Thursday after posting the last update I was beginning to wonder why I was on the farm as the previous day having exhausted myself cleaning the house I was exhausted! It was hot (fortunately not humid), I was itching from not only the welts from the mosquito bites but I possibly also had bedbugs which I think I must have picked up somewhere in Goa. I had an ant bite on my toe and my throat was itching too. I think I was allergic to the mosquito repellent fumes. What’s more the fan I’d set up to force air into the tent had died! aaaahhh!
I decided to pack my bags in faith to leave the farm that day, but the Lord had other plans. I was to face my tribulations. Salil and Jolly were going to out of town so I couldn’t stay there. I tried contacting other couchsurfers to see if I could find somewhere to stay for the next 3 nights or at least the last night before I flew out. I even tried The Candle in the Window site but no response. John asked his wife if I could stay with her a few nights but she too was busy. Slowly over the next few days all the couchsurfers declined my request. Some were sick, others out of town and some never replied!
Oh well I was obviously meant to remain on the farm so I might as well make the most of it. John was working in the veggi garden and as I enjoy gardening, I joined him. He and one of the workers weeded while I re-potted over 30 plants before it became too hot even where I was, under a tree. I also pulled out all the prickly weeds between the stone path which led up to the front door of my little house.
I was asked if I would like to cook. There was a very large bottle gourd which gave me an idea to make some chicken and gourd soup Chinese style. I had to make two separate batches as one of the Indian guys was vegetarian. Before I got started I had a skype call from my sisters and mum in Broome. Just the right people to talk too about the meal I was about to prepare. I showed them the enormous gourd and Jen, who’s a gardener says it’s better to get the smaller ones as the big ones are hollow inside and Kath who’s the chef gave me other recipes to try with the gourd.
Some of you were asking if Kath had joined me in India as we had hoped. She had a change of plans and decided to take Mum to Broome before it got too hot and then come to India in November for a yoga retreat. So I missed out this time.
Our gourd meal was a great success eaten with a fresh garden salad, leftover Indian fried rice and fresh boiled rice. Mind you, chili was added as well as extra salt as I’ve found most foods prepared by others have too much salt for someone like me who has cut out most of the salt from my diet.
That night just after clearing away all the empty dishes the long awaited rains thundered down. It had been so hot the past few days with the t
hreat of rain, thunder rumbling in the distant but no rain till now. John was saying it had been very dry this year and he had had to hand water many of the crops to save them. Now all the freshly potted plants were lapping it up. I had also rescued the guys washing of the line as well as my own which had dried within hours of it being hung. There was another bucket with blankets soaking in it. After 4 days I realised they must have been forgotten. By now they stunk. I decided to wash them as well as I could by hand and hang them out so that they could be washed again to rid them of the smell. Unfortunately it rained that night too. Well at least they got another rinse!
We had quite a few power cuts while I was here and this day was not different. I always keep my windup torch handy for such times but on this occasion when I was drying myself after my splash wash I was left in darkness. I mean pitch darkness as the storm was also raging around us. I finished drying myself and led by flashes of lightening I found my phone and eventually my torch. I then realised the roof was leaking in 3 places. Thankfully not in my sleeping room as I had not constructed the tents tarp exterior when I first set it up. I gathered up the largest pots I could find from the outdoor kitchen and placed them under the drips and closed the window where the rain was flooding in.
Praise the Lord my sleeping room window, the one without glass in it, was fa
cing away from the pouring rain. Without the mosquito repellent working (no electricity) I sat inside my tent to write up the accounts of the day before retiring to sleep.
Well I thought that was all I needed to do but I was mistaken. The leaking roof had forming huge puddles on the floor which needed attending before it ran into my room. I mopped up as much as I could then crawling back into the tent.
It rained most of the night which kept temperatures down and because it was raining the farm dogs had moved to the shelter of the communal kitchen area which was further from my house. They usually slept just outside my little hut and woke me several times during the night with their barking. It was a nice break to have muffled barking which was hardly heard over the rain pounding down on the tiled roof with the occasional thunder claps as the deluge continued. I awoke early to a lovely cool, moist morning. It was then I realised it was the first time in months that I had not needed a morning shower to freshen me up. Since my stay here I showered late afternoons and before bed as the water was too cold for a morning shower. The air temperatures were also cold, by cold I mean cool and refreshing about 25 degrees centigrade. The perfect temperature.
As usual John and I were the only ones up ea
rly. I did some more weeding outside my house and later planted a row of mixed flowers in the millet crops along the drive way. We had a late lunch as the guys usually woke up between 10am and 11am. I wanted to use some of our fresh produce and cooked up an eggplant and tomato dish to go with lunch which was leftovers from the day before. Fresh curry paste was made into which yesterday’s chicken was added. It was amazing! One of the workers is a great cook.
On one occasion I went into the local town of Dommasandra with John and one of the guys who comes out of Bangalore on accessions to help on the farm for dinner. I was able to order my favourite masala dorsa. Not that I was hungry or anything but was nice just to get out for a change of scenery.
My last day was a lazy one. I was up early to pack and clean up. Because of the expected afternoon rains I had considered leaving early to take the bus to the airport but the guys persuaded me to stay and ordered a cab for 5pm. This would give me plenty of time just to sit at the airport till my flight left at 11:25pm.
While I waited I watched some movies I had on my tablet. 4:30pm came around, I checked the taxi would arrive on time and was reassured it would be here soon. He was. I bundled all my things into the cab and we took off after saying my byes to the guys, all but John who wasn’t feeling well and had looked quite pale this morning. I hoped he wasn’t coming down with Dengue which one of the visiting helpers was just recovering from.
It was good to be able to relax at the airport. Once th
e check-in counters were open I joined the short queue. Then the horrifying news was pronounced! I was one day overdue and would need to see the immigration office in Bangalore when it opened tomorrow before I would be permitted to fly out. This also meant I had to change my ticket AGAIN! At most international airports I had been to in Asia I was told those who had overstayed paid a penalty fee and were able to leave that same day. I asked if this could be done but was told no. I was instructed to visit the AirAsia sales office before leaving the airport to insure I had a new ticket. Here I was told to wait as he would inquire with immigration if I was permitted to fly out tonight. Hmmm wasn’t that just what I had asked about at the check in counter!
Now alone with my prayers I SMS’ed some of my Christian friends in India (no more airport wifi) for prayer. The AirAsia assistant returned with good news, I could board my flight. Hallelujah! Thank you Lord! With boarding pass in hand I proceeded to customs where once again I was stopped and taken to the superiors who asked why I had over stayed, they said the date was in my passport why hadn’t I checked? I wasn’t going to go into the fact I had booked my return ticket before coming and was lousy at calculations and had forgotten there were 31 days in August!
Praise the Lord I was now through. W
ell, nearly, I had a huge long queue to wait in for the security check. It reminds me of herding cattle through the grids. One line for women the other for men. Again only empty water bottles can be taken through. At the last airport I had forgotten the two small water bottles I had frozen and they had to be thrown out yet they permitted me to take through a larger bottle of water which I held in my hands. Every airport seems to be slightly different as the previous times when the frozen water was not detected and went through. Thank God this time I was able to refill my bottle while waiting in the departure lounge.
I used up the last of my mobile data and phone calls letting people know I was safely through and on my way back to Malaysia. Our flight was 20 mins late in taking off but I was safely aboard and relieved to be there.
I am always amazed how people can sleep sitting up uncomfortably while traveling. I think I must have caught a few minutes sleep or did I just doze off and on between announcements and landing. Finally we were disembarking. We had arrived 4am Indian time 6:30am Malaysia time and I was exhausted but thankful to be here even when I had to wait over 30 mins in the queue through customs. Grabbing my bag which was one of the only ones left on the turnstile I headed for the exit. Malaysian’s new international airport is actually a huge complex like a shopping mall. Firstly it take about 15mins to walk from the plane to the immigration then immigration queues which leave much to be desired, collect your suitcase and out into the shopping complex. I took this opportunity to change my Indian rupee to ringgit before stocking u
p on muesli and yogurt. I had learnt from my previous trip that the bus was cheaper (by 24 ringgit) so heading towards the buses.
It was a pleasant trip into KL Central as I was sitting next to an airhostess who just happened to assist breastfeeding mothers in her spare time. We of course had lots to talk about which make the trip very short and interesting. It didn’t take me long to find my way back to Lucille’s apartment in Pantai Hillpark although once again I’m sure the taxi driver took me the long way around. Still, it was good to be back in a familiar place.
After contacting a few people to let them know I had arrived safely, I arranged with Veni when was convenient to visit her and pick up my bag which she had kindly kept at their home. Paul was in Mongolia till Thursday so I would miss him this trip.
I stayed awake as long as possible to try to reset my body clock. Although I was extremely tired from lack of sleep and slightly jet lagged I managed to stay awake till 8pm when I crashed.
I was awake early as usual 6:30am and left the apartment by 9am. As I exited the complex I enquired about a bus into KL Central and was instructed to take one from the bottom of the road to the University train station then a train into Central. 
It cost me a total of 2 ringgit, 60 cents in comparison to 15-25 ringgit for a taxi! Once I knew the route I was set. It didn’t take me that much longer to get where I wanted to go either.
At Central, I took another train to Seremban where Veni picked me up. I gathered up all the things that I was sending home and packed them into my new backpack which I had brought with me. I realised I needed my bigger bag for S Africa. I was needing to take with me my walking shoes, a few more clothes as well as a cardigan and long sleeved blouse as it was Spring in S Africa with temperatures between 14 and 20 degrees … brrrrr that’s cold after Asia’s heat and humidity! It was then I realised my lightweight, windproof jacket was missing. Hmmmm I wonder where that got lost?
Once sorted and packed we collected a box from a local store, taped it together and set off back to Seremban Post Office. Here we were told it still needed to be wrapped in brown paper. Well that was a bit of a hunt around to find. We eventually found it in a book store and with tape in hand headed back to the GPO. Once it was in an acceptable form it was weighed (6.6kg) and postage paid ($38.50 surface mail). Not bad! The thing was, I had run out of ringgit so had to borrow some. I couldn’t find anywhere to exchange money so Aaron, Veni’s son, helped out and I exchanged $50 Aust which also gave me some change for the trip home.
The last day of September I packed as much as I could then went back into Central where yesterday I had made inquiries into the cost of bus (90 ringgit), AirAsia flight (80 ringgit) and train (35 ringgit). I think you can guess which one I chose. I changed some money to ringgit and Singapore dollars then booked my ticket. The woman at the ticket counter asked me for my passport and then adjusted the fair to 21 ringgit! I questioned it and was politely told I could receive the pensioner’s price. Praise the Lord for being over 60! I later thought what a diplomatic way to ask my age.
With ticket booked I wandered off to familiarise myself with where I would catch the train tomorrow then wandered upstairs to buy a celebratory coffee. It would be a 10hr trip leaving at 8:20 am so I also needed to buy something to eat on the train as train food is rarely good and invariable overly priced. I bought myself some curry and rice in a sealed container and bought a plastic container so I could take my pre-soaked muesli with me. That was breakfast and lunch done.
I contacted my friend Jenny in Singapore to let her know my plans and arrival time. She then sent information on how to get to her place from the shuttle which wasn’t far from her place. The train would take me as far as Johore Baru, the southern tip of Malaysia, from here there was a connecting shuttle bus to Woodlands, Singapore.
All was set in order, I was ready for the next step of my journey…. my departure from Asia. I will have been over 8 months in Asia covering 5 countries, catching up with numerous friends and making many more. Where to from Asia – Africa!
Before leaving India my new friend Jolly from Bangalore couchsurfers gave me a lovely reference: “I met Sally in Bangalore… We had a wonderful onam sadhya meal in an authentic south Indian restaurant.. It was so nice to see her learning how to eat and enjoying a completely different cuisine.. We had long discussions about my niece as Sally is an expert with kids. She is understanding, kind, observing and fun loving.. She became my first aussie friend. I would definitely recommend to be host/ for meet up on couchsurfing.
With such a glowing report I’m hoping whenever I need to couchsurf again I will find willing hosts. Meanwhile I have two hosts booked for Cape Town and possibly two friends of friends to catch up with while I’m there.
Pictures: 1. Sunny sunflower 2. Ants 3. John watering garden 4. Bottle Gourd 5. John outside communal area 6. Ant hill 7. Court yard to my little house 8. John’s home 9. Saying bye to the guys 10. Veni’s family Seremban
Prayer & Praise Points:
Praise the Lord for intervening at Bangalore International Airport giving me favour with the immigration officers allowing me to board my flight back to Malaysia.
I am grateful to the Lord also for my time at the organic farm, new friends and new experiences.
Praise Him for helping me to get done all the things I had to do while in KL. Please pray that my belongings will arrive safely back in Aust.
Please pray for my safety not only during my time in Singapore but especially for the next leg of my journey and the extra-long flight through the Middle East to South Africa.
I covet your prayers for my time in Cape Town while I stay with another couchsurfer Rob who has kindly offered to have me for 10 days.
Mum is enjoying her time with her two youngest daughters in Broome although the weather has been too hot for her. Please continue to pray she remains in good health.