My First Offshore Assignment

It was like a bolt from the blue. I remember tidying up my desk on a pleasant Autumn afternoon when the News Coordinator called up the Reporters' desk. I picked up the phone and heard him speak: "Who is this?" He asked me if I would be interested to cover the inaugural Kuala Lumpur International Batik (KLIB) Convention & Exhibition. That was late November, 2005 and the convention was scheduled for 9-11 December. I told him that I didn't have a passport. He just said ~ get it done. Next seven days were really really hectic and though many people may have the preconceived notion that a journalist can make many things possible, believe me that is not true. Getting a passport in four days was not easy. I remember driving a lot of people mad. That includes the then Regional Passport Officer (RPO), Kolkata, Mr MK Singh. Malaysian visa was given only from New Delhi at that time and our travel agent was a lousy fellow. He drove me nuts and I finally got my visa six hours before my flight was to take off from NSC Bose Airport in Kolkata. It was a relief when the Malaysia Airlines direct flight to KL left ground.
I landed in KL around noon and it took about an hour to reach my hotel in a cab. After a quick nap in the afternoon, I was introduced to all the speakers of the convention as well as the media representatives from various countries. Introductions over, I realised that I was the only one from India. That made it all more exiting, I guess.
The Kuala Lumpur International Batik Convention 2005 was organised and sponsored by Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysian, a non-profit organisation. The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, opened the gala festivities on 9 December. His late wife, Datin Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood, had been a long-time patron of Malaysian batik and this first KLIB was dedicated to her memory. All sessions were held in the modern and spacious Kuala Lumpur Putra World Trade Center.

We were treated to two sumptuous banquets, the last of which, was attended by the Royal family and the Prime Minister. We were also taken around the city of KL and believe me it is one of the most modern cities in Asia. The hospitality was fantastic and I have lasting memories of the event.
I sometimes wonder... If I was not the guy who picked up that phone from the News Coordinator that day, someone else may have written this memoir...