Daily Archives: November 11, 2009

Malaysia, Port Dixon

Nice People

Taxi

Today Randal and I went back into Port Dixon. We waited for the morning’s downpour to end and then walked off the boat, off the dock, through the main marina building, out the front door, down the driveway, along the short private marina road and along the main road stopping at the bus stop not far from the marina exit. It was 11:25 am and I was predicting the local bus would come along within 10 minutes or so. I had seen one go by the bus stop yesterday while I was out for a walk. We’d actually planned to take catch one of the taxies leaving the marina as we had Monday. But we saw none entering the marina so there would be none leaving. That’s why we walked to the bus stop. While we were waiting for the bus a young woman walked out of the apartment complex near the stop. She too came to catch the bus. I asked her what time it usually came but she said she didn’t know and added that it was hard to get a taxi. We started to chat and she told me that she was from the Philippines but worked here because that’s what many Filipinos have to do. They have to leave the Philippines to find jobs overseas. I told her we’d lived in Subic for almost a year. A few minutes later a taxi pulled up to the bus stop and Randal asked if she wanted to ride with us into Port Dixon. She said yes but was getting out at a resort? hotel? condo complex? outside of Port Dixon. As we rode along I thought that we would pay for her too especially since she would be getting out first and we were going further. She, sadly I don’t know her name, asked the driver to pull over and as she got out handed him money and said it was to pay for us too! We said, NO, we would pay for her. But she said no and walked off. Randal and I both felt terrible that she was spending her money on us but just appreciate that there are lots of really nice people in the world. When we got to Port Dixon we asked the driver what we owed and he said that she had paid for us so that was that. I know she gave him at least a 5 ringgit bill and Randal had seen some ones also. The fare from the marina to town is 10 ringgits so I guess that’s what she gave him. We said thanks and walked off for lunch and chores. A stranger had paid our taxi fare and the driver hadn’t tried to get us to pay more. A very positive experience with good feelings we’ll pass along.

We returned to the same Indian “restoran” we’d eaten in Monday so we could have another one of those chicken/onion patties. Still not sure what they’re called but they are good. Randal and I got the last two.

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Our bill was 13.30 ringgits. We each had one of those very filling patties along with some dhal dipping sauce. Randal had a piece of chicken too and I had a small dish of cooked curry flavored cabbage. Both of us had a canned drink. We left full and happy and it cost us $4. I was going to say that they also sold penny candy, but it probably cost far less than a penny. A small boy had gotten to pick one out and it was like all kids everywhere doing that same exact thing.

We walked around a bit for the exercise and then headed back to the grocery store for veggies and dessert for dinner. New cruising friends Julia and Horst whom we had met in Puteri and traded books and talk are coming for dinner. Shopping finished, we went back to the taxi stand to the group of drivers who had called out to us earlier as we walked along. We picked one, got in and drove along listening to the news that Jon Bon Jovi wouldn’t act anymore because he hated the audition process and later to Rod Stewart sing Sailing. Randal tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I had told the driver where we were going. No. Neither had Randal but the driver took us to the marina. I guess when westerners walk out of the grocery store there is only one place they could be going and that’s back to their boat. Randal told him that it was the first time we didn’t say where we were going but the driver just knew. I said that he’d read our minds. A second taxi story for the day.

Now we’re back on the boat on the dock of the bay watching the tide roll away wasting time!

Ru

DoraMac

Johor, Malaysia, Puteri Harbour

Tour Johor

Hi Everyone,

  Today’s Rally event is an all day tour of Johor.  The past  3 days have been dinners with traditional dancers representing Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures.  There was a dance performed by tiny tots who looked just adorable and I did take a few photos: but you have seen it if you have ever seen preschool kids perform.  That was during the first day of events.  The next two days I spent on the boat trying to find a comfortable way to sit or lay down.  Years ago I hurt my back shoveling snow because even in Virginia we get snow.  I was in good shape from biking so shoveled for several hours.  The driveway which was huge, the front path, the back deck and a path out into the yard for Trapper, my lab.  It was that long ago because after Trapper came Pepper and then Belle.  It was pre-Randal but he hates to shovel so I would have been the one doing it anyway.  I actually used to like it.  Anyway, by the end of the path into the yard for Trapper I couldn’t stand up straight and the diagnosis is that I have a disc pressing on a nerve.  Every now and then it acts up: even bike riding the other morning didn’t help.  Biking usually cures everything.  So the past 2 days I’ve stayed on the boat with a heating pad and it’s not so much better.  But I’m going off on this tour and will last as long as I can.  Wish our friend Julia were here: she’d fix me up.  She’s a physical therapist and massage therapist and one time gave me a deep tissue massage that felt great when I could breathe again.  She used her hands.  But that was ages ago too and now they have those machines with electrodes.  And yes Julia, I will restart my exercises so maybe this won’t happen again.  (Famous last words.)

  The tour starts at 8 am and goes all day.  I’ll take my Advil with me and hope for the best.

Ru