KL

Everyone here refers to Kuala Lumpur as KL, maybe because it is shorter or maybe because Kuala Lumpur means "muddy river" in Malay. What they call a river is more like an unimpressive little stream. It is hard to believe that one of the world's most important cities is named for that little trickle. Perhaps there was more of a river in earlier days.

I really like this city. The people are extremely courteous and everybody smiles so it is quite more pleasant than Thailand. This is a Muslim country and that brings about the one thing I do not like here. Alcohol, even beer, is outrageously expensive. (A single can of beer is more than $2 WHEN you can find it in a store.) Muslims do not drink alcohol so it is highly taxed which affects the Chinese and Hindu populations who are already treated quite openly as second class. Today I wanted to buy a bottle of rubbing alcohol and that was not available. I settled for something called antiseptic and disinfectant spirits.

I spent over a week visiting my friend who lives here, but I do not want to impose more so now I am in a hotel in the center of town. I like being where the action is and I think I will stay around here a bit longer.