Friday 23rd March 2012

I got up at 6.30 this morning to catch a 9.45 flight to kuala lumpur -leaving plenty of time to get to the airport and drop off the hired car. I left the hotel armed with my ridiculously heavy backpack that killed my sun burn, went to get the car from where I remembered parking it but it was not there. I walked along the street and then onto the street behind but I still couldn't see it. I thought it had been stolen. I thought I had parked in the street across from where I was staying. I walked around sweating my socks off and nothing. Honestly, the first thing I thought was that Max had taken it so I could not leave. I saw some police officers and explained that my car was gone. They told me not to worry and radioed the licence plate number to their other police friends who had bikes. 10 minutes later the men on the bikes came back laughing saying the car was on the street I had been staying on. I was so embarrassed and laughed whilst apologising profusely!!! I felt like a bigger idiot for thinking that Max would do that.

My journey to the airport got me thinking and despite not calling the man who warned me about Max to find out why I should be careful, I knew deep down that Max was a good person and so what if he is not legal and doesn't work for a tour company (he had actually told me previously he just helped his friend out at his tour company) because actually he had been amazing and made my experience in Kota Kinabalu a truly unforgettable one. Lessons learnt though - despite being extremely lucky this time, I will only book tours through agencies from now on!!!

I arrived in Kuala Lumpur at 12.15 and caught a coach to Bukit Bintang where I would spend one day and one night before flying to Kota Bharu ready to travel to the perhentian islands.

I got a coach to bukit Bintang which cost me the equivalent of £3. The driver advised me where the guesthouses were located and recommended the Green Hut. It cost 60rm per night (£13) for my own room but with shared bathroom and toilet facilities. I asked if I could see the room before taking it and thought it looked ok, basic but ok, and they had free wifi too. I said I would take the room and then went to drop my stuff in their. Upon further investigation, my room faced the main street and had sliding doors onto a little balcony - the door did not lock! This made me concerned as someone could just walk through and take all my stuff. There was a metal gate on the inside of the window but that also did not lock. I went downstairs and spoke to the very rude guy on reception who laughed nodding agreeingly when I informed him the door did not lock. He said "yar, it very safe.".

I replied quite firmly "but I am not happy with that. My belongings are in the room so what if someone takes them. I wouldn't leave my door unlocked in England and I am not taking the risk here."

He said "we have cameras" to which I replied that It wasn't enough. He then continued and said I should not leave anything in my room and bring everything downstairs. Put special items in locker, and everything else in a cupboard in reception. Is it me or does that just sound like the most hnappealing thing in the world. Lugging a big 110lL rucksack up and down the stairs everytime I go out. I think the disgusted look on my face must have made him realise that I was ready to leave and take my money elsewhere so he finally relcuntantly said "I will get someone to look at it, maybe now or later".

I went back up to my room sitting on the edge of the bed trying to read the reviews of this place online when there was a knock at the door - it was him with tools to lock the metal gate- now I was satisfied.

Anyway, my day consisted of me walking around KL looking at the different shops. I spotted shisha!!! That was me for the rest of that day! I had watermelon and mint flavour and ordered an amazing beef shawarma. Not very Malaysian but it was sooo good.

That day I smoked so much that I was lightheaded and dizzy on my walk back to my accommodation.

So here is a lesson to everyone, the one question I did not ask the rude reception man was whether there was hot water! This is a question that you MUST ask if you like to have atleast a warm shower!!! I got back to my room and was excited at the thought of having a warm shower but noooo, nothing but cold water!!!! Despite it being a hot country, I am never hot enough for a cold shower.

That night I slept pretty rubbish as the main road was very loud and there were people coming in and making loads of noise in the corridors - i actually jumped up a couple of times because it sounded like there were people actually in my room because the walls were so thin.

I had to get up at 4.30 to catch a coach to the airport ready for my flight to Kota Bharu