Not particularly uneventful I suppose - for every moment is "eventful" at some level or the other. As Merlin said - the path is strewn with clues (or precious stones .. diamonds even). It is for us to find them, to marvel at them, to unravel their mysteries, and to give thanks.
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| Breakfast sent to the room. Enjoyed on my balcony. |
So anyway - a day like any other day. Was not able to get into the temple or to the Royal Palace because I did not bring along any long pants. For the first time in my entire life (as I remember), I decided this time to be more "minimal" in bringing loads of clothes for a trip cos usually about a fourth at least of the clothes brought along never got used except to lend weight to our baggage to perhaps build our muscles. So, no jeans and no long pants this time around. On the day I left, my son remarked, "Really going in shorts?" My reply, "Yeah. I didn't even bring along a pair of jeans." He was a bit surprised and said, "At least bring one pair of jeans just in case." To which I was quick to respond, "For what?" For truly at that moment my thoughts were like "in case of what? Why would I need that? I was told this is going to be extremely hot weather there - even hotter than in KL. I don't see any sense in bringing jeans .. so I'll just let that be." And upon the first day after arriving, I was already told that without which one will not be allowed to enter those two places. My thoughts then? "Well, that's ok. I will go around the night market to see if I can pick up a pair of cheap pants (long) to enable me to get in the next day. And if I can't - cest' la vie. What will be, will be. And so there you have it - no visit.
Oh well, just as well .. go with the flow right? So I stayed back in my hotel room reading, playing on Google+ and from time to time looking at the hustle and bustle of the sea of people on the streets from the vantage point of my balcony. I even stayed in for lunch. No, not order in - but I had left over bbq'ed chicked from the night before which I had kept in my fridge. Quite good actually even when it was cold.
And the time, as we are accustomed to, ticked on by as expected. Before I knew it, it evening time. Well actually, there were a couple of times before when I thought of going out to wander even tho it felt extremely hot outside (despite the breeze that seems continuously blowing - perhaps because of the river just a stone throw away). But everytime I thought of dressing up and going out, the sky turned gloomy as if it was about to rain. So I sat back down and continued what I was doing. Believe it or not - I have not watched any movie on the tv and the tv has been off 99.9% of the time since I have been here. Now that too is a first. So back to going out - perhaps again, it was meant to be. Nature told me to stay put and not go out - and so I did (not go out).
Anyway - by the time it was evening, I think perhaps about 5, I decided it's time to go wandering. Explore the other side I did not get to go the night before. So off I went and walked around. Took some pictures of the "night life" along the river front. Kinda like it was in Gurney, Penang or in Kuching, Sarawak - but different. Seemed livelier and more vibrant. 
Perhaps the foot paths are wider. But quite a lot of people - mostly locals (of appear to be locals) and some tourist (by that I mean "matsallehs" or whites). Lots of activities around - and the night lights can be quite beautiful (tho can't really capture on a phone - or lack the photographer's touch).What I also found interesting is the fact that the offer for "special" services were being offered quite openly. Several chaps came up and asked if I wanted a ride on the tuk-tuk but that was quickly followed with "young girls .. you want young girls?" There were also a number of very old women who were "offering themselves" (no pimps for them I guess) and yet a few more asking if you wanted marijuana. But tho I didn't expect this, I have to say it wasn't as bad as in Phuket.
The people looked "dangerous" but were generally quite "okay" if you approached them. Not as friendly as can be - but not discourteous either. Many couldn't speak English - and as a lot of people would do when they don't understand, these folks would just smile/laugh and nod their heads.
When I finally felt I had enough of exploring, I headed back. I didn't get any food from outside (cos everything looked to weird for my appetite or they were seafood - fish, squids, and cockerels - but I have been nursing a bad case of acid reflux recently) so I reached home with no food to eat. Fortunately I still had one portion of the bbq'ed chicken from the previous night. So that one meal was spread out into three meals for me. That was followed with some raspberry yogurt I bought from the convenient store the night before. All in all good enough. And there goes one other day/night. Back to reading - gazing at the river and the sky .. enjoying the moment .. preparing myself to be open to the unfolding of another day.
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