It is like day and night and there is no question about it. I am typing this message with my cold mango Frappacino (sp?) from a Starbuck coffee shop inside a "Borders Book Store" (can't believe there is one here!!! more later) here in downtown KL (as in Kuala Lumpur). Yes, I am finally see 'day' after 30+ days so in New Delhi. And I am heading home tomorrow to sleep in my own bed for the first time in a month. The truth is Delhi wasn't as bad as I labeled it, but it was just filty dirty for me. I am very fortune that I did not get sick during this whole trip. My colleague was joking that I must have that "asian" immunization system running up and down trying to patch one hole after another from my body. I have heard so many horrible stories of so many innocent people spent their first night after they got what to be well known as "Delhi Bellie" for what they thought was safe to eat. So, for the first time in more than a month, I can brush my teeth with the faucet water instead of the bottled water, I can eat a bowl of fresh salad without worry if they have been washed properly, I can take a shower with my mouth open and not worry about accidently swallow some water, I don't have to santinize my hands with my portable "Hand Santinizer" bottle before each meal, I don't have to tell the waiter to "hold the ice' when I order glass of Coke, I can walk on the street without worry on stepping on some pile of you know what, and ....
Man, the room I am in now in KL is more suited for a celebrity status. Staying a month in that room in Delhi will definetely change your perspective quickly. Grand it, the room I am in now has a bath tub with big windows overlooking the city and the soaps are individual wrapped in a labeled boxes. This is too much for me.
I can't believe they have a "Border" store here in KL. This is the first time I see a "Border" outside US. Yes, they have comfortable chairs and sofa for you to review your books. If someone blind-folds you and drops you in the middle of the store, you probably woulnd't be able to tell that you are in KL. Ok, maybe the big section of the Chinese books might give it away. The prices are little bit more expensive compare to home but then you don't ask for Evian water in the middle of the deserts.
Lots of Chinese called KL their home. My taxi driver started to speak with me in Madarian like I am his buddy after I slipped in several of my limited Chinese words to him. Although I couldn't understand all his converstaion but I know he doesn't like our President Bush sticking our nose to other people country while we are having one hurricance after another. In this situation, you learn not to debate with him even if you don't agree with him. I once rode in a taxi going to dinner with my colleague in Cairo, Egypt one night and the taxi driver asked where we are from. I told him I am Japanese but my friend told him he is American. The taxi driver then popped this out of no where question to us," why do the Americans support the Jews?".... don't know what my friend was feeling at the time but I was defintetly worry what the driver might do to us depend how my friend answered. But true to his many years of experiences, he calmly said, " not all Americans support the Jews,".... anyway, back to KL, I was told there is about 30% of the population here is Chinese. Chinese is everywhere in the world. No matter where u go in this world even in African, there is always a Chinese restaurant. On the way here, can't help it but to overheard a conversation between 2 Malaysian Chinese teenagers speaking clearly in Mandarian about their teacher. Just the idea that I can even understand what they are talking about in this foreign land with so many different cultures and religions made me so glad that my parents sent me and my siblings to a Chinese school when we were young. Standing there in the middle of the train, I want to rush home and hit my chinese books again....
Anyway, it is almost 6 PM now, I am going to browse the third floor of the store for any Chinese music CD I can pick up before I go back to my City-Views windows. Hey, Life goes on, and it is not bad!
q
2 comments:
Great post. So did you get me any HRC shot glasses in India? Is there even one out there? Man... wish I had went to chinese school.
Kudos on the descriptive essay of DAY & NIGHT. I can see and feel everything you experienced as if I was there myself, and no I do not wish to go back to new Dehli. And yes, I did go to Chinese school and how I wished I didn't forget everything I learned at Chinese School. Darn it!!!
Zhenda bu hoa!
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