Airport day today, and of course all was not running smoothly. I left the homestay at 1.30pm to get to the bus at 1.45, as Annie, the owner, had assured me the buses to the airport arrived every forty-five minutes. I got to the bus stop at 1.40pm, no bus. I stood in the shelter with a scrawny kitten as numerous people got on their buses, and numerous buses went past, but alas no 102. I watched the kitten as it got shouted at by Chinese men, and played with by a Malay woman, but still no bus as I simply stepped away from it in case it was full of Rabies. I asked each 101 bus driver when the airport bus was due, and each one said 'in ten minutes'. Lies. The bus arrived at 2.50pm!

I went from sweating in the shelter to shivering in the bus as we drove the fifty minute ride to the airport, eventually getting out a long-sleeved top for the journey. I arrived at the airport at 3.50pm, and checked-in via the self-service screen after a middle-aged Aussie showed me how to. We'd both been fed up with the constant pushing in by the Asians, hence moving to self-service. I managed to use up about 4MYR for a 'chicken floss waffle' that still failed to enlighten me as to what exactly chicken floss is. I eat it in the queue to security, and again watched as everyone else ignored the queue and walked to the front of the line, so the when in Rome saying applied and I just ploughed on through. How many five foot Asians are going to argue with me?

I didn't change my money as I thought I'd get a better rate in Bangkok, and so sat out the flight before arriving at 6pm local time, apparently an hour behind Malaysia. Sod's law applied when I passed through immigration, as their conversion was nearly six pounds less than in Penang! Annoyed at that, I set off to find a bus rather than the taxis, and managed to get an airport express bus for just 150baht. The waiting area was full of other backpackers, so at least I wouldn't be alone, and I arrived near the hotel at 8.15pm. The walk to the hotel was minimal, just over a bridge, up a well-lit alley, and I was at the hotel. I checked into the very nice room and promptly set off back to the alley to get some food and drink! I'd only had two cups of tea all day, and don't think that was quite sufficient.

I went to The Lampoon Garden for dinner as the lady outside had given me directions to the hotel and I felt obliged, luckily the food repaid me; I had some kind of 'cellophane noodle' dish and a delicious banana smoothie for just 120baht.

I was a very happy bunny!