I was on leave last Wednesday. It was due to me needing to make a passport. Yup, it’s my first time making passport and yes, I’ve not been out of the country before. Okay, things that need to be brought are original and a photocopy of your IC and Birth Cert (birth cert for first time only), 2 passport sized photo of yourself and finally the completed application form.

I woke up at around 6am that day and started my journey to the immigration department by 6.30am. I have to thank Belle for telling me the location of Metro Kajang where the Immigration Department is located. Anyway, I reached Metro Kajang at around 7.10 and went up to the Immigration Department which is located in the 4^th floor. By the time I reached, there is already a quite long queue and I was like “Oh No, what time will I be able to finish everything?”. It was then that the guard starts splitting people based where one line (A) is for people who have the form (filled in, if not, you will either have to fill in asap or line up later) and all the necessary items and one line (B) for people who did not have the form or all the necessary items. If you forgot to photocopy or bring your photo, you do not need to worry as there is a photocopy and photo “booth” outside the Immigration department. It was after that split that there are now 8 people in front of me. You see, it pays to be prepared. Hehehe. FYI, the forms can be obtained online and also can be bought at the Immigration Department for RM1. The cons for the second option is that you will either have to go to the Immigration Department twice or you will have to line up to get the form, fill it in and then only proceed to get your number.

The Immigration Department here start their operation at around 7.30am and by then, there are already a very long queue on both line A and line B. Line A people can proceed to get their numbers while line B people will have to buy the forms, fill it in and then proceed to line A to get their number where now, you will be at the back of the original line A. I can’t help but to feel sorry for the girl in front of me as before you get your number, the officers will check that everything is in order and it turned out that she did not bring her original copy of birth cert. So, instead of getting number 2009, I got number 2008. There was a slight problem with my IC too where the card reader cannot read the data but I am sure that there are data in there as card readers in clinics can read it. What the officer did was to rub the chip with an eraser and the problem is solved.

So, my number was called at around 7.45am and the application was submitted at around 7.50am. After that, I have to wait to be called to the payment counter and made my payment at around 7.55am. I was then told to go back to collect my passport at around 9.45am. I had my breakfast at Station Kopitiam which is located right outside the Immigration Department. Actually, there is nothing much to talk about regarding this anymore. I got my passport at around 9.55am (By that time, the Immigration Department is already fully packed) and reached Leisure Mall (as I have something to buy there) at around 10.30am. Hmm, quite fast and efficient service for a government department. Thumbs up from me. My advice here is that you should make sure you brought everything, fill up your form and to go early. If not, I do not know what time will you be able to complete everything.

Okay, the reason why I have to make my passport is because I will be out of the country tomorrow. It’s a vacation to Phuket with my family and my uncle’s family which I cannot say no and have no say in. It’s because my mother discussed this trip with my aunt a few months back and then, she bought the ticket without even informing or asking me about my availability. The worst part about this is that it was at a time where I have almost come to an agreement with my gf that we will be going to Phuket this year but because of this trip, my gf and my plan to Phuket will have to be scrapped due to insufficient annual leave and insufficient vitamin M. Anyway, next year, I will definitely be out of the country with my gf. LOL.

I wonder how will this vacation turn out because there will be some wacky kids and some "emo" teenagers which does not fall into my age group. I do not want to end up being a baby-sitter. Hehehe. Hopefully, the political instability in Thailand will not affect Phuket. So, there you go. I will be away from tomorrow until next Tuesday. See you then.