Departing and Arrival

Travellers,

My adventures take me this time to Malaysia for a 3.5 week odyssey from the peninsula to Sabah, Penang, Langkowi before an extended stay in KL. I visited Malaysia 9 years ago and I remember how the hot and humid air hit me like a blast furnace when I first left the airport, how decadence was juxtaposed with poverty and how no matter how much I wanted it, I couldn't get bacon anywhere. But on that trip I never really found Malaysia - not the Malaysia I was hoping to find anyway . . . So I return now in search of Malaysia's elusive character; to learn its smells and tastes; to sense its history and explore its culture.

Armed to the Teeth

I am carrying a Pentax DSLR, Panasonic Water Proof Camera, Gorilla Pod, iPhone 4, Kindle, a HP Netbook and a logitech wireless mouse all to make recording and transmitting content easier. Now all I need is a net connection . . .

Departing

The time before departing on an overseas trip is ruled by anticipation. You live in a state of transition, imagining the completion of one life and the beginning of another. There will soon be a time where your work tasks are complete or handed over; where your bed will remain unslept in; and, in my case, where you will no longer be able to share the embrace of your partner. The anticipation of adventure prevents you lamenting the loss of those things and people you leave behind but they cannot share your excitement. So for those closest to you, departing is anticipating your absence.

Stowaways: Part 1

I opened my pack searching for my netbook and noticed movement among the clutter of the contents of my bag. Surprised and curious, I sifted through my assortment of cameras, books, cables and lollies to find a pair of stowaways hiding near the bottom of the bag.  The stowaways were a pair of turtles named Oscar (green) and Mr T. (yellow). I knew the turtles. I suppose you would call them friends of mine. They were fellow crew members back in my piracy days. We sailed under a jolly roger in search of lost treasure, laying anchor where and when we pleased. The last I had seen them, the pair had jumped ship while our boat had been at port awaiting repairs.

I grabbed the two turtles by the scruff of their necks and pulled them from my bag. I cursed their wretched souls and demanded an explanation. Oscar said nothing but complain - as usual - about my rough handling while Mr T. tried to calm me with platitudes to little avail. I repeatedly gave the turtles a vigorous shake and demanded an explanation until  Mr T. finally relented.

"We heard you were plotting a course for Asia and we figured you could use a pair of travelling companions", said Mr T.

"And this has nothing to do with treasure?" I asked.

"Treasure? Are you searching for treasure? The thought had never crossed our minds. We are no longer the slaves to treasure we once were", claimed Mr T. I laughed a hearty pirate laugh - for these turtles it was always about treasure.

After some begging and pleading, I consented to their company. They thanked me and promised not to be a burden. They told me I would never know when I would need a pair of turtles to get me out of a sticky situation.

Texis

Catching Taxis (Texis in Malaysian) in Asia is always a danger in that the roads are often poorly maintained, the drivers speed excessively and the traffic is chaotic. In Malaysia the traffic is comparitively low and the roads are well maintained however the Texis still hurtle around town at crazy speeds. The guide book says to keep an eye out for older texis and texi drivers . . . if they have got to an old age, they must be doing something right!!

KFC

Jorgo, I checked it out and KFC is open 24 hours a day here. Asia, it is so advanced!!