Yesterday evening on the way home from the concert I finally got clarity on how my Southeast Asia trip will continue and where it will end as planned. I'm glad it all sorted itself out in my head, otherwise I would have had to will the decision. Because there is a decision compulsion in the near future that I cannot avoid: The visa for Indonesia. I want to enter there on a basic tourist visa. This is only valid for 30 days. Actually, I wanted to take the ferry to the Indonesian island of Batam tomorrow. Now that won't happen until February 24th. Now if I move to Indonesia then the only sensible International Airport is Jakarta. On February 21, I'll leave there, I've decided. I even booked the flight with Emirates. It costs a little over 500 euros. That is cheap. I flew from Frankfurt am Main to Bangkok in December for 800 euros.
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Culture is on the agenda tonight. Real high culture, because I'll be hearing pieces by Mahler and Brahms at Singapore's Esplanade Concert Hall. I have acquaintances here in Singapore, one of whom is a professional musician and is a horn player with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Because I'm a guest in his hometown, he got me a free ticket for today's concert.
When I land in Taipei, I'm a little nervous because I don't know what's going to happen next for me. Where do I have to go to get my onward flight to Bangkok organized. But it turns out that all the worries are unfounded. It feels like the entire staff that was missing at Frankfurt Airport for orderly passenger handling is here at Taipei Airport with a sign ready to catch me and let me fly on. I'm offered some apologies, bows, a Christmas present and a meal voucher. I invest the latter in a Chinese noodle soup in an airport restaurant. If I know myself, you will hear more about this dish on my tiger tour through Southeast Asia. Because I am an absolute noodle soup fan.
I have arrived on Malaysia's east coast. In the unlovable town of Kuantan, two waiters position themselves at the table next to me and click their pens incessantly, impatiently expecting that within a minute I'll know what I want to eat. I stare at the menu for a long time, because as a punishment for this audacity I recite Schiller's "Kraniche des Ibykus" (23 stanzas) three times in my head, and then order the green curry, which I had already decided on after ten seconds.
I've been traveling alone for a while now. For many people, being alone can challenge their psychological stability. That is not a problem for me. We get along well, talk a lot and laugh a lot together.