Woke up at noon today. Traveling all the time really does wear the body out. I thought it’s important to let myself recover once in a while.
The Temptation of Char Siu Fried Rice
I decided to go to the gym for the first time in a while and headed to a gym in Kota Kinabalu. For lunch I planned to go to that exotic restaurant Sufi had told me about. It’s the place I went to right after arriving in Kota Kinabalu two years ago, and I’d really come to love it because everything about the flavors was so unique.
But right after leaving the hotel I saw a restaurant that looked so delicious and I spotted fried rice, so I decided to eat the fried rice there first and then go to the exotic restaurant. I had char siu fried rice, and it filled me up. So in the end I decided to go to that restaurant tomorrow and never made it there today.
I got a request to make an urgent fix for work, so I headed back to the hotel right away and made the fix. I’m partnered with four companies now, and one of them is really difficult. They’re extremely meticulous and require detailed records about money, and you have to send a notice when you start working. But since they’re paying me, I want to keep doing it with gratitude.
The 12-Ringgit Gym
I walked to the gym. It took about 30 minutes to find; it was really hard to locate. It was on the eighth floor, tucked next to a movie theater, karaoke, and a game center, so it was super confusing. I paid 12 ringgit (about 400 yen) to use the gym. I also gave a 10-ringgit deposit for a locker so I could use it. Maybe the gym in Chiang Mai, Thailand was just so amazing, but this place didn’t feel that high-quality—kind of small. Still, I managed to work my shoulders and back again and do some abs.
Looking at Instagram, everyone who’s good-looking and muscular really does look sexy and beautiful, and that’s why going to the gym and training my body fits with my way of life of "living beautifully." I want to keep building my body bigger and more beautiful. To do that I need to be strict about my diet and everything I put into my body and lead a disciplined life.
Around 6 p.m. people kept coming in and the gym became saturated. It felt like people were coming after work. So I thought it’s really important to go when it’s quiet during the day. There was nothing I could do—there wasn’t even any space on the floor.
Malaysian Chicken Tastes Better Than Thai
After the gym I went to a very obvious restaurant nearby called 'Chicken Restaurant'—yes, a restaurant that has chicken. It felt kind of funny, but I ate steamed chicken and rice there.
Malaysian rice is tastier than Thai rice. The steamed chicken is softer and easier to eat than Thai khao man gai. They do chop it up, which is nice, but you have to remove the bones yourself, which is a bit of a problem. Still, I definitely think Malaysian chicken is better. I’m not sure if it’s because the sauce is served by default or simply because it’s tender, but either way it’s very easy to eat.
Chasing Someone Is Not Good, But I Want To Chase
I walked back to the hotel. I wondered how much had changed since I came two years ago, but it didn’t really feel like anything had changed. Traveling around Southeast Asia, I still think Vietnam is the best country. After this Southeast Asia trip, I might not want to visit countries I don’t love for a while.
Even when I reach out to Wayn, he leaves my messages on read, so as someone who really loves people, it makes me a little sad. That’s why I think chasing someone isn’t a good idea. But at the same time there’s a part of me that wants to chase. It’s a complicated feeling.
Running in the Rain
Once I got back to the hotel I quickly changed my shoes and went out for a run. I bought a sports drink at a nearby convenience store and put it in my bag for the run. But it started to rain and felt uncomfortable. Also, when I ran my bag swung with the motion, which annoyed me. Next time I want to run without carrying anything. But that might be a bit dangerous too. Running in a hot place without water felt pretty risky.
I went to the restroom at a nearby department store and looked around a bit. I felt like Kota Kinabalu might be enough for me—maybe a place I don’t need to go back to. I’m thinking this might be it for this trip.
I walked back to the hotel. I ended up walking 7 km today. I took a shower, and since I had work piled up for the night I bought peanuts and a SIM card at the convenience store and used the peanuts as energy.
