Return To Penang


Alrighty, getting to the ferry from Medan to Belawan was a madhouse. I swear, there are only two nations on this planet that try my patience: India and Indonesia. It was nuts. The ferry was supposed to leave Belawan at 1000am. Of course, our bus arrived at 1100. The ferry left at 1230. I don't have the energy to explain the entire process, actually, it's easy: there is none. No organization, nothing. Just chaos, people shouting for your boarding pass, passport, departure tax receipt among other things. The customs people could care less who goes where and the same goes for passport control. Chaos!

Alas, I made it back to Malaysia and am now in hot and humid Penang. I miss the cool breezes of Toba already.

So, now I will diddle around Malaysia for a week or so awaiting my ship to India, hoping in the meantime that India and Pakistan don't go at each other's throats. Oh well, if they do I'll just head up to Kathmandu in Nepal and watch the drama unfold from there.

In the meantime, I may head to the North Eastern Islands of Malaysia, or I might go back to Melaka, or maybe even the Cameron Highlands and do 'tea-time' British Colonial style. We'll see.

I think I'll take a shower now.


Sean Paul Kelley January 6, 2009 - 10:05am

I'm sorta new to agonist, so I've missed much of the back story about your travels. Are you surviving on savings? Do you find it difficult to access funds when needed? What's your average per-day budget?

Yes obviously I want to do something similar.

Forty -- vicariously traveling -- 2

forty2 January 6, 2009 - 9:17pm

questions. First, I would suggest you read this post: http://agonist.org/sean_paul_kelley/20080923/the_adventure_of_a_lifetime_begins .

And then I would suggest you read as many posts from this section, starting here: http://agonist.org/topic/agonist/agonist_travel_journals?from=125

As for your questions: I saved all my money for two years, even living in my mother's garage apartment for a while. I drive a 20 year old car and well, that gives you an idea.

My average daily travel budget is about $25 a day. But, sometimes it will go a bit higher and at other places, when I have a friends couch to sleep on, it is cheaper.

No, it is not hard to access funds, most of the time, as there are ATMs everywhere. Although at Lake Toba it was a bit on the difficult side and same in Laos.

What else would you like to know?

“Is not our first thought to go on the road? The road is our source, our vault of treasures, our wealth. Only on the road does the ‘traveller’ feel like himself, at home.”
Ryszard Kapuscinski

Sean Paul Kelley January 6, 2009 - 9:48pm

That's about it. How much, if you don't mind my asking, did you save up before embarking? I live frugally, old car, etc. Have a nice bank account, but it could always be bigger for such an adventure. And kitteh would need a home... loved the catpix.

I did go read most of your travel posts, makes me want to chuck it all even more, but I'm still employed and need to milk that as long as I can til the poop hits the fan.

forty looking up flights to KUL 2

forty2 January 7, 2009 - 7:57pm

I would rather not say in public how much I saved. But, I'll send you an email and we can talk about rough numbers, k?

“Is not our first thought to go on the road? The road is our source, our vault of treasures, our wealth. Only on the road does the ‘traveller’ feel like himself, at home.”
Ryszard Kapuscinski

Sean Paul Kelley January 8, 2009 - 8:38am

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