Malang

I'm staying in a hostel this time which is actually quite nice, although from the photos it probably looks like a prison cell!  funny, as I'm reading 'The Mars Room' by Rachel Kushner. 

As my train got in early morning it was brilliant that they let me check in straight away. 

I had a nap then headed out to explore.

Malang has a different vibe too, but I found myself a bit homesick again today, and a bit city-lagged.

The traffic, risking life and limb crossing the road, the loud music was kind of getting me down.

There were a few highlights today though.

The fiat car rally:

The blue village and Rainbow village - Kampung Pelangi - which I explored:

......but the animal, or pet, market was a bit sad to see - lots of different animals in cages: birds, mice, monkeys, cats, and rabbits......to name a few

There was a lovely girl - Rahma, a student - working at the hostel. She does guiding.

I also met a young chap from Korea who has been travelling for a while now but has been 'stuck in' Malang 2 months. He's a 'digital nomad' teaching English online. 

That seems to be what people do nowadays. If you're online working or writing the money is paid independently of the country you're in, so you don't need a work visa.

The new laptop class.

He likes Malang as the people are really friendly....he described it as what it was like in Korea in the '80s.....that is, described by his parents since he's not old enough to remember the 80's!!......people were more open & would invite travellers into their home etc.