"Malaysia, Truly Asia......"

Howdy! Greetings from Malaysia where the local time is approaching 7PM Monday Evening. My watch tells me that it is 7PM, but I am also aware of this because I can hear the call to prayer from the neighboring Mosque. This happens, I think, 6 times a day but, you would have to ask the folks who's rooms are on the Mosque side of the hotel. This particular Mosque is nicknamed the Blue Mosque and it is quite beautiful. Sadly, I cannot see it from my 7th floor hotel room, but the trade off is that I also cannot hear the 6 AM call to prayer those afforded the view must endure. I'll take the less scenic view, thank you.

I have been in Malaysia for only a few days, but it seem like I have been here for much longer. In general, I feel as though I have been gone for weeks, but it hasn't even been a week. Adjusting to the time change has not been an issue, however, I did just have to ask a fellow cast mate what day of the week it was. My brain convinced me that today is Tuesday. Nope.

I have been bonding with and getting to know my cast-mates over the past week and I am very much enjoying everyone's company. There is a common positivity and upbeat attitude shared by all and I look forward to knowing everyone better and better in the days ahead. Right now, I am sitting near Luke and Trisha, two very talented folks who couldn't be nicer! (Sorry, Kaz. I know you wanted to hear that the lead is a total jerk, but nothing could be further from the truth.)

We had a brief company meeting Sunday, our first in Asia, following which most of us went to
KL to the Patronas Towers.

For those of you who do not know the Patronas Towers, they the tallest free-standing twin towers in the world. They are also considered the second and third tallest buildings on the planet, depending on the criteria used to measure. In fact, there is some debate over whether the Sears Tower, a new building in Taipei(the world's current #1) or the Patronas Towers are the tallest.

It all depends on whether you consider the top floor as the apex or you consider, in the case of Patronas Towers and the building in Taipei , the spires atop the building as the acme. Sears is #1 in terms of floors, but Taipei is #1 as far as spires are concerned. F.Y.I., only actual extensions of the architecture are considered spires; broadcast towers and antennas do not count. Enough about the tall buildings already!!!

Inside the Patronas Towers my compatriots and I visited a shopping mall containing 200+ stores spread over 5 floors. It was massive! Anything from Adidas to a store called Girls to McDonalds were glad to receive our Ringets, the Malay currency. The exchange rate is about 3.4 MR(Malay Ringets) to 1 USD(Dollar). (Lucky me, the Ringet is at an all time high against the U.S. Dollar. Dammit, Janet!!) Things were not very cheap at this mall but, considering we were also in the biggest Metropolitan area in the biggest Metropolis in Malaysia, it wasn't too bad.

Surrounding the hotel are multiple shopping/eating areas, including a small mall directly opposite the Hotel containing a very well stocked(and cheap!) grocery store. This makes me extremely happy, as I will be able to furnish a good deal of my own meals. The only drawbacks are the lack of a microwave/stove and an undersized fridge with no freezer. Oh well, I suppose it's off to the KFC or Pizza Hut for a meal or two a day. (Sorry, Lara- my culinary panties are firmly in place.)

OK, your eyes are probably getting tired from reading. Mine certainly are from writing, so I will leave you with the sentiment that the local people are extremely helpful and nice, the weather is Uber hot and humid(@85-95 degrees [F] with a consistent 75--85% humidity) and I miss everyone very much. Ta for now!

Gags

P.S. "Malaysia, Truly Asia" is the actual slogan for Malaysian Tourism Dept. I know this because the last time I was in Asia, about every tenth T.V. commercial was a Malaysia, Truly Asia" advert. Ask me(or anyone from the cast of "Cabaret") to sing you the jingle sometime.