Try, try again

 Okay, so the blogger app foiled my last attempt to make a post, but I feel confident that I can manage it this time. I'm doing it from the browser this time, so we'll see if this is any better. 

As I recall, I was at a pretty low point the last time I made a post. I did make it out of Cambodia, though not without extra expenditure. The PCR test not being within two days of departure caused exactly the problem I expected. However, the airline offered an unexpected solution: they suggested I go sound the corner and get a rapid test, which cost $30. While I couldn't help but wonder why they didn't offer that option before I paid $130 for the PCR test, I was still grateful that it worked out. I was able to avoid the visa overstay fee in Cambodia, which was the goal. 

I'm sure a lot of people would think that I'm overly concerned with this overstay issue, but I assume those are people with substantial funds at their disposal. I ran out of savings nearly two years ago. I've been coasting on fumes ever since. I've earned just barely enough to survive since I got locked out of China, and less than that since the major lockdown in Vietnam began. Furthermore, violating the law in a foreign country is generally a bad idea, even if you assume the penalty will be minor. For example, I was told that the fee for a visa overstay in Cambodia was just one dollar per day. Upon further research, I discovered that it's ten dollars per day, plus on day 30, it jumps to prison. This brings me to the main point: once you've overstayed your visa, you have to correct that before you can get a work visa. you need that to get a job to pay the overstay fee. See the problem? Best not to overstay in the first place. 

Since my previous post, I have been in Malaysia. It has gone mostly terrible since I've been here.  If you want those details you'll have to tune into the channel, but it should suffice to say that Malaysia, being an oil rich country, is very auto dependant, with all the problems that come along with that. 

Yesterday, however, was the worst here yet. Despite having booked days ahead, I was turned away from the hotel I was supposed to check in to on Labor Day holiday. No explanation except that they were full. I wasn't worried and quickly booked another. But after taking the better part of the day to get there, I ran into the same problem. Subsequently, every hotel I called or checked online said a similar thing. So I spent last night at a bus stop in town.

Both of these things require separate posts to discuss:

1. Gradually living through fears that have driven me since I involuntarily left home at 20 years old, and 

2. Why does they hotel industry get away with this shit?

Both of those will need to be saved for a future post since I'm at the new hotel now and really need to eat.