I have been trying to figure out which internet service provider my dad should go with at home. A quick search on the internet revealed what I sort of already knew - they all suck. Not in a "someone will always complain about something" kinda way, but in a "how can this be so ridiculous but we all have to live with it" kinda way. First clue, the links on the largest provider's website didn't work 1/2 of the time. I mean, seriously? Then it said "It's a breeze to subscribe." These ppl clearly have no idea what breeze means. And all of these for the price that you have to pay?

My head hurts at times like this. Partly my heart too. It shouldn't be this difficult. Something is obviously wrong. I might have taken internet connection for granted, but M'sia should be better than this at this point. On one hand you have KLwireless, where you can actually get free internet connection when you are in downtown KL as long as you have a cell phone number. I think it's a super cool idea, but why we have something like that before we have decent basic connection is beyond me. Each time I was home for vacation I was amazed by how slow the connection can be. Pure frustration if I ever had to get anything done, cos it's like working in slo-mo. I spent hours trying to upload a file once and failed. Ended up having to remotely connect to my lab computer here to get it done.

It was painful when I was trying to get my certificate of good conduct from the Department of Foreign Affairs too. Each time I call them someone would tell me something different that did not align with their website. It was like I was checking their work. After consulting her supervisor and putting me on the phone numerous times, the lady actually told me she didn't really know what's online, I should just run over to PutraJaya because it's easier that way. She meant easier for her, I think. I didn't, because there's no guarantee whatever she told me is true at that point (it probably would have been easier, but I was pissed). So I ran through the trouble to get my photocopies certified. The lady told me I could get that done with a lawyer, together where I have to get a signature from the commissioner for oaths. The clerk at the lawyer firm asked me why would I want to get copies certified there, to get 6 copies I will have to pay close to 100 bucks (damn lawyers). If I go to the government department it's 10 bucks. When I arrived at the lembaga hasil for "stamping", the guy at the front desk told me the stamping office is close. If I had not stayed for another 5 minutes asking about their working hours, I would not have ran into this lady who asked me what I wanted and then telling me that the office that sells stamps was close, but I can get my documents certified by her supervisor. At that moment I realized he must have thought stamping is the act of selling stamps. When I wanted to pay the lady told me it's free.

Ppl are nice and helpful if you are willing to listen, but hell, it was a lot of listening for something so simple. While part of me like this kind of haphazard, anything can go adventures, a country really shouldn't be operating like this. Too much time is wasted on chasing around... things. It really isn't too much to ask for some sort of standard, we deserve it. I sometimes wonder if we collectively as a nation realize that we deserve better, coz nothing will change if we don't actually believe that.