Dreamland where you at?

The clock is ticking down to 3am, the wind from the fan is the only ambient sound I hear, the lights are all off, but not my eyes and my mind. Which are perfect for a lot of thinking, mostly negative. I blame the white coffee I had at Seoul Garden during dinner, all two large cups of it.

So I switch on my MP3 player, and in an act reminiscent of the school days, I start to tune to a radio station after another, although now I don't hear Klasik Nasional that much.

Back in school I would sink in the bed at 11.30pm, at which time the dutiful prefect or Islamic Council member would make an announcement that went more or less like this,

"Perhatian kepada semua pelajar ASiS, waktu sekarang 11.30 malam. Anda diminta untuk memadamkan lampu dorm dan menyiapkan diri untuk tidur." 

Actually the announcement was unnecessary, primarily because we were known to be an academically excellent school so it'd be a shame if we had to be reminded of something as simple as sleep time but it was a norm, and it was almost a tradition. Plus, there were always some eager announcers, including yours truly sometimes. 

And that was it, everyone would quit the laundry, quit the chatting, quit the studying, everything, and like a closing bell in the stock exchange, it's time for us boys to call it a day. We didn't have to be reminded twice, nor did we need to be forcibly put to bed by the wardens since we knew tomorrow would be another busy day and we'd be damned to go through it sleepy, what with the teachers constantly ready with dusters or sharp words to be thrown ruthlessly at the sleepyheads.

But of course, not all of us slept right away. Some were swiftly lulled into the dreamland, but some would go on with their little personal businesses, some "me time" before bed. Mine was listening to the radio while waiting for the KLCC towers' lights to go off at 12am. It was a daily affair. I've always been impressed with KLCC, to me it's one of mankind's grandest creation and we are lucky to have it close by, in our very own Malaysia. Back in those days when KL was a vacation spot, I would go jakun every time I saw KLCC. 

Just imagine how glad I was that the top bunk I was assigned to when I entered boarding school had the view of KLCC and Genting Highlands. The best bed I could ask for. A part of the reason why those were yet the most precious years of my life.