Malaysia

Some people spend their entire lives in Malaysia, never leaving it and there are probably people who have spent all of their lives in the country's capital - Kuala Lumpur - which means "muddy confluence". Me? I jetted in on Friday evening and jetted out on Sunday afternoon feeling rather frustrated that those forty four hours will very probably be the only hours I ever spend in Malaysia.

I saw and mentally noted many things, including:-

• The vast palm tree plantations on the way from the airport.
• Most Muslim Malaysian women wear the "tudung" or hijab headscarf. Why? I have no idea.
• There are many Indian, Sri Lankan , Bangladeshi and Pakistani immigrants living in Kuala Lumpur.
• English is very widely spoken and at a book sale in the middle of the Legends Mall, I noted that all books for sale were in English.
• Alcoholic beverages are not as widely available as they are in Thailand.
• In the Internet cafe I visited there were maybe a hundred computer stations and that evening everybody else in the room was playing computer games.
• There are many monkeys on the steps up to the Batu Caves on the northern edge of the city.
• The Batu Caves contain Hindu shrines.
• Kuala Lumpur has some good transport links including a monorail and excellent train and bus services.
• The Petronas Towers - once the tallest building in the world - look really lovely at night.
• In the strange "Animal Kingdom" below KL Tower there was a two-headed red ear slider turtle and yes - it really did have two heads!
• Malaysians love English Premiership football as much as the Thais do.
• In marketplaces, Malaysians are more "pushy" than Thais - calling out and trying to win sales.
• Malaysian currency is called the ringit. Ten ringit is roughly £2 GBP.
• Malaysian people like to get up early.
• Kuala Lumpur seemed both peaceful and friendly - far less hectic than Bangkok can sometimes appear.
• Chicken Chowman is not a dish to order if you are hoping for a nice meat curry.

But the main thing is that I successfully received a 30-day stamp in my passport when I returned to Bangkok. Hence, my work status can now be ironed out and I shall not be deported as an illegal alien.

Scene at Chow Kit, Monkey at Batu Cave, Petronas Towers reflected in The British Council Building