should take whatever pills the doctor prescribed. So far, she has not been happy with the once-a-week Fosomax (for improving her calcium absorption.)

Loon came by at 9:30AM to take me to the airport. It was too early, so we sat down for a beer. Mom brought out chee-cheong-fun, and made Loon eat it. She also offered hum-yoke-chong (rice and bean wrap in leaves), but Loon refused. I explained that I would like to get to the airport early, around 10:30AM, because the ticket I bought from the Malaysian Airways online web site to go to Singapore is for a promotional price of RM8 only. Of course, with all the tax and fees (RM91), it came to RM99, which is still very cheap. I wasn't sure if that is a real ticket. What if, when I get to the airport, they say there is no ticket for me. What if they laugh in my face, and tell me it is just a joke? What if there is a fine print somewhere that says you cannot use that this year? I need to have ample time to rectify that, if there is no ticket.

Well, the ticket is real. I got it without any trouble. What a relief. In fact, the counter clerk even checked my one suitcase all the way to Boston, even though they are not responsible after getting it to Singapore. So, he stuck on a sticker "SIN to NRT", and another one for "ORD to BOS". I am looking at my suitcase, and silently wave goodbye to it. I don't think I will ever see it again.

At Singapore, as soon as I set foot in the airport, I checked in to the Transit Hotel. I have a block of time from 3 to 9 PM, so I got some sleep, woke up around 6PM. I found a Chinese restaurant in the airport, and ordered laksa (curry mee), and a dish of Dim Sum chicken feet. Weird combination, but good eats. With a full stomach, I went back to the hotel, and watched TV on Asian Youth Games 2009, until it was time to leave.

I was able to go to the Transfer counter, and got my boarding pass for ANA (All-Nippon airways), all the way to Chicago. At Chicago, I have to get my boarding pass to Boston.

The flight to Tokyo left promptly at midnight. I like ANA. The food is good, the green tea is good, the seats are not bad, and the flight attendants are pretty. I give it a two thumbs up. I spent the night watching TV and movies. I was able to finish the series "24" which I started on the way to Singapore.

At Tokyo, I have about 3 hours to walk around before the next flight (to Chicago.) Since it was pretty early, around 8 AM, the restaurants were not open, so I decided to forfeit breakfast. I think I have eaten so much food in the last three weeks, I won't be missing much. The flight was delayed about an hour, so I sat down and watch TV at the waiting area in front of the gate. Eventually, the all-night TV viewing caught up with me, and I dozed off.

I was suddenly awakened by the announcement "This is a FINAL boarding announcement for Mr. Siew Mun Mui, please go to gate 47 immediately!" Man! I almost missed the flight! Why didn't my fellow passengers wake me up? Why didn't the gate persons wake me up? Can't they see they are missing one passenger, and I am the only person sleeping at the gate area? Anyway, I got in, just in time, before they closed the door. Phew! I would have had to buy another ticket to Chicago, and one to Boston, since I would have missed the two flights, and maybe spend a few days in Tokyo, waiting for the next available flight. Lucky me, this time.

The flight from Tokyo to Chicago was long. Very long. I was glad to get out of the aircraft in the morning. In a sense, I was glad to be back in America. The immigration was quick. The custom was quick. No mention of H1N1 anywhere. No inspection room, no swine flu signs. In comparison, Penang and to a lesser extend, Singapore, was very serious about this disease. From what I could see, there was no warning signs anyway, and no school closing in the States.

My flight was scheduled at 1PM, so I settled down for the five-hour wait. I eventually dozed off at the gate, and was awakened by my cell phone alarm clock, to find out the flight has been delayed to 1:45PM. At 1:30PM, the announcement came for the flight to be delayed until 3:10PM. We eventually board the plane, and was pushed off at 4PM. By the time we reached Boston, it was 6:45PM. My taxi brought me home around 8PM. A very long day indeed.

Paula came down to investigate when I walked in to the house. She had made some chicken soup and rice for me, and also has vegetables on the steamers ready, so I had a good meal, took a long shower, and settled down for the night.

It has been a wonderful trip to Penang. It was great to see mom still able to do things around the house, and in general good health. It was great to catch up with Sui Fun, and Seng and family. It was great to be able to catch up with friends like Kong Chan and Kar Hwa. The food in Penang is just incredible. It is probably the best food in the World. My 10 pound weight gain is testimony to the food. Thanks for following my journey.