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 »Trying to Cycle Across Kuala Lumpur
Wednesday October 1, 2014
8:00 a.m. Bird Nest Guest House
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Words fail me about my adventures yesterday. I went out on my bike to find the Olympus service center, and I discovered a first in history – a city without streets, a city made up entirely of highways. Just as I had no choice but to ride from the airport to downtown on a highway …
Trying to Find DT Swiss Alpine III Spokes
Tuesday September 30, 2014
6:45 a.m. Kuala Lumpur
Bird Nest Guest House
I got a bit of a late start yesterday, so I didn’t accomplish as much as I’d hoped. I suppose I can also blame that fact on circumstance and the nature of Kuala Lumpur.
My current task is still to rebuild the wheels on my bike, and to that end, I wanted to go to another bike …
A Long Walk to the Petronas Towers
Monday September 29, 2014
7;15 a.m. Bird Nest 2, Kuala Lumpur
It was a Sunday yesterday, and bike shops and such things were largely closed. I started the day in the Internet café. I mentioned before that the Internet café is FAR more advanced than the ones in the Philippines: Much more space; more comfortable; wonderful chairs, good mice, good monitors, fast connection, reliable computers. There’s really …
The Three Cultures of Kuala Lumpur
Sunday September 28, 2014
7:00 a.m. Bird Nest 2 Guest House
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I already covered the events of yesterday – my success in mastering the transit system and finding a potential bike shop. Perhaps I didn’t mention the tone of things. What I mean is the social atmosphere out there. It’s a strange one, and I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered it before. At this point, …
Finding an AWESOME Bike Shop In Kuala Lumpur
Saturday September 27, 2014
8:15 a.m. Eagle’s Perch, Bird Nest Guest House
Kaula Lumpur
I thought the guest house would be alive with activity at this point, but I think the young kids were up late and they are now sleeping in. Or they were up long ago and are now out sightseeing. So far, I’m not that excited about Kuala Lumpur. I hope my plan works out …
Riding My Bike from Airport to Kuala Lumpur
Friday September 25, 2014
Somewhere lost in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport
8:30 a.m.
Man oh man oh man oh man oh man. A crazy life. It’s funny how I keep deciding to do things and I just ignore all the potential problems. I assume that I will be able to handle it when the time comes in some fashion. I go blithely forward without a care or …
From Cebu to Kuala Lumpur
Doug Health Check: It’s a good thing that I don’t (as the Filipinos tell me I should) have a bunch of children to take care of me in my old age. I’m already there. My phantom kids would have to start taking care of me now. My eyes are so sore and so bad that I can hardly focus on the keyboard. I’m so tired that I can hardly move. This has been a problem for a while and relates strongly to why I’ve stayed in the Philippines for so long. The days of waking up feeling refreshed and energetic seem to be long past. My legs feel like lead weights and I can hardly summon the strength to move. The last time I woke up feeling what I think of as normal was a long time ago. I remember the feeling strongly because it was so rare. It was such a surprise to open my eyes in the morning and feel good. I don’t remember when that was, but it was months ago and it was only that one time. Every other morning, I feel like this – exhausted.
Getting Fingerprinted at Cebu Immigration
Wednesday September 24, 2014
6:50 a.m. Cebu City
I have to admit I was feeling a bit negative yesterday. It was the combination of three broken spokes, riding into Cebu, and then getting the exit visa from immigration. None of that was much fun, and it was all stuff I could have avoided if I’d planned ahead. Oh, well. Nothing I can do about it now.
I would …