Vintage Thrift Shoppers in Penang

I'm in Penang! After more than a year, I'm back in my hometown. You already know this but this island is my second home. Two of my favourite people I've ever known live here; my grandparents. After such a long year of being stuck at home, I finally got to fly back to Penang for a good break. We (my sisters and I) flew here on Thursday evening and came in enthusiastically. My Pak Tok doesn't have great memory as of late so it takes a while for him to recognise us. I said "Nadia! I'm Nadia!" and he said "Oh.... my sweet Nadia". I mean, pure unadulterated tears.

Today was a rather fun day out. It started with my sisters going out to buy lunch, we had Bangkok Lane mee (I highly recommend!) and after we were all full and happy, we went out to get drinks. But before that, we went to this vintage shop at Jalan Nagor called Fujiyama Jeans. It's just SO cool, it's a thrift store for both men and women, a record store, and they also sell bit of coffee and film cameras! It was such a pleasant experience because the people were really friendly and their curated collection of clothes (imported from Japan!) were really top notch. And super affordable too! I managed to snag a beige sequinned evening bag and a Ralph Lauren-esque cardigan. Tania also managed to get herself a genuine vintage Moncler jacket! Love it. You have to go if you're around the area.

Then after that we drove to La Vie En Rose but we just so happened to find parking right in front of this shop called TEMU Coffee. Coincidence because I had just looked up this cafe on Instagram the night before so we just kinda got in and decided to have some drinks and desserts first before going to La Vie En Rose. We had the waffle and it was genuinely SO good. It was the topped with cream and ice-cream and had burnt bananas on the side. SO YUMMMMM. I love Penang and alllll its alleys and streets of really obscure but insanely cool cafes and eateries. So unassuming but they're always so occupied that you often had to be waitlisted or like... denied entry completely. So this was great that we had seating and no waiting time and the food was really good. 

We weren't quite done with thrift shopping so we Googled the next one and it was our stroke of luck that it was just a 3 min drive from where we were. It's even MORE obscure but we got there in the end haha. It's a smaller shop but still full of gems. Iman got an oversized rugby shirt and Tania got two blouses for super cheap. As we were leaving, there was a rack of t-shirts outside and we spotted one that was Harry Potter themed, had 'I solemnly swear I'm up to no good" and Iman freaked out, she's in her Potter phase now. Took the tee and went to the cashier to buy and the guy was like "If you buy 3, it'll be RM10" to which Iman said "No it's okay, I'll just take this one" and he just shrugged and said "Ok, then you can have it for free" and just put it in her bag. How sweet! Iman's a happy shopper.

Then we drove back home in time for a pizza dinner! Hahaha I know everyone who comes to Penang for holiday must want to kick me where it hurts but we actually don't always eat famous Penang food like chendol, nasi kandar, laksa and all that. We do have nasi kandar, that's a must of course but we rarely ever go out to eat it. We'd take away and have it home. So we don't really see the food sitch in Penang, unfortunately. Not until recently at least. 

Ok photo time! 

This was at our first stop; Fujiyama Jeans at Nagore Road. Not in photo: the divine beaded evening bag I got for 50 bucks.

Tania spotted this vintage Moncler jacket after buying her bucket bag. She couldn't stop thinking about it after trying it on. It looked pretty sick but we were weighing the pros and cons especially since it wasn't cheap. Like?? Where was she going to travel to warrant a purchase like this?? She said "With this jacket, I'll plan a damn trip somewhere". I told her to think about it and she put it back on the rack before heading out to our next spot; coffee and cakes at a cafe.

I definitely think I want to get a film camera for my birthday. I just don't know where to start looking.

But why are the tiles here so freaking cool.

The next thrift shop was an obscure one, hidden among small houses/shop houses. It's called Doppel Ganger (spelt that way).

Tania bought those two blouses for 40 bucks in total.

Ok so after that TEMU and La Vie En Rose trip, we went back to Fujiyama cause Tania decided she'll just get it instead of worrying it'll get snapped up by someone else. Idk who else is planning a winter trip but ok. Happy she got it though! I can pinjam duh.

It's about 1:16 am now and my uncle's buying nasi kandar for breakfast tomorrow and I'm so excited! Now I'm going to continue on this Downton Abbey episode before calling it a night. Have a great weekend, guys! 

xx

My inspiration

This is my appreciation post for my friends who I know I talk about a lot but I just love them A LOT. 

So here's a bunch of photos from the meet up's thus far with friends! 

Marissa and I had planned for a spa date at Lax. but on the morning of, they called to cancel my appointment because the lady who was supposed to do my massage had to take an emergency leave and they had no one else to replace her. Sad!! Dahlah I was looking forward to it so much and my body was in need of a massage from constantly hunching over the computer. But we had a great time anyway! We went to this place at the Zhongshan Building and it's called Tommy Le Bakers. They serve sandwiches and it was actually pretty yummy! I'm not really one for sandwiches as you might not know already but this was really good. I loved the fuss free place especially. And!! There wasn't a super long line and parking was so easy to get (and cheap considering right smack in the middle of KL) so that made the whole experience so much better. With a LOT of the new cafe pop-up's in KL these days, you suffer with both parking and reservations. And 8 times out of 10, food ain't that great and you find yourself at a McD drive thru for an order of fries to fill you up. I like just really easy going places like these. I'd go again solely for their onion soup. 

Then during that icky bit of time I had (still have, just a lot less), Fatin texted "Babe you wanna go out? Let's" and honestly!!!! It made my day just being able to go out with her and talk things out and pour my heart out. We constanttttlyyy text but nothing beats conversations over coffee and tea. Love her so much. This is actually a photo of her CRYING because we were talking about London. She studied in City so she spent all her time in the UK in London and I have the fondest memories of our sleepovers whenever I'd go over to London. 

Sighhhhh I'm so lucky to be friends with so many people who exude the best energy. Sofea and Hidayah were my colleagues in my current company but they've left and so it's only me remaining hahaha. We used to be sucha trio, always huddling over Hidayah's table to gossip and complain. Ever since they've left, I've missed them at the office a whole lot. We went to Jibby Chow at Bangsar and caught up with each other again after what feels so long. I can't wait to see them again. These girls are the kind to always leave the night in the best, sweetest energy. The ones who always hype you up and you're always motivated to be a better person because of them. Love them so much. Can you believe we're all single? Hahahahaha

If I could just tell you how much Aina means to me. She's a life changer. My life changer. Truly, in every sense of the word. I'm sure I've said this somewhere before but I'll say it again 'til I go blue in the face. Met Aina in school when we were 9, I had just moved from Taman Tun to the school near my house. Met her and she was the lifeeeee of the party, super popular and super fun and just kept everyone so energised and happy. I always say this, Aina's the kind of friend I'd be HAPPY to bring anywhere to meet anyone ever sebab she can get on with everyone she meets. She just has that one of a kind energy that you only hope you can one day also emulate. I say this with all my heart, Aina's my inspiration. So whenever I meet new people, I'd always try to channel my inner social butterfly energy and I'd always think of Aina. And think of what she'd do and what she'd say. She's definitely helped me to be the person I am whether she knows it or not.

Just last Sunday, I finallllyyyyy went out with Amal and Fatin. I mean, I met Fatin recently but Amal I haven't met in AGES! So I was just so happy to be able to spend time with her over lunch. After lunch I sent her home but I decided to stick around at her place for the next 5 hours! Hahahah. If you know me, you know I love and appreciate house hangs. It's just infinitely times better because 1) You're not pressured to leave your table when the queue is crazy outside 2) You have a dependable, clean toilet to go to 3) You can hang however you want, I basically laid down on her couch the whole time sipping on rootbeer and eating doughnuts that I randomly ordered on Grab. It was the best!!! Makes me miss the times where we'd go over each others chalet and just borak the whole time. It was mostly Amal coming over to my room lah but still. Love you both to bits and pieces and then into smaller bits and pieces.

___

Thought I'd pen it down here too. But the other day, my office had a training session conducted for us. They'd invited instructors over and in the second session, there was this lady. She was 56 but looked nothing above early 40s. She was absolutely wonderful. I rarely get struck by someone's energy but that morning, I was just in awe. She was so inspiring, her whole energy was contagious and I couldn't get over it. She told us straight up "Honey, live your own damn life! Don't worry about what people think. Spend on whatever you want! So what? You'll make more money after that right? Do it! Life's short, go enjoy" and even though that's all generic life advice you've all heard before, you just know that to her she holds these principles in her life so dearly and it shows in the energy she had. She left just before lunch and I kinda went "aww shucks, wish she stayed on longer" and I realised damn, how great is that? To have people want you there with them for a while longer because they love you. I had never met her before then but I already felt like I'd love to tell her all my problems and she'd give me the best advice. 

At the end of the work day when my colleagues and I were in the lift to go to the carpark together, I just noted that I really enjoyed that training session and loved the lady so much and my senior just turned to me and said "Yeah I get that because she really reminded me of you" and I was just.... so flattered and taken aback. This whole time I had looked up to this lady and made a mental note to be more like her when I grow up and to think some of the girls in the office already think of me like that made my whole week, month, year. Heart's full alhamdulillah.

I hope everyone gets to meet someone they're inspired by. Someone who makes you feel motivated to be better in life. And if you haven't lately, I think you should exercise your right to be that person to someone else anyway. Life's so precious and we're all living on borrowed time so the best thing you can do is wake up everyday and spend it in service to yourself. InsyaAllah that will have a domino effect on the people around you. We never lose out from being nice, helpful, and generous so go do it everyday. It'll come back to you in multiple folds insyaAllah. Trust.

xx

Trust

 It's 10.10.2021 today. We're in October already! 

Adele's about to come out with her new single next week so I'm on an Adele binge on Spotify now to prepare myself for the absolute feels she's about to have us all on.

I've been doing ok. There have been some really fun evenings and then there have been sad, quiet mornings for me. But I suppose that's just how we all go through things. Not one person has gone through 100/100 perfect days. And I've learnt that instead of forcing yourself to get over it, the best way about it is to welcome and embrace that and live through it. The more you tell yourself to get over it, the more you're actually thinking about it kan? So just take it in, be one with it, acknowledge it and live with it. It's only going to help you move on.

I won't indulge in the juicy details (or lack thereof) but I will just say that I'm always very grateful for everything that has happened and the people I've met along the way. There have been times when I was younger where I'd cry over things that didn't go according to plan and thus was "the end of me" (dramatic) but now I can hardly remember what those things were. And if I'm really looking at it optimistically, those things just... pass and I was on to my next best thing. I was so sad I didn't get the grades I wanted for SPM but I managed to pull through and get into KYUEM. Part of me thinks that if I had excelled, would I've been chucked into a different school instead? I was sad I didn't get to go to London for school but I got into Bristol instead and it turned out to be the best thing for me. If I had gone to London, would I have had a better experience than the one I had in Bristol? If I had decided to go for a "better" job than interning at Nelissa Hilman, would have I met a better friend than Anis is to me? Would I have met the people that are so dear to me if not for the missed opportunities? All that initial heartbreak and pain had to happen in order to bring me the happiness that came in ten fold right after. The magnitude of that joy that followed made the initial sadness of the closed door seem so negligible.

So as I weather through this icky stupid feeling, I'm trusting God as I have always that He's looking out for me. My biggest comfort is that the person who loves me most in this world is my mum. And God loves me infinitely more than my own mother. Would mama put me through something she knows wasn't the best for me? No. So what more God. I trust and I trust and I trust. All good things await for me and all things bad are distanced far from me. For as long as I do right by God and I continue praying and I continue to look for Him for answers and comfort, insyaAllah I'll be put in His greatest care. Our doas are always answered in our best interest. For when you are moved to make a doa, insyaAllah that is His sign that your doas will be answered for He won't make you beg for something that He won't give in His own good timing. You just gotta trust and insyaAllah I'm trusting and believing that all that is meant for me will find its way to me soon. 

"Let time be patient. Let pain be gracious"

And with that I'm going to live my best life and enjoy every bit as it comes. Acknowledge and welcome the sad evenings as much as I embrace the exciting start of mornings. It's the only way I know how.

A dear friend told me this quote to which I've learnt to internalise slowly:

You can't force someone to see that you're a blessing,
you just gotta let 'em miss out

So here's to the ones missing out.

xx

another weekend

It's a Sunday evening. I have the Southampton - United game on and while I watch that, thought I'd blog about whatever I can think of. 

Read somewhere that said "In 4 months time, 2020 would've been 2 years ago" which absolutely blew my freaking mind. HOW! We've lost most of this year to Covid, unfortunately. It's almost been about 3 and half months that I've been working from home though I do remember my company taking a couple weeks off earlier on too. It feels like forever. I finally bought myself a foldable desk - the one you'd prop up on your bed. I don't have a desk in my room because the last one just became tempat letak all the junk and it was too much clutter so I took it out. So now for most of the day, I work on the floor, cross legged with a cushion to support my back. I can't wait for massage parlours to open up, I need that body cracking sesh stat.

Actually, I can't wait for SO many other things to open. Nail parlours, cinemas, badminton courts (for more than just singles!), mamak's, you name it, I miss it! I went into this year with shoulder length hair. Now it's so long, frazzled and untamed. Dine in's have started to open up though not for every restaurant. I really respect that though! I saw that Kenny Hills have decided to remain open only for take outs and deliveries which I think is a great move considering that we're still high in our daily cases. I do take comfort however that a good majority (like 98-99%) comprises of stage 1 & 2 cases. So, cases that are either asymptomatic or with very light symptoms. Alhamdulillah. Numbers may seem scary on the surface but I think if we were to look at it closely, it's quite hopeful and optimistic to see that serious cases have been on the low. Still though... death is a death is a death. It's still a loved one to someone and that's never been lost on me. 

____

Another work week ahead of us. Last few weeks have been pretty tough and busy but I managed to power through, with some tears and LOTS of cursing in between. I pray it'll be a relatively easier one this week. This weekend I didn't check any work texts nor attended to anything work related. I just took naps, watched movies, texted a bunch of friends and ate a whole lot. 

It's already the 22nd of August! Phew. Looking forward for the end of this damn virus already.

Bye, talk soon. Take care, eat vitamins and most importantly, stay home! 

xx

Sundays

It's a very chilled Sunday. We're all in our rooms, either lying down or watching something on Netflix. Iman is actually sitting for her finals now and I've always found it bit odd that UiTM has exams/classes on Sundays! Surely that can't be right.

I'm watching the Artistic Gymnastics qualifications on Sooka now. I love watching this sport, it's so fantastic how the body can bend and balance hahaha am trying to watch Farah Ann but cameras haven't shown her yet! I'm watching on the Sooka app and I've been keeping track of events via the Olympics app. I also really love that TikTok has been so pivotal for updates because we have athletes who show the Olympic Village there too. It's soooo cooooooooool ugh there's just something about the really really talented and the really really skilled coming together for an event to represent their country. Like I just think you cannot get any cooler than that. That's why I love the World Cup so much. A team sport and even if you're an individual competing like many of our Malaysians there, they have the whole country behind them! I'm telling ya, nothing unites a country more than defending the local delicacies and for supporting a sportsperson. 

In Covid news, we are at 17k cases today...... even when a majority of the country is on lockdown for more than a month now. Sigh. The only thing keeping me going is to see the vaccination rates going strong in recent days. We did 500k a day on Wednesday I think and that's commendable, I have to say. In the family, all of us have been vaxxed once and 5/7 are fully vaccinated alhamdulillah. Iman just did hers yesterday and so it's just my dad and her that's left with a second dose appointment soon insyaAllah. I'm also very happy to know that all my friends are all at least half vaxxed. Like I said, am not friends with anti vaxxers haha.

Really just so excited and almost nervous (??) to go out again and meet friends and have outside food that isn't in a takeaway package. Y'know, just simple things! I miss the office and my colleagues! And our 5pm McD teatime. Such a different feeling compared to the last lockdown... at the time I was very much comfortable working from home and even resisted going back to office because I thought it was too soon. Now I'm just counting the days for us to go back working in a NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. Hate that home has become work. The government's about to announce some special privileges (if you can even call it that) to those who are fully vaccinated so I'm hoping that's soon enough and I'm also hoping people don't abuse it and cause another spike in cases. I just miss being around other people!! Texts and video calls won't cut it anymore, not natural for us to be connected virtually. I need them hugs!!!!!

We spent out THIRD raya (both Aidilfitri and Aidiladha) at home. We got to spend Raya Haji in Penang last year but unfortunately we can't spend it with them yet this year. Both my grandparents are vaxxed alhamdulillah and I miss them loads. First place we're going is to visit them and give them big hugs and kisses. Our Raya Haji was simple, Mama cooked some food that lasted us two days for all meals haha and we just took some photos outside. Zaim and Hanis didn't join us and it was for the best - we'd all prefer if everyone's double vaxxed before they can come over again. You just never know with this new variant. 

It's almost 10pm now (I started writing this a little after lunch!) and I'm going to continue watching One Tree Hill. Naomi Osaka's playing tomorrow at 10:00am so I'll sneak that in while working. Best part about WFH is that I get to just go downstairs to do work in my PJ's. Though I do miss getting ready and putting on proper pants. 

Take care, everybody! Talk soon. 

It's been a decade!

It's days like today that I just want to hug my younger self and pat her on her back and say well done, thank you for taking so many photos and recording it all.

Today is the 10th year anniversary of KYUEM. Anyone who knows me knows that I love the college so much, I'd do anything to go back. It was my home of two years but the friendships I took home have gone on for 10 years today and counting insyaAllah. I found some of my most perfect friends, some so close to me I consider them family. 

I knew this year would be our 10 years anniversary from when we first stepped into college so I took my time looking through many, many photos and videos in my hard drive from my days there. I had this chunky Olympus camera with me that I loved so, so much and I brought it everywhere! For every event and everything! I'm so happy I lugged it along because at the time, Blackberry was the in thing so as you can imagine, photos were non-existent and even if there were any, it'd be grainy and chaotic. But to be honest, some of my favourite photos were those taken by the Blackberry because they'd usually be the photos that were very candid and of moments that you can't help but whip out whatever you had with you.

My friends know I love them so I won't go on here also, just thought I'd write to commemorate the day. 10 years and counting, insyaAllah. Truly, truly blessed. I'm always truly blessed, very thankful for my friends, for the college, for the experience and most importantly for my parents who listened and gave me the experience to begin with. Wouldn't be the person I am without the people I met along the way. Wouldn't be the person I am without the schools that I went to, from primary all the way to university. I loved it all. Just thought it was so surreal that it's 10 years since I stepped into college. Crazy!!

Today's also a wonderful reminder to always remember to take more photos. It sucks that we've practically be indoors for the most of the past year and a half but insyaAllah once it settles, we'll be right back at it. 

Dear KYUEM, you were my first and perhaps only choice of college. I heard about you when I was 15 and ever since then, that's all I wanted. For whatever reason, I just had to go. Something about it just compelled me to work hard for it. So I did and man, the two years that followed were the best two years of my life. I met some of the best people, I had some of the best experiences, I loved life, I was SO happy and I never wanted it to end. If anyone asked me what I'd want to relive, it's KY no doubt. To think it has been 10 years since our first day in college is wild and I don't know where the time has gone but I sure spent it well with some of my favourite friends I've made ever. All thanks to you! I'm forever thankful and I hope to repay my gratitude in some shape, way or form soon. It was my true happy place and the friends I've made a home with the friends I've met from college. In the Friends reunion, Matthew Perry said whenever he'd meet the other 5 after the show ended, he said he'd drop everything he was doing at the time regardless of where he was and just called it a night because he had met someone so special in his life that all he wanted to do is talk and be with them. That's how I feel with my friends here. 

My safe place. My home.

Love you, friends. Thank you for the best 10 years we've had and here's to even better ones ahead.

xx

Weird MCO

It's a Thursday night. I'm in week 3 of working from home in this lockdown. Can you imagine!! We're in our second lockdown and I don't know how many rounds of MCO it has been. Someone brought up a good point the other day. Instead of calling it PKP, PKPB, PKPD, and whatever else it has grown into, they should've just done what the UK did; have coronovirus alert levels via tiers. So say Tier 1 is social distance, wear a mask and Tier 4 is high alert, proper lockdown, no one's allowed out. Then each tier would have their own set of guidelines to follow. It just is SO easy to understand compared to what we have now. 

This country is in a funny little space now. Everytime I'm on Twitter, there's just always something new to groan about. It gets tiring to read and to hadap but I guess it's good that people are more aware about what's happening with this country and people now?? have to be accountable?? Such a concept, I love it.

Anyway, I'm happy to see that vaccination rates have ramped up in the past couple of days. I think yesterday it was 200,000+ already. It's an improvement though I think it should've been that a long time ago. We're only 11% vaxxed (and this only refers to first dosages!). And we're month 5 into this programme? I don't know. I'm just glad that this family is 2/3 vaxxed. I'm happy to report that my dad finally succumbed to getting his vaccine because we forced him into it. Even registered without his knowing hahaha. Whatever!! I don't have time for anti vaxxers or people who doubt it! I went with him and the process was so, so smooth. We reached at about 10:30 and he was vaxxed by 10:53. Best part about it is, his slot was for 11am! So he was technically done even before his appointment time. Amazing. And I really loved that it was all in one hall so we didn't have to move about! I tried to make the experience as quick and as smooth as possible, just so he doesn't get peeved. Alhamdulillah it was all smooth sailing! So here's a photo of him after being vaxxed. As for side effects, he was down with fever and body sores so he hated that part haha.

We're just pending for Iman's appointment in July and for Mama's appointment date. I'm quite disappointed that Mama hasn't gotten hers because she is a teacher! Shouldn't that be counted as a frontliner? Ish. 

This MCO feels so weird compared to the first one. The first one macam.... a new experience. So the fact that we were working from home was quite... fun? Cause I got to eat at home all three meals in a day and slept in 'til it was time for work. And not wearing make up! People were making iced coffee and all that innit. I just remember it being super hectic with work cause we were in the middle of new projects so to adjust to that was bit difficult. 

But this MCO.... I just am so done with it. I wanna go out. It's like seeing everyone else have fun at a party and you're stuck at home cause you're grounded. Feels bit like that now especially when news around the world are about lifting restrictions, lowest Covid-19 cases they've had, people going maskless, vaccination rates almost half of population. It's FOMO if you think about it. We were there much earlier than everyone else. Some idiots thought an election was ideal so that messed things up lah but oh well. Biar lah dorang, hope they're not getting good sleep at least.

Ok, gotta go. Talk soon! 

xx

Edit: My mum got vaxxed! Hahaha. It was on a Saturday and she checked her app to just see if there was an update (she checks pretty regularly! Her last check in was at 11pm the night before but nothing as of then) and there was! She checked at 12pm and her appointment was at 2pm that same day. So I went with her to teman, it was in KLCC. So it was really nice and bright and big. Not that many people too so it was also very quick and efficient. 

Here's a photo to commemorate my mum getting vaccinated.

My First Dose of Vaccine!

 Here's one for the books! I got vaccinated yesterday! 

So when KJ announced that there was going to be a first come first serve vaccination program for the AstraZeneca vaccine, my friends and I were ever ready to sign up. It was at 12pm on May 2nd 2021, a Sunday. So naturally, I overslept. I woke up 12:15 to lots of messages in the various friend groupchats I have about how they didn't manage to get it or they couldn't click on the link. At that point I gave up without even trying. I mean... I missed the 12pm opening and I assumed the slots would have been taken up quick. But my friends told me to just give it a shot (haha) and I somehow managed to book a slot! I made sure to make it on a Saturday because if I had any side effects, the Sunday could cushion me before going to work. 

Here's how it went!

PARKING

1. I'm lucky that Zaim booked the same slot as I did. Same day, same time, same location. So I had a teman. He picked me up and off we went to WTC. Our appointment was at 9:30 and we drove there so we had to find parking. Good thing it wasn't too bad to find a spot. But any later than that, susah sikit to find parking methinks. My best bet is that you have someone send you. Or Grab your way there. We were there in the basement parking, lining up at about 9:18am. Macam lambat sikit lah.

POINT OF ENTRY

2. But since we parked, we entered from the basement. I've seen how you would enter if someone dropped you off so I'm not sure how that works. Upon entering, you have to scan QR, take your temp and show your appointment to the guard there. 

QUEUE AT YOUR STATION

3. Then you line up at your station. So important that you know what station you've been assigned to. It'll guide you all the way 'til the end. Both Zaim and I were Station 2 so we lined up at the designated area. 

4. Wait 'til they call you in. Tip: Really no point you go any earlier than your time. Because you won't even be allowed to come in to the waiting area (at point 3). You'll have to wait outside. Save yourself the trouble and come maybe half an hour je before your appointment.

HOLDING ROOM

5. Go up to the holding room. It's 2 floors up. You'll have to scan another time and take your temp again. Find your station, wait for them to give you your forms (2 of the same kind, you fill up both) and three tickets of your angka giliran (what is this in English??). Fill it up but DON'T SIGN IT. You'll only have to sign when you meet the doctor later for your consultation.

My experience here was that after Zaim's number was called, I was about 17 numbers later than him but the monitor/screen was stuck so the lady had to manually call out our numbers. It's relatively quite fast though! 

Important note: Bring your own pen. I didn't. But again, I was lucky that Zaim did so I borrowed his je huhu

REGISTRATION ROOM

6. After your number gets called, you walk into another room where you wait to be registered. My cute experience was when I sat down for the girl to register me, she looked up and asked "Anak Cikgu Mazliza ya?" haha I swear I get recognised more for being my mum's daughter than anything else. She graduated in 2015 and told me how close she was with my mum. So I took a photo of her and sent it over to Mama. Haha so sweet of her to say hi! 

I *think* you have to scan another time here but the person there will let you know how to go on about it. Once she's registered you, you'll be directed to your doctor for the consultation. 

DOCTOR'S CONSULTATION

7. My doctor was a young girl, only 25! I know this because she also had to sign my form along with her IC. And she was very helpful. She gave a brief on the vaccine and side effects. I just told her I had eczema and that was my only concern. She also has eczema so she said all's fine and the vaccine shouldn't effect that at all. She then signed my form and told me I could go into the next room.

VACCINE SHOT TIMEEEEE

8. There were seats in the next room but no one was there! So one of the volunteers just brought me into a room. IT WAS VACCINE SHOT TIMEEEE! Tbh I wasn't prepared for this. I thought it'd be a bit of a wait. Macam tak sempat to prepare myself. 

I filmed myself taking the shot. I'm not going to lie, it was PAINFUL! All my friends who had gone before me said it was painless and that they "didn't even feel the needle". What bull!! I could totally feel the needle in! At first, it was just the general pain of an injection but it was in there for some time, babes. Longer than I'd like lah ya. Painful to the point of me going "Wow, that was quite painful!" to the doctor hahaha. He said "hahaha ok done done". Ya, you'd better be done!!! He then covered it with wool and tape but I saw some people getting a plaster. Not that that's important but yknow.

DON'T FORGET TO SCAN THE BARCODE!!!

OBSERVATION ROOM

9. You're then directed to the observation room downstairs. Again, you follow your station number. Gave my forms to the lady and you sit down for 15 mins to see if you have any immediate reaction. Once done, they'll call you and you have to sit at another section where they tell you to click on a link on your app to record your symptoms. 

10. Here's where the delay for us started. The link was completely unclickable. So we had to wait... and wait. Some people managed and left immediately. But because ours wasn't working, we had to wait for the lady to call us one by one to manually enable the link for us. Part ni kecoh sikit because everyone was so unorganised. This was an unforeseen situation so no one expected it. But I think it worked out not long after because friends who went after didn't complain of such delay anymore.

11. Once you click on the link and see the "Do you have any symptoms?" to which you click either "Yes" or "No", you're free to leave! 

DONE!

12. We took the compulsory souvenir photo haha. Again, good thing I had Zaim with me so it was easy to have him take my photo. But we did take a photo for someone who went alone. #KitaJagaKita and all that.

___

So there's that! Overall, the process was smooth sailing and quick 'cept for the last bit. People were so nice and helpful. Made for a pleasant experience! Though it took about 2 hours, it didn't actually *feel* long. If I didn't face the two technical difficulties, it could have cut it an hour short, I'm sure. I haven't heard anyone complain about the process yet other than a bit of the waiting outside if you're there early. Other than that, it was all good! Props to the organisers.

Alhamdulillah it's coming close to 36 hours and I'm feeling fine. No major side effects. I know people had fevers and headaches but I don't have anything so far. Except for the sore arm. SO sore that I can't have any pressure on it or move my left arm around too much. My sleep last night was bit annoying cause I'm so used to sleeping on my left side that it was so awkward to sleep on my right instead. But it's such a small thing to be bothered about that I'm thankful nevertheless. Who knows?? I could develop a fever later in the night but let's not wish for that amin amin aminnn. 

Hope everyone gets the vaccine! It's a step closer to just ending this pandemic. With cases on the rise these days, it's so scary to think that it's already so seeped in our communities that we really can't and won't know who has it anymore. You could be doing all fine and dandy but could be positive. It's the death rate that has been worrying. Sigh. Hope everyone's keeping safe. May Allah protect us all from this pandemic.

Please also say a prayer for our brothers and sisters in Palestine who have been going through an immeasurable level of tragedy, trauma and horror pain. May Allah bestow peace and justice to the oppressed and fallen Palestinians. May families who were torn apart be granted and reunited in Jannah. The power of prayer and recently, the power of social media! The more we talk about it, the better it is for them who have no means to do so. May we all be protected, Ya Allah. 

Take care, everyone. Hope the above has helped a bit in preparing for your vaccination. InsyaAllah all will go well! The faster we get this done, the faster you can travel again!!! Remember hanging out without wearing masks???? Dream.

xx