I think the topic sums up the past 2 weeks' events pretty well. 

 

Mike's passport & a chunk of cash were stolen and so we cancelled our US trip just 2 days before our departure.  Then as a backup plan since we've already got some leaves to burn, we headed over to Pangkor Laut for 5 days for some r&r.

 

Here's what happened. Mike went over to the bank  on Thursday (just 2 days before we were supposed to depart for US) to withdraw some serious cash for our US trip.  He had to bring his passport along for verification (don't ask.. our friend lost his ic just a few weeks ago). Anyways, to make a long story short,  shortly after he drove off, he realized there was a flat tyre, and stopped by the roadside to change his tyre.  Miraculously, the Litrak highway support came by in less than 1 minute on a motorbike, and then the 2nd Litrak person came over in his tow truck in just less than 3 minutes.  You may think what good luck eh - right after they 'changed' the tyres, Mike drove off realizing only slightly later, that his dough & passport were gone. He left it inside the car - and those guys supposedly claimed some of the items from the tyres could not fit in the boot. I would assume in the midst of the tyre changing chaos, the goodies were conveniently taken though there are no eye witnesses.  Mind you, this is just by the LDP highway SS2, so its unlikely that you have a pedestrian just walking along the sides of the road then.  Anyways, so we made a police report, and the devastation was undescribable. We were both emotionally drained as we have built up so much excitement towards the trip - waiting almost a year for this break.

 

No point crying over spilt milk - so we proceeded to make bookings at Pangkor Laut.  So we headed off to our local island holiday the following Monday 16/10/06. Ironically, while waiting for our ferry to head over to the island, my boss smsed me that Hawaii was struck by a 6.6 earthquake and was in the 'state of emergency'. Electricity lines were cut, and high rise buildings were evacuated.  That would have been our 2nd day in Hawaii if we had gone over.  Hmm that was strange - God must really love us. Imagine the disappointment if we had been there - still paying for hotels, and car rental with no where to go!  Airport was closed for a few days - chances are , we would have had to extend our stay in Hawaii with nothing to do. For the amount we 'saved' by not going for the US trip, the Pangkor trip was rather lovely - we relaxed in the sea chalets, and hill chalets over a period of 5 days.  Dining was convenient  - too convenient. Now I feel fat.

 

Anyways, check out the photos.... now i'm bored.   I need to get back to work.