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Mar. 24, 2011 I arrived yesterday, March 23, 2011, in Bangkok, Thailand, traveling by train from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The train ride took 38 hours, including a layover of 7 hours in Butterworth, Malaysia. This was sad for me. In all the 56 countries I’ve visited, I can’t think of a city where I’d rather live than Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The infrastructure and the economy are comparable to those of the US, though I think a worker is probably better off in the US. I’m retired, though, and I no longer have to think about such things. I spent a total of 5 months in Malaysia, and I’m leaving only because I must. My second visa has just expired. Visit my preliminary web page: www.mecnita.com/Malaysia.htm One of the features that I like about Kuala Lumpur is the perpetually warm weather, temperatures 70 to 90 around the clock all year long. Neither Miami nor Honolulu—and I have lived in both of those cities—can compare weatherwise. The other feature is the complete absence of confrontations, insults and threats on the street. If you have ever lived in the inner city in New York, Chicago or Los Angeles—and I have lived in all three—you probably know that you can count on abuse, obscenity and uncouth behavior from other people at every turn. Somebody is always starting something. You have to watch out for assaults and robberies too. But that is not the case around here. I’ve been in Asia almost 2 years now and have not had a single unpleasant encounter on the street, and that includes Kuala Lumpur. I said in a previous article that Sungei Wang Mall has 2000 stores. I was in error. I went over and checked. There are 650 stores in the mall, but there is a cluster of several malls all together, and there may be something like 2000 if you add then all up. There are perhaps half a dozen other malls within 2 or 3 blocks, so shopping compares favorably with most US cities. The top of the line is upscale Pavilion Mall. My favorite experience in and around Kuala Lumpur was a visit to Putrajaya, the Malaysian federal district, about 15 miles south of downtown KL. It can be reached by suburban train. Putrajaya was planned and founded by retired Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad. Putrajaya consists of seemingly thousands of buildings of stone, brick and concrete. These are government offices, offices of high technology firms and residences. Their height is 5 to 20 stories. One sees few if any steel and glass buildings. The streets are all perfectly paved, with broad, placid sidewalks where only few people can be seen walking about. There seem to be no neon signs, billboards or gaudy posters. It is like a dream. I went out there originally to renew my visa, and I was so impressed that I decided to visit again just before I left. On my second visit, I saw Perdana Putra, the prime minister’s residence, Putrajaya Mosque and Seri Wawasan Bridge, designed to resemble a sailing vessel. Putrajaya-Cyberjaya train station is a massive, immaculate station, with dozens of local buses waiting downstairs. I’m in a relatively downscale neighborhood in Bangkok. There are lots of sidewalk cafes nearby, but don’t conjure up visions of the Chanps-Elysees. The customers are mostly Euro-backpackers sitting around in their out-of-shape tee shirts and baggy shorts. So far I have 60 days, till around May 20, but I understand that a 90-day extension is to be had, and so, I’ll probably stay till August. After that, it will really get rough, as I travel through Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. ------------ About the author Thomas Keyes: I have written five books: ELEMENTS OF GRAMMAR and A SOJOURN IN ASIA (non-fiction); A TALE OF UNG, THE ENNUNMENT and GVAGMA (fiction). I have studied languages for years and traveled extensively on five continents. Visit my website here. Email: udikeyes@yahoo.com
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