Jason and I arrived after a pretty exciting day of travel across the border. We, ah, goofed a bit. For those thinking about crossing from Thailand to Malaysia overland -- take the tourist minibus. We went by public bus and spent a lot of time running around in our backpacks in 100 degree heat. But, I guess we got to talk to a bunch of local folks along the way and saw some smallish towns we wouldn't have otherwise visited.

We are in Georgetown, Malaysia. I was expecting something like Luang Prabang, but instead I find, not a ghost tourist city, but a very charming town with good food and friendly people. Like Rangoon, we seem like one of the only twenty tourists in town.

Malaysia has expensive beer ($2 for a single bottle of beer at the grocery store), Islam, and the death penalty for drug possession. [By contrast, you can get a large beer in Laos for fifty cents, one dollar in Thailand] I wonder if that's why we seem like the only young-ish tourists in town. heh, heh.