KUALA LUMPOR, MALAYSIA

This has been a charmed adventure since Singapore.  I didn't think it could get much better, but it did. Kuala Lumpor and Langkawi were fantastic. Tomorrow I head for Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, (snowing again), then New Delhi, India.  After that I will take a train, bus, hitch hike, and walk through some countries and arrive in Bangkok in about a month.  I will probably be out of pocket after New Delhi until Bangkok.

Taking first class accommodations on the train was a great ride.  The surprise showed up and we left for a great time in Malaysia.  While she lived in Singapore, Christie had never traveled to Kuala Lumpor.  The countryside was beautiful and lots of jungle greenery. Kuala Lumpor is attempting to make itself a hub for finances in southeast Asia.  There are banks everywhere.  I think it will make it.  It has the tallest buildings in the world and the fourth highest tower, (Menara Tower) in the world.  The twin towers have stainless steel as its outside facing.  It is 288 stories high.  The disappointment was only being able to go to the 107th floor.  I actually liked the Menara Tower better.  We made it to the top where there is a revolving restaurant overlooking the city.  At night it is fantastic.  Actually the Menara Tower appears to be as high as the twin towers since it was built on a hill and therefore had an advantage of adding another 100+ meters to it.

Kuala Lumpor has everything going -- great sights, night life, good shopping ($2.50 a piece for DVD's like "The Terminal"), and a fantastic interpreter.  Massages only cost $15 for a full hour body massage.  We blew it out dancing and the night shows were even better.  Again, not much sleep was had and the ole body was aching for a rest. Ole well!!

I was able to get my visas for some of the countries that I will be traveling through in the next month.  I didn't get them all because some countries didn't have consulates in Kuala Lumpor. Hopefully, I will get them in Sri Lanka or India.

The people are very friendly and even helpful.  One night, we were in a night club and I was trying to get out some money.  I made a mistake that I knew I was beginning to get sloppy about.  I had too much money, including American dollars, that I allowed to be seen.  A guy at the next table introduced himself and gave me a warning that Malaysia is a third world country and I did not need to be so loose with the money.  I agreed.  He actually turned out to be a Malaysian Commando training Australians, New Zealanders, and American Commandoes on their tactics.  We really had a great time. I was buying beer and they were buying fifths of JD's.

Christie left for Singapore to go to work and I left for Langkawi Island for some R & R that was needed.  She said she would be back to see me off for Sri Lanka via Hong Kong.  She went first class by train and I went first class by bus which took eight hours.  I got to Altor Star and took a one and half hour ferry to Langkawi Island.  It is located just below Thailand.

LANGKAWI ISLAND

Langkawi consists of 97 islands, of which most are uninhabited. The main island is Koah where all the resorts are. Mutarita is a sprawling five star resort, having it all on site. The staff is the greatest I have seen for this type of development. From the very beginning, I joked and kidded with them. They really helped me out. For you Southern fans, they have the largest eagle statue in the world.  The term "Lang" is bird or eagle, and the term "kawi" means brown and black for the color of the land and the eagle.

Bob and Sylvia Leo in Singapore told me about this place, particularly the five star resort (Mutarita). My whole intention was to do nothing but lay around on the beach, pool, eat, snorkel, take a yacht cruise and a catamaran for an evening dinner cruise, see a few sights, and gather my thoughts.  I knew that the next month was going to get a little rough and I wanted to be mentally prepared.  Well, that lasted the first night.  Thanks to Altia, Herti, Dwi, and Cerita it all  changed. What a charmed adventure.  Altia is a four foot ten inch singer in a band and what a package.  She even sang on the last night a song called "It's Not Bad to Sleep Alone."  Nice song and a nice message.

I did the dinner cruise and laid in the net in the water behind the catamaran having a few drinks watching the sun set. I thought I would go back and get some sleep, but things changed. It all started when I got invited out to hear a reggae band in town at a local bar.  They had earlier performed at some other resort.  This was their fun time.  Man, did we have fun. I never heard Reggae music like this before.

I won't say what all happened, but being able to dance on the beach, golf course grass, or even on the dance floor were great memories.  They taught me some moves and hopefully I recipricated. Those four, although they didn't know each other, were poetry in motion. I did get to do all of the above that I mentioned, with each one of them. (Again, it is nice to have an interpreter along.)

The resort had small beach houses with a king size bed down on the beach.  What a great place.  The staff was extremely friendly.  I couldn't have done all that I did without their help.  (I won't explain it either.)  Going out with each of them separately was wild.  Guys, let me tell you.  After you have had a good conversation with a woman, order a torpedo or B-J.  When it comes, take the lime put it in her mouth and tell her to hold it.  Put the drink between the hills in the shallow valley on the sun dress or blouse.  Then put salt on her shoulder/neck and lick it. Get the drink in your mouth and turn it up, then set it down. Then, go for the lime.  It will be the best tasting lime or whatever, you will have had. If she is game, let her do the same.  You may have to cross your arms to keep it from sliding, or do like I do and let it slide.  I don't know where I got this idea.  It could have been from a movie, but it sets the tone for a great time.

I had planned on leaving a day earlier, but someone convinced me to stay another night.  I had already checked out of the resort.  Needless to say, I checked back into it.  I had to call and leave word on Christie's voice mail that I would be a day late.  Thank goodness, I didn't get to talk to her.  The next day, I drug my body to the Ferry to catch the boat back to the mainland and to Kuala Lumpor. I really hate goodbyes and these were tough.   I will be back.

KUALA LUMPOR, AGAIN

Arriving at Kuala Lumpor, I was surprised as she was there and checked in at Bintamg Hotel.  She wanted to blow it out and I was dragging after an 8 hour bus ride.  I couldn't get a flight out.  What a time. We were not structured by anything, except my dragging rear end.  Christie is oriental. She has an English name because of the British influence in Singapore.  We fit in with the Malaysians who were extremely friendly.  Most of this crowd had never seen an American.  Unfortunately, I gave them a show.  We decided we needed full body massages before we left. That really hit the spot.  She took a train, and I took a plane. What a time, what a time.

Traveling is such a great time as there are no structures or social mores imposed. The only thing you have to consider is your health.  It is a time when you really feel free. Not having any limitations, except my lack of physical strength, gives me such a tremendous free spirited sensation.  As each day goes bye, the decision to take the road back becomes harder.