On the bring of disaster & the glory of hitchhiking

Here we go again... another country unfolds itself underneath my feet. I don't think this great pleasure of arriving in a new part of the world will ever stop... this excitement.
I left the airport with the intention of finding an i-cafe in order to check whether Suchen has replied. He did not. Therefore I ended up in a hostel where I negotiated a price down to 12 RM a day, which is roughly 2.50 Euro's. The night of arrival I just chatted with the guy from the reception to find out what could be done in this magnificent place. He told me about various actitivities, which were all amazing apart from one... it was outstanding. Climbing Mt. Kinabalu (4095m). The next day was set to go sightseeing around the city and gather information about Mt. Kinabalu. I was visiting two of the mosques and a museum that day. Inside the museum I called the company operating the national park to find out more about hiking the mountain. Luckily I got a place. As I later learned people were turned down even if they called a month earlier, so fully booked (note for later... I was 100% to get a place). For all those people intending to walk in my footsteps: If you book without meals it's 1/3 of the price.
At the mosques I had a pleasent chat with one of the attending Muslim. I learned that it's prohibited to walk into a mosque with blank knees. Apart from taking off shoes there's nothing else to be considered. As you might imagine women are only allowed to enter if they look like nunns. This is their custom and has to be respected. I personally did all this, even asked for a robe to enter the 2nd mosque. However I wasn't aware of the fact that it is not allowed to sleep inside such a holy place. Since I felt a bit weak and tired that day I layed down beside some others in my borrowed robe and intended to sleep. It worked for 20 minutes, then I was woken up and sent out. That's all what happened during the 1st day in Kota Kinabalu (City of Mt. Kinabalu).
The following day I wanted to recover to be ready for the climb, so I didn't do much apart from another couple of hours sightseeing and streetwalking. I attribute this shortterm weakness to the half naked hike during rain at the rice terraces last week. Anyhow I convinced myself of not being ill and got fit within hours (note for later). Very convenient.
So let's skip 20 hours. On Saturday morning I set out to explore the mountain. I took a bus for 20 RM (Ringgits Malay) to the entrance... that's where I met Peter and Michael, two Belgians. We decided to hike up together to save some money, however arriving at the park our intentions shifted. At least me and Micheal started pushing for the more adventurous option of avoiding the second gate through using a small river. You've to know that mountain is located in the middle of the Jungle, but we didn't really care of danger or whatever. Even though we tried hard to miss the 2nd gate in the first place we arrived back at the road further up the mountain after taking an alternative route instead of the main road. Standing at the gate we faced the decision to try or pay. We tried...
Behind the toilet we made our way downhill, which was rather dangerous. After reaching the small river we walked/ climbed upwards in his bed to get back to the road beyond the checkpoint. I won't be able to paint a picture of how it was, as it has to be experienced. All in all I wouldn't do it again, but do not regret to have done it. I may start doing rockclimbing at some point anyway =)
Back at the path we began the hike up to the hotel, which was approximately 3 km and 1600m away. Walking smoothly it took us 4 hours. Meanwhile we all began to think that the idea to "sneak up the mountain" wasn't as good as thought, because returning people told us that there is a check point and also we had to check out of the park. This problem was solved when we arrived at the hotel and were asked for our batches. Surely we didn't have any. They called a ranger, who was slightly angry but overall alright. We ended up paying the full price (Insurance, Guide, Entrance Fee) which accumulates to 130 RM. I had just enough and the others were 6 RM short. My wallet was empty just like my stomach. As usual some other people offered me a little food (just very little otherwise I would have felt like a blood sucker). The ranger luckily accepted our apology and payment, thus telling his boss police is unnecessary. He mentioned if we wouldn't be able to pay the police would have picked us up at the entrance point. Although it was a dumb idea I don't regret it since I've learned a lesson... that's life! The ranger became our guide the next morning. Start was 3am in order to reach the peak before sunrise. It was a mix of stepping over stones, pulling up ropes, hiking across bleak mountain and waiting in the queue of tourists. Indeed a nice and rewarding experience. It won't be the last peak I've climbed. After observing the surroundings and incorporating the impressions deep into my mind I left everybody. I just wanted to go down again, as I was a bit cold at 6 degrees. I seem to detest cold and embrace heat. Hiking under a burning sun is my favorite! Next year June and July... these are most likely the months of my planned extreme hiking. Although it's still in the stage of planning I make progress in convincing myself of doing it FOR SURE. I'll be talking about determination later on. It took me about 3 hours to reach the gate we've skipped in the first place and be happy to be back surrounded by warmth. Another interesting thing to observe is the changing nature from 1500m (Jungle) up to 4000m (blank stone). If you've more of an idea about our flora and fauna it's probably quite amazing.
Sooo... back down at the park entrance I intended to catch a bus. I just sat beside a local on the side of the main street. After 10 mins a van stopped asking us where we wanted to go. Obviously my luck just doesn't cease... he went to Kota Kinabalu, thus taking me there for free (nice conversation included). OK so far so good. I got a taste of hitchhiking even though I didn't even point out the famous thumb. Back in KK I switched off internal and external lights for some sleep and recovery. The following morning I left willingly to give everything for the goal of reaching Brunei (5 hours away) without bus, plane, ship or taxi. I wasn't sure whether it would work, because all the locals didn't get what hitchhiking was. I didn't know where to stay in Brunei either, as accommodation is pretty expensive and the Couchsurfer forgot to telly me his phone number. However once again I was on the lucky side. After 4 mins waiting Joseph picked me up. Short description: Malay living in Brunei, Car dealer, around 40. Straight after entering the car we jumped into a conversation keeping both of us busy for 2 days. The topic was personal development adn the "Law of Attraction". The difficulty lies in size and sophistication of the topics. I'm going to shy away from trying to explain all that to you and keep on telling you the events happening in recent days. I ended up staying with Joseph for 2 nights. He showed me around Brunei, which included a speed boat tour and a couple of tours by car. I saw the palace, water city and have been inside a 6 star hotel. Still his generosity didn't stop at that point. He even invited me to join him going to some sort of group meetings. The first group was called "Toastmasters" and concerned about improving people's level of public speech. I'm probably going to join the same group in Leeds. The other meet up was lunch in an Indian restaurant, where members and ex-members of "Core Value Training" assembled. Both were exactly what I want... emphasizing personal development. Processing all the information and inspiration from those two days might take a bit. After the second meet up Joseph drove me to the border of Brunei, so I could hitchhike to Miri (Malaysia). It took me exactly 30 sec to get the next ride.
I think I'll always remember what happened in Miri. For me it was the explanaition why my current situation is like it is and why praying really works. It's called the "Law of Attraction". If you look it up on Wikipedia, you're going to find a lot of criticism since it is scientifically not provable only through personal experience. Anyway after learning of the "Law of Attraction" I was happy, coz I thought I have found the answer to many many questions. I listened to a couple of tapes and skimmed a few books Joseph (real name is Tuntek) gave me. In general this universal law says that you've to realize what you want and transform this into some kind of prayer (can also be called visualization) combined with a positive state of mind. I don't expect you to understand me right now since it is hard to comprehend if this is the first time you are confronted with such ideas. After talking to Joe's experience about the "Law of Attraction" I thought to myself... let's try. The most original idea I had was to receive an e-mail from a friend, who rarely writes back. The last mail dates back almost 4 months. Guess what... after convincing myself that I'll receive a reply soon I found a message in my mailbox the next day. I know... this sounds crazy, but what do you think this should tell me? Another example is my own mother. She doesn't have too much money, but used to go on holiday regulary. She said she always found money under her plate without adress... just because she knew her Christian god (doesn't matter how you describe this universal power) would take care of her.
There is still more to this topic... if you're interested ask some questions. I'm not able to make it as comprehensible as possible, instead I could recommend a book or something like that.
By the way many succesful people actually seem to have applied this law in their lives... Henry Ford, Albert Einstein and some others appear to be among those according to their quotes.
The phrase: "You are what you think" might be more true than I could have ever imagined. In that sense THINK POSITIVE and have a happy life! The rich and succesful apparently have utilized this law (sure it implies much more than that understanding).
During the last days I also read the book "Rich dad, poor dad". Basically it is concerned with making money and some perception about what money is from the perpective of wealthy individuals. The book was able to challenge my attitude towards making and owning money... I'm about to reconsider my stance. I highly recommend it!
I have to stop talking about all those "Golden Rules" for life since they're not totally clear to me. However I'm sure that I'm going to get there... THINK POSITIVE =)
Back on the road. After leaving Miri the next day I was facing the choice whether to go to the cave or not. I ended up hitchhiking there, as it was on the way. Apparently I have been inside the biggest cave in the world... nature is a truly astonishing architect! Although there was a camping site I couldn't use my hammock anymore, because I found out that I lost two strings which are necessary to set it up. In ended up sleeping inside a restaurant on a floor... alternative way of camping. The following day I had to hitchhike 900 km towards Kuching. After 2 hours attempting to get it going I realized that there was no chance in reaching Kuching that night like this, so I took a bus. In Kuching I had to find out where I would stay that night. While walking around the bus station two different Malay's asked me separately where I wanna go. I told them I was searching a cheap hostel. They both offered me to find something together and take me there for FREE!!! I took the offer of the second guy. The cheapest we found was still the most expensive during my stay in Malaysia (30RM=5Euro's). Additionally it appeared to be a brothel... women weren't included in the price. My "drivers" and I went to a restaurant afterwards to have some food. This time I felt that I had to be generous and paid for the food... wasn't too expensive though =)
After staying a night in this disgusting whorehouse I left early in order to find an i-cafe and write two letters. One to my mother and another one to a unknown birthday kid from Serbia. There was somebody asking on a CS group whether people would like to congratulate his friend from all over the world. It seems to work =)
A couple of more comments to the current events. First I want to tell everybody that I'm quite happy that the Olympics are going well for China... they're about to beat the US (don't take it personal *haha*) in the overall medal ranking!!! Also I find a lot of admiration for Michael Phelphs! His secret: "I don't have limits". If we really want we can achieve everything, just believe in it and do what you think you ought to do! However I've to admit add that this Olympics is just some more of the same what is happening around the world. Excessive marketing and hypocrisy. World record over world record... the only question I have what kind of "legal" drugs did they take? Yeah... falsity is ruling the world, but not me =)
One last point I want to make is about Georgia. It's the continuation of the "Great Game". I've read a book concerning the time scale between the 16th to the 19th century. It was information put together to show how big geopolitics used to be and that it's nowadays exactly the same. Russia, UK and China have always been involved. Nowadays it's also major power such as the US and to a lesser extend Germany, France, Japan, Australia, Canada, Spain and India. It's all a big game... don't become confused when any of those countries is talking about human rights. They don't give a shit (including Sarkozy and her Holiness Mrs Merkel). It's all PR (Public Relations).

Here a comment from our good old buddy Mr. Gorbachev:
"For some time, relative calm was maintained in South Ossetia. The peacekeeping force composed of Russians, Georgians and Ossetians fulfilled its mission, and ordinary Ossetians and Georgians, who live close to each other, found at least some common ground....What happened on the night of Aug. 7 is beyond comprehension. The Georgian military attacked the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali with multiple rocket launchers designed to devastate large areas....Mounting a military assault against innocents was a reckless decision whose tragic consequences, for thousands of people of different nationalities, are now clear. The Georgian leadership could do this only with the perceived support and encouragement of a much more powerful force. Georgian armed forces were trained by hundreds of U.S. instructors, and its sophisticated military equipment was bought in a number of countries. This, coupled with the promise of NATO membership, emboldened Georgian leaders into thinking that they could get away with a "blitzkrieg" in South Ossetia...Russia had to respond. To accuse it of aggression against "small, defenseless Georgia" is not just hypocritical but shows a lack of humanity." ("A Path to Peace in the Caucasus", Mikhail Gorbachev, Washington Post)

P.S.: You can call me crazy about the "Law of Attraction", but it's with everything that involves faith... you have to believe it that it works. Give it a try!!!