Day 1 – Sept 19, Tawau Arrival

There is no feeling quite like tearing through an airport in a foreign country at a full sprint with your heavy carry-on bags smacking into your torso, minutes to make a flight, and no idea if you are running in the right direction.  This is why I always travel in sneakers.  Just in case. 

Thankfully, a nice young man from Malaysia Airlines later escorted me in a blur through security and straight to the gate.  I was on that turquoise blazer like a fly on shit, following close behind as he wove through crowds, barriers and corridors, and I made the flight with minutes to spare. 

Other than those chaotic moments, there was a slightly disturbing journey to Terminal 4, home of Malaysia Airlines at Heathrow.  Evidentially no-one goes to Terminal 4, perhaps because it’s a 15-minute bus ride away – how can an airport even be that large?  The trip took so long, and there were so few people trying to get there, especially in comparison with the long lines waiting for transportation to the other Terminals, that I felt like I’d accidentally walked through a solid wall somewhere and arrived on the magical Terminal 4 ¹/₂ bus.  I was convinced that a massive Hogwarts-esque terminal building would be around the next corner.

Finally flying into Tawau, I was shocked as the plane descended and I realized all the acres of green vegetation I was seeing carpeting the ground were palm oil trees.  Millions of hexagonal looking trees in perfect grids covering every square inch of level ground for miles and miles in all directions.  I read about the destructive industry before traveling, but could not visualize the scope.  It’s unreal.  And the airport is a small, isolated island in the middle of these plantations, about 30 km from town.  And the town is like so many other third world settlements with a hodge-podge of structures, fences, alleys, open gutters, dirt, dust, frenzied streets packed with cars holding a dozen school kids in a single vehicle and whole families riding on mopeds.  We are in the nicest (and apparently only) hotel in town but still an hour’s walk from the waterfront.  The Malaysian people I have encountered so far seem generous and keen to help.  I would like to take a walk with my camera tomorrow.  Plenty time to spare as the ship lost power and subsequently ran aground yesterday and will be delayed by at least one day.  Unhappy, frustrated guests are in my future for sure.  It’s good to get this stuff out of the way early though, right?

The view from my hotel room window in Tawau, Borneo

Ships out on the horizon

Check out this hotel bathroom rig.  WTF???!?!?
Can't help wondering how this would work...