I have never been the best at starting out on these trips. Each time I have embarked on longer travels it has taken me a while until I could get properly moving, or feel like I was beginning to gain traction. It's at times like these that I have to remind myself of this. When I start to feel frustrated from a lack of progress, I need to remember that in itself, this isn't actually anything unusual for me. It still nags away though.
Whilst it can feel like I am not getting anywhere, part of this issue may stem from not being best prepared for leaving the UK in the first place, which may or may not surprise some given how long my thoughts had been on returning to these parts. There were challenges that I had to overcome (or at least learn to live with) before I could get away though, so any serious planning would have taken up resources and energy that I could ill afford at the time and was required elsewhere. Also, there was no point in time where it was clear that I might be able to get a clear run at anything due to ongoing appointments and procedures. As a result and despite my best efforts, in the few weeks between a window of opportunity opening and the flight out, I still arrived somewhat on the back foot, without any real goal or plan. My hope was that just getting back away from the norm might be enough initially to start the cogs moving and that ideas might begin formulating once my head was in a different space, or in a different place.
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I spent a few weeks trimming and replacing many of the clothes that I had bought along with me, now found to be unsuitable or uncomfortable for the climate I was back in. The footwear was the first thing to be replaced, a departure I had planned for Bangkok before I had even left where I was living. About 10 or so t-shirts made way for ones of lighter, more breathable fabric, a benefit both when wearing or packed into a rucksack for transport. In total I have managed to lose nearly 2 kilogrammes in weight off of my luggage since I arrived from these changes, which is noticeable when being carried from pillar to post, to airports and buses or trains, or to a 4th floor of a hotel that doesn't have lifts. It is also possible that without those clothing changes, my baggage weight could have gone up instead of down. The joys of adapting to this kind of humidity
Socially I am not finding my footing, but I think a couple of factors are in play here. Firstly is the locations that I have been putting myself into. The hotel in which I stayed initially whilst comfortable, wasn't really a hive of activity, or a place where you could happen to get into a conversation easily and without much effort. This is unlike some of the hotels and hostels that I have been lucky to have been in previously. The other factor is me. Whilst the surroundings will undoubtedly make a difference, having locked myself down for so long in an act of self-preservation to get myself into the position where I could back out here in the first place has had an impact, and trying to reverse that isn't anything that is coming easily. After being re-booted, unplugged and plugged back in again, perhaps I need to defragment. Or it could just be a memory problem,
Maybe it would be easier to re-adjust to being here if places such as the Au Bon Pain coffee shop in Silom, a place where I would often find myself working at in years past, had not (like many others), changed or disappeared. Replaced in the larger part by a bank, and a smaller part of yet-to-be-utilised space, I have been able to find an alternative that has the same mix of ever-changing views, good coffee and a relaxed, workable atmosphere. Bangkok is big so I am sure that such establishments do exist and I would eventually find at least one if I were to stay here long enough, but outside of the city, there are many more places that I should try to reach whilst my current personal circumstances allow it. I need to do some research and compile a list as soon as I can focus as winging it doesn't seem to be working out so well on this occasion.
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Barring a short trip to Brunei to visit a friend who has recently moved out there, there is still isn't much to write in terms of new adventures or experiences. I stopped for a few days on each side of the visit in Kuala Lumpur, a place that continues to frustrate me in its ability to keep me from fully falling for its charms as I have in several other locations. There is little doubt that there is a lot to like there. I have found the Malaysian people to be almost overwhelmingly friendly, open and helpful on each of the occasions that I have visited their country, and Kuala Lumpur is no different. My problem could be the heaviness of the air that I find makes walking less enjoyable for my weighty, western body. There are always cheap and efficient options available for fast and convenient travel in and around the city itself (and beyond if needed), but I am someone that enjoys a walk (maybe due to there being periods where even this has proved to be problematic) as it affords me the chance of experiencing the sights and sounds of the environment I am in, I just prefer to do it without sweating out half of my body weight. Love it ior not though, I am sure that I will end up passing through here several times during the duration of this journey, as similarly to Bangkok, it could be a useful place to replenish stocks and supplies whilst also being a useful gateway to other destinations.
I may find myself falling for it more yet.
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*I will add some thoughts on Brunei (or as I like to call it Bahrain) when I get the chance.
