I managed to catch a couple of hours sleep at the Denpasar airport, lying at a vaguely comfortable cafe sofa. Around 5am I got up, all loopy, got through the check-in, managed to catch some internet to discuss some AirBnB issues, and got on the flight to KL.
I should mention here how wonderful Lu has been at managing our flat for the AirBnB guests, and that’s despite some very stressful moments. It’s really helpful and while there were a couple situations where I had to help resolve some issues remotely (which isn’t easy given the time difference!), she did the great majority of the work on it, and did it really well. Thank you, Lu!
We took off and the first thing I saw when we emerged from the clouds was a massive mountain majestically raising above them. What a view! Then it was mostly just clouds, but I think I saw some of the peninsular Malaysia, some palm tree plantations, and a few massive transport ships. I managed to catch some very uncomfortable sleep.
The flight was delayed and as I had a connection, I had to really run for it. I made it, but there was a fair bit of very fast walking involved – KL airport is pretty huge! Amazing what adrenaline can do on just a couple hours of sleep.
The flight to Miri was cloudy and perfectly uneventful. I got out and the airport immediately made me happy – it reminded me of the one in Medan, when I went to Sumatra. I had some nice ramen in the cantina, checked in for tomorrow’s flight, and started walking towards my hostel. Half an hour walk in a humid 32°C was just what I needed to make me feel that I am where I should be. There was no pavement next to the road, there were also no special parking bays just a street away from the airport, with people parking wherever there is space. This was the beginning of the subtle signs that I am now in a world where rules didn’t yet fully substitute common sense, as in the UK.
I only booked my hotel at the airport in Bali, as initially I was considering just having another night at another airport. Instead, being way more stressed than I thought I will be, I decided to treat myself and went the other way, getting a pretty good private en suite with AC. Amazing how far £20 gets you in here. I checked in – turns out they even offer free transport to the airport, for which I instantly signed up.
After settling in, I got out and… this is the closest to the sun I’ve ever been. Today, sun is in Zenith at 12°N, and I am at 4°24’N. Pretty damn close! And yes, you can feel it. Yay!
I went for two delicious bubble teas and drunk them not in the air conditioned spot but right outside in the delicious heat. Fantastic lyrics relaxing time, sitting there, lazily reading and chatting a bit with people online, breathing the humid, heavy air full of intense smells of food, plants, occasional whiff of rubbish… Thing is, even that was sort of pleasant, just feeling how heat increases the intensity of all smells, nice or not.
As it started to get dark, I head off to hostel, stopping to grab some street food on the way – rather delicious dumplings, a small portion for just 7.50RM, about £1.50. This probably makes me happier than it should.
Back in the room, I spent a wonderfully relaxed evening and am now preparing for an early sleep. I finally feel ready for this whole solo adventuring.
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