I admit it. This picture was taken a few years ago, but I think I still look vaguely like that. Depends on the day (and the time of day). And today, just before I uploaded this picture, an Indonesian English student told me how much she liked my nose. I heard that a lot in Indonesia. Apparently, a large nose like mine is a good …
Read the full story »Recovery Day in Kisaran
I hang out in Kisaran and ramble on about random topics that pop into my mind.
Buying a SIM Card in Kisaran
I set out in the morning from my hotel in Kisaran, Sumatra, to buy a SIM card for my phone. That errand was taken care of quickly, and then I went for a short walk up and down the main street where my hotel is located. I intended to have a cup of coffee at a riverside cafe, but the place wasn’t open. Instead, I …
Long Journey from Kuala Lumpur to Sumatra
Once I got my passport back, my Malaysian visa was winding down, and I began to make plans to leave. I had to choose, basically, between flying to the city of Medan in Sumatra or taking the ferry to my old temporary home of Tanjungbalai. The ferry to Tanjungbalai was the obvious choice except for the fact that I was nervous about the reception I’d receive from my old friends at the Tanjungbalai immigration office, police station, and city government office.
From Tanjungbalai Ferry Dock to Kisaran
This is Part Two of my journey from Kuala Lumpur to Kisaran, Sumatra.
Here, I’m met by my driver, Iwan, and we head off for an interesting ride in his van. This only brought us part way. We eventually left the van and I was brought the rest of the way to my hotel on the back of his colorful motorcycle.
It was a fascinating ride in …
Pacific JetStar Ferry from Port Klang to Tanjungbalai
I had a booked a seat on the 11 a.m. JetStar ferry from Port Klang in Malaysia to Tanjungbalai, a small town on the coast of Sumatra. My day began in Kuala Lumpur, and I got to my final destination of Kisaran, Sumatra in stages.
Walking Along a Bike Path in Kuala Lumpur
Play
This was my final day in Kuala Lumpur before catching the ferry to Sumatra. I was pretty much ready to go, but I had one or two things to do at the local shopping mall. I would normally have taken the subway there, but since I’m testing out my Olympus OM-D E-M5 as a video vlogging camera, I decided to walk.
Walking Around Kuala Lumpur
Play
I grabbed my camera (an Olympus OM-D E-M5) and went for a walk around Kuala Lumpur. I shot some video in a selfie “vlogging” style as kind of an experiment. It felt weird to be pointing the camera at myself, but I enjoyed doing it.
Train Ride from Kuala Lumpur to Klang
Play
I rode the KTM Kommuter train from KL Sentral down to Klang and back. My goal was to buy a ticket on the ferry to Sumatra. I’d done this once before, so it was a stress-free experience. I knew exactly where to go and what to do. I took along an old (broken) Canon Powershot and shot some video clips here and there. It was …