Greetings from Malaysia!

The first thing that came to my mind when I landed at Kuala Lumpur airport was: crikey, it's bloody hot here! Even though I landed around midnight, it was still about 30 degrees, and as humid as humidity goes. Coming straight from the cold Blue Mountains, I need a bit of acclimitization time to this kind of weater.

Well, my first impression of South East Asia is basically this: it's another world, man! The traffic is utter chaos; the pedestrian lights are particularly funny: they never turn green! No matter how many times you push the button!

In many ways this place reminds me of Morocco and Egypt with its continuous traffic jams and smelliness and dirtiness and getting hassled whenever you walk around on a market ('DVD, sir? Rolex? T-shirt? Cheap cheap!' ). Nevertheless, my judgement is probably clouded because I just came from (over-)organized Australia. I hear that this city is quite organized if you'd compare it to e.g. Bangkok. KL is quite modern as well in many ways, I must admit.

I've been spending my time doing a bit of sightseeing, walking through the city and checking out the markets, the temples and of course the famous Petronas Towers. My hostel is right in the middle of China Town where the market never ends. The prices here are great compared to Downunder: 2 EUR for a hostel!

Tomorrow I head up North to Pulau Pinang, an island that holds the Malaysia's largest temple. I just bought my bus ticket in the bus station which was an adventure on its own; as soon as you enter a flock of people storms towards you, asking you where you want to go, and try to bring you towards their ticket counter. These people are the promotors of the numerous smaller bus companies. Talking about competition!