7pm, we decided, heck lets just go. 10pm, a bus to larkin. 12am, an old coffeeshop in larkin stocking up on smokes and water. 1am, a bus to kl. 5am, in dark kl under the pouring rain. 7am, walked and found bukit bintang, a backpackers hostel Pondok Lodge. slept till about 12pm, and checked out the rooftop garden. had lunch along the street packed with tiny stalls of chinese food. walked to the more commercialised areas under the sun. it was too much like singapore so we went back to our little hideout on the roof and washed up before we headed to chinatown. the bustling streets full of life and chatter were worth keeping as good memories. a man was busy with his wok along a dark lane and we had our first dinner in kl. walked a bit more before we decided on our 2nd dinner. lok lok, seafood steamboat of some sort. yy indulged in a traditional claypot chicken rice with salted fish which we got from the next stall. went to hard rock cafe and zouk, but decided we'd rather have our drinks somewhere else so we went to a pub right across the lodge.

all that in less than 24 hours.

our 2nd day in kl was more relaxed. did i mention, breakfast at the lodge was 2 slices of toasted bread, a banana and tea or coffee. ah, the simple things in life we wake up for. what more, breakfast on the rooftop.. there was a section in the lodge where books could be swaped or purchased for 5 ringgit. i bought the Scold's Bridle by Minette Walters. So far the best crime novel i've read.

packed in the early hours of our 3rd day in kl and headed to the bus station in puduraya. took a bus to cameron highlands. the road up was winding and i felt light headed. we had seafood in Brinchang, headed to Tanah Rata and checked into another backpacker's lodge, Hillview Inn. weather was weird. the sun was piercing yet the wind was cold, then for the next half an hour, it'd be slight drizzle and extremely cold wind. had fried ice cream and strawberries and cream at a cafe in the strawberry farm. we walked to Sam Thom temple and i love how it was so peaceful. in the evening, we went to a nearby pub and i think, cameron highlands is the only place i've ever been to where girls in tudongs could sit in a pub, drink coffee and no one cared.

the thought of coming back was depressing. 4 hours to kl, and 6 hours to singapore. the irony of it all, the bus dropped us off just across the road from my workplace. and i thought, in 8 hours, i'll be there, doing the same old thing.

i was thinking, the next time i travel, no more hotels for me. i prefer friendly lodges where people dont bother closing their doors and you get to see tired backpackers from all over the world sprawled out studying maps on the noisy spring beds. everyone says hello. i'm getting used to seeing handsome angmohs step out in towels from the shower we share, as i feel my cheeks flush at their 6 packs and i have to return a cheerful 'good morning' while i stare down at their toes to prevent further embarrassment. i'd then run to the room after my shower and find yy rolling his eyes while i praise god for creating gorgeous people..

what a way to end 2006!

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