Stuck Waiting for My Visa
July 29th. Today is all about taking it incredibly easy.
Or rather, I should say I'm completely stuck right now in a place called Tawau. I'm currently playing the waiting game for my Indonesian visa approval.
At first, I had this naive hope that it would only take a day or two. But apparently, online applications drag on way longer than expected. It looks like a quick 2-3 day turnaround is out of the question, and I'll probably be based here for a full week.
How I'm Killing Time
Since I don't have a packed itinerary right now, I've been keeping myself busy by editing videos of my journey so far. It's actually been a pretty fulfilling way to spend my days.
Around lunchtime, I usually step out to grab a bite. Today, I tried a local dish called "Bubur Ayam". It cost me 10 Ringgit, which is roughly $2.15 USD.
The Reality of Prices in a Port City
Tawau is a commercial hub and a major port city. You can really feel the rapid development and the constant flow of people coming and going.
However, because it's such a bustling area, the cost of living feels a bit steeper compared to other spots. For example, everyday meals are about 2 to 3 Ringgit (around $0.40 to $0.65 USD) more expensive here. Sure, larger cities like Kota Kinabalu are probably even pricier. But compared to places I've recently visited, like the Temburong district in Brunei or Limbang, I definitely notice the price bump. Of course, it's still incredibly cheap compared to Japan!
Street Football & Cultural Discoveries
When wandering around town, my eyes naturally gravitate towards the obviously beautiful spots, but the everyday scenes are what truly capture my attention.
For instance, between 7 PM and 8 PM, you'll often see local kids playing football right on the streets, weaving between parked cars.
It's in these mundane moments that I see the stark contrast between my home country and the rest of the world. It makes me wonder why football is so deeply rooted in the culture here. Observing these little things is honestly the best part of traveling. This whole waiting period has been a great opportunity to consciously appreciate the small details I might have otherwise overlooked.
I'll be staying in Tawau again tomorrow. Looks like I'll be relaxing here for another 3 or 4 days... or realistically, a full week.
