Monday, August 26, 2013

Passport Experience @ UTC Pudu Sentral

Last weekend, we arranged PIL to send Nico to KL so that we could bring him to do his international passport as our travelling days are approaching.

So we went to the Immigration at Kelana Jaya branch after we found out that Duta branch was closed on weekend since July. Well, we were told that it would definitely be a long queue on weekend since most of the branches were closed except a few designated branches are opened on Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 1pm (eg. Kelana Jaya and Putrajaya). No choice, no matter how long the queue would be, we still need to settle it for Nico.

When we reached Kelana Jaya branch at around 8.30am, the queue was so long! Okay, as expected... So Hubby put Nico and I down while he went to park his car with Kimi. I squeezed into the crowd only to find out from the officer that there was no special lane for children under age 2 as not enough working staffs during weekends. Fine... I decided to join in the crowd to queue and then only to realize that they had finished giving out numbers for that day. If we want to do, we need to come back on the next day, or to go to the Immigration Office UTC.

There are only 2 UTCs in KL, which is UTC Pudu Sentral and UTC Sentul. Hubby and I tried on Google maps and searched on Waze and yet couldn't locate where is the exact location. So we decided to drive to Jalan Pudu to have a look and only to realize UTC Pudu Sentral was actually located inside the Puduraya Bus Station! We were so silly! Hahaha... Never realize it at all....

Okay, reached there around 9.40am. Took our number and waited for our turns. Although Nico was queuing under the category of 'Children Under 2' years old, however, we waited until almost 12pm to reach our turns and to pay up. The officer told us it might take around 1-2 hours to produce the passport. After settled everything, we decided to go back home to wait instead of waiting there.

The office is a very small place with a big crowd over the weekend. Definitely not enough of seating arrangement. I was so lucky to get a seat with Nico on my lap. Hubby and Kimi needed to stand next to us as there were no empty seats for them. The officer informed us that it would be much better if we did it on weekdays as we had kids with us. Of course I know this! Just that I do not want to waste half day leaves for this... Else I also won't choose a weekend to do this.

We drove back to the immigration office at 7.30pm to collect the passport. Only to realize we need to bring Nico's birth certificate in order to collect it. We did not bring it with us so we were not allowed to collect it... OMG! Another wasted trip. Well, it was our carelessness on this... Really a lot of challenges!

The office hours are 8am-10pm however passport collection counter is opened until 8.30pm only. So we decided to go back on the next day to collect it.

Well, a tiring experience just to do a passport... Really tired! How I wish they re-open back the immigration offices on weekends so that we do not need to take so much hassles on a weekend to do the passport especially for parents like us.

And finally, it was done! Our cute Nico on the black and white passport photo :) Hurray.... Nico is travelling with us soon ~ Holidays are coming!


Pejabat Imigresen UTC Pudu Sentral
Aras 2, Wisma UTC
Jalan Pudu (Pudu Sentral)
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 03-2026 2079 / 2090 / 2092
Fax: 03-2026 2087

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday : 8.00 am - 10.00 pm
Saturday - Sunday : 8.00 am - 10.00 pm

Remarks:
Passport can be ready in 1 hour after payment


Location Map:


UTC office only provides the services of NEW passport application or passport RENEWAL application only. It does not offers the service to change passport photo. For this service, I need to go to the Immigration office at Jalan Duta to do it. So no matter how, I still need to apply half-day leaves to change Kimi's baby photo in his passport to one current photo of him. Kimi has grown up now! Time flies ~

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

A Date with Hubby

I couldn’t recall back when was the last time I had a date with Hubby. Being parents, I think the biggest sacrifice is the time of two persons being together. And due to work, hubby had been quite a long period of time did not spend quality time with us.
 
Last Sunday, he finally spent a dinner with me. Although it was a pre-arranged dinner which only lasted for 2 hours, I really appreciate it. Luckily my sister was at home with us so that she could help us take care of Kimi for a few hours. Both of us managed to sneak out for a couple of hours to enjoy our 2-persons dinner.
 
We made a reservation earlier. Luckily we did that. The restaurant was quite crowded during the time we reached. Hubby was quite surprised though, as this restaurant was hidden at quite an isolated shop lots near Bangsar area.
 
We were served by a group of hospitality waiters. Very good service, very friendly environment… The interior of the restaurant is quite relaxing, it may be simple but cosy. A comfortable feel ~ But the lights in the restaurant are quite dim, resulting in my not so clear photos as I shot them using my mobile phone.
 

Appetizers – Deep Fried Soft Shelled Crab & Fried Calamari
* The fried calamari was actually not in the menu. As this is Hubby’s favourite dish, so we requested the chef to prepare it for us. They were friendly enough to accommodate our sudden request. So nice of them!

Dessert – Tiramisu to go with my favourite Latte


Main Course - Squid Ink Risotto
(served with fresh seafood) & Roasted Cod (with white wine kalamata sauce)
* Hubby was very satisfied with both our orders especially his all-time favourite risotto. Thumbs up!
 

As it was quite dark, I did not manage to capture the risotto clearly.
I managed to search a clearer picture on internet to have a closer look on it.

 


Top:
Hubby does not like to take pictures. So I captured these photos secretly without him knowing it. Hehe!
The man who works so hard for the Family ~ WE LOVE YOU!
Bottom: My self-portraits before the dinner started ~

Hubby, thank you for the dinner! I appreciate it a lot ~

Monday, August 5, 2013

I Had A Dream!

I remembered 10 years ago after I graduated from the university, I found myself a job. My parents told me, as a start, just try to go and work and see how was it. As a fresh graduate, don’t be too choosy… So I went to KL alone while most of my friends left Malaysia to work in Singapore.
 
But I had a dream… Not to disappoint my parents, I went for my first official job in my life, and never did I expect it to last until now…  2003 to 2013…. 10 Years!
 
03.08 - A day to remember!
I reported to my first day at work on this day, 10 years ago…
 
No doubts, every learning path has its good and bad sides. 10 years in the same company, it was definitely not every easy, not everyday smooth. But I cherish every single day of it. It has been ups and downs, good and bad, left and right, happy and unhappy, and .... YET 10 memorable years ~ Thank you for moulding me into who am I today! Thank you for all the opportunities! A place that I learnt, I fell, I picked up and I stood up... That's me ^^
 
03.08 – 10 years later…
I realized a dream of mine which I buried deep inside my heart 10 years ago – TO BAKE!
 
Baking is a hobby of mine which I love doing it. After moved to KL, I stopped doing it, as the rented apartment that I stayed in, did not have an oven. Moreover, for me to get an oven, I find it too troublesome to deal with in a rented place. So many years passed until I moved into my own house. Thanks to my lovely cousins and one uncle of mine! I received my dream oven as a house-warming gift. Well, I bake for fun. Indeed those cakes I bake, I think only Kimi knows how to enjoy it. It is not ready for outsiders to taste it. 
 
However, yesterday I decided to sell the cupcakes which I baked at a morning bazaar. Not really a very good bake yet, but at least I step out from my house and display it outside for public to taste it. Well, only 3 customers bought it, BUT I was indeed very happy! It was a good start for me…  At least those who tasted the cake gave me very positive remarks! So did Kimi, he ate a few of them! Hehe ~
 
A humble beginning… A fresh start for a dream of mine ~
 
My first batch of freshly home-baked Chocolate Chips Cupcakes at the Stella's Market, Centrepoint on 4 August 2013 ^^
 

十年前的小小梦圆了。。对自己总算有个交代!虽然很小但还是很感动!
谢谢你们、爱我的每个人!