(^32) From   there,  the     narrow  lanes   of  Chinatown   zig-zagged  past    many    a   hardware    and
motorcycle  store   but no  bicycle shop.   Now and again,  a   sidewalk    café    provided    a   cup
of  green   tea.    Since   leaving Kuching,    I   hadn't  seen    any Westerners. I,  hence,  stuck
out like    a   sore    thumb,  being   considerably    taller  and with    lighter skin.   Add curly   hair
and there   was no  hiding. People  never   took    their   eyes    off me  and my  every   move
was  watched     with    intense     interest.   Though  I   could   understand  their   behaviour,  I
found   the constant    attention   exhausting. 
Strolling    along   backstreets     en  route   to  the     night   market,     shop    owners  curiously
peeped  out of  doors   to  see what    stranger    was lurking in  their   midst.  In  addition,   one
could   hear    kids    call,   "Hello, how are you?"   followed    by  endless giggles.
                    
                      leana
                      (Leana)
                      
                    
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