Left Behind

Several weeks ago I was sent to Malaysia for a site visit for two weeks. During those 2 weeks was a 3 day weekend...and you know how I LOVE those 3 day weekends! I debated my options for the weekend. I could visit my uncle and aunt who are humanitarian missionaries in the northern city of Butterworth. This, of course, is my top option. But, when I find out that they will be in meetings most of the weekend I decide to consider the other options. Borneo? Panang? Singapore? Borneo would be beautiful but I decided I would really prefer more time there. Panang was a nice option as it would include beach, good food and lots to see with the benefit of possibly seeing my aunt and uncle. But when my coworker said I should go with her to Singapore where her husband lives and works I decided the company would be nice.

Friday afterwork we made our way to the bus stop and waited for the bus. The ticket cost about $30 US. We loaded the bus with snacks packed for the 5 hour bus ride which went smoothly and quickly.

We spent the next few days wandering through the city's various neighborhoods...Chinatown, Little India, downtown and more. We watched my coworker's husband play a tennis match, ate ice cream and lots of delicious food, enjoyed a ride on the giant swing as well as the bungee chair, went to an open air zoo and I was introduced to kayah butter. It was a great weekend.

Monday came too soon and it was time to head back to Malaysia. My coworker decided to stay a few hours longer, finding it hard to say goodbye to the husband she sees not near enough of so I made my way alone to the bus station and found my seat inside the 24 seat bus. I turned on my music, pulled out my book, placed my dinner at my feet and enjoyed the 90 minutes of the journey. We arrived to the Malaysian boarder where we were to unload the bus, grab our bags and make our way through immigration. I took my stuff, got in line and made my way to the front of the line. The immigration officer had some trouble with my passport as it wouldn't scan properly, a problem I had entering Singapore as well. It took a few extra minutes for her to key in all the information and soon I was allowed to continue on. Everyone else had made their way through so I grabbed my suitcase as quickly as I could and walked out the door only to see that my bus had already left. I looked out and watched as it drove away, too far for me to run down. In disbelief I looked up and down to confirm that it really was my bus that I had just seen. Certainly the bus driver would have taken a minute to look and see that all 24 passengers were back on the bus. And certainly he would have noticed if the only white girl hadn't yet made her way back onto the bus...certainly...right? WRONG! Indeed it had been my bus.

So, what do I do now? Luckily I had my ticket on me so I went back inside and asked the ladies at the bag scanning station where I could find a phone to call the bus company and send the bus back for me. They told me there was a phone outside (my cell phone had no charge). I went back outside to the side of the building, found the pay phone and it looked like it hadn't been used in about a decade. It didn't work. I went back inside and explained my situation to the women at the scanning station and asked if they could help me call the bus company. "Just wait until the next bus comes," one suggested. I did know that the company had several other buses scheduled to come by about every hour or 2 but I also knew that my bus had been completely booked so who was to say that the next few buses wouldn't also be booked and I'd just be sitting there waiting for who knows how many hours. Besides, I wanted to get home at a reasonable hour. I explained this to the women and she was not being very helpful. "Listen," I told her, "I don't need you to do anything for me except to help me find a phone where I can call this bus company. I'll do it all myself, I just need a phone." Apparently those were the magic words. She agreed to take the phone number and try calling the bus company. She disappeared for about 5 minutes and then returned. Unfortunately it was after 6:00 and the offices were closed and not answering the phones. Good grief. Now what?

The next option was to sit and wait for another bus by the same company. But, again, knowing that it too could be full and who knows how long I would have to wait, I decided to try and get ask a driver from another bus company to take me back to Kuala Lumpur. By this time I was frustrated and slightly angry. I went from bus to bus and asked if they were headed to KL. No, no, no, no, no. They were each going to different locations. Finally I found a driver that was going to KL and his bus was nearly empty! Only about 7 seats looked occupied. I explained my situation and asked him if he would take me back to KL. He didn't speak English so he called over the attendant on his bus, a young woman and I told her what I needed and she translated to the driver. He looked at me and took a few deep breaths. He told me I'd have to pay. Knowing that the money I'd give him would go straight into his pocket, but not caring as I just wanted to get home I asked him how much. $30 the full price of a ticket. I looked and found that I only had 52 Malaysian Ringit, about $16. I offered it to him and he just looked at me. At that point I decided he didn't have a choice. He was going to take me home. :-) I put my bag in the luggage compartment boarded the bus and took a seat behind the other few passengers. I'd just see what would happen.

Not only did they take me back but they also served me dinner, as mine had been left on the first bus, and I was given a blanket and a pillow. I spent the next hours of the journey enjoying my book, my music and my thoughts. We stopped for a potty break and you can imagine my hesitancy to even leave the bus! But, I gathered my courage, RAN to the toilet and RAN back with plenty of time time to spare.

The last leg of the trip was super slow as it had begun to rain and then pour...harder and harder. It was hard to see further than a few feet in front of the bus, not that it mattered, there were so many other cars on the road we were moving at a snails pace. We finally made our way into the city and unloaded the bus. The driver, through his attendant, asked me for the money. I again told them I didn't have the full amount and they asked for what I did have. I told them I was happy to give them the money but asked where I could find an ATM so I could pull more money out and pay for a taxi ride home. The attendant told me there wasn't an ATM nearby so I told her I'd have to bring her the money the following day as I would have no money for a taxi if I gave it all to her now. She then confessed that there was an ATM nearby and showed me where I could find it. Why she didn't just give me that information the first time is beyond me. I gave her my money, pulled more out of the ATM flagged a taxi in the rain and finally made my way home.

Adventures are found in the most unusual places!

I'm off to Malaysia again for 10 days to work. This time, over the weekend, I'll be meeting up with my aunt and uncle to participate in a service project in the Cameroon highlands. I wonder what adventure will find me there.