(^8) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo
Once in Kuala Lumpur, I dutifully went to the baggage claim area as told but could
find no sign of the luggage. Finally, the lost luggage staff confirmed the baggage
was indeed sent onward to Kuching. What a bummer as, by then, I had missed the
flight to Kuching and had no option but to buy a new ticket. The trip was
expensive, but I was still relieved to arrive in Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo.
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and the largest in Asia, and it held a
huge fascination for me. Politically, the island is shared among three countries:
Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, with approximately 30% of the island being
Malaysian territory. The island straddles the equator, and the best part of the
Malaysian side is in the northern hemisphere.
A taxi into town made locating a hostel effortless, and even though dead-tired, I
couldn’t sleep as the six-hour time difference made my days and nights all wrong.
Kuching
Beds Guesthouse, situated in China Town, was conveniently located and close to a
bike shop. The shop kindly offered to collect my bicycle from the guesthouse as
carrying a bike in a box is somewhat tricky. I also located a cup water-heater (to
make a quick cup of coffee) and a pair of sandals. Removing shoes in nearly all
Southeast Asian places makes flip-flops or sandals the most suitable footwear. I,
subsequently, discovered my laptop charger was left behind, but that had to wait
'till the following morning.
Kuching turned out fascinating, and China Town was a convenient place to stay
and a short distance from the waterfront with its boardwalk and food stalls.
leana
(Leana)
#1