Crossing the street, the rain and the Kuching Cat

There are no crosswalks in Kuching.

So good luck trying to cross the street considering most roads are one way, intersections are circular roundabouts and therefore, cars don't ever stop.

While I wait for a "safe" (L.A. standards) opening to cross the road, everyone is jumping out into the street and timing it so that they weave through the cars!

We're talking Frogger margins of error here.

The rain. I'm pretty much used to the constant drizzle where you never quite get soaked -- you dry off as fast as you get wet. And if it ever really starts to pour, I just wait a couple minutes under cover and it passes.

I don't mind being hot and sweaty but I hate being stinky. And right now, I really stink.

The highlight of the day? Uh, the famous Kuching Cat Statue?

Why the cat? Well, most people I ask don't want their pictures taken. Pointing to the camera and then to the person usually elicits the wave off. So I figured instead of pointing with my index finger (did I read somewhere not to do that?), I'd point with my thumb like I see other people do. Still no! I learned "Boleh saya ambil gambar?" (Can I take a picture?) from some locals and it worked once so I'll see how that goes...

One thing about these Internet cafes: the connection is down half the time... and I'm paying big bucks to be online! US$1.50/hour.