I was awake from 11:00 TO 2:30AM with the imaginary mosquitoes at me. I sat up for a little bit wide awake as I conceded to not being able to sleep. I went down again laying awake for another lengthy amount of time before I found my watch to say 5:12. It was 12 minutes after my alarm was supposed to go off! I rushed to get ready and leave before 5:30. I actually had time to spare. I walked about 15 minutes to the bus station in the dark with only some seedy looking characters and some early shop owners daring to join me at this pre-dawn hour. I got some breakfast foods – fluffy sticky white rice cakes – one of my childhood favorites at 10 sen (US$.03) a slab ( I got five), and a pair of coconut filled sesame covered riceballs. I got 2 at 10 sen a ball. It was quite a deal.

While buying breakfast, two Danish people from Denmark who I had met late the previous night came and together we shared a taxi to the express bus station. Tina and Christian were in the midst of their 5 week vacation during their summer college break. We took the 10-hour bus ride. At the border we legally exchanged money at RM 1=2200 Indonesian rupiahs which is less than half the going rate and 100 rupiahs less than what a ton of illegal money changers were giving. These guys would not give up even after talking with them and saying "No" for over 5 minutes. All the while, a few cops stood around just looking. (Maybe they were getting a cut for not intruding:-)

In Pontianak, Indonesia, my intent was to take a 6-hour speed boat that would take me to Ketapang, close to the resort island of Bali, according to the Lonely Planet travel guide that had helped me tremendously. This was my plan to do some snorkeling. Right before getting off the bus in Pontianak, some Chinese Indonesians who had chatted a bit with my two Danish acquaintances offered to give me a ride in order to get my boat tickets. I accepted seeing that these two hosts had a reliable and wholesome disposition. However, when we got off the bus, I became a little uneasy as Tina and Christian decided not to accept the ride from them since they were close to their hotel. But I still accepted and they drove me to their son's appliance shop to speak with their son who is able to speak English and get me on my way.

His name is Muliady (27 years old). He was very helpful and told me that the boat trip was non-existent which I didn't want to believe. He then brought me to a travel agent to give me a variety of options to get to Bali which would take me over 2 days of travel. It was more time than I could afford. During the time I spent with him in private, he was briefing me on all of the dangers in Indonesia, especially for a Chinese person, probably doubly as I was also playing tourist - unfamiliar with the many customs. He then brought me to a hotel which had been recommended by the travel agency. This hotel, at the time, didn't have electricity, so I naturally declined and took his offer to stay at his house for the night.

So still with my guard up, not accepting the several cups of water since the initial contact, we went to his house. It was huge! And pretty fancy for how scummy this city looks. It has 5 bedrooms and 3 baths. The house is 3 years old bought at about US$80,000. The two main reasons why I accepted his offer to stay is: 1. His mother looked like a very genuine and caring person, 2. Muliady was very concerned for my safety considering the person I am. I've come to trust him. He had already taught me loads about this country, more than I would be able to find out by myself. He treated me as a Chinese person would treat a Chinese friend from out of town, paying for my expenses (mostly food) everywhere. He took me out to dinner at an upscale place which only came out to be about $3 US for the both of us, but for Indonesians probably a good chunk of change.