Day 69: (21 July 2011):
- Walk to National Mosque. Take surprisingly long. Crossing some roads difficult.
- News from dad Ch. may confiscate money collection: I’m very worried. Was worried about computer before, although I have backup, so net too worried.
- Borrow a purple robe. Tourists cover up with purple robes, women wear hood.
- Mosque nice, but not too impressive. Sharp angular shapes / architecture.
- Central Market for burbur. Later start than expected.
- Took wrong / long route to Pasar Seni.
- Look for the international currency machine I saw yesterday, as someone says I need the USD on arrival for visa, as ATM there, but often not work.
- Didn’t walk for enough at Sentral, waste 20 min waiting to ask / exchange. Machine out of order when I get there. But see info say foreign machine avail. at LCCT. Already frustrating start to day.
- 9 RM bus to airport. Leave Sentral ~noon. 3pm flight. 1.5 hr check-in cutoff?
- See large blds of Putrajaya & Cyberjaya. Smooth, only ~1hr to airport.
- LCCT like a warehouse. Far from main terminal: if transferring, need to take bus for 2.5RM.
- Try use foreign currency ATM, does not take my card. Only CIMB card!
- Last min realisation: Sell my 45 NZD + 1RM for 50RM for collection & some USD (30-35?). Rate not bad.
- Confirm documents after self-check-in.
- Eat Penang Laksa (expensive, 13RM?). Only ~2RM left!
- Board plane. Confusing shared walkways. Cambodian girls: stand close/touching. Not organised on boarding. I missed instruction to board from rear stairs. I sit 2nd last row or so. Everyone get in everyone’s way, no queues. Remind me of boarding Chinese trains.
- No happy birthday stuff. Expected it as online flight info included “birthday” bullet point & see comments online abt. other’s experience.
- Get asked by 3 Cambodians from Kampung Cham (Thought they say Cambodia) to fill their documents for them. Girl help roughly translate. Lots of turbulence.
- Fly over PP on landing.
- $20 visa, $2 photo fee. Process more streamlined than expected.
- Pick up @ airport. Pick up person say Cambodia poor. Chinese iPhone clone. Hectic streets. Real Asia (developing Asia). Dusty. Blds. reasonably well maintained. Hotel, see Felix sit on balconey.
- Meet Felix, rest a bit & chat.
- Have to start get used to not putting toilet paper in toilet.
- Walk to river (nice, tourist centre), central market (closing), past a park that used to be a river (road has “bridge” across it. Can’t find ATM. See some temples. Random woman follow, ask me Chinese, etc? A produce market, buy durian: 2K/kilo.
- Get USD from ATM (ANZ). Find everyone treat 1USD = 4K Riel. I convert $20, as conversion (at jewerllery shop) better & some seem to prefer Riel.
- Internet: let Kate know can meet for dinner next day, name time & close-by place. Felix tell his friend same thing, apparently. Friend of someone he met while flat hunting?
- Eat, turns out we ate at one of those charitable restaurants, although very expensive ~ 6-7 $ for a dish. 75c beers.
- Return to hotel. Note from Kate. Tell me what hostel she is at. Felix jet lagged & tired, decide not to go find her tonight. Happy B-day in note. Felix just hear/realise is my B-Day today.
- Sleep early. Eat durian. Lots of geckos.
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