Speechless in Malaysia

If you've never kept a public journal before, it's not readily apparent how hard it can actually be. I want to tell about all the different places I'm seeing but don't want to simply chronicle my trip. I would like to write something profound but I really don't feel very profound at the moment either.

I was looking at some journaling tips online yesterday and was a bit amused. Dream journals "can be very telling of how we feel about current situations." Okay. Last night I dreamt that I was in an ice cream shop in line to get some vanilla soft serve ice cream. The line took forever and I never did get to taste the ice cream because my dream changed right after my sweet ice cream wish was fulfilled. Sad day! Next I dreamed that my mom got rid of her car in favor of a motorcycle. It was a Chevy motorcycle which, as far as I know, does not even exist (save in my imagination). I wish I could have seen her on it though--I certainly don't think it will happen in real life. Sad day again! My life must be filled with unfulfilled desires! Grief and healing journals also have there merits, but at the moment I'm not overcome with grief...So, I will try to journal as best I can.

As is true of most places, the best aspect of Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia is its people. Most are Malay and Muslim, but there are also many people of Indian descent as well. As far as I can gather from the people I've asked, Malaysia is a Islamic country but Muslim practice is not coerced. According to a Muslim man at the Masjid Negara (the national mosque of Malaysia), the government is composed of several different parliaments; one made up of Malays, one of Indians, etc. The representatives elected to parliament do not need to be practicing Muslims but the president/PM is required to be a faithful Muslim.

Masjid Negara

Malaysia is a very patriotic country. 2007 is the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence from Great Britain. The Malaysian flag is proudly displayed on almost every building in KL. I was even given a small parade-style flag at the KL Convention Centre (KLCC). It is impressive to see how many people are participating in the independence celebrations which culminate August 31 (a couple days after we leave...I'm telling you, it's in the dreams!). Overall, Malaysians are very proud of KL--as they should be. It is a beautiful city with lots of glassy buildings and strong promise for economic development. Julia, an attendant at the "executive lounge" at our hotel, told me that many Malaysians look west for career advancement and what she called "big money" while many Indians look to Malaysia.



Well, I have more to write but should let others have a chance at the email. But first, one story. Our first day in KL we went to KLCC--easily spotted by the Petronas Twin Towers. At their base is an ornate and beautiful shopping mall that doesn't even allow pictures to be taken (shops included Rolex, Prada, etc.). Two of the girls on my trip needed a restroom and entered the nearest one. Although we had been warned that "squaty potties" (holes in the ground) were the norm in this area, they weren't quite prepared for this. The center of the room was carpeted and around the perimeter, without any privacy curtains, there was a trough for relieving yourself...Jamie and Liz decided that they didn't need a bathroom that badly and left. They were able to find a spot with more suitable arrangement a little further on for a small fee. What they had unwittingly supposed to be a bathroom was in reality a prayer room! We're all making little blunders like this along the way, but hopefully learning :P (meal time is especially confusing)



Please keep me in prayer, it is hard work to not just go on vacation mentally.

(Thanks sistas for the notes and especially the verses you sent me--keep 'em coming 'cause I need 'em!)