Am in Manchester now!!

13 hours in the bus... is no joke. My whole body aching already. Never again shall I put off buying train tickets.

Anyways, it wasn't too bad a journey. I sat with an Iranian guy on the way here... at first I wasn't too happy cos he kinda had a bit of a BO, the bus was so stuffy as the aircon wasn't working too well, and was also feeling nauseous.

So bad mood weii...

Anyway, later during the trip we started talking, about Manchester, about friends and all that. He's been living in Manchester since 1999, working here and all. We talked about bakhlava, shisha, Egypt, Harrods and all that, it was cool. He was quite surprised that I knew so much about the Arabian culture (and food - basically food, haha!).

We also talked about the war in Iran... imagine what its like, to wonder if your close friends and family are going to come back everytime they step out of the house?

Can you?

I shudder when I think about it.

Anyways, he was really nice... I forgot to bring my friend Mikael's number, and I'm supposed to be staying over at his place when Yen leaves! Sigh. Actually I forgot to bring so many things - wifi card, handbag, shorts, earrings, perfume, haiyo!! kek sei. Anyway, am sidetracking.

Now where was I?

Oh yeah, I didn't bring Mikael's number!!!! Die die die. Nevermind, worst comes to worst, stay with Algene at Sheffield, or see if Wai Ying is still around in Manchester - if I can email her. Aiks!Sidetracked again.

Yah, so Wahab, that Iranian guy, was kinda worried for me. But I assured him that I had a place to stay for the next two days, so he was kinda relieved. He brought me to the hotel, helped carry my bags, and accompanied me until Sue Yen came to get me, and after that he went missing. Didn't even get a chance to thank him...

Maybe it's just one of those 'guardian angel' moments; where somehow, someway, someone out there is there to help you in little ways when you're in stuck in a situation.

And I've had so many of those moments. *thanks God*

My parents have always warned me about strangers. And perhaps I'm being naive... but I think sometimes, mere strangers can be more helpful and more caring than some of your friends.

And what are strangers, if not friends yet to be discovered?

Of course don't simply trust any Tom, Dick or Harry la... but I trust my judgement in people and so far, I've never been wrong. So many many many of my good friends I met by chance events such as this.

Its sad that in this world today, people are just so suspicious of each other.

Hell I believe in the good in people.

And you know what?

I'd rather die believing in the inherent goodness in people than live a cynical life suspicious of others.

I'm so exhausted, but Yen wants to go for the Starbucks Jazz Festival, and wahey, I'm not going to miss out on my yearly Jazz Fests either!!

I wonder if it'll be like the ones at Mont Kiara... mygosh, love love love the jazzfests back home.

Signing off now.

You guys take care.

[edit: Haish, no Jazz Fest tonight... its next month, not this month. Yeesh]