On Monday morning, in Kuching....

Date: Monday 2/4/07
Time: 9.40 am
Place: In front of the row of shop houses leading to OCBC bank from Hilton Hotel.


Hi! I confessed I was in Kuching from 31 March to 2 April 07. As I was there so briefly, I did not have the time to meet up with old pals. The purpose of the trip was to do 'Chen Meng' (Chinese equivalent to "All Souls' Day").

On the above morn, I left Hilton Hotel, where I was staying, for OCBC bank to do some transactions. As I walked down the hill, along the carpark outside the shop houses (round the corner the bank is located), a Malay guy waved and smiled in my direction. After looking around and behind me for the pal he was greeting, I realised that I was the subject. As I approached, he said "Hi! You remember me? I know you. I also saw you in the airport immigration area. Which hotel are you staying?"
Searching my memory, I tried to remember if I had met him or ever talked to an immigration officer when I was coming in at Kuching airport. Nope, no recall.
Bit baffled, I looked for some clues from him.
"Oh! I cannot remember seeing you before. Sure I was the right person?"
"Yes, I am Awang and I worked at the airport immigration. I saw you at the airport. I am off work now but will be there this afternoon."
"Really? I will be leaving Kuching this afternoon and so will be at the airport by 1 pm".
"Oh! Look for me there! I will be in the second last counter."
Wondering why I should, and still wondering who he was, I tried again: "Were you studying in St. Thomas's Secondary School before? Are you a Thomian? (I wondered if perhaps he knew me in school days..)"
"Yes, I was borned in 1960."
Mmm, few years my junior. That explained it! Of-course juniors remember some of the seniors (Music club? Thomian Magazine? The Square tabloid??? Ballroom Dancing society? The Debating Society?? I was involved with all of these then..).
"Glad to meet you a fellow Thomian. I am going to OCBC. Not much time left before I have to leave for the airport.."
"I do not know how to tell you. You will find it quite a funny situation I am in! You see, my car broke down and I have to go to collect it. Can you lend me RM$50? When you look for me this afternoon at the immigration counter, I will pay back. So embarrassed to ask you."
So, this was it! A day-light con man! I wondered how often he had tried this trick.
"Sorry, I really am not sure if I have met you before and besides, I am in a hurry. I cannot give you any money".
Seeing that I had seen through him, he grinned and said,"Never mind lah. Still look for me at the immigration counter this afternoon ok? I will be there."

At 2 pm on Monday 2/4/07, when I was going through the immigration check, I looked surreptitiously for Awang. No Awang at any of the counters. No Awang approached me to pat me on my back, claiming me as a long lost old Thomian, and perhaps to wish me a good journey.