In praise of euros

The morning after.. we were a bit zonked by last night. Very little sleep on the plane to KL particularly when they offered a meal at around 4am, the somewhat surreal KL airport (well, after Perth anything woud seem flashy). Swapped planes and arrived into 32 degrees. It was a big relief to see my name on a pickup slip.
Traffic is ... interesting ...here. People don't seem to be aggro but the horns talk to each other and the mix of foot, bike, motorbike, small car, 4WD, buses weave around and across with some attention to lanes.
We are in the Old Quarter in a mini hotel down a street too small for cars. Sitting having pho for breakfast - tangs of lemon grass and herbs- I saw a woman in a classic cone hat trotting past with a pole on her shoulder balancing two loads. This part of the city is packed to the road edge and past with small stalls, families seated outside businesses, and it takes care to dodge the open concrete drains. There is a slight "drain"smell everywhere - not surprising in this climate.
We walked and walked yesterday afternoon, getting our bearings (hah!), and head out today with new determination. It was overwheming - new language and new currency. With a LOT of zeros. Since most references are to US$ I am converting between 3 currencies to have an idea of prices.

OK, today's goals are to find a bookshop for a good map - there doesn't seem to be a central Tourist Bureau, just lots of eager travel agents- and the Baguette and Chocolat patisserie. Oh and the Museum of Women and the Museum of Ethnography.
Food report: Fried fish with cashews, lemongrass and chili chicken and rice, and noodles for breakfast. The coffee was maybe cardamon laced. mmmm

Oh and the cables looping above the streets would make Mieville happy!! Colourfully painted narrow buildings 4 or 5 levels high and lots of urban decay for David.

Reads rather disjointed which is probably a true relflection. I will aim for a more "composed" entry next.