Georgetown
Penang
Malaysia

October 25, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

For the long holiday weekend, my friend Surapee (Noy) and I agreed that it would be a good idea to fly to Georgetown on the island of Penang, on the west coast of Malaysia. Penang (110 sq. mi. 285 sq. km).  lies across a narrow channel to the mainland and faces the Strait of Malacca and the Andaman Sea.

Once there, Noy and I also agreed that the best sightseeing strategy is to stroll around the Colonial District with no particular destination in mind.

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Location

Melaka
Malaysia

26 April 2010

The Jonker Boutique Hotel is very new.  No breakfast is served.  I wander about looking for an open shop.  I never found any breakfast….

I spotted a small group of gold-clad Indians walking up the street in front of the hotel.  Then another small group, a family, carrying pots on their head.  Is there a festival today?  I ran back to my room, grabbed my camera, ran back down to the street and followed along.

And I followed along and followed along and followed along.  The streets became filled with devotees.  The sidewalks were crowded with observers: Chinese residents, Malay residents, other Indian residents. And me, snapping away.

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Location

Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

25 April 2010

At the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, I bought a small pamphlet for a souvenir.  The title of the little book is Mystical Thaipusam: A Pictorial Book to Batu Caves and Thaipusam Festival.*

Some of the color photos in the book are of the caves and the shrines.  But the writing and most of the photos are of the Thaipusam Festival.  Here are some of the key phrases:

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Location

Melaka
Malaysia

24 April 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

At 9:30 am on the dot, Joowee picked me up at my hotel in KL.  Together with her friend Michelle, we drove south to Melaka, the ancient city-state and historic port city strategically located on the Selat Melaka – the Strait of Malacca.

I missed Melaka on my first trip to Malaysia four years ago and I was anxious to see it.

Melaka is a great place for a daytime stroll.  Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese, Indian, Arabic and native Malay architecture all stand together and line the narrow streets:  forts, churches, mosques, temples, tombs, fountains, along with plenty of clothing, antique, porcelain and chachka shops. 

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Location

Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
 
23 April 2010
 
Dear Family and Friends,

Fifteen kilometers (nine miles) north of Kuala Lumpur, the Batu Caves lie inside a towering limestone formation.
 
Standing 42.7meters tall (140 ft) the Hindu deity, Lord Murugan welcomes the devotees and visitors to the caves and the shrines.
 
To get to the main cave, I climb the 272 steps, while the resident monkeys eye my water bottle.
 
The cave complex is filled with colorful carvings of the Hindu pantheon and scripture.  I recognize my old friends Shiva and Ganesha.
 
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Location

July 25, 2006
Kuala Terengganu
Malaysia

Hello Everyone,

On my way south from the pier at Kota Basut to my next destination, Kuala Terengganu, in a completely unrelated incident, I re-injured my knee.

Fortunately, and I do mean fortunately, all of the mid-range hotels were "completely booked" for the celebration of the Sultan's birthday. I arrived at the four-star Hotel Grand Continental limping on my walking stick and in pain.

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Location

July 15 2006

TO: Resident Manager
Perhentian Island Resort
Pulau Perhentian
Malaysia

Dear Sir:

I know that in Southeast Asia it is considered outrageously insulting in the extreme to raise one's voice in anger. I know that it is considered quite rude to complain.

So, instead I am writing you this letter to tell you about my "bad luck."

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Location

Ipoh
Malaysia

July 13 2006

Dear Family and Friends,

I am up before dawn and in the dark I leave behind one of my favorite shirts drying on the line at the Sunset View Chalet. The ferry leaves for Lumut at sunrise.

Ipoh! Ipoh! Announces the driver of the red Roadway bas as we depart the stesen bas at 07:30.

At one point during the two-hour ride to Ipoh, through small towns and villages, stopping here and there for local school children and shoppers, I call the Hotel Excelsior!!!

Yes. I sprung for a HotLink Malaysian SIM card.

Loosening up a bit more, I check into a top-of-the-line mid-range hotel and head out for my stroll of the city.

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Location

Pulau Pankor
Malaysia

July 9, 2006

Dear Family and Friends,

I am on the beach, sitting on a white-gray, very long driftwood log deposited on the golden sands of Pulau Pangkor, in Perak. I am facing the sun setting in the Laut Andaman, at the northern end of the Selat Melaka.**

I am on Pangkor Island, a four-hour uneventful drive north from Kuala Lumpur on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. After three hours the bus driver was kind enough to stop and wait for me when I said "toilette!"

Then a ferry ride to the island and a pink Volkswagen van-taxi to the charming-sounding Hornbill Hotel. The bus was scheduled to leave KL at 12:00 and the ferry from Lumut at 4:40. In both cases, those times were, I am sure, the honest hope of the ticket seller.

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Location

Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

July 7, 2006

Dear Family and Friends,

Selamat pagi. Good Morning.

Did you know that the lift at the Menara Kuala Lumpur travels at an ear-popping rate of 276m in 58 seconds?

The lift at the Manara Kembar Petronas travels at the rate of 5m per second.

So, can anyone tell me the kph for each lift? How about mph? Don't ask me! I was an English major, remember?

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Location