(inspired by Cees Nooteboom’s introduction of Scheepjournaal)

Border Town

We meet again.

I always meet you with a lack of sleep. You are always grey, rain always falls upon you and I always try to avoid your puddles of undefinable murky, muddy water. I always meet you when I travel solo and no matter how big you are you always create chaos. Your hotel is old, ramshackle, always located on at least the second floor and cleaning your steps from the street upstairs never matters for too long. I always long for your bed, yet I know the same plank-like matrass is what you prepared for me. Your water will be cold, your bathroom tiles are horribly turquoise coloured or with that recognisable old brown look. You choose the pattern of your floor so that nothing that hasn’t been cleaned can be easyly noticed. The TV will always be present and never be looked at and I will wake up earlier than expected and without any desire to sleep in.

Right here is where I will have to arrange bank issues or visas. And right I will have to wait for a bus, train or ferry. The bus, train or ferry will arrive in time and I will always be late and miss it due to bank issues or visas. I will read a lot, I will write a lot, I will smell you, I will observe you, I will experience you.. you Border Town. Not in a way that attracts people, but in the way you are expected and in the way I expect you to be.

You aren’t worthy of a memory, yet I will not forget you. We have met again and I am looking forward to our next encounter. Where will you be? Where will I come from? Where will I sleep? Where will I wait? Where will I wait for you? Where will I go….

Border Town

Tawau, 07/03/2015