Greetings my friends and family....well, a it's been a whirlwind the last 30
hours or so! I am currently in Kuala Lumpur the capitol of Malaysia.

I forgot to mention in my last email that Penang saw some action in World
War II and was under Japanese Occupation. I had seen many WWII sites in
Europe...but my Pacific experience has only been Pearl Harbor...and that was
never under Japanese Occupation. There was some interesting stuff at the
museum about the battles on the Pacific Islands out here. Penang had feel
to Japan Dec. 7, 1941 as well.

At any rate, I got my bus. Which was luxurious from Penang to KL....huge
reclining seats, great a/c, it was truly 1st class! The road to KL was
actually very nice and fast....and extremely scenic. It passed through the
Cameron Highlands...where the rainforest and mountains touch the clouds.
There were even cloud forests...where steam and clouds glide down the
mountainsides covering palms and tropical plants. It looked like something
out of Jurassic Park with the greenery, the rock formations, and clouds and
mist.

My bus arrived in Kuala Lumpur and I had a contact from Hospitality
Club....I love Hospitality Club and yet it unnerves me because you never
really know what you are getting into. My contact was a girl named
Ratna...so when I arrived...I called her and she told me to meet her at the
train station a few blocks away. I met her and we had to get on the
metro...squeezed in like sardines with all my luggage...I felt bad. I was
dripping with sweat. We then took a train about 30 miles north of Kuala
Lumpur where she lives with her cousin. It just wouldn't be one of my trips
without going off the Road Less Traveled. We arrived at her place and now
I can say I'm living like the locals..in fact, not many white people make it
to this area...so of course I get the usual looks, stares, and smiles which
is nice...and always a nice reminder. I never give any thought to my skin
color until these trips...then I become very aware of my ethnicity...which
is good because it makes me more empathetic to those back home who are
different.

So I am staying with Ratna and her cousin Denise...both are very nice and
hospitable. The place does not have A/C...and there are no mirrors...and no
hot water...so shaving is/was a chore! What it lacks in convenience is made
up by character and hospitality. I enjoy this as I feel as though I'm
getting a glimpse into how the locals live and not just being a tourist. I
sort of get the best of both worlds.

I was pretty tired...but we went out to eat. Unfortunately, the only thing
to eat is stall food/street food...which I am nervous about eating....but I
had to eat..and I'm so near the end of my trip I had to take the chance.
The food was delicious..but it is unnerving to see the way things are
prepared or how the dishes and stuff are cleaned...It's been 24 hours and no
problem! I went to bed last night about 11 pm.

Ratna had to work today...so she passed me off to her cousin Denise who is
in school but had free time. We took the train back into KL and had a great
time! First we went to the Petronas Towers which I have always wanted to go
to....it was the tallest building in the world until Taipei 101 opened in
2004...but it's the 2nd tallest in the world. You have to get your tickets
early and then get assigned a time later in the day..but there were 2
cancellations and we went at 10. Denise had never been there herself. So
it was a treat for her. You can't go to the top..only to the bridge. After
we walked around for a bit and had breakfast..Noki ..something or other...it
was great. Then we went to the Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower which is the 4 th
tallest Telecommunication towers in the world...it looks like the Seattle
Space Needle.....it was a wonderful view from up there.

We then went to the bus station and Denise helped me get my bus ticket to
Singapore for Friday. It's so nice to be with a local...they can navigate
and negotiate all the prices and stuff and get me good connections.

We then hopped on a few trains and taxis to get to Batu Caves which Denise
had never been to and I really wanted to see. Its the largest Hindu Temple
in south east Asia....you have to climb 256 steps, in the sun and humidity
to get to the caves. It was incredible. Unfortunately, neither of us new
much about Hinduism...so I didn't understand some of the shrines and
statues. There were monkeys all over....they were not afraid of humans!!!

Finally we returned back to their place. Denise had to go to school...so I
went with her and at the university internet cafe and Ratna does not get
home until 10 pm. So I'm just chilling out now and relaxing. I have
about 3 hours to kill. Tomorrow I will be on my own...but they gave me the
keys to their place so I can come and go as I please. I will do some
shopping and visit Little India and Chinatown.

It's nice to stay with locals as it always results in wonderful cultural
exchange and knowledge about their culture and even a chance to reflect on
mine. We talk about pop music and culture, politics, etc. I learned today
that the Bali Nightclub bombing was actually a Malaysian Al-Queda
Cell....Al-Queda is alive and well in Malaysia. So this will be my only
hospitality club experience on this trip....I have an opportunity in
Singapore but I will arrive Friday afternoon and need to head to the airport
at 4 am on Saturday....so I think I want to find a place close the airport,
repack, and get ready for the 18 hour flight home :(

The last few days while traveling alone...I’ve had more chance to reflect
on things and meditate. Which is good...because traveling always broadens
my horizons and helps me at an emotional and spiritual level. Plus, it
always seems the last few days I get a bit melancholy...I remember these
feelings in Tel Aviv last year for thanksgiving. Though this trip has proved
to be more contemplative than enlightening....But it has also reconfirmed
some of my previous beliefs that poorer nations and people seem to be more
happy...more genuine than the richer industrial countries. But I guess the
reason I have become so contemplative is that it is so crowded here and such
a huge population with people coming, going, hustling here, there, children,
old, poverty, sickness, death, and it makes me wonder yet again..what is the
point? what is the purpose? If someone has insight into the answer to
those questions...do share! The other good thing about travel is it makes
me truly appreciate what I have...so often I curse my apartment, my car, or
bewail that I have to work or something...and yet compared to these people I
have seen in the last few weeks...I have it all...I really live like a
King...maybe not by US standards...but by most of the world....I need to be
more grateful for small things like having hot water, a mirror in my
bathroom, carpeting, etc. the small things I use everyday and take for
granted.

Well, those are my experiences and thoughts for today....thanks for
listening. Well, until tomorrow night....take care and thank you for
letting me share my trip, my thoughts with you.