Published on Oct. 10, 2005 in Malaysia

Ahh. New Zealand coffee must be of a new variety “ mimicing Sweden, the coffee is roasted dark and bold. Just the way I like it. Glancing out thewindow a flurry of rain hits the people walking around, all darting for cover like little ants. Finally realizing how much the Internet has become a part of my life, I feel like half my time is spent looking for the next hot spot. And cheap hot spot.

Work in Kuala Lumpur stagnated due to the red tape of Telekom Malaysia. What do you mean your SDSL modems can’t be put into bridge mode? And we can’t buy our own? Needless to say, I was quite frustrated and even confused. Since I had been working rather long days I decided to go to a little island called Penang “ a spot known by many for the laid-back beaches and cheap eats. The last night in KL I worked until 4:30am finishing a prototype for the website, and tying up a few loose ends. I awoke at 6:45am, picked up by Chen, and brought to the KL bus station. Three nights in Penang should be relaxing, and I decided not to bring my laptop.

Initially I fell asleep in the bus station waiting for my bus; not before asking three people to make sure to wake me up. At about 8:15 I woke up and looked around: nobody was to be seen! The lady to my left had left, the conducter guy was MIA. I have always had a good internal clock where I could awake at just the perfect time. Apparently the bus was delayed (due to technical or low sales I will never know). At 9:30am I boarded the next bus and immediately fell asleep. A few hours later I awoke and there was a sandwich and drink in front of me. I was so asleep that I didn’t even notice. I made an excited exclaimation, and then began talking to the lady across the isle. She immediately had an accent, I noticed, but I couldn’t place it. It was some hodge-podge of English and Aussie, but with something else. Quickly she expressed her birth in Germany, upbringing in London, middle life in Australia and œretirement? in Bali. Hence, entering my life the first (from what I can remember) expat I had ever met.

We chatted for hours upon hours, swapping stories about marriages (her), medicore-for-lack-of-a-better-word relationships (me) and traveling (both). Her stories were illuminating. I was quickly pained a picture of Bali “ everything from her maid to the work ethic of the Balinese. I heard stories of wealth and fame and poverty “ digital photos included. We jumped in a taxi and went to a shopping mall “ my goal to find a pair of board shorts and hat, her goal to find some little trinkets for her friends daughters. I was quite unsuccessful, however wishing I had another bad. Much of the clothing in Penang was very inexpensive “ most new shirts averaging maybe $3-4USD. And these shirts are not plain, they are the Gap to A&F variety (most authentic I believe, but most just surplus from the factories). It is interesting seeing shirt that in the US would cost $70 and in Penang costing, at times, 70cents.

Dinner at a sea food place entitled more chats, topics seemingly endless. I have always found it interesting when I can talk to people for hours upon hours. A taxi ride home planted me securily into bed. A good nights sleep before a long day.

Woke up rather early and wandered around some more. We were on a mission to find Lafala or something like that, which when we did, tasted pretty crappy (but apparently is a must-have for Penang/Malaysia). I have grown accustomed to amazing eats, but Penang seemed to mark a downhill journey. Around Noon I strided off on my own, my goal: the mountain in the background. For those of you interested, you can get a satalite image of Penang at maps.google.com (Penang, Malaysia). I walked from the seafront (or two blocks in) all the way into the hills in the background. And back. Needless to say, that through all the winding streets it took the rest of the afternoon “ maybe a total of 7 hours. Upon arriving at the hotel I went for a massage (warning to all: don’t get a massage in Malaysia. Trust me. I’m not na�ve; but just trust me, very very akward). You’ll have to buy me a beer to get that story

The next few days were unfortunatly not very relaxing, I had work on my mind and, since I couldn’t get online easily, was continuously thinking about what I had to do. I had an open invitation to Bali, which was quite appealing, and I was very close to buying tickets (about $150USD each way from KL). Finally finding a cafe I sat staring at one window with my work emails, and the other with airasia to Bali “ I decided I had to get to Singapore and sit in an internet cafe and finish my work. Bali overruled. As many of you know, I had luck on my side this time. Never before have I had work possibly save my life. And for those of you concerned, my friend wasn’t and doesn’t go near the tourist areas that were attacked.

Soon enough I was on the bus heading back to KL, and was picked up shortly after arriving. I went into work and tried to figure out how to cut through the red tape. With Jane leaving for China the next day and TM seemingly incompetent, I decided to bring a new DSL modem in sometime in the future. With my work œdone? I stayed the night near Chinatown and in the morning boarded a bus for Singapore.

Published on Sept. 18, 2005 in Malaysia

I slowly glance out the 15th story window of my hotel and the aura of the Petrones Towers seeps in. Slightly overcast, the weather is perfect here in Kuala Lumpur, but perfections doesn’t end there.

Before leaving Korea I severely reduced my longevity. My flight left at 11:35am so I planned to catch the bus at 8:30am to the airport. The ride is about 45 minutes so that would leave me plenty of time to stumble around lost finding my gate. One of my close friends passed away a few months ago and I have brought some of his ashes with me. As a promise to his mother I am leaving a pinch in the ground each place I go — so after leaving the hotel I had to buy batteries and find a suitable place. Then unfortunately, I got lost finding the bus. Finally at about 9:25am and stumbling around ALL OVER downtown Seoul I found a bus that said “Airport” on and and jumped on. My knees were shaking like I was about to get married. Luckily I arrived at about 10:30am, and there were no lines!

The flight was similarly nerve-racking; I didn’t know where I was going to stay, or even if somebody was going to pick me up. I once heard from a friend recently that my life is planned out; speculating I realize that there are things I know I want, things I know I don’t want, but that I have no clue how to get from here to there. Take KL for example, or the fact that I have no idea where I’m going to live in New Zealand. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Upon arriving in KL I was picked up at the airport by a gentleman named Cheng. If first impressions defined my time in KL, I knew I would enjoy myself here. Cheng, who speaks five dialects of Chinese, English, Malay and most likely at least a few other languages, is quite remarkable. Since it was becoming quite late I was dropped off at my hotel where I quickly fell asleep.

The next three days have been a melody of good food and hard work.

Days have mostly blended together. I have usually been arriving at 8:30 into the office and work until 6:00 or so. Food has become a large part of my life — in fact, I feel like my health and general well being has had a revolution since Seoul. Some of you won’t care, although I know my mom will: I’ve started working on the abs every morning, started talking some multi-vitamin pills and, three HUGE meals a day help. I should just mention again how good the food here is. While I enjoyed Korean food (and have had it a few times here) I didn’t always know what I was eating. My body enjoyed Korean food, but that is all I ate in Korea. Here I have had a different genre of food every meal. Indian, Malay, Korean, Japanese, Chinese — even variants within. I’ve had curry for breakfast.

Kuala Lumpur is a becoming a city of dreams. Wasam 2020, a goal to become a developed nation by 2020, is beaming through the city. Indeed, the city and country has a long way to go, but I believe that eventually Kuala Lumpur could be the canvas where the cultural mosaic is painted.

Tolerance seems to be the law here, whether it is driving or interacting with people of different cultures. KL is 15% Indian, 15% Muslim, about 50% Malay and another 20% of random other cultures. While people are separate, there is a common unity shared amongst everybody. Because of this tolerance I think Kuala Lumpur could become a business mecca sometime in the future; possibly becoming the bridge between East and West.

As a segue, work has been great. I have brought down computers and their network quite a few times, most with forewarning. Upgrading software, implementing VoIP and video conferencing, and lastly bringing the factory up on the YJ VPN. Unfortunately, everything was going smooth until the router I brought over was KIA’d and then after I purchased a new one, the DSL modem can’t be put into full bridging mode. For those of you who know what I am talking about, good for you, for those who don’t: this puts a wrench in my progress. I would have been done by now, but no worries. Everybody in the office has been great to me. Unlike my experience in Korea where some people were warm or cold based on cultural prejudice people here have treated me equally and without assumption. May, the office manager, seems to have found the meaning of happiness. She is always laughing at what I say and always looking for an opportunity to help me through my journeys. Jane, my pseudo-tech partner, ticks along ensuring everybody is updated with what I am doing. Between the two of us, the network and terminals appear to be working significantly better and faster than before I arrived. An assortment of other people have impacted my good feeling towards Malaysia — Tia, the financial director, always treating me with respect; plus, giving me one of the best cookies I have ever had.

Last night was a new experience for me. I’m cannot ascertain why,but I had my first surfing dream last night. Considering I have only been surfing a few times, if that, I don’t know how it happened. When I was younger I used to be quite active — skiing and cycling used to occupy my time. While I still maintain my adventurous side (as you could see by the backflip off that cliff) I haven’t tested my physical endurance for a long time. There are several towns I’m considering; all sleepy and laid-back. The last four years have been stressful to say the least. I have typically worked at least two jobs, sometimes three, and once even four. Several terms I would arrive on campus at 7am and wouldn’t get home until 11:00pm — with almost no breaks. A sleepy, laid-back town sounds great! As long as decent internet is available.

Well, it is lunch time and I shall shortly be needing food. There is a mall right next to me; I think I will try to find some cool Malaysian shirts. I have to admit that for the first time I feel truly like an outsider. I felt alone (culturally) a lot of the time in Korea, however there were still quite a few Americans around (military). Here in KL I have seen very few Americans, but as I mentioned, Tolerance is the way of the land, and consequently I’m just another dot in the mosaic.