ten pesos

The State Department cautions U.S. citizens against travel to eastern Sabah, in Malaysia, due to threat of violence against foreigners from terrorist and criminal groups. 

  There are indications that both criminal and terrorist groups are planning or intend acts of violence against foreigners in eastern Sabah, notwithstanding the Government of Malaysia’s increased ability to detect, deter and prevent such attacks.  The Abu Sayyaf Group, based in the southern Philippines, has kidnapped foreigners in eastern Sabah in the past.  Criminal elements are also responsible for kidnapping and piracy against foreigners.  »→

Here is Uncle Sam’s latest take on the Republic of the Philippines,  for Yankees intending to visit it:

“November 6, 2009

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:

The [Republic of the] Philippines is an emerging economy [it's an economy?] with a democratic system of government.  Located in Southeast Asia, the archipelago consists of more than 7,000 7,107 islands, of which over 800 are inhabited.  The major island groupings are Luzon in the north, the Visayas in the center and Mindanao in the south.  Tourist facilities [What are they?] are available within population centers and the main tourist areas.  English is widely spoken [how does one speak widely?] in the Philippines, and most signs are in English.  »→

Flew from Kula Lumpur to Narita, Japan to Chicago. No hassle at immigration checkpoint in Chicago’s O’Hare Airport;  took only several seconds.
Perhaps the radio frequency identification tag in the front cover of my passport allowed the ’system’ to call-up my file and display my photo on a clerk’s screen as I approached.

The clerk took my booklet, looked at the photo page and asked, “How long have you been out of the country?” I replied, “Seventeen months.” He stamped a page, returned the passport and said, “Have a nice day” or something similar.
Going through U.S. Customs with a DVD player, a laptop computer and a can of car wax buried in my luggage wasn’t as easy.

Business trip? Family vacation?

Long trips are actually easier on your car than day-to-day driving — but a breakdown far from home can ruin your day -and a vacation or business trip. Extra phone calls, delay of plans, towing charges, rental car cost and a repair bill may be avoided by inspection and preparation of your vehicle, by you or a qualified automotive technician. »→

I had to depart Malaysia by May 30, so I thought that I’d ride a bus or train north to Thailand. Rather than ride a slow, narrow-guage-track train 19 hours to Bangkok, which may’ve been an interesting trip, then wander in Bangkok making tourist photos then come 19 hours back, I opted for an easier solution: a Toyota van ride from New China Penang to the Malaysia/Thailand border just to exit then later reenter Malaysia. »→

This afternoon I bought van tickets for a one-day ‘visa run’ from Penang to Thailand’s border and back, because my Malaysian  Social Visit visa will expire on May 30. I need to exit the country, you see. I can reenter almost immediately and be granted another three-month social visit visa. Many van, bus and train tickets to nearby Thailand are sold each week in George Town to tourists who want to visit Thailand and expats who need to exit New China Malaysia.