#062-365 Computer

When still in the Army I had an opportunity to visit Singapore, great place! I went there thinking I could buy a cheap computer, but I will be honest there are far more interesting things for a young(ish) soldier to do in the Lion City than shop. So as my time (and money) ran out I thought "Gee I bragged that I was going to buy a computer!" and here you see IT. I had always intended to catch a bus back to Penang Nth Malaysia (Which shares about 99% of the Indonesian Language as a common tongue - much like English and American I imagine) I wanted to mix with the general public.

Being a soldier I learned early to travel light (One airline bag small and a second set of cloths is all I had) with this sticking out the top of the bag. When we got to the Causeway (the border between Singapore and Malaysia) there was a sign in 49 foot letters in English, Malay and I suppose every other language declaring; "Nothing of Chinese Origin may Enter Malaysia"

So I debussed (Do you like that) and approached the Bumi Putera (Native Born Malay) who was the Customs Officer (Big Lad) and he said "Apa itu?" pointing at the Abbacus (What's that?) showing no acknowledgement to my caucasian appearance, so I hit back without batting an eyelid "Itulah Komputer!) (from here on in I will revert to English but the whole exchange took place in Bahasa Indonesia/Malay) He almost bellowed "That's not a computer" but I heard the humour underneath the bluster. So being a natural born salesman I launched into a spiel.

"Sure it is the most modern computer avaiable - No keys to jam up, no power cord to get dislodged, no batteries to go dead, no screen to blow up in your face and it's portable" I think he was more impressed with my command of Bahasa than he was by the spiel but started to laugh and gesticulate to his fellow Customs Officers who all shut thier gates to come over and see this electronic marvel that I had presented. We all had a good time laughing, joking and bantering (which I relished in) but I suppose it did nothing for the demeanour of the 800 or so travellers waiting for the gates to be re-opened so they could be on thier way.

When I rebussed (??) the driver enquired in Bahasa if everything was okay, so I told him what had happened and he was suitably impressed with my linguistic skills and had me take the seat behind him, much to the chargrin of the venerable Chinese Gent who had occupied it before. I wish I had not taken him up on the invertation though as he spent the entire trip turned around talking to me. (Around 380 miles). I am sure that he was only aware of oncoming traffic by the look of terror on my face.

Hope you enjoyed the story but it is a diversion, anyone pick the puzzle?

Come on Guys Someone have a shot at the Puzzle!