Malaysia Airlines Young Passenger aka Sweet-tooth Terrorist

Dad and cars always bring me back to childhood. And threading through my childhood is a trail of exotic remote locations all over Pen Malaysia. As kids growing up brother and I spent school term living in civilization with relatives (Ipoh) and school vacations in the wild (rubber, oil palm, cocoa plantations that Dad got posted to). I used to miss Mom and Dad so miserably when apart. But of course looking back despite the long separations, I had a truly unique childhood. One that so many of my peers would today pay for a weekend taste of it... And I had that right from age 6 till 18.

Aside from the great outdoors as my backyard during school hols, I also experienced peripheral adventures as a result. Take flying for example. I began traveling by plane on my own from age 6 onboard MAS as a Young Passenger. My first time on a plane was accompanied by my aunt to acclimatise me to the experience of flying. The flight was from Ipoh to Kota Bahru where my parents were stationed then. The adults (aunt, Mom, Dad) were nervous but I didn't see what the big deal was. Sure the Fokker engine sounds were alien and there were moments of air turbulence. But hey, the nice pretty stewardesses all doted on me and made me feel like VIP. I swear if there was a Menteri Besar on-board, he still would not have enjoyed the attention I got! Because kids that wore the "Young Passenger" badge always got the first and best of anything! I was the first to get settled in by the nice "cheh cheh" stewardesses. I was the first to get refreshments. On top of which, I got served for-kids-only treats like special complimentary choc sweets and toffees in baby blue MAS sweet wrappers (I still remember the colour!)... very swish...

And here comes the part that confirmed once and for all in my chaperoning aunt's mind that I was more than capable to travel on my own...This also happens to be the event that made her cringe in embarassment!

Why?... Because the little 6 year old monster seated to her left was apt to lose all shyness and inhibition at the sight of food. When the "cheh cheh" stewardess offered me the tray of sweets, I took it... literally

I looked up all innocent and delighted at the stewardess and then without a word, I turned, grabbed my aunt's handbag, opened it without permission and then with both hands I relieved the stewardess of the tray and proceeded to pour ALL the sweets into my aunt's handbag. Every... single... last... one... of... them!

Then with a shy and polite, "Thank you, cheh cheh" I placed the empty tray back in the hands of the stewardess. If she was stunned, she was very professional about it. Not a gasp, not a single raised eyebrow, not a hint of anything. She acted as if nothing happened. Talk about class and killer customer service. And it was a domestic flight to boot!

As for me and my aunt, we did not exchange a word for the rest of the flight to Kota Bahru. She was too busy cringeing and I was busy bingeing...