5th June
Spent many hours trying to find accommodation, ranging from 30RM (a box made of wooden boards in the corner of a corridor with ill fitting door) to 200 Rm. I eventually gave up and went for a trek along route 9, which was along a water fall. Unfortunately the water feeding the fall was not clean and therefore the pool and the stream were not terribly inviting. I only met one tourist couple on the trek who were having a snack and later overtook me at some speed. That was ok for me since I could have the place to myself and at times just stood around and felt at some peace with the forest. I also saw some terraced tea plantations which were interesting. I eventually got to the end of the trek which was on a main road and 9 Km from Tana Rata. I had a snack in a cafe and started walking, thinking I would need 2-3 hours to get back and hoping to catch a bus back to KL.

I did however stuck my thumb out as I walked and luckily was offered a lift by a chinese guy to within a 100 yards of the guesthouse. I wondered in, a woman was asleep at the reception. I used the toilet then collected my luggage from the room behind the reception without any response from the woman, I was lucky it was still there. All the other luggages I had seen there in the morning had been collected by then.

I was told that 3.30 bus to KL was full and had to catch another one and change over. I sat on the handle of one of the seats as the bus was full and there were a few people standing up. I glanced back and noticed the guy behhind me was pulling away from me, I stood up, unfair to expose him to my BO!

I got to KL about 11 p.m. and to the LeVillage about midnight. The small room I was offered smelt of urine and I declined and got a double room at the top floor, which if I stayed long enough it would be 25RM.

Most days I got lots of rest, chatted to people and just wondered around. KL offers great range of food compared to Sumatra, Chinese, Malay and Indian cuisine as well as people. Three diverse cultures with varying cultural differences and issues live here.

Monday 7th went to Indonesian embassy to get my visa and because I got there about 10.30 I had to wait till 2.30 to hand in my passport. they had a good system to photocopy things for you for free but this also required waiting and queuing. I was asked if they can only offered my one month visa, should they go ahead? I accepted even though it would have been cheaper to just to fly to Indonesia and get one month on arrival for $25 instead of 170 RM ($55).

The next day I managed to stay on the bus 30 longer than the day before (they dont really know where they are going). As I am getting off I jokingly ask the driver for some sunflower seeds. He gives me a full packet!

I am questioned about my attire at the reception (I am wearing a singlet, almost the national uniform of a lot of men in Indonesia, instead of a Tshirt or shirt), I am wondering if they will decline my visa on this basis, and whether I can ask for my money back! I do get my visa for 60 days.

9th while visiting my usual eatery late at night to get self-service food my foot sinks into something soft, thought it was a cat first, it was a rat! they are far more common and better-fed than the cats.

On 10th I did some clothes and shoe shopping which took most of my day but I did ok, getting some light summer shirts, trousers. I leave my Gorilla Tshirt behind at the hostel, well worn-out now, and my old boots.

Heading for Sulawes, Indonesiai tommorrow.