Big Bad Wolf Book Sale 2011

This year, friend Elia was nice enough to drive (I paid the toll) us to the Big Bad Wolf Books sale in MAEPS (Malaysian Agro Exposition Park Serdang) in Serdang, as neither of us would've liked to go there alone. I wouldn't mind going on Saturday, but she already took leave, so might as well. We left PJ pretty early (before 9 a.m.), but took a wrong turn after the Cyberjaya toll plaza (my fault) and took a scenic route to UPM. At least we made it there in the end. By the time we got to MAEPS, it was almost 10 a.m. anyway, so we didn't spend too much time waiting to go in or what. 

As it is quite a distance if one were to walk to Hall A from the parking lots, there are plenty of colourful, themed shuttle buses making the rounds at your disposal, so I suggest hopping on and don't wear yourself out walking there before walking around. By the time we got to the hall by shuttle, the doors were open and we just sauntered in without having to line up.

Book holding counters (one each side) - drop off, get a number and keep browsing!
No need to lug your haul around the hall!

Area before the cashier counters - people sorting their loot

Cashiers - plenty to go around, but need express ones lah

Spent a couple of hours there tops, but I didn't buy or spend too much. This year's damage? RM59. Sure, there were a lot of books, but not necessarily books that I wanted. So it was easy sticking to my RM100 budget.

Here's pictures of the haul, in case anyone's interested...

Book damage: RM53. Guess which was the priciest.

Push up measuring cup - RM6.
Like the one Alton Brown uses on Good Eats

Random thoughts and observations:

• I recommend taking the shuttle buses.
• On the subject of vehicles - I've been reading that there's no easy access by public transport and taxi is a bit too expensive. Drive if you can, or hit up someone with a car and hitch a ride with them. Seriously.
• I did not appreciate the OCBC people trying to disturb my book browsing by trying to pitch their bank's credit card (which they're incentivizing by throwing in RM20 Big Bad Wolf Books gift  vouchers) LESS THAN TWO MINUTES INTO THE BOOK BROWSING. WTF. I know they were the official credit card and all, but really... I don't care.
• There's a table in the Cookery section where they're selling silicone baking trays, etc.
• There was plenty of space for everyone and also their trolleys and wheelie bags. But I can't say the same for Saturday and Sunday... 
• They should set up several express lane counters (like in the supermarket) for people who bought 10 items or less, just so jokers like me won't get stuck behind people who bought 5 - 6 huge boxes of books -_-

On the return shuttle back to the parking lot at around noon, there was a significant line at the entrance. Just thought you should know. Go early.

Had to mention we took a wrong turn or two on the way home as well, but was fine once we got on the LDP. Yay.

I also just found the BFM interview with the founders of Big Bad Wolf Books and BookXcess... take a listen, why don't you?