So after shaking off my hangover and forcing down some terrible hotel coffee, I headed down to concierge bags packed and asked the bellboy to order me a taxi to Don Meuang International Airport. Getting a taxi in Bangkok is a lottery and I always seem to lose. one in every 20 cabs will be clean, comfortable and captained by a sensible reasonable adult with a sound knowledge of how a car works. The other 19 will, at worst, be clapped out shit-boxes with suspension that gave up about 200,00km ago, driven by a 22 year old punk that just hit a meth pipe before screeching to a halt in front his new passenger (me). Today's taxi was indeed a clapped out shit-box, driven at break neck speed, but at least not by a young meth head. This driver was another classic Bangkok taxi captain - the gangster that adorns himself in Buddha amulets, gold chains, dark shades and some terrifying neck tattoos. I was pretty sure he was a full-time hit man that just drove a cab part time. Best part was the ceiling of the cab. I complimented him on it and he grunted his approval.
Checkin at Bangkok Airport was a little nerve wracking as I was presenting a fake PCR test certificate that I had created in Photoshop. It's one of the pre-requisite documents to board an aircraft to Malaysia. The PCR tests are expensive and also I hate them sticking that swab into my face. So fuck it I thought, I'll just make one up and see if it works. The checkin gal carefully inspected all my documents and lingered for a while on the PCR test result. Games up I thought! But nope - she was just making sure the test date was within 48 hours of today's flight and she smiled and handed everything back to me along with a boarding pass. Jobiker: 1 Arline: 0 Next stop KLIA2 the international airport In Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia's capital - look how busy the airport is hahaha.
One of Asia's busiest airports was deserted. For those of you living in the west, Covid is becoming a memory. Here in Asia it's still full-on. People wear those dumb masks everywhere, travel restrictions are complex and basically most of the international airports are deserted just like this. I made my way through the empty baggage claim to the "Oversize Baggage" area and y board bag was already there.
I then set out to battle. I needed to find a solution what to do with this oversize baggage for 4 nights in KL. Im didnt want to lug it into the city to my hotel as the Taxi counter insist on you hiring a mini van at triple the price (even though the board will fit into a normal car.) The left luggage counter wanted 100$ for the four nights - too expensive I felt. So in the end I sweet talked the girl on desk duty at the airport capsule hotel. I booked a capsule there for 12hours on the night before flying and she let me store the board bag there for free...:) Win! Next stop KL city center to catch up with this lovely lady! Dam I have missed her...:)
Next stop is finding a clinic to get an ATK test - another stupid requirement that has to be done within 24 hours of arrival.
Jakarta on Tuesday morning but for now its KL with my gal!
I'm Jobiker and I'm in KL! Peace