Transferred to a luxury prison after landing!

Quarantine policy during covid 19 pandemic.:

The plane landed on 17th August, 2020 at 9pm at Kota Kinabalu international airport. I was escorted to the Health authority who gave me 2 options. Free Accommodation (hostel type) or a hotel at my own expenses. I chose the latter. After all the paper work done, I was transferred to a government van,  escorted by uniform guards and then "handed over" to another uniform guard at the entrance of the hotel.

It was almost 11 pm when I arrived at the Capital Hotel entrance.

 The concierge was very helpful upon my arrival with my luggage. Before entering the hotel lobby, I had to register with the policeman who was sitting next to the entrance.  A photograph was taken by the police, with both of my arms and legs spread out like a "criminal".😜

Then I was sprayed from head to toe, including the soles of my shoes with disinfectant and temperature taken by the concierge  before entering the hotel lobby to proceed to the reception. 

Staff at the reception were also helpful and gave me the card-like room key and internet password.

 I was reminded to follow the Quarantine SOP strictly which I knew wouldn't be a problem for me😉

After arriving in my room, I  sanitized as many surfaces as I could find, including door knobs, bathroom handles, toilet seat, table, chairs, desk etc. Even though the room had been cleaned and sanitized before I checked in, I still wanted to do it, just to have some peace of mind. No harm in minimizing as much viruses as possible, that might have settled on the surfaces in the room.😏

 Room was clean and comfortable.There was sufficient toiletries and clean bath towels.

 

I went straight to bed after a shower.  The moment my head hit the pillow, I went off like a light to the Land of nod.

Ever since  Covid 19 hit the whole world, it is now in chaos . Every one suffers. The rich and poor, the healthy and sick, the young and old. everyone, everything. each moment is .. unpredictable.

Covid 19 is life changing to us all. Many began to appreciate more of precious times and loved ones.

The 14 days quarantine may not be as terrible as some have described, depending on the condition of accommodation. I was lucky that I got a nice comfortable room with WiFi, TV channel and a small window, So at least I didn't feel so claustrophobic. It's more like a holiday than a detention.

Views from the room

I woke up the next morning, sun shining through the window. My room was No 806 on the 8th floor which has a beautiful  panoramic view of the city, this included the sea and distant islands.

City view

 
 Sea & island view

 Hills view

 It feels good to be home again even though I needed to undergo the 2 weeks quarantine in a hotel.  Health authority would come to do a nasal swab on Day 2 and D9. Blood test would be done on D13 which was just a finger prick. The list of names for the test and those for discharge would be sent to our group chat which was set up by the hotel management on your phone. That was how we all communicated with the hotel staff and everyone staying in the hotel.

I monitored my temperature every morning and recorded in the form provided by the KKM.

At Night

Night view from the window at 8 pm

When night falls, the road was much quieter but the shopping mall's vibrant night lights were lively to watch from my room.

I slept with the curtain wide open. Sometimes when it's not raining, the night sky was so clear. I could see the half moon in the sky from my bed surrounded by thin scanty clouds, making it look so romantic.

  

The hotel I was staying was superb because there was a little window where I could keep it open, or opt for using the AC.

Meals were served 3 times a day and the doorbell would ring to indicate that meals had arrived which were left on a white table outside the door. No direct contact was allowed with anyone

 

Some pic of the meals. I did not snap photo of  every meal😏. The white table was basically a delivering and receiving point for anything between the person who was quarantined and the hotel staff.

 

Every morning a bottle of drinking water and toilet roll would be placed on the little white table. For other stuff such as coffee, tea, shampoo, shower jel, soap bar, pillow covers, bed sheet , towels etc they would be delivered on request. 

Sometimes, I didn't fancy the breakfast provided by the hotel,  so, I decided to make my own hot oatmeal with condensed milk for my breakfast.👍👍😂 

Varieties of beverages I brought with me😜 Nestum, Milo, Horlicks aside from coffee and tea provided by the hotel.

Bin were emptied every  9 am and 5 pm 

There were many self activities we could think of, to keep ourselves busy and it all depends on our "mind set" of how to keep ourselves occupied. Even if I was not busy, I made myself busy. That was how time passed by fast for me during my 14 days detention in my Luxury Jail😅😅😅

Early in my quarantine, I turned to thoughts of  one of my hobbies, ie plants.

Rare plant - yellow dragon fruit plants

These plants had been with me since March, 2020. I planted them from seeds in Singapore and brought these babies back with me 😁. 

It was lovely to see them every morning in the room.They looked pretty and their greens did cheer me up  inside the room. 

Laundry service was not provided. Fortunately, I prepared a little bucket and a hanger for self laundry😁

When my laundry had dried, I further dried them on the window sill to  get some sunlight.

Families were allowed to bring in sealed food. These were my comfort foods😋😋

Surprised visit by my family 😁

And I could only see them from the window 😂

When it's raining, it's lovely to just lie down, relax and listen to the falling rain on the glass window 😊

Some kind of "exercise" to pass time😜 By the time I was done with my tasks, I  was sweating cobs😅💪

Tidy my own bed was a good start, first thing in the morning to get organised 😄

Alternative activity - continuing my unfinished knitting

Thanks to the high tech era that now E newspapers and E books are available on line so we don't have to carry heavy books in our bags anymore.

Lord of the ring was a good ebook for me to read. I searched for this novel through Google at novels 80.com

Lastly, a very IMPORTANT activity, sitting on my arse or lying on my back, watching DRAMA for up to 16 to 18 hours per day with REST in between and this is for the MIND and SOUL.🤭

So after 2 weeks you should remain sane and healthy (as no gym equipment available in the room)😜

Remember that during all this high activity you need to eat every 1-2 hours .😅😂😁 "High end Health Foods" are freely available online at KFC, Mac Donald, Burger King and Pizza hut, all were delivered with a smile from Panda or Grab😜🤣

Watch drama or any interesting hobby that you may like. For me, gardening is interesting and is my passion😊 

Netflix is another source of watching HD movies and dramas

Unlimited prepaid internet on standby

I had my prepaid internet on standby , just in case i was enjoying my drama and the wifi was crappy which could happen. No use moan or groan because it's not going to solve anything and  likely to make us more frustrated and going loony😈😈😈 unless you have the patience of a saint🙏, then it's ok😊

On my 2nd week of detention, I decided to start writing my story about my quarantine. Honestly speaking, I was "having a ball" on my 1st week of my detention😂.

But towards Day 11 it's getting a bit difficult to contain.  Someone from previous batch had warned us that by Day 10,  we would be a bit "lunatic". Judging from what he said, he may be right, I did feel a bit restless by Day11. 

To make things worse, knowing that some had completed their quarantine period and were going home, this  did affect me a bit. Even though it would be my turn soon but I just couldn't help feeling a bit envious and down 😥😔😕😌😭

 

No wonder previous batch said I would eat my plants by Day10! 😅Oh No! that's bad😨

But I won't eat my plants😜😝😛

My poor darlings were also affected by the mood😒😩😟

Signs of a lunatic,  ie, a messy room with unwashed cups, plate, spoons and rubbish all over the floor. I was not bothered to clean up , tidy or do anything, I just lost interest in everything😞

So to brighten up my mood, I started to order fast food😘😘 and lots of it too.hahahah

Such Luxury food can only be ordered once a day and only from 3 pm to 5 pm.😜

Day 13 -  Last day for the final test- a blood test.

Psychologically,  I was in good mood😂. knowing that it won't be much longer for home😁

My darlings also brightened up😂😎

Health authority staff with full PPE came around 1 pm with a test kit

Only a drop 💧 of blood was needed for the test.

I was informed the result would be out in 15 mins

Wasn't able to take this pic well. Anyway, it's just like the pregnancy test kit.

1 line means its negative. 2 lines means positive.

And My Result was...NEGATIVE!!!  HOORAY!💪👍😂 But I could only go
home in 2 days time ( 14 nights must be spent in quarantine )😕😒😞😞😞.
So actually it's Day 15😥 that i was finally  able to leave

Day 14

 High Tea to mark the last afternoon of my quarantine stay at Capital hotel 😁

Not because my eye is bigger than my belly but it's because I could only order such delivery once a day! So it's Tea time, Dinner and Supper! 3 in 1 !!!😛😜😝

Kiasu!!! Singapore famous word😅💪

Then I got the mood to start packing 😀

Bags were packed and ready to leave for the next day😏. 

I cleaned the table and cleared my rubbish which were left for days. 

Normally, when I came back from Singapore, the luggage was always full of  souvenirs BUT this time, they were full of stuff to entertain my 2 weeks quarantine that includes packets of beverages, food etc. 😅

My Last evening at Capitol Hotel, 

A Tidy and spotless clean table😂😁

Before it was like this...😅😈😆😆

The last night had fallen and I tried to sleep early around 8.30 pm but couldn't do so. Probably due to feeling of  excitement for going home the next day😅

So I watched telly

movie: The Avengers 

Finally, I manage to fall asleep before midnight.

Woke up a bit late than usual, about 8.30 am. Maybe it's a feeling of missing the pillows, bed and the room and  wanted to sleep a bit longer . Mentally after staying in the room for 2 weeks, we are bound to have some sort of bonding with the bed and room😅😅???

Packing done including my "babies" back into the transporter.

Around 11.30 am, the hotel receptionist  informed that the letter of release had arrived and we would be called one by one to come down to the lobby to receive the letter.

Letter of release

The letter was shown to the police at the desk near the entrance of the lobby door and after he took a photo of the letter, I was free to go, Hooray!!😷😂

All of us leaving on the same day, were very excited and elated with family members waiting for their release. It was indeed a happy occasion.

Everyone loading their bags hurriedly into their family car as if couldn't wait to get out of sight from quarantine experience😅

It's really a good feeling of freedom. That euphoric feeling was wonderful.

Can't put fully into words. So many emotions going through my head

I was still in a shocked state as I was adjusting with freedom. So when  everyone was waving excitedly to say good bye, I just sat there smiling like in a stance, as if couldn't believe my eyes that I was to go home!!😅😅

Until my husband came around 11.40 am with "Betsy", our loyal car.😂 Awww... so good to see him after so long with Betsy.😍

Concierge helping with my bags to my car😊.After waving everyone at the hotel good bye, we set off  in a car , I shouted out of window "Freedom"!

 I had a good comfortable stay at the hotel but home is still the best😂

Transferred my 4 babies from the bottle to a new home. 😂😍

The End of my prison "Quarantine" sentence.🙆💃💃

Sweet potato leaves and a recipe

This is a short story of how I started my 1^st plant (Sweet Potato leaves) on 31^st floor of my accommodation in Singapore. 

Sometime toward the end of January 2020, I returned to Singapore to re-join as one of the team members in a company where I worked to ease shortage of staff.

Not long after I joined the team, Covid 19 became a pandemic in Singapore and Circuit Breaker (others called it a Lock Down) were reinforced in April, so, none of us could fly out of any country freely. Because of that, many were informed to stay home while all non-essential workers were advised to work from home. Many non-essential shops, cinema, sport complex, school etc were closed. Only those categorized as essential were opened.

Many of us couldn’t get used to the new rules to prevent spread. I tried my best to start a hobby to keep myself occupied when I was not at work. I missed my garden and the greens back in home town, Sabah. One day, a friend told me how she tried to plant the sweet potatoes but unfortunately, they were not successful and died.😭 

Friend's project that didn't work

The potatoes rotted and she didn’t have a chance to see any leave sprout.😥 I thought maybe I should also try to grow one myself to kill boredom. Such thoughts motivated me to plant something in a Singapore high rising floor. If you had read  my story on how I started my garden, I had mentioned sweet potato as the 1^st plant that motivated me into gardening.

Sweet potatoes leaves belong to the Morning-Glory family. The leaves vary from medium to large and are heart or maple like leaves shaped. The difference between sweet potato and potato leave is that the all sweet potato leaves are edible while potato leaves are toxic.

Sweet potato leave grow on a herbaceous perennial vine (mean they are climbing plants).

7.6.2020 - I began my project by using Japanese sweet potato to initiate “slips”. True enough, they didn’t work and the base rotted.

19.6.2020 -   I tried again for the 2^nd time but this time using - Honey Indonesian sweet potato.

 20.6. 2020 - The next day, little shoot sprout. - 😂😂💪..wow! I was so excited. My husband commented it looked something like Star Wars robot. Yes, its BB-8 the most loved star wars character. 😁😁

 

22.6.2020 - Two days later, more leaves appeared like little trees

24.6.2020 - Five days later, this is how they looked. 

27.6.2020 - The slips are matured enough to be detached from the potatoes. They were left in a little container or glass of water. 

4.7.2020
After 2-3 weeks, the roots appeared. 

4.7.2020 - They are ready to be transferred into a pot of soil.

            

5.7.2020 - Day 2 after transplant

5.7.2020 - Day 2 after transplanting.

How to find out that the newly transplanted plants are adjusting in the soil? Take a look at the leaves. If the plants stood upright, with the leaves looking greener and shinier, it means the plant was doing well in the soil.

 9.7.2020 – Leaves have grown bigger and wider

6.7.2020

17.7.2020

21.7.2020

27.7.2020 - Pinch off the tip, to encourage more leaves to appear

29th July 2020

31st July 2020 - more side leaves appeared 

1st August 2020

7th August 2020

10.8.2020- Time to harvest the leaves for a recipe 😂

"Stir fry sweet potato leave with garlic" 

1 small bowl of freshly plucked leaves from the gardening pot... Washed and drained

2 pip garlic smashed and minced

1 tabsp cooking oil

Saute the garlic till slight brown and fragnant

Add the leaves and stir-fry for 1 min in medium heat. 

Add seasoning- salt pepper & soy sauce(according to your taste) and stir fry another min.

Serve hot with steam rice
Mmm… it’s delicious. Taste better than the Kangkong.

11.8.2020- one day after the leaves were harvested for a dish.

Having a pot of sweet potato plant in our home does not only promote mental health for my mind but also as nutritional health benefits whereby consuming these leaves are proven by researcher to be nutritious to our body. 
Because the leaves contain polyphenol which are important antioxidant that helps to reduce risk of chronic diseases.

References:

https://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Sweet_Potato_Leaves_11487.php

Benefits of sweet potato leaves

Edible Sweet Potato leaves

Nutritional values of sweet potato leaves

Benefits of consuming sweet potato leaves

Stressful experience of returning home to Malaysia from Singapore.

This is a story of my stressful experience of how I left Singapore to Kota-Kinabalu on 17th August 2020.

When everyone saw the word "Covid 19", you could hear some giving a big sigh while some not even bothered by it because they were fed up hearing it almost everyday. But for someone like me, I was desperately looking for clues, on how to get home to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from Singapore. And believe me, sadly I couldn’t find anything that could help me when searching through Google. So after my bad experience, I decided to share to others, who were also making an attempt to return to Sabah, Malaysia.

By the end of July 2020, Covid 19 cases in Singapore had soared up to about 52,000 cases while in Sabah, it was less than 10.

    As we all know, many were stranded in Singapore year 2020, not knowing what to do next. The fear of unknown was stressful. Many people don’t know what it feels like unless you are in that situation, especially those who were desperate to fly home across South China Sea.

    Even with Google, I found no helpful information because the SOP kept changing, almost everyday resulting in mayhem and confusion. Staff from various department, government and airline unsure of the rules.

    Yes, I went through with the fear of the “Unknown”, before going home. I had sleepless nights for weeks and couldn’t concentrate on my work. The moment I managed to board a plane to Kota Kinabalu, I felt a huge relief flowing throughout my body, which in words cannot describe. 

    In the end I was so relieve to reach my homeland safe and sound.

    At that time, when I was in Singapore, I was in a very difficult situation deciding what to do. Like most expats there, I was desperate to get home. My direct flights from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu had been cancelled many times. These flights used to be twice daily, then became daily, then weekly, then no flights at all. The Airlines sent apologies and offered a few options for you to choose - whether you want a refund or changed flight to the next available (which was useless) or transfer the fare into the airline credit account (can use to purchase the next flight available).

    I wasn’t brave enough to resign from my work, because if I did, I would need to give a one-month notice to my company and my accommodation, and who knows by one month, the SOP of travel pass may change again, or a 2^nd Lock Down may happen, or no flight available at all. At that time, I felt that anything, everything could happen at any time. These events could have meant me ending up, in deep shit, left stranded, out of work and no place to stay. With no job and no money to pay for anything for an average income person like me to be trapped in the most expensive country in the world, is scary. 😰😰You may say I am “Kiasu”, the famous word used in Singapore meaning fear to lose but for this, I didn’t want to take the risk.

    On the 10^th August 2020,  Singapore and Malaysia government officially released a scheme to allow essential Malaysian and Singaporean travelers to travel between the 2 countries.

    On the 12^th Aug 2020, there were news that Air Asia would fly again from Singapore to Malaysia but only to KL. I made an effort to go to Changi Airport and searched for help at the customer service counter of Air Asia. Why I chose Air Asia was because it has the most flights from KL to KK. There were about 6 flights from KL to KK per day. Wow! 

    I booked the 1^st flight available on 17^th August. One of the Air Asia staff at the customer service counter was very helpful. She helped me to book and arrange my flight in a way that only need to transit in KL for 4 hours. She also reassured me that I didn’t have to get out of KLIA airport (SOP: quarantine 14 days on any port entry in Malaysia) and that my baggage would be transferred straight to KK. Oh! What a relief to hear such good news.😂😂

            With the flight ticket, I went on to apply for Travel pass from our High Commission Malaysia, Singapore. To be honest, it was also so stressful to apply this as I had tried so many times to get it right to get one. Any slightest mistake, including a dot or tick, the application will be needed to restart as the application form online was "case sensitive".

Especially this one that had a tiny "v" sign which many, like me had overlooked.

In this little "v" will lead to a page that need to state whether we are Malaysian resident / PR / student pass.

As a Malaysian , click the Malaysian Resident Pass.

After submission, I received my "Travel Pass" within 24hrs which had a grace period of 1 month. In case a flight is cancelled,I could still fly on a different date as long as it's within 1 month after the pass was issued.

AirAsia staff reminded me to reconfirm the flight again on 16^th Aug (1 day before flight scheduled) as flight might change again. I was also informed that the rules might changed due to the situation and I might need to be quarantine for 14 days in KL before I could board another plane to KK which means another 14 days with the total of 28 days quarantine!😓

So much heartache, disappointment and frustration with that news. Not only did I have to worry about flight cancellation at last minute but, with news telling me that I may need to quarantine in both KL and KK, each port for 14 days was just too much for me to handle. I was in tears.😭😭😭

After speaking to my family and with their encouragement, my spirit lifted up, I decided to get on with it. By hook or by crook I needed to reach KL. So, I told myself to be mentally prepared in taking risk of “28 Days quarantine”. Another sleepless night of unknown fear awaited me.

By 9pm. I received an email from AirAsia. My heart jumped and I felt goose bumps all over my body because everytime I received this emails, they were to inform that flight was cancelled. But this time, it was to inform me that the flight would still be on schedule, Phew! 😅 This email only advised to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before flying due to Covid 19 document checks.

I set my alarm clock to get up early just in case I over slept and planned to go to airport by 9am on my travelling day.

Luck was not on my side. I was just going to leave my room with my bags to book a transport to the airport when the heavens opened and torrential rain came that morning. 😥😥I waited till 10am but the rain continued heavily. I wanted to cry yet I couldn’t. With the last strength left in me, telling myself “I am going home” made me move my bags through the rain, I was drenched from head to toe, but that didn’t stop me from getting into the taxi.

The moment I was in, and on my way to the airport, I said to myself, “At last, it’s done!”💪💪and another weight lifted from my shoulder.

Upon arrival at Changi Airport 1, I was still full of tension. After checking in my bag, with the air ticket, signed letter of undertaking and the travel pass issued by the Malaysian embassy and uploading “My sejahtera” on my phone. everything was settled. I was reminded by airline staff that my luggage would go straight to KK and I would be on transit only for 4 hours. Hooray! Another weight removed from my shoulder.

Inside the departure hall, the airport was so quiet, not many passengers were seen. Most were essentials travelers like me. There were less than 20 passengers in the whole plane! Cabin crew were geared in PPE (gown, googles, mask and gloves). New uniform for cabin crew year 2020😜😜

When the plane departed at 1:30 pm, another weight was released from my shoulder, hahahah…. At least I was flying to KL!

The plane landed at 2.30 pm at KLIA2. Passengers were strictly ordered to be seated and  attended only to our overhead cabin bags in rows. I was lucky that I was in seat No 6D. From 1 - 6, I was the only passenger.😂😂😂

The moment we disembarked from the aircraft, the health authority staff and police were already there to escort me to the health authority area. They asked for my necessary info and to fill in the form inside “my Sejetera” on the phone. Luckily, I had internet connection on my phone on arrival.

A rapid swab test was done on arrival at KLIA2 at my own cost for Rm 60. Anyway, I don't mind, as long as I could board the next plane home.

 I was escorted to a screened area for swab test on my left nostril. It was not comfortable but it was not horrible either. The health authority was gentle enough and advised me to stay still and not to struggle. Within seconds it’s done.

 I was instructed to show this pink slip to the officer to received my result which would be ready by 2 hours .

Then I was moved to another area where I waited for my result with the rest of the passengers who had gone through the same test. We were not allowed to move anywhere except for toilet needs.

Light snack in a green plastic bag was given to me while waiting for the results.
There was a bottle of 500 ml drinking water, a box of juice, a small packet of biscuits and a chocolate cake. I only took the water and gave the rest to the cleaner at the airport.

Around 5 pm, result was out and a BIG “HOORAY”…tested Negative for Covid 19….ALL the remaining  weight lifted from my shoulder. Wow!

After this, the police escorted me to the departure hall where I needed to scan the QR code before getting onto the plane to Kota Kinabalu.

The moment the plane lifted off the ground of KLIA2, my mind was screaming away, “KK, here I come!!!” 

The plane landed at 9 pm at Kota Kinabalu International airport. Again, like in KL, I was escorted to the health authority who asked me where I wanted to be quarantined. I was given 2 options. Free accommodation (hostel type) or hotel at my own expenses. I chose the latter. I was assigned to hotel Capital, a 3 star which was right in heart of the city facing the Gaya Island.

With my baggage, I was transported in a government van to the assigned Hotel.

This ended my story of travelling in Covid 19 exercise Part 1…....

"A roller coaster journey" I ever had in my life for travelling( A borrowed word from a colleague of mine 😅😅😅).

I will continue my Part Two which was about the 14 DAYs of my daily life being Quarantine at Capital Hotel. Only if you are still interested of course. If you are, click here 👉 "Transferred to a luxury hotel on landing"

Before I end this chapter, I had included a little info about RGL and PCA found in the news of mystar which was published on the 23rd Aug 2020.

Limited cross-border travel between Singapore and Malaysia under two schemes - the PCA and the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) - began last Monday.

The RGL facilitates short-term travel for essential business or official purposes between both sides for up to 14 days, while the PCA allows Singapore and Malaysia residents with long-term immigration passes for business and work in the other country to enter for work.

People who enter under the PCA scheme must stay in the country they work in for at least 90 days before they can return on home leave.

Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents do not need the PCA to return to Singapore. However, they still need to serve stay-home notices that will be reduced from 14 to seven days from Sept 1.