Bye bye KL!

I'm at the airport, about to head back to Thailand - to the Koh Phangnan Full Moon Party!

I've changed my trip plan a little; Cords and I were supposed to go to Borneo now, but its monsoon season (oops) so we're sensibly giving the tropical jungle a miss. Which left me with over 2 weeks to fill in Malaysia - and a sad feeling that I hadn't done all I wanted to in Thailand. So, I'm going back to get some more time on the Thai islands. Have enjoyed Kuala Lumpar but excited about the Full Moon Party - have wanted to go to one for years...

Still, a little bit about KL... and an update on our night out with the Masons. Cord's family friend, Olive, invited us to join her for dinner on our second night in the city - we feasted on succulent roast duck and pork until our tummies were full and our smiles wide. Olive's partner is a member of a Scottish/ Malaysian Masonic Lodge, and asked if we'd like to attend one of their social events as his guests the following night. We were picked up in a Jag, and escorted to a nice Indian restaurant where we met the other Lodge members and their wives. As the only Westerners we attracting a fair bit of attention, and quickly settled into easy conversation with the senior members of the Lodge... A few glasses of wine later (Malaysia is Muslim, so that was a nice surprise for us) and we were watching a Latin American dance class with the Worshipful Master trying to persuade me to join in and dance with him. A nice, odd night..

Malaysia is made up of 3 key cultural backgrounds; Malays, the Chinese and Indians - creating a rich tapestry of foods, music and appearances! Everyone (to us) looks very different, whereas most of the Asian countries I've been to so far have looked fairly homogenous. There are 3 different languages (thankfully English seems to be widely spoken in KL) and a random mix of tradition meeting the ultra-modern. Gleaming shopping malls with Gucci stores nestle shoulder to shoulder with street food hawker stalls where people eat curry using their hands. It's a really interesting city.

The end of Jan/ beginning of Feb marks a significant date for the Hindu calendar, and preparations are well underway for a huge celebration early next week in KL. Yesterday Cords and I visited the Batu Caves, a site of religious significance nestled up 270 steps (past a giant gold deity) on the outskirts of the city. Scores of worshippers had donned yellow rboes to make their way up the steps and give offerings, receive blessings and pray inside the cavernous space. Sadly a lot of what I saw was a bit lost on me, but it looked lovely! We ended our last evening in KL with delicious Chinese food, and a girlie night of face masks and manicures.

I'm flying to Ko Samui now with Amy, then on to Ko Phangnan tomorrow to meet Hayley (and buy UV body paint in readiness for the party). Photos to follow!

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