KL: 22C - 33C overcast, high chance late afternoon thunderstorm, 89% humidity

First - The Weather Report

Second - The God Report
(just joking)

Malaysian weather is a fairly predictable thing. Coming from Melbourne, the home of Four-Seasons-in-One-Day, it certainly is a pleasant change. I wake up in the morning, and know that a t-shirt and shorts will serve me well throughout the entire morning, afternoon, and evening. I know I will need a jumper if I am going somewhere with sub-Antarctic air-conditioning, like Monash or the movies, but that otherwise, I'll be fine. I know that if I want to walk anywhere late afternoon, it's wise either not to bother at all, or prepare to be soaked, even with the protection of an umbrella.

And I also know it's going to be humid. Reeeaaaalll humid. Apparently the local humidity levels hover at around the 90% mark, and for someone not really used to it, it turns the most simple of tasks into torturous ordeals.

So when you’re walking along this...

Common garden-variety Garden Path

You feel like you are climbing this...

Pathway up Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia’s tallest mountain

On the weekend I went to the FRIM (Forestry Research Institute of Malaysia) which was pretty rockin. We hiked up to a canopy walkway, which was awesome. When you reach the first platform of the canopy, you begin to realised that the entire canopy walk seems to be constructed out of ladders roped together with planks of wood nailed to the top. I'm not quiet sure why, but for some reason I felt the need to trick myself into thinking it must be way more high tech than it appeared. The walk up was beautiful, but also kind of like hiking the above mountain. But however much I like to have a whinge (not that I do....), I will always be in awe of the women that exercise in this ....

Random photo stolen from 'The Hijab Shop'

Even more extreme were the ladies, presumably from the Middle East, seen hiking in the national park at Langkawi in the full burqua. Coming from a country where the large majority the population are non-practising, I'm used to religion being viewed pretty apathetically and it not playing a large part in daily life. This is certainly not the case in Malaysia. Like any place, there are people who are non-practising, and even a small minority who are atheist or undecided, but generally speaking Malaysians are a heck of a lot more dedicated to their chosen God/Gods. Which is pretty lucky, considering that the crazy heat + head wear must = pretty freaking hot!

It is interesting to see the way that religion is part of the everyday life, and how quickly it has become part of mine, even though I'm not 'part of it all'. When choosing where to eat dinner you automatically do a mental religious head count to remember who can eat at non-halal restaurants and who can't. Religious conversations here are inevitable, no matter how quickly you try to run away. I have friends who hold viewpoints on certain matters that I find utterly offensive, but can accept as part of them because it is part of their belief system. According to the statistics that Sheree and I are compiling, there is a Bible Study class held somewhere in Sunway at every moment of the week. We know this because we have been invited to and turned down an invitations to every single one. I wear a pendant of Kali, the Hindu goddess associated with death, wrath and destruction around my neck, which wins me the hearts of Indian shopkeepers country-wide .. and a lot of bemused looks. Anyway, its all very interesting, all this religious business. That is all.

I'm much too tired to make any sense at the moment, so I'm off to bed, but love and thoughts go out to my housemate Juliet and her family. Juliet is Nigerian and on Sunday her step-mum was kidnapped for ransom by thugs. Juliet's Dad is a politician and apparently the kidnapping of wives and children of politicians is a growing problem in Nigeria. Anyway, for those of you who pray, say one for her safe return. Everyone else - cross your fingers I suppose ...

Peace Kiddies