Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur...

The last few days have been fun.  Bangkok was empty with the flood waters threatening the city; but, the waters kept at bay.  All was well for us ladies, our last days together were spent well.  Flowers and shopping and foot massages, pad thai and fruit shakes and silliness.  And the pool...on the roof of our BKK hotel.

Check out the size of this leaf!

 It seemed wrong to be carrying on with our tourist ways among the flooding and the worry that surrounded Bangkok.  However, because of the absence of tourists, we made friends with numerous business owners and employees .  I think they were happy to see us; many visitors have cancelled their trips not knowing if it was safe to journey to Bangkok or Thailand.
One evening Dylan and I were getting foot massages and the ladies were sharing their fried food treats and whiskey with Thai herbs added to it.  Fried fried things, fried dough things and strong whiskey with red, licorice tasting herbs added...and a foot massage...okay, I accept!  We had a great time chatting with the Thai ladies, and they had fun playing with us, making fun of us and just being silly.

Next point of interest: I would like to know why so much roof space is wasted on things that are not pools.  The view was almost as amazing as the breeze in the humid, hot of BKK.

From the pool to Malaysia.  Now I am in KL. I have seen shadow puppets at the National museum (pictured above, made out of buffalo skin, used for entertainment in the17th c and 18th c) and a replica of Stone Henge at the National Planetarium.  Today, my new friends, Victoria, from New Orleans and Carolin, from Germany, and I have visited a few key places in KL, one being a Chinese Temple, pictured here and a Hindu temple which sat just down and across the street. Doesn't the lioness look playful with the ball of the world in her mouth?

Malaysia is a malay of religions and cultures and also fruit juices.  The pink drink tastes just like it looks; bubble gum with a hint of flowers.  Just stay away from the Durians.  Durian is a medium sized spikey melon thing...the smelliest thing ever. I have yet to try it but I am told it tastes a little like too old chicken mixed with salt water and  rotting fruit. Mmmmm. We also visited Asia's tallest flag pole on Merdeka (Independence) Square.  Fun. 

So, as I sight see and have a good time meeting friends and other travelers, I also await my visa to enter China.  As always, we shall see what happens....and I will keep you posted.  I am anxious as I write this; I have several days before my meeting with the embassy and a couple more before being able to pick up my visa.  

Oh, bummer, guess I will have to hang out in Malaysia.  In the next couple days, my time will be spent sight seeing, visiting temples and caves and eating Malay food.  And...I will go to an elephant sanctuary to work too!  I will have the chance to feed and wash elephants and maybe ride one too in the rain forest national park on Taman Negara.  Fun!