So now I’m in Malaysia… I’m really looking forward to see Asia!

While boarding the plain from Brunai I noticed a very pretty Malaysian girl in the front of the plane. It turned out that I was sitting straight behind her and we started to talk as soon as we landed in Kuala Lumpur. She was visiting a friend in Perth and was returning home. Her brother couldn’t pick her up from the airport so she had to wait till morning for the busses and trains to start working so that she could go home. Her name is Rynna. I had to wait too as I wanted to catch a bus to Malaka which should be the base for me for the next 2 weeks while I wait for my bike to arrive to Port Klang. As our situation was the same at that point we stayed at the airport and talked the whole rest of the night.

Rynna offered to guide me in KL and help me to get the ticket. Everybody speaks English here but I’m still happy that she helped me as all was so much easier in the crowded Kuala Lumpur. She even took me to see the tallest building in the world – the KLCC towers (or the Petronas as it is maybe better known).

At about 2 o’clock we went to the bus station from which my bus was leaving at 3:30PM.

After a 3 hour bus ride – and how is this – for the price of 9 ringits (3 Oz Dollars)! – I arrived to Malaka. As soon as I got off the bus there were three men asking me if I was looking for a place to stay. I was so I said “yes” and one after another showed me very orderly their prospects and explained what they could offer. Then they left me to decide without any kind of pressure in which one I would like to stay. The way they dealt was a very nice surprise for me as what you get in some other countries is being pushed into a deal of any kind and the sellers are fighting for your business very ferociously. Not in Malaysia though.

To get to the place that looked most to my liking I had a choice of a bus for 50 cents or a taxi for 8 ringits. I chose the bus as I first wanted to get something to eat and drink and also to keep to my very low budget.

After the lunch/dinner I took the bus and after some time of  not being able to find the place on foot I finally got there all tired. The place is simple but really cozy and I liked it immediately. They even have a western style toilets, which I was pleasantly surprised about. It is called Shirah’s Guesthouse and you can look it up in the list of accommodation for Melaka. Single room cost only 15 Ringits and they have doubles as well as dormitory, all with a choice of air-conditioning or not.

At about 9PM I went to the big shopping center nearby, did some shopping (the photo shows the shopping center as seen from the balcony of the guesthouse) and then went to one of numerous Internet places around here to send Gareth an e-mail explaining how he can find me here tomorrow.

I haven’t slept now for 41 hours so I’m crashing into the bed right now…