Kula Lumpur

Sorry I'm so light on pictures in this post. I've included a few but admit they're a bit lame . I've been working solid the past two days, and the picture opps have been thin on the ground.

I'm staying in PJ (Petaling Jaya) a suburb of KL. .....PJ outside of KL...they love shortening place names here.
As you can see by the view from my hotel, KL is lush and green. The temperature sits around 85 degrees year round, and these days at least, features a daily 2 hour downpour, complete with special effects booming thunder and lightning.
Malaysia is a mix of three main cultures; Malays, who make up the majority, Chinese, who are the business class, and Indians (and Tamils, and vaious sub continent variations). This mix has had its tensions in the past, but seems to have found accommodation. In the past ( and to an extent in the present),the Chinese dominated commerce and there was considerable resentment. Thirty years ago,the Malays passed affirmitive action laws, reserving places in public and private business for native Malays.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2001/01/05/kuala.2.t.php
Social unrest was pretty much avoided, but business life here is full of government mandated silent partners and can be a bit silly at times.
Though officially a democracy, the reality is a one party state. Opposition leaders, and even members of the official party are pasted if they fall foul of the ruling oligarchy.

http://www.iht.com/articles/1999/01/06/malay.t.php

There are two sets of rules here. Muslims (Malays) are not supposed to drink and are expected to live life in line with Islamic principles. Its not Shira law, but they are supposed to behave. There is a lot of "don't ask, don't tell" going on. Non- muslims can do anything they want, and do. Bars and nightlife are if anything, more "out there" than in most western cities. Pornography is banned, but hookers fill the bars. "Health centers" are everywhere and are attached to all hotels. If you want to know what a Health Center is, think "rub and tug"....and more.... so I'm told anyway....I don't really know about such things.

There are plenty of odd things, that make you do a double take. While out last night with the KL team in a bar full of pros, I was struck by the fact that regular couples were out having a night out, even dancing with the prostitues. The groups seem to mix without any sort of real acknowledgement of whats going on.

The bar had a 6 piece Phillipino band, belting out an astonishing repertoire (Bon Jovi, to JayZ, to Motely Crue to Maria Carey). Everyone kept dancing regardless of what was being played. There was even a headbanger doing the long hair, head circular rocking back and forth thing. When the band saw him, they all joined in.....weird.

Two of our group were getting married at the registrar the next day. Though they would be legally married as a result, they were pretty relaxed about the event. The real nerves will come in about a month, when the Chinese ceremonies and celebration dinners( two sets, one for each side of the family) are due . They don't consider themselves really married until then. The piece of paper tomorrow is just a detail like ordering invitations.

We bought them champaign, and the band announced the nuptials it over the PA. The place erupted in wild applause, the hookers the most enthusiastic clappers ( pun intended).

Tomorrow I have the FULL day clear and will visit the Batu caves, and get some cool pics.

http://www.malaysiasite.nl/batucaveseng.htm

I'll also try and get a picture of the Petronis Towers....

Then Its a flight to Dubai at 2 am.

With any luck I'll get time to post the pics.

Most Malaysians speak a number of different languages including English. Chinese Malaysians typically speak, Cantonese, Mandarin, English, Hunan and Malay. English is spoken with a peculiar lilt. Sentences are often (but not always) punctuated with the word "la" at the end.

" Lets go for a drink la"

"I've had a lot of beer la"

"I think I'm going to be sick la"

There is also a rather nice tendency to use old fashioned phrases or descriptions. For instance, when I asked a colleague what he most enjoyed about golf, he replied, " the fellowship". Nice. People say these sorts of things all the time here.

KL is a modern city. The roads are great by UK standards, and although traffic jams build in rush hour, it is nothing approaching Bangkok. Excise tax on foreign cars ( non Protons) is 50% of their value. When you see a porche or a merc,and there are a lot of them, you realise that there is quite a bit of money kicking around.

Well this is the champion of rambling posts. Tired doesn't even approach how I'm feeling so please take that as some sort of mitigating factor.

I hope everyone is happy and healthy and getting plenty of sleep.

T