HKKL#4

HKKL#4

So much better to write in the morning. My mind works much better in the morning. I have quite a nice home yoga practice in the morning now as I have not had the time to check out studios yet. Normally when I get up I hear the call to prayer at the mosque...5:30 a.m. It is a lovely time of day.

Last week I went to Johor Bahru, the southernmost city in Malaysia and right across the bridge from Singapore. I had the pleasure of escorting a UK doctor with me who was visiting KL for a conference. We went to visit a hospital which is nearly paperless and is very impressive for all of the work they have done to get their EMR is place. I am loving my job here so far and keep seeing additional opportunity everywhere I look.

OK, enough about work...more about food. Saturday I spent all day walking around Little India smack in the middle of the Saturday market. Oh my goodness, the food!!! The fried bananas that come in all these different forms are delicious. Each stand has subtle little differences. My favourites are the ones that balls and made with cornmeal. The thing is, I can't figure out how to tell the difference and I had one at work one day made with wheat and it was not a good thing. It's a bit like egg noodles and rice noodles. I think I need to start learning some Bahasa, that would be a good thing.

My new routine is get up and swim in my glorious pool on Saturday and Sunday mornings. It is so nice. I am trying to figure out a routine for weekday mornings but haven't gotten the swimming as part of the morning routine during the week. I think once I get everything settled, I will be able to figure out going to a yoga studio class as well more swimming time. Right now, it seems as if I am still running around every evening with trying to get something else for my apartment or eating...again.

Sunday I went to Chinatown. I suppose it is not too dissimilar to other Chinatown's in many big cities around the world. This one has a quite a history as well and of course, is full of great food everywhere you look. I started off with some dim sum (bbq'd pork buns and red bean pancakes) followed by some fried rice noodles with BBQ pork, cucumbers, and other interesting green veggies. They have this celery called Chinese celery that looks like cilantro but tastes like celery. It is really yummy and a nice relief to some of the very spicy chilis used in some of the Chinese sauces.

I ended up spending quite a lot of time in a big book store that had some Chinese books translated to English where you see the characters alongside the English. Learning Chinese characters must be SOOO difficult. Bahasa Malaysia is in Roman letters and I am actually learning a few words by looking at signs and such.

I have now figured out several different ways to walk to work and our client site in KL. Every day I end going a different way and see some other interesting sites. I am fascinated by the mix of extreme luxury and poverty, sometimes on the same block.

BTW...try to watch "Twin Towers of the East"....it is all about the building of the Twin Towers and is an excellent programme.

Cheers!