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Toast for breakfast.

Last of my stuff into my bag and walk to the bus station. It's only ten o'clock when I get there. It's more like an airport than any other bus terminal I've been to with gates and waiting areas. The bus itself is the nicest I've been on since I got here, maybe the nicest I've ever been on. Only three seats to a row and all big and comfy with different levers for different adjustments.

I spend most of the trip reading or sleeping. Though the scenery is nice. The closer we get to Tanah Rata the more it reminds me of Pai and northern Laos. At a stop along the way I have a chicken dumpling, tastes like curry.

Dropped off outside a tourist information office I get details for how to book a bus out of here and directions to a cheap hotel. 15 ringgit a night gets me a mattress on the floor in a loft space. It's an extra 2 ringgit for a towel and another 5 ringgit for internet per day. The showers are communal and have hot water. Tanah Rata is in the mountains so it's cooler than KL.

I chat to two girls from Holland that are waiting for a bus. They recommend a tour and give advice on the best shower cubical to use. I book the tour and walk into town looking for fun, adventure and lunch. I get a ticket for Monday's bus to take me to Penang as I need to do it with at least a days notice. The tour tomorrow is at 08h45 and the bus Monday is at 08h00, two early starts to look forward to. Yay.

I go in search of a waterfall I never find and pick-up some Indian snack food for lunch; battered banana, battered sweet potato, battered vegetables and batter balls.I can't help notice a theme. When it starts to spit I turn back from my quest and get some Milo to take back to my room. I crash out with my book and notice that there isn't a fan; how will I sleep?

Damn but it gets cold here at night (19 degrees C?). Wrapped in my sleepingbag liner and a blanket over that.

Twine Pines

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