Lose your Passport, or Credit Card, but not both

This picture is just for the tranquil mood that I needed today (didn't have it, but needed it).

Interesting, but frustrating day today. It turns out that Diners Club will happily wire you money, but the banks here won't let you pick up the money without a valid passport. It also turns out that the American Embassy will process an application for a new passport (2 weeks to process), but needs $97 in fees. Catch 22. The good news is that the hotel is happy to advance money against the hotel bill, and Diners club should have a new card to me by Saturday. I'll get my application for the new passport in tomorrow (have to go get passport photos taken first).

Bought a new wallet today also (small front pocket type).

While the advice we read before I came here (State Dept, other travel sites) was to keep your passport on you at all times, I'm being told by people at the hotel and co-workers that it was really a bad idea to have my passport with me (easy for me to agree with them right now). They all say that the correct thing is to keep a photocopy of your passport with you, but keep the original in your hotel safe (which I now know how to use).

I had a rough morning (embassy, bank), but I'm doing OK now. I don't have to travel immediately, so 2 weeks should be OK for the passport. I feel a little naked with no ID though. I have a photocopy of my old passport and a copy of the police report, and I'll keep them both with me, I guess.

This is a holiday weekend in Malaysia (Monday is Labor Day). I was going to go find a beach somewhere, and I may still. Not sure yet. I'm feeling less adventurous than normal.

Here's a shot from Dinner a couple of nights ago. I didn't have the lobster, but it sure looked tasty. I had the garlic fried rice with scallops. The cook (chef?) in the picture was cleaning the grill with a small bucket of ice cubes. The tiger prawns in the 2nd picture are on the same size plate as the lobster in the 1st picture.