U. S. Soldiers Home, Washington: during a century
of travel (well 78 years!) both in and out of service I
have travelled to over 150 countries (I count both North
and South Dakota as countries) and for some reason have
jotted signs and happenings that I thought funny at the
time (and now wonder why). So here is the perfect
opportunity to share some of my anecdotes.

Sophisticated traveller that I am, I almost panicked
here at the Malaysian border coming from Thailand. The
night before on the train a man collected our passports for
processing and gave us no receipt. Mine was not at the
Malaysian border. I ran from Thai border officials to
Malaysian and neither had it. Finally one of them found it.
Later a Malaysian official came on the train to
“visit” with me. I think the many visas in my
passport made me suspect.

In Kota Tingu, Malaysia, I asked a seamstress if she
could make me a secret designed undershirt with a secret
pocket (no secret anymore) to hide valuables. I asked her
when it would be finished and when I should pick it up. I
thought she said “Today, three o clock”. When I
returned at three I discovered she had said. Two days,
three O Clock. In two days I was in another country. In
India I had a pocket made in my shorts (also a secret
pocket and again no secret) I sometimes wear athletic
soccer shorts. They have a pocket in them that has a shield
to protect your private parts. I put a plastic bag with
money in this pocket. I feel that if a robber got down to
looking in my shorts that I would be lost anyway. I also
carry valuables in many different places so as to not be
carrying all my eggs in one pocket.

Johure Bahru: a sign “Wet Market”. Wet
market means they hose down the floor in the market where
they have fish.

In my travels I have often met individuals that have
been travelling for years. Sometimes taking a job teaching
English or some part time job for a while and then moving
on. I met a Swedish man (these individuals are usually from
Australia) that had spent some time in Malaysia. He had
brought one hundred video games and was on his way to Kula
Lumpur to catch a Russian Airline Aeroflot plane to Sweden
(he says is lousy: the airline not Sweden.)

He pointed out to me in the station some transvestites –
Malaysian men dressed as women. He said to look at their
big adams apples in throat and their big feet. I asked him
what he did for a living. He said “I live.” Can
you live on reselling video games alone? He was maybe 35
and dressed respectfully.

In a Malaysian paper there was an article about a
visitor to the Philippines being drugged, robbed and left
in a cemetery. I asked the Swedish man if he had ever had
anything stolen. He replied “My wallet and a gold
chain I wore around my neck but that his girl friend might
have stolen them.”.

Next month, Mac discusses language.

If you would like to contact Mac, he can be e-mailed on:
macsan400@yahoo.com