Friday - Sydney then KL (out of order)
Short morning bicycle ride - mainly to go over the bridge and back and get some pics.
Leaving Sydney via the train around noon I got to the airport in plenty of time for my 3p flight. The flight was an uneventful 8.5 hours. I slept just a little. Watched a couple of movies. Ate a nice dinner and then later they brought a small snack.
On the flight over I had my first encounter with the utter nonchalonce with which the many cultures of Malaysia are accepted. Yes, I’ve read it all, too. The Muslims are “taking over” (and by that they mean in government). The Indians feel marginalized. My taxi driver told me they (Indians) are all lazy and just want to drink. So – like any city in the world, you will have your ethnic stereotypes and your bigotry. But there was no real venom in his remark.
This is a city that loves its own diversity – the people here are comfortable and free. It is hard to fathom a future where these folks would give that up. I have seen a total of two women in full burka. I see more than that in Amish attire in Pennsylvania! No one is required to wear anything – not by the law, not even by their religion. The Muslim women themselves choose. My Muslim taxi driver says his wife wears a head-covering but his daughter does not. Yes, she is still a good Muslim. He says it is a decision for each woman to work out with god and it is not about the laws of government.
The women who do cover their heads – oh my, they are fashion statements. They are sparkly or woven with gold and sliver thread. Lined with pearls or dyed in vivid colors. They coordinate with the outfit the girls are wearing. The young girls are almost universally wearing jeans, a blouse and a head-covering that color coordinates with the outfit. They are happy and playful, walking along holding hands with their husbands and boyfriends. You don’t see public displays of sexy-affection. Not from the Muslims and not from anyone. I don’t miss it – would you? Everyone smiles pleasantly at people of other races, cultures – wearing short sleeves or perhaps a mini-skirt and spike heels. There is an acceptance so total that it is unremarkable. Even I have grown accustomed to it in a day.
I am going to move on to story telling about where I went and what I’ve seen … but one last remark about KL in general. I have not once felt threatened or even glowered at. There are many people and they all look different from me. But there are no thugs and no resentment. I have not seen any destructive behavior or insolent glares. I’m not saying there is no crime or no bad people, but I feel more comfortable walking around in this city than I do in NYC.
So anyway, it’s Friday night and after waiting quite a while for my bag and an even longer while for my Taxi, I got to the guesthouse around 11:00p and crashed.
Then a few parting shots to say goodbye to Sydney.
On the flight over I had my first encounter with the utter nonchalonce with which the many cultures of Malaysia are accepted. Yes, I’ve read it all, too. The Muslims are “taking over” (and by that they mean in government). The Indians feel marginalized. My taxi driver told me they (Indians) are all lazy and just want to drink. So – like any city in the world, you will have your ethnic stereotypes and your bigotry. But there was no real venom in his remark.
This is a city that loves its own diversity – the people here are comfortable and free. It is hard to fathom a future where these folks would give that up. I have seen a total of two women in full burka. I see more than that in Amish attire in Pennsylvania! No one is required to wear anything – not by the law, not even by their religion. The Muslim women themselves choose. My Muslim taxi driver says his wife wears a head-covering but his daughter does not. Yes, she is still a good Muslim. He says it is a decision for each woman to work out with god and it is not about the laws of government.
The women who do cover their heads – oh my, they are fashion statements. They are sparkly or woven with gold and sliver thread. Lined with pearls or dyed in vivid colors. They coordinate with the outfit the girls are wearing. The young girls are almost universally wearing jeans, a blouse and a head-covering that color coordinates with the outfit. They are happy and playful, walking along holding hands with their husbands and boyfriends. You don’t see public displays of sexy-affection. Not from the Muslims and not from anyone. I don’t miss it – would you? Everyone smiles pleasantly at people of other races, cultures – wearing short sleeves or perhaps a mini-skirt and spike heels. There is an acceptance so total that it is unremarkable. Even I have grown accustomed to it in a day.
I am going to move on to story telling about where I went and what I’ve seen … but one last remark about KL in general. I have not once felt threatened or even glowered at. There are many people and they all look different from me. But there are no thugs and no resentment. I have not seen any destructive behavior or insolent glares. I’m not saying there is no crime or no bad people, but I feel more comfortable walking around in this city than I do in NYC.
So anyway, it’s Friday night and after waiting quite a while for my bag and an even longer while for my Taxi, I got to the guesthouse around 11:00p and crashed.
