when you head off into the great unknown
you know that things might go a bit squiffy
and you hope most of your kit will keep it together
but
on a recent adventure
between
not stalking head hunters
not getting off with crocodiles
and being outwitted by ginger simians
my basic kit had a mutual hari kiri compact
involving
lenticular self destruction
Oh and a monkey stole my fave t-shirt...
welcome to kuching
or is it kucing?
or is it kerching?
its a small friendly city and the capital of sarawak...
and its definitely tropical
at only 170 kms from the equator
its hot and sweaty
(especially if your thermostat is on the blink)
with all kinds of funky jungle wildlife not that far away
(its name is pronounced the same is the indo/malay word, kucing (cat)
and they lean into it big time
with cat themed stuff everywhere
from rubbish bins and hostel names to giant statues...
it sounds like a groovy night time event with fairies, fireflies and light snacks
but no...
its like a huge busy shopping centre carpark
full of cars buzzing about
but with big beastie planes!
its fucking huuuuuuge!
a long time ago
on a timeline far away
in fact thirty years ago
a slightly terrified
young buffoon had a (to him) unexpected stop over
in kota kinabalu, malaysia
on his way to tokyo
for his first solo international trip
he gawped at beautiful beach/jungle combo from his hublot
as the plane descended along the coast
shortly after
during the couple of hours hanging around the international lounge
he saw a beautiful multiracial couple
him tanned and tall bule with flowing blonde hair
her gracious slim malay with long glossy dark hair
as he somewhat jealously admired the glamorous couple
he decided that he would come back to this exotic tropical land one day
for his honeymoon
!!!
now three decades later
he is finally set to return
(alas without the presumed blushing bride on his arm
as that timeline hit a particularly jagged reef
on the tempestuous seas of the intervening years)
yet going back he is yoda
