Guess who's in town?

Couldn't sleep. I ended up checking stuff, like train tickets to Aber, on my phone before drifting off about 2 and then awake at 4.30. But it seemed to be enough.

Our PP tuk tuk driver (who's name we just keep forgetting) was there before 6 and we set off for the airport. For once the streets were quiet. We saw the sun peeking through behind buildings and the art deco Central market.

The immigration guy was pretty dour but we got out of Cambodia ok and had time to look at the shops - more Artisans d'Angkor and Senteurs d'Angkor. They seem to have the tourist market cornered but it is lovely stuff. However, i resisted a second silk cushion cover.

Having passed on the breakfast box of boiled eggs and bread I managed to order a pain au raisin and an americano as the flight was called. Meant breaking a dollar note, doh! The flight was uneventful and we both dozed. good views of the Mekong delta and the east coast of Malaysia. Amazing how the cloud builds up as you cross the coastline.

Life back in LCCT was the usual hangar experience. 35 minutes in line for immigration. the new KLIA 2 opens next week, wonder if I'll get to use it.

We got to Sentral just after 1. The streets are busy because, Barack is in town. Turns out he's staying at the Ritz-Carlton where the wedding was last year and where we stayed. Wonder if he gets the bath experience with floating flowers?

But there was no sign of him as we went back to Mont Kiara for lunch, which was difficult, the firts place was full, Souled Out was closed but we ended up in a mamak. Good, cheap food that filled a whole.

Back at the apartment, just before the deluge, some unpacking and preparing for the next trip then we sat on the balcony as the thunder and lightning crashed overhead and the rain pelted down. The water rationing that has been on for a couple of months now is due to end next week. Strange in a country where it rains it really rains.

Some folk slept while I backblipped. Got to catch up before I forget.

Then it was next door to Chamomile for dinner with WH's parents. J was a great hit, the 'dad whisperer' as she is now known.

Then to the city to meet another Aussie cousin, B en route from Thailand and Vietnam. There was a bit of a hiatus before they turned up. Liverpool v Chelsea on the tv and all the serving staff were either in Liverpool or Chelsea tops (Chelsea won 2-0, both in extra time, I think that takes them top of the League. There was much celebration at the final score).

It was interesting meeting these 4 youngish Aussie, 3 first time travellers. So generopus, so interested but so naive in many ways about life in countries differently organised. we talked about how they reacted to children, and animals, begging, the way they's been scammed, the way people had helped and returned lost phoners, wallters and money and the fact they'd paid mega Ringgit for a taxi from LCCT to KL, slow because of the Obama visist, when the express bus would have cost them 6RM each. Ah well, travel does broaden the mind.

Crystal Palace v Man City was on by the time we left. G is very impressed at my football knowledge. We said good-bye and headed home, past the Istana Negara all lit up for the Presidential visit sending streaks of light into the sky from the pineapple like dome.

Now East Malaysia.