Passport Blues

I feel like a kuku, I don't even know passports are limited to a certain number of years, with mine being 10 years before requiring to changed/remake a new one. And so when I handed my passport over to the counter at ICA as before, requesting for a renewal, I was surprised when the lady handed me an application form. So I said.... "errr u must have got it wrong, I wanna renew or extend my passport, not to make a new one." Adding to my surprise, she said "oh yours is already 10 years, pointing to my issue date which is 1997. What the heck, I thought of all the fuss and troubles that I'd have to go through just to remake a new one. Reluctantly look the application form and walk off to queue at the photo taking gallery.

My first thoughts were..."oh no, we're screwed because we're supposed to book our flight to Bangkok tomorrow and now I have to...remake my whole passport? arhhhh!"

More troubles were to follow at the photo taking gallery, those machine u know where a person will sit outside with the photoshop stuff. When it was my turn, I went in and suddenly the lady say: "hey u wearing colored contact lens issit", to which I replied "yeah whats wrong, u have a problem with that?" And I was horrified when she say color lenses were not allowed, it will result in the application being rejected etc etc. What the....and what was i supposed to do? I dont even have my lens case or solution with me how to remove it? I feel like giving the auntie a tongue lashing when she handed me a plastic slip asking me to place my lens on the. Hello, are u crazy?

Ended up I had to walk out and ask an officer if its possible to snap with my color lenses on. Luckily she's clever enough to say its possible, just darken my eye balls with photoshop. PHOTOSHOP!!! Thats the purpose of it right? I suspect the auntie didnt know how to use photoshop thats why! I went back with an evil grin on my face and when I stepped into the room I said: "ohh paiseh uh, the officer say u juz need to use PHOTOSHOP and darken my eyes, u dunno how to use issit? Want me to do for u?"

I sense the aunties were so angry they immediately asked a younger guy to do for me, so off I went to the other machine and my picture was done within 5mins because I requested to be ahead of everyone as Im in a rush. My acting skills and princey attitude was such a turn off I believe but who cares haha.

Then I had to decide between applying it by form or online. I choosed online and went into the room and got screwed again. This time, the lady said that 11B is not allow because she need to enter the NRIC issue date which is not stated on 11Bs. I totally feel like heaven is restricting me from going to Bangkok! Left with 1 last option, I went to those counter and manually fill up that stupid form and was about to submi the form for payment when I rememberd that I still dunno the new passport expiry date which is needed to book my flight tickets.

Seeing an ICA staff nearby, I asked her a very very simple question: "may I know if i extend my passport today as in a new application, what would be my new passport expiry date?"

And guess what? My question seem like: "may I borrow $500,000 from you, i promise to return u asap".

I'm not being scarastic but that was the look on her fucking face. Hey u're a staff and u're supposed to help me, how can u keep shaking ur stupid head and telling me u don't know or how would u know? Keep pointing to god know which direction asking me to go there go there ask. Where the hell is there man!? Seeing her so terrified and hopeless, I gave her a black face and left. Went back to the counter and seek assistance and luckily this chinese lady gave me an interview with an ICA officer to find out more. I had to fake a reason for being so urgently requiring my passport. Hence I said I had an emergency in Korea and they all believed my story and Oscar acting skills again!

In the interview room, this Indian lady must be having some PMS or what, kept giving me fucking attitude like the previous one and don't seem to know anything. I almost lost my temper there. Here I was asking her one thing and there she was telling me another. And the way she talk, u know indians like to move their head when they talk, I feel like smacking it. I'm no racist but Im irritated enough by all these troubles. Eventually I request to meet the passport application officer and that was where I finally met an angel who told me that if I make today it will be excatly 5 years from now my passport expires. I ended up paying $80, an extra $10 but who cares, what a relief!

Biometric passport, totally screwed up my afternoon! Went to bugis to meet Julia to settle some Citibank stuff and then since it was still early I decided to go shopping, all by myself. Been a long time I shopped alone, saw lots of stuff. Tempted but restricted myself to 2 tops, a belt and some neck accessories. People were like looking at me like they've never seen a guy going shopping alone before. I wish everyday is like that, minus the ICA stuff of course, being able to leave office after lunch and go shopping!

I'm praying Alvin dont screw this up, I want my flight tickets tomorrow!