Lumput and the road to Kuala Lumpur.......

                    Made it down to Kuala Lumpur aka: KL, after a couple of non-descript days in a small

Styles combined......

coastal town called Lumput-Seriawan. Annoyingly, and I only have myself to blame, I booked my hotel in the Seriawan part of the conurbation. I use this word intentionally, as the town of Lumput is quite concentrated by the sea and is used as a ferry point to resorts on a couple of islands, whereas the Seriawan end is urban sprawl personified. The town is situated along both sides of a four lane highway the length of which cars, buses & trucks all belt along, as if on the Mulsanne Strait of Le Mans fame. Woe be-tide any poor pedestrian who tries to cross the race-track & do his shopping on the other side of the road! Took the local bus for the 10kms jaunt into Lumput---attractive sea front, but other-wise seemed to be low season  semi closed up and holding it's breath for an onslaught of hoped for tourists! The tourists I did see in Lumput, boarding the ferry for the islands, seemed to be 99% internal Malaysian visitors and I, about the only Westerner in town. One always knows when there are few tourists in town, as many locals cannot help themselves shouting--- "Hey, where are you from?" to which I often feel like responding with a variety of smart-ass responses--

Malaysian beauties....

-but refrain, with a friendly smile.
               Four hour bus ride down to KL, half of which was in heavy rain alternating with light drizzle. Corporate farming is big in Malaysia---we passed endless pineapple and palm oil plantations, plus forests of rubber trees, identified by the small pots attached to the base of the trunk to catch the liquid (latex?)--- Canadian readers---, just think of catching maple sap.                              
          Malaysia, a multi-racial society--- the largest group being the Malays, the original inhabitants, generally poorer economically, but politically dominant, the Chinese who control the economy and large numbers of immigrants from mainly Tamil Nadu, southern India. The Malays are Islamic, although I am told that their brand is comparatively benign compared to certain areas of the Middle East. The Chinese & Indians also have their temples in profusion. The overwhelming feeling however, is that of being in a tolerant Muslim country. I have been intrigued to note that in all the shopping plazas, in department stores and being piped into the streets are non-stop western Christian Christmas carols. The majority Muslim population seemingly does not see it as at all as incongruous to have the sacred music and traditions of another religion omni-present for the full month of December.