The immigration officer leaves through my passport, gives me a long, hard look, checks the arrival card, looks at me again. Why are you here? where do you stay? Travelling alone? How long will you be in Palembang? Where are you going afterwards? And then? And after that? Where's your return ticket? Where do you know all those places in Sumatra from? I just stay polite and try to answer his questions patiently, same with the security officer who afterwards digs through my bag and asks what I need each item for. Through the glass door, I see a line of men looking at me, so I already know what I'm in for once I pass through that door. Thanks for taking out all my belongings in front of a crowd of local touts. "Taxi?" says
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