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Thailand & Malaysia

October - November 2022
A 21-day adventure by Caroline Read more
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  • TravelerThailand & Malaysia
    4
    1
    Day 22

    Home is where the Heart is.

    November 19, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    I’m home. I got home last night about 7pm. The flight from NYC to JAX was full, the plane was small and everyone was coughing, sniffling and only a few of us were wearing masks.
    I didn’t get sick on this trip. I didn’t get diarrhea, and I figured I’d get some kind of Upper Respiratory Funk, but I didn’t. And I think it has a direct correlation to wearing a mask. When I wear a mask, I don’t touch my face. I don’t rub my nose or touch my mouth. And EVERYONE in Thailand or Malaysia are still wearing masks. It’s funny, I went from here (where mask wearing was such a political thing) to Thailand, where it is common courtesy n busy areas. Lol, and it’s always busy in Bangkok.
    I did get to the point, where if I was outside and it wasn’t crowded, I’d take it off. You wear it around your forearm, and put it on and take it off all through out the day. And in the super crowded markets, I was glad to have it on.
    I did also get a lot of rest, drank a lot of water, took a probiotic and Counter Attack immune support every day. ( Manda, Mom told me about it, and I took it before and during the trip! I really like it!) I also took a ton of prepackaged Wet Ones, and tried to clean my hands every time I was going to eat. I did notice in Bangkok; masks, hand sanitizer and hand wipes were sold everywhere. I mean everywhere. So it makes it easy. When I was in a mini-mart in the JFK airport, they weren’t selling masks, they were selling Covid tests. And that summed it up for me in a nutshell.
    As I was coming home last night, I was noticing how smooth the roads were. And the absence of motorbikes. They are a perpetual buzz in your environment, and it was weird not seeing them.
    Mom and I caught up over Pizza last night. I had been craving it for about a week now.
    Cookie had a bit of a stomach ache; which leads her to lick the carpet, which gives her a hairball, which gives her a stomach ache , which then she sounds terrible as she tries to cough up the self inflicted hairball. Poor Mom had never seen her like that before. So when she left me a message as I was landing in JAX, describing Cookie’s behavior, I asked if she was licking the carpet obsessively ? Mom said yes, and I told her we had been through this before. And of course this is happening 20 minutes before I walk through the door. Mom was afraid she has aspirated something and was ready to take her to the Emergency Vet, which I appreciated. But Cookie settled down and got some Benadryl, and is all better now.
    So Cookie and Frank both slept on either side of me last night. And I forgot how comfortable my bed is. And as I was sitting in my living room, when I first got home, I felt kinda weird. My house felt big and really really nice. I was thinking, I don’t need all of this. The yard always gets me when I come home from a big city. That I have all this land, lol. Like I should be growing corn in the backyard and have a chicken coop back there too.
    And it’s nice also to think that I really don’t need all of this. It’s nice to have, but I’m definitely in favor of downsizing as I get older.
    Bangkok was my favorite. I’d like to go back to Chiang Mai during the rainy season, when it’s quiet. But Bangkok had it all. New buildings, historical neighborhoods, amazing food, and apparently they have a big cultural center and several big museums. The Bangkok MOMA was having a Banksy exhibit. I would have loved to have seen that.
    I could definitely spend a month or 2 in Thailand. It’s a nice rhythm to fall into.
    And I went to the grocery store this morning, and drove for the 1st time in 3 weeks. The 1st thing I thought when I got in my car was, “ I could make some good money driving my car over there w/ Grab. It would definitely be considered a premium ride”. Lol.
    So Frank is now in my lap and Cookie is in her favorite spot, in the sofa in the den, tucked in to my right. I am so fortunate and grateful. That this is what I get to come home too.
    Thank you all again for coming on this journey with me. It didn’t feel so overwhelming knowing I could tell you guys the good, the bad and the delicious. Love to you all. ❤️    Read more

  • TravelerThailand & Malaysia
    Day 21

    A good flight Home.

    November 18, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 43 °F

    The flight from Bangkok to Singapore was good. I watched a movie and had a light dinner. I think it was a Malaysian dish called Hokkien Mee. It was a noodle dish and was good, but I’ll be honest at this point I really was a piece of pizza.
    I got off the plane in Singapore and when straight to the Lounge. It was packed. So I got a cup of jasmine tea, wandered around and left soon after.
    I boarded again closer to midnight in Singapore and they fed us again. This meal was one I had trouble deciding on (during pre booking the meal). Was I going to want something true to the region one last time? Or would I be tired of it, and want to go with something more continental and simple?
    So when I booked it, I went with a traditional Malaysian dish called Nasi Lamak. It was a spiced chicken thigh, coconut rice, sambal (which is really spicy, but very good) with cucumber hard boiled egg and some pickled veggies.
    Well, at Midnight, on an already pretty full stomach, that was the wrong choice. I ate the chicken, cucumbers, some of the rice and tried the sambal. I did take a picture of the appetizer which was a crab salad on polenta, I think.
    I had some peppermint tea afterward, and have found sitting up a bit gives me the best sleep. Sleeping completely flat on those seats, is hard, as I’m a side sleeper. And it hurts my hips. But if I sleep in it like a recliner, it is much more comfortable. And after that meal was better for me.
    So that flight was a 14 hour flight. I good some really good sleep. And watched “Bullet Train” with Brad Pitt which was good.
    They fed us breakfast and I had spiced buckwheat pancakes with a vanilla yogurt cream, pumpkin seeds and fruit. It was good, and I did get a picture of that.
    We landed in Frankfurt and it was cold and rainy. I knew we had about an hour and 1/2 between flights some I wanted to beeline it to the lounge and get a proper cup of coffee and change into fresh underwear.
    So as I was leaving the gate, they called me back. They were checking boarding passes and passports off all disembarking passengers. I’ve never seen this before. So when I slid between the little mobile check-in kiosk, and the partitions (there wasn’t anyone standing there asking for documents when I went by) a ticket agent hollered my way and go me back so they could check my documents. Then when they did, they pulled me for an extra security check. (1st time for this too). Was it because I seemed to skirt the ticketing agents? Was it because I had come from Thailand and that automatically raises a red flag in European countries? Was it also b/c I was traveling alone from SE Asia?
    So they brought me into a small area, asked me to take all of my electronics out of there cases, wiped it with a small specific wipe and then put the wipe on a machine. I’m thinking they are looking for traces of explosives or drugs. They were nice and it was over in a few minutes. I realized it’s far easier staying on the right side of the law. It make me nervous and I knew I didn’t have anything on me.
    So they finished with me, and I got to get my coffee. The lounge was quiet like it was the 1st time, but I didn’t shower.
    I got back on the plane an hour later and this flight was 9 hrs. They fed us lunch 2hrs into the flight, and I watched “Everything Everywhere All at Once with Michelle Yeoh. It was great and I highly recommend it. I also sleep really well on this flight since I had figured out my optimum sleep configuration.
    We disembarked at JFK this morning, and it’s cold here. My plan was to take out my Keenes and put my socks on with them and I’d be warmer. Well, I got my bags rechecked with Delta pretty quickly and totally forgot to change shoes. Which is fine, it isn’t snowing or anything. But I knew I was going to have to go outside at some point to get to my terminal. (I did in the 1st time through here). And it’s funny. I think when it falls below 55 degrees New Yorkers put on their long black puffy coat and wear it until Spring. So there we are them in their puffy parkas and me in my flip flops. I has to walk outside from terminal 1 to terminal 2. And at one point , I stopped being so judgy and wished I had changed shoes and had a long puffy parka. 🤦‍♀️I forget when the wind kicks up here it’s a real bitch.
    So I’m sitting here waiting for my flight to Jax. The airports are all so different, the people working in the airports are all so different. The people-watching on this trip has been a real highlight.
    I’m ready to come home. Lol, dare I say I’m ready to go back to work. It will be interesting to see how I process this whole trip and what I have learned. I really like the way the Thai people behave. They are polite, friendly and don’t seem overall like a lot of drama. I liked the way I saw them interact with the public (the ones I interacted with). They certainly were not pushovers but could say No without getting ugly, rude or loud. Malaysians were a little harder to read, but the women were very kind and watched out for each other (and me).
    Thank you for coming along with me on this journey. It was great having family and friends read my daily updates and I loved the reactions. I’m glad I did this journal and will get to read it for years to come. This app will also create a book of your trip. That will be next on the list.
    I’m really looking forward to seeing Mom, Cookie and Frank (and the outside kitties). Thank you for coming on this trip of a lifetime with me. ❤️    Read more

  • TravelerThailand & Malaysia
    2
    Day 20

    A good last day in BKK

    November 17, 2022 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 90 °F

    Today has been a good last day. I slept in, had breakfast brought to me, checked out and had a guy in a white chauffeur suit pick me up in a BMW. (I had ordered the lowest rung, a Nissan and just a plain suit, but if they wanted to send fancy who am I to complain.) So there is a huge Economic meeting in Bangkok, creating all kinds of security check points, closed roads and metro lines.
    So I was fine getting to the airport super early, around 1pm, and after check in, they directed me to the Silver Kris Business class lounge. I had downloaded a few books, so I settled into a comfy chair and had coffee and read. They had what’s called “premium” food” which are big dishes of lots of different stuff. Pad Thai, Pineapple rice, Thai basil chicken dim sum, little Thai deserts, the good coffee machine, and really good WiFi. So I snacked through out the day, read and people watched. When I got there it wasn’t busy, then I looked up and a flood of businessmen had taken over. All ages. Lots of very nice trim Asian men in really good suits. One guy reminded me of Jet Li and I really had to stop staring. 🤦‍♀️
    I stayed most of the day, and have now wandered down to my gate. It’s interesting. They are checking hand luggage at the gate (which I’ve never seen them do) and double checking faces with tickets and passports. It must be increased security because of the APEC.
    So this is a 2 1/2 hr flight then I have a 2 hr layover (ie another lounge) then a 12 hr flight. I am going to try and get a good rest on this 1st long leg.
    It’s been such a wonderful trip. It really exceeded my expectations. I’m so glad I came to Thailand. And to think, it wasn’t my original plan. ❤️    Read more

  • TravelerThailand & Malaysia
    3
    Day 19

    Motorbikes and Movie theatres

    November 16, 2022 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F

    So I was awakened by a light knock at my door this morning. It was my breakfast. I had an omelet, some toast and coffee. It was delicious. My movie doesn’t start today until 3:30 which has given me plenty of time this morning. I found a cool store a few blocks down, and I wanted to get a few things. The neighborhood is really cute. More touristy, than my 1st neighborhood I was in. Lol, I really threw myself into the deep end on that one.
    So I took my stuff back to the hotel and went back out on the street to hail a GRAB. I waited a minute or 2, as I’m watching the Grab, come closer. Then a motorbike pulls up and asks if I want a taxi. I say no, that I’ve ordered Grab. He’s says, yea. I ask him if he’s grab and he says yea. I then tell him I’ve ordered a car, and show him my phone. (Hindsight, I shouldn’t have done that. ) He says, yeah, Siam Paragon. Which is where I’m going. So I said so you are with Grab, and I don’t have to pay anything because I’ve paid it with Grab right? He said Yea.
    So a few things here. I’ve really wanted to take a GRAB motorbike through the city and haven’t had the nerve. I was dying too. So he hands me a helmet, I jump on and we take off. It’s about a 15 minute bike ride, and it was a blast. Once I settled my feet right, I felt more comfortable. He was nice, asked where I was from, I told him the truth. He asked if I was here by myself, I said I was (I figured, it wasn’t a car, and if I got in trouble I could jump off at the next light,) He said, “I can come home with you and drive motorbikes?” We both laughed. The bikes can really get around the city much better than cars can and it was fun.
    So he gets to the mall, and I thank him, and he says, “Wait. You have to pay me”. And I said, remember when you said you were with Grab? Remember?” He goes, Yea. Lol, all of a sudden he’s back to basic English. I said “You told me you were with Grab, that’s why I got on. You know that. I know you know that”. I didn’t raise my voice, I didn’t get mad, but I let him know that I knew he was scamming me. So I said, how much? And he says 450 baht. Well, on Grab it’s only 87 baht for the trip I took, and 137 baht in a grab car. I only has about 200 baht on me, and told him so. I gave him 180 (which ends up being $5.21) which is fine. He got more money out of me than normal and I let him know I was on to him. So whatever, it ended up fine.
    I had been reading up before I left about scams that involve the taxis. (not Grab, but the city ones) They quote you one price and then as the trip continues, they quote you more. And it’s not about trying to nickel and dime someone, it’s the point that they are not being fair or trustworthy and they have earned a bad reputation for it. And then, locals use them and they do the same thing to them. So there is a big movement in the city to hold these guys accountable, within the local community.
    That’s why I’ve been taking Grab, you don’t have to deal with that. And if I had wanted to use this guy on the motorcycle, I would have negotiated a price before I got on. And I wouldn’t have gotten on for 450 baht. But it was my mistake to not delve a bit deeper before I got on. But it was the middle of the day, and I knew where we were going and what the way there looked like. . But, that’s how you learn. And that’s the thing about it here. They don’t rob you at gunpoint, they waste your time to get more money out of you. But, Grab didn’t charge me for the car trip I had ordered, and I had a really good teachable moment. . 🤷🏻‍♀️
    I figured something would happen at least once, and there it was. I still had a blast on the back of the bike going through the streets on Bangkok.
    So I had a great little Vietnamese lunch at this mall I was at. It was huge. And one floor was a food hall and it was massive! And packed. On a Wednesday!
    It looked most like tourists and high school kids.
    So I go in to the movie theater, and the one I chose was listed under the “Top 10 best VIP movie theaters in Bangkok” by a Bangkok magazine. It was called the “Honda Ultimate” (they must sponsor it?) and all the seats were squishy recliners with a pillow and a blanket. With my ticket I got 2 free snacks and a drink. So I got Hagen-Das chocolate ice cream, (just the individual cup), popcorn and a coke. So the movie starts and they bring it to me.
    Well, 1st of all, I’m the only one in the theater which was great. So I go for the ice cream 1st. I take the top off, and then try to take the paper lining between the top and the ice cream off, and I can’t. I’m chewing on it, trying to stab it with my wooden spoon, thinking am I going to have to get up and go find someone to open this for me? Finally I get it open, but have you tried to eat ice cream with a wooden flat spoon in the dark lately? I had this image of me flinging it everywhere and getting it all over this nice blanket I had been provided. (The pillow and blanket were sealed in a bag, so I figure they are sanitized, which is really nice.)
    So I safely finished the ice cream and settled in for this great movie with popcorn and a comfy blanket. It is definitely the way to see a movie. But even some movie theatre in the states have the recliners, and it’s really nice. One thing about this theatre is you had more space between seats. Again, it’s all about space.
    So as the movie was finishing, I started thinking about how I was going to get back to the hotel. The experience with the motorcycle taxi unnerved me a bit and I was irritated that I had let that happen. And then I realized, there is NO WAY I could let that be my last experience with local transportation on this trip. I was going to have to get a Grab motorbike taxi for the ride home. So after the movie finished, I went out to the entrance, and got me a Grab motorbike taxi. And he said my name, and had a green GRAB jacket on. So I got on and we took off. It was a beautiful night, the streets were busy and I had a blast riding on the back of that thing through the streets of Bangkok. And he got me back to my drop off point, and I gave him a huge tip on the app afterward. He helped me set getting a motorbike taxi right. And he had no clue. 😆
    So tomorrow check out is 11 and my car service picks me up at 11:30. There a big summit (I think it’s APEC- Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) going on this week here, and roads are closed and the metro has certain lines that are closed, so I’m just going to get to the airport early and hang out in the lounge and read.
    I really like the vibe of Bangkok. I like Thailand more than I liked what I saw of Malaysia. Next time, I’d like to see a bit more of Penang, and they say Malaysia has really amazing beaches.
    I just felt more comfortable in Thailand. Now the house in Penang wins hands down. And the host and I really enjoyed chatting back and forth. But overall, I found I was happy when I got back to Bangkok. It’s an easy city to get around, there is plenty of public transportation, and lots to see and do. And I barely scratched the surface. There is a rhythm here. It’s a swirling, chaotic , layered, deep, historic wave of energy that works. There is definitely and order to the chaos. Everyone does the dance and it works. With the traffic especially, it flows.
    I didn’t get a feel for Penang’s flow. The traffic seemed much more dangerous, chaotic, jerky, unsettling. Like everyone had a car, but couldn’t drive very well. Again, maybe getting out of Georgetown next time. We will see.
    But in that house, in the evening, when it was raining, I felt the magic of Penang. The rain hitting the tin roofs, all the beautiful green plants, the history surrounding you. I definitely felt it then.
    So I’m packed, and heading to bed. I’m taking off Thursday evening from here and will be at JFK Friday morning. Gotta love the time difference. I’ll gain a day heading back. I don’t understand it, but it works. ❤️    Read more

  • TravelerThailand & Malaysia
    1
    Day 18

    Back in Bangkok

    November 15, 2022 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    So I’m back in Bangkok tonight. I’m here until Thursday afternoon then I fly out.
    Originally, I had made a tattoo appt with someone back in March. I scheduled it for the last day of my trip (tomorrow). I had been looking at tattoo artists in Bangkok. He had 5.0 stars across the board, had his own small shop in a historical neighborhood along the river, I loved his work and it worked out that I could get an appt. (The guy in Chiang Mai that I got my tattoo from was a guest artist at this shop in Bangkok- I figured what the hell, I’ll get 2 tattoos while I’m here.)
    Well, a month ago, the guy here in Bangkok (I follow both of them on Instagram) was admitted into the hospital for a terrible very dangerous type of pneumonia. They had to do surgery to remove dead tissue in his lung. (He’s lucky to be alive). I had been following his surgery and recovery, and it became apparent he wasn’t going to be working any time soon. We messaged a few times back and forth. I told him of my medical experiences and that I didn’t want to add to his plate, and cancelled the appt. But let’s be real, as soon as he said he had been in the hospital for 7 days I knew it would take several months to recoup and I wasn’t getting tattooed by him this trip.
    So that is a super long story explaining why I’m back for just a day and a 1/2, then am flying home. When I made the appt, I decided to find a hotel close to his studio. The morning of a tattoo can be stressful, and I didn’t want to have to be trying to figure my way around Bangkok. So I found this really beautiful hotel across the river from one of the big temples, and it is a 3 minute walk to Luke’s Tattoo studio. So it would have been good.
    The hotel is beautiful and the neighborhood is older and quirky. There are lots of little restaurants and coffee places. And close to a BTS station.
    So when I got into the airport, I got my stuff , went to the exit, and there was a nice man waiting with a card with my name on it. Nice. He asked me sit for a moment, and he notified my driver. The guy pulled up, he took my bags and away we went. So civilized. And so nice on this last leg. The company I used has all these things you can request. One of them was what type of music would you like to listen to. They had all these choices, and one of them was Thai. I was thinking, “Sure. Why not. “ Well, I had to laugh. The whole way in, Thai music is playing. And it’s Thai singers singing American ballads in English. Like Celine Dion, The Bangles, Air Supply, etc. It was funny. The driver was tapping his finger on the steering wheel so I think he liked it.
    So I got into my room and headed back out to find dinner. I had done research before hand, and had found a little Thai place a few minutes walk from the hotel. It was great, I’m going to go there tomorrow. I had Spring rolls, Tom Kha Gai soup (coconut milk, chicken, mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass-It’s so good!) and mango sticky rice. All in all it was 270 baht, which is $7.61. For a 3 course meal.
    I like Thailand better than Malaysia. Malaysia has 3 different cultures all living together, but it is separate. In Thailand, it’s all just Thai. My food tour guide said that at the beginning of my trip and I get it now. Like in Penang, there were a lot of Chinese Malaysians. And then you had your Indian Malaysians. And then your Malaysian Malaysians. And the men stared a lot more than in Thailand. I could be that there aren’t as many Westerners coming through, but I saw plenty of White tourists when I was there. I’d like to explore more of the island next time, get out of Georgetown.
    It was weird, I just felt more comfortable when we rolled into Bangkok this afternoon. And I like the food better. The Indian food in Penang was wonderful, but the local specialties ( several different noodle dishes) I wasn’t really impressed with. And I read somewhere once that Malaysian food was heavy in oil and not very healthy. And that’s what I found. Although, they supposedly have some of the best beaches around. And are not as overrun as Thailand is in the South.
    So tomorrow, I’ve ordered breakfast to be sent up to my room. And at 3:30 I’m going to see Wakanda Forever. I did some research on the best cinemas in Bangkok, am I thinking I picked a good one. Good seats, like recliners and they bring you popcorn and drinks. We will see, But I definitely wanted to do an upgraded movie experience.
    So the picture of the Temple included in tonight’s footprint (Wat Arun) is taken from my balcony. I splurged and got an upgraded room with a balcony, hot tub and an amazing view. It’s a nice way to end a really nice trip.    Read more

  • TravelerThailand & Malaysia
    1
    211
    Day 17

    Rope Walk house to The Clan Jetty

    November 14, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 77 °F

    So today I started out early. I was at my non-local breakfast place eating my local breakfast. I saw my first Malay (person who is from Malaysia) in there this morning. And he was having the same breakfast I was. Apparently, this is a thing because he kept looking over. And I wanted to say,”Yes, this white girl did her research.” lol
    There is a group of houses along and over the water front where families have lived for generations. The area is called the Clan Jetty. People are still definitely living there, but it has gotten touristy, I guess in order for them to survive and for the govt to not tear them down. But it’s weird. I felt like I was at an old sad zoo. The people weren’t interested in selling anything to anyone, it’s like they were just tolerating it.
    The walk to and from the Clan Jetty along Armenian St is where a large amount of the street art is. So I took that st on the way, And nothing was open. I guess I figured it would be like Thailand. The mornings are busy very early with markets and motorbikes. But here in Georgetown, they are slooooower to get going. Quite at few places don’t open until 10. I get it, but jeez. It’s HOT by then.
    So on the way back from the Jetty, all the stores were opening. It’s funny, when you walk around early, no one’s around except the tourists.
    I wore my new tunic, that I thought would be cooler, and I’m sure it was, and when there is a nice breeze it was great. But by the time I got back to my part of the neighborhood, I looked like someone had poured a bucket of water over me. It’s a lot of the reason I wanted to lose 20 lbs before this trip. I know that carrying extra weight is harder on the body and it has to work harder, so I sweat more. But literally I can just be standing there. It’s not like I’m running. ha! A vendor selling me something said, you have to slow down, walk more slowly. And I thought, “Honey, if I slow down any more I’ll be going backwards”.
    But I will say, everything I’ve read on prepping for a trip to SE Asia says how unbelievably hot and humid it is.
    So I took my soaked ass home finally about 1pm, and made sure not to catch any glimpses of how disheveled I felt. I will say the mid day shower, then into a caftan, eating lunch, then laying down on the comfy sofa upstairs in the a/c is the BEST.
    So I did some shopping today. Got some cool dishes and some batiks, some scarves, and some other stuff. I want to make sure those dishes get home safe. So I bought another suitcase. I packed up the dishes and all the fabric and put them into my 45 liter backpack. It had sides that protect the inside, and compression straps to even further protect the contents. So then, I put the back pack in the bigger (24 inch) suitcase and it fits perfectly! It’s funny, I got a 22 inch hard side suitcase before I left, and it’s good quality. The suitcase I got today, cost about $23 dollars and Oh dear Lord. It’s fine, but when I brought the one I have downstairs next to the new one and felt them both I just laughed. But with the breakables in the backpack, it should do fine. I’m grateful to have it. I am done dragging around that big backpack. I was going to check it anyway, so now it just has extra protection around it.
    And I’m ready to come home. I knew it today when I got upset about being so sweaty. Y’all know me. I’m an a/c girl, always have been. And I’ve done really well, but Lord I’m ready to come home.
    Being out earlier, I got to see more street kitties than I have the last few days. Bless there hearts, there is no program here to Trap/Neuter/Release like in other countries. Even in Bangkok, they are working on getting these guys fixed and adopted. But this morning, all I saw were teenage male kitties fully intact. 🤦‍♀️ (I told one shopkeeper’s kitty to stay away from those boys outside who still have their balls. I didn’t say it loud enough so the shop lady could hear me though. I didn’t know how it would translate. I had already said more to her cat than I did her.)
    I just wanted to scoop them up and take them to get snipped. And it’s weird, they love cats here. I asked a lady in a shop (it was a cat shop btw) about all the un-neutered males I had been seeing, and she said. “ Well, those are the street cats.”
    So it has really made me miss my “once a big bad street Tom turned house cat with a heart of gold”- Frank.
    So I’m flying out tomorrow and I think you guys will like this last place I’m staying in Bangkok for 2 nights. And I caved. I ordered a car service to pick me up from the airport (with a placard with my name on it and everything!) after shlepping my stuff on the air-link train and the BTS into Bangkok my 1st day (Pretty ballsy doing that the 1st time if you ask me) and literally thinking I wasn’t going to be able to get a ride out of the Penang Airport a few nights ago, I said to Heck with it. And I booked one to take me to the airport when I leave to go home.
    So, I went to my breakfast place and got quiche and cake for dinner. Im going to finish packing and get to bed ideally kinda early. It’s been wonderful here. I’m so glad I came for a few days. Honestly, the house alone made it worthwhile. ❤️    Read more

  • TravelerThailand & Malaysia
    1113111
    Day 16

    Little India and everything in-between

    November 13, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Today I got up earlier. I got to the little coffee place close to my house. It’s Sunday , so it was busy. Not one local, all tourists. But they had the traditional Malaysian breakfast I got yesterday, and it was good, so I didn’t care. The owners were there, getting in the way, telling staff to do things they already knew to do. I didn’t take a table I just sat at the coffee bar. I knew I was doing good, when one of the owners came by and exclaimed that I was having the traditional breakfast set. Lol, it’s not on their menu right now, but I saw it in the photo section of Google maps. That made me happy.
    The plan was to get money changed, and wind my way over to Little India. So but the time I got going after breakfast it was 10 am. And the sun here is really intense. We are also farther south by 2 1/2 hours than Bangkok. That makes a difference. This morning it was just tourists out. I was so glad to have my UV umbrella. I went to 3 different currency exchanges and they were all closed. But as I got to Little India, I found one and the streets were starting to come alive with people. I found this little lady selling Masala Chai and it was delicious. Even though it was hot tea and I was sweating. I wandered in an out of places, taking my time and enjoying the people watching. After a few hours, I started to wind my way back closer to the house. I wandered into a shop where they had caftans. I got a couple and on the way out saw these very light long sleeve tunics. As I turned to ask the man, he was already behind me. So I got 2 of them. I just don’t see this kind of clothing in Jacksonville. I’m the States, It’s all about wearing less clothes, not covering up from the sun. I’m seeing it here too. Super fair people wearing tank tops and shorts. 1) I would fry if I left that much uncovered, even with sunscreen. 2) This is a pretty conservative country. The more covered up, the better I feel.
    I wandered down a side lane, and got a few more things, and then moved on to a nice older lady selling caftans ( seeing a trend?!) I bought another one from her. Not a 10 ringgit one, but a 35 ringgit one. Her husband and another male family member were in the back. So she took it to him to bag, then took him the $ and he gave it to her to give to me. She was so happy I bought one from her. When I left I walked down to the end and turned around , I walked back by her. She waved and motioned for me to come closer. I did and she asked me if I was alone. I told her”Yes I am”. She told me to be careful. I promised her I was, that I have only been going out in the day.
    Women on this trip have been very nice. I have seen quite a few women of all ages traveling alone. I saw one older white lady in Chiang Mai at the Pad Thai place (the day I got my tattoo). She was eating, looking at her phone, in no hurry what so ever. After a bit, she got up, walked across the street got on a scooter, put on a helmet and putt-putted away. That was such a neat moment to capture.
    I haven’t been looking at my phone when I’m out eating. I’m trying to just be present in the moment. To be comfortable with myself whether I’m dripping sweat, or not sure of where to go or what to ask for. It’s been easier than I thought. Well, I’ve been practicing. And really trying to not take myself too seriously. And laughing when I fumble with something. People are generally helpful and are grateful for your business, your kindness and a smile.
    Tomorrow is my last full day here in Penang. I haven’t seen a fraction of what I thought I would see. I wanted to check out farther along the coast where there is a big expat community. But I also knew that by this time in the trip, I’d probably want to stick closer to the house. And I was right. Lol, I think renting this house was 60 % of wanting to come to Penang. I had originally planned to just hang out in Bangkok for another week. That would have been fine too. But then the Malaysian govt loosened its restrictions on tourists. And I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to come here.
    After tomorrow (Monday) I fly out Tuesday afternoon back to Bangkok (That is where I’m flying out of to come home). I have a full day in Bangkok (Wednesday) then I fly out of Bangkok Thursday evening. And because I’m flying west this time, I gain a day (instead of losing it like when I flew out here). So I will be back in NYC Friday Morning and home that evening.
    I’m ready to come home. It’s been fantastic, and those massages that 1st week really lowered my shoulders from around my ears. But the suspension of reality has to come to a close some time.
    I did see hotels and small inns here and in Thailand that I had seen while researching this trip. I’d easily come back and stay in them. Always researching, lol.
    So I’m going to order some more Indian food and chill. This is my favorite time of the day here. When the rain is slowing, I have music on (African mix from Spotify- it’s fantastic. So much talent from that part of the world). And try to go to bed at a reasonable time. I stayed up watching a movie last night. It’s funny, I’ve been watching light American comedy on this trip. And at home I’m watching Indian Crime dramas. Lol, it seems to balance well, so I’m not questioning it. Just going with what feels right. ❤️    Read more

  • TravelerThailand & Malaysia
    Day 15

    Georgetown Penang

    November 12, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 84 °F

    One of the reasons I’ve wanted to come to Malaysia is the culture. It’s a mix of Chinese, Indian, and Malaysian. The have a very large Muslim population and I believe the government is predominantly Muslim.
    There is a Mosque down the street and I can hear the call to prayer several times a day. It’s really cool to hear. So many women are in hijabs, I don’t even notice anymore. They are calling to prayer again as I write.
    I got up and out of the house kinda late this morning. My bedroom doesn’t have as much light as the other 2 places had so tomorrow I’m going to set my alarm. I went down to this sourdough bakery that serves a traditional Malaysian breakfast. It’s 2 pieces of toast, kava jam (which tastes like pandan or coconut) 2 soft boiled eggs and a cup of coffee.
    So I go in and it’s full of Europeans and Koreans. I’m seeing a lot of young Koreans over here. Bless their hearts, (I know it’s probably the impossible beauty standards they have over there) but Lord lots of these ladies are high maintenance. And painfully thin. We think it’s bad in the States.
    It’s all couples, and I’m sorry, but every single one of these guys was mansplaining something to there significant other. Every single one. I couldn’t imagine. So have I gotten lonely on this trip, maybe 1 night, but over all not really. I’m miss Mom, my dog and the cats. I miss sleeping with Cookie. She’s the best snuggler. Then Frank comes and sleeps on my head for a while. It’s lovely.
    Anyway, so I finish breakfast and go off in search of the hardware store ( My host told me of one down the street so I could get my adapter). It was very close and it was great. Hardware stores are universal. Men standing in isles looking very serious and grunting to the guy working there who is helping him. I found what I wanted and wandered the isles for a bit. It was air conditioned and fun.
    So I walked to the end of the block, turned the corner and another corner and found this kinda mini mall selling all of these caftans, Muslim head coverings, and long tunic sets. It was well lit and safe so I wandered down for a bit. I ended up buying 1 for 10 ringgit ($2.16) and another of better quality for 35 ringgit ($7.35). (And when I got home I put one on and they are fantastic! I want to go back and get another one!) Lol, the less expensive ones must be the ones they let the trainees make, but you have to practice before you can do the better ones right?
    So then I wandered some more and found a street market. It had fish, clothes, everything. I stopped to look at some things and a man working approached me. He discussed what I was looking at, then he asked where I was from. “Belize” I replied. Figuring it was obscure enough for him not to know where that was. He asked how long I had been in Penang, how I liked it, etc. Then he asked if I was traveling alone.
    I will say, this is the 1st time on this trip someone has asked me this. So I think that’s pretty good. And I had been giving my answers in the singular. So that was my bad. So he asked, “Are you traveling alone?” And I said, “No, my husband is back at the house working.” I paid for my stuff and left. But when I went home, I dug out the cheap “gold” band I had just for this purpose, and put it on. It’s ok, it’s just the culture. And I can play along. It’s just easier, and safer.
    So by this time it’s 1:30 pm and hot as hell. (It must be like Florida in the summer time; the heat builds and then it rains every day at 4. Thats what it did today.) I had brought my UV umbrella and oh thank goodness for that. So I got home, took a cooling off shower, and into my caftan. Ate leftover Indian food for lunch, went upstairs in the a/c and took a nap. That couch up there is the napping Mecca as far as I’m concerned.
    I got up just as it started to rain. After about an hour, it slowed down, so I went in search of a specific food vendor a few blocks down. I didn’t find her, but the vendors were setting up for the night. So it was perfect. I got some Char Kway Teow, which is a stir fried noodle dish and very tasty. I also got some satè. Which was really good.
    The evenings have been really nice. This house has nice track lighting and indirect lighting. (The place in Chiang Mai, all the lights were overhead bright white, that kinda cold fluorescent that sucks the color out of everything. I swear I walked around that place in the dark. I’d turn on the bathroom light and that was it.) And they have Alexa attached to Spotify, so I’ve been listening to African music in the evening. It’s mellow and seems to fit the mood of the house in the evening.
    So I’ve finished dinner, I’m writing this, the garden doors are open with the shutters open on either side of of the front door ( Just like my host suggested I do) and I look over to my right, and I spy a MOUSE making its way along the rug. 🤦‍♀️
    I kinda sit up, and he turns and goes the other way. Cute little grey mouse. And I don’t want to hear it was probably a rat, it was small and I’m calling it a mouse. I got up and turned on more lights, but can’t find it. So I closed one of the garden doors and left the other slightly ajar. Lol, I don’t think that matters when there are parts of this house completely open! Ha, and it can not be the 1st time this house has had one. It’s probably lived here for years, they probably know it, have given it a name, but don’t tell guests. (Ha, I wouldn’t!)
    At least the bedroom door is always kept closed. That would be the only thing slightly unnerving. Poor thing, I’m sure it’s way more afraid of me than I should be of it. I just don’t have a lot of experience with small furry things in the house ( that I didn’t bring in myself).
    So, it’s 9 pm. I’m going to watch a movie and go to bed. I’ve taken a video of the house so you can get a better feel for it. Its too long though, so I’m going to show you the downstairs tonight, and the upstairs tomorrow. It’s really so comfortable.    Read more

  • TravelerThailand & Malaysia
    3
    1
    Day 14

    Penang Malaysia

    November 11, 2022 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 79 °F

    Today was a travel day. Up and out the door for coffee at 6 am. The very nice elderly pharmacist downstairs spent the night in the back room/living space behind his shop. And he greeted me bright and early at 6:40. He had a checklist. And he counted the silverware. That always makes me wonder how bad it had to get, to count the silverware before the guest leaves. It’s always a few bad apples.
    AirAsia is a great inter-Asia airline. They are clean, on time, efficient and affordable. Both flights were issue-free and I got fed and got a nap in.
    So I got into Penang around 4:30 pm. And the airport was packed. Friday afternoon, it’s pouring rain and everybody’s trying to get taxis. I just go straight for GRAB, but my cell service was being weird, and with every person in the airport on the WiFi, I just kept getting the spinning wheel of death. And the number one rule is don’t go with the weird guy who comes up to you and asks if you need a taxi. But I’ve got good resting bitch face, even behind a mask, so they get the message.
    So I finally get a GRAB. It’s always a bit stressful playing “where’s Waldo?” at a new airport. But after a few minutes I find him. The drive from the airport said 35 minutes on Google (when I checked a few days ago.) Well Friday afternoon, rush hour and pouring rain and wind. It took us an hour and a 1/2. Bless this guys heart. He was a trooper. And got me right to my doorstep.
    So this house. This house I’ve rented through Air BB, I swear it’s the reason I came to Penang for a few days. It’s a restored 19th century Chinese Shop house. Like the 1st apt I rented in Bangkok. But this is on a MUCH grander scale. The people who own it (they own another one close by ) own a place here called The Blue Mansion. And it’s this spectacular old restored place they made into a hotel, and people go to tour it too.
    Word can’t describe it. I have a few pictures I’ll put up. But I feel like I’m staying in one of the great houses of the world.
    So as I’m sitting in one of the great houses of the world, I’m hot tired and just want to connect with mom and tell her I got in the house and everything is good. Except I’m still getting that spinning circle of death. So I just said F-ck it, and called Mom. Lol, sometimes it’s just easiest to pick ip the phone. So after that, I turned off the phone and turned it back on. (And it was also charging it too, sometimes I think when it gets low, it makes matters worse)
    And everything started popping up. So I was in the house, had talked to Mom and my phone was working.
    So at this point, it’s still pouring and there’s no way I’m going out wandering around for food. So I ordered from GRAB. Not only are they like UBER but they are the food delivery service of the world so I ordered Indian food (50 Ringgits, which is about $10.50) took a shower, and by that time it was here. So I have had this magical ending to a irritating several hours trying to get out of the airport.
    They have “Alexa” wired through the house to play music. So that really lowered my blood pressure.
    It’s supposed to rain quite a bit while I’m here. This house has great cross ventilation with specific windows and doors open. So I have given myself permission to spend time in the house this visit and not kill myself trying to see everything. It makes for a much more enjoyable experience.
    So I’ve just gotten into bed. OMG. This bed is so comfortable. Firm but not too firm. The last bed, in
    Chiang Mai was hard. It was ok, but lol, what a difference.    Read more

  • TravelerThailand & Malaysia
    Day 13

    Thank you Chiang Mai

    November 10, 2022 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F

    I woke up to a quiet Chiang Mai. The vendors has all cleared out over the night. The food vendors here work their asses off. It’s really amazing watching them night after night.
    I’ve been thinking of a few things I’m super glad I brought on this trip. I originally wanted to take only a 45 liter travel backpack. And 2 days before I left, I gave up and bought a small 22 inch carryon to take as well. If it’s your 1st trip somewhere, you don’t know what you don’t know. But from what I did know, I’m super pleased to have brought:
    1) My Keene Whispers: They are super comfy, had better support than I thought they would and protect my toes like nobody’s business. They have great traction, and I don’t mind walking through weird puddles in them. They are all I’ve worn in Chiang Mai. So happy I brought them.
    2) My PACSAFE bag: I love the Pacsafe brand. They have slash resistant material, great locking mechanisms , and are perfect for busy transportation, crowded markets, and touristy areas. I had a bum bag on backorder with them, and I was so excited to get it. But it’s heavy, and in keeping with my 1 backpack, it just wasn’t fitting. But again, at the last minute, I decided I really wanted to take it. I knew it would be invaluable on the busy crowded streets I’d be on. And I was RIGHT!! This thing has been the bag I’ve predominantly used. I lock it up and have it on my chest, and it keeps everything safe.
    3) My bungee clip attachment for my phone: So one thing you hear about (more so in Vietnam) is people coming by on Motorbikes and snatching phones out of people’s hands. So I got an attachment for my phone. It sticks to the phone under the case, and has a cord that comes out the bottom with a clip piece attached. Then you clip it to the other piece that looks like an old school telephone cord, and has a clip on the other end. So I can attach my phone to it, and clip it to a clip inside my Pacsafe bag and it stayed put. It’s also really good so I don’t drop my phone (either in the water or over the balcony). The last 3 nights during the festival, some of the fireworks were so loud, I’d jump. And I clipped my phone to myself immediately so it would slid off my lap through the opening in the wall of the balcony. Because it wouldn’t have fallen to the street, where I could get it. It would have fallen onto the roof below me in no-man’s land.
    4) My reusable bag: I wanted to make sure to take one. I had one in a drawer that I think Aunt Caroline gave me years ago. It comes in a nice little bag and has my name on it. Well, this has been the PERFECT bag. ( I had bought another one to bring and don’t like it at all, compared to this one.) It is small enough to put in my pacsafe bag, so when I’d go to the market, my noodles, bottle of water, fruit, and snacks all when into that bag. It was great!! Thank you Aunt Caroline!
    5) My dog tag ID: I found a company called ROAD-ID. They primarily make bracelets and dog tags for runners and cyclists to wear, in case they get into an accident, they had their info on them. I thought this would be a great idea to have since I’m traveling alone. The biggest concern I’ve had here is the traffic. Mod, my tattoo guy, warned me, “They will not stop, so be careful.” And what I have been concerned about is getting clipped by a motorbike. And if I hit my head , there’s a possibility I would be unconscious for a minute or be kinda out of it . So I have this dog tag around my neck every single time I step foot outside. It has my name, DOB, my passport # the name of my travel insurance policy, my travel insurance policy # and the phone number to call regarding my insurance.
    Mom and I talked about this at length before I left. It wouldn’t do anyone any good if I put her # on the tag. If I got hurt, I don’t want someone on the street calling her in the middle of the night across the world. That’s not going to help. I want whatever country I’m in to know I have insurance! We can call mom once I’ve been taken care of. So I’m very grateful to have that on me at all times.
    There is a DHL shipping place down the street. I think I’m going to get a bag together and ship some stuff home today. My sneakers are going home, I’m not wearing them again, there’s no need. ( I’ll make sure there isn’t any money in them.) My flip flops are going too. A couple of shirts, and anything that I don’t really need. Lol, I brought so much bug spray. I’m glad I did, but I don’t need as much as I brought.
    So I successfully got a box shipped off to home. The sneakers and other stuff I had extras of are in there. Of course I had to got to 2 places, but the girl at the 1st place was super nice and directed my to the post office where they were really nice.
    It’s funny, I saw the air BB’s host’s dad (the nice old pharmacist) and asked him what he wanted me to do with the keys as I was leaving at 7 am tomorrow. He said, “ I will come and check the apt before you go. Then you can give me the keys “. I said “Ok, I’m leaving tomorrow at 7 am. So I’ll see you at 6:45 am then. “ And he said “ 6:45 in the morning? Why not”.
    It’s just kinda weird. I’m trying to think of I’ve ever had anyone check the place before I left. I don’t think so. I think it’s the difference of generations. And my host said her Aunt owns the building so there may be some family stuff going on there.
    This is great city. I look forward to coming back.    Read more

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