A nap on a bench.

Last night I wandered around Kuala Lumpur International Airport with bloodshot eyes. As soon as I arrived, taxi drivers approached me from all directions, trying to sell me a ride, and neon storefronts beckoned me to buy their wares. I refused both in my random wandering and instead settled for an airport bench.

Since my connecting flight to Bangkok was not scheduled to leave until 9:10 the next morning, I had thought about taking a train into downtown Kuala Lumpur. My flight had taxied into KLIA at about 9:30 Malaysian time. I figured it would be something fun to do instead of spending 12 hours in the airport, but my sleepy state persuaded me otherwise.

Before bed I walked back and forth across the airport that slowly grew quiet. I searched for a drinking fountain but through broken English discovered that here, there was no such thing. I soon settled for a bottle of water, and after gulping most of it down I sprawled out lengthwise on a slightly cushioned bench near the back. I wrapped the strap of my bag around my wrist and turned onto my side to fall asleep.

In that moment, it hadn't hit me that outside the four walls of Kuala Lumpur International was a country as exotic as Malaysia. I felt a humid blast of air rush in through the revolving glass doors that led outside and eventually to the city, but I did not feel the hit. I saw headcoverings and robes of purple, orange, and white that covered softly darkened skin tones, but it did not hit me then. For the first time, the only language that filled the air and rose to my ears was not recognized as my own, but somehow, I am not yet shocked.

I know its coming though. I know that elation will at some point turn to anxiety and for a period of time I will be shocked and questioned; overwhelmed and defused.

In this moment, looking back over the past two weeks, I have loved this adventure and I know that I always will. I love defining life as it comes at me. This life of excitement and challenge is a dear part of my existence. But at some point, in some instance, I believe I will be shocked by unfamiliar sights, sounds, and words. Until then, I can only wonder when.

Now, in the moment of writing this, I am sitting in Bangkok, Thailand. I decided to take a break from the slow and complex navigation to my hostel, as well as a break from the heat and humidity. It is about 1:20 p.m. here, on the 17th of January. I have been slowly navigating through this notoriously busy city and I have constantly stopped to look at my map, but I think I am almost there. I will be staying somewhere in the Banglamphu area, which is west of the city and nearby the river.

Almost there.