I have been a little short on my promise to myself to update this blog regularly (at least 3 times a week) especially on this trip back to Malaysia, but for very good reason – I live in an area where computers & internet access is very hard to come by. Upon landing in Malaysia, one would assume that I would be traveling to the beaches, enjoying hot springs, diving in the corals, trekking through rain forests and tropical areas that this country is known for – but after being here for just about a week so far, that makes up 0.01% of what Malaysia is really made of – the local village areas. I’ve been spending majority of the days living in and visiting the areas where my mom grew up in Puchong Jaya, reuniting with the past village kids now relocated and built their families in the neighbouring areas, and visited the last living grandmother I have. It’s been an eye opening experience to see the way people here interact, work and live life. Materialism is their last priority, family is their first priority and religion (largely Islam) is a predominant factor in their everyday lives. I have taken hundreds of pictures so far to share, but will do so when I have internet access that is faster than dial up – for now, I am going to enjoy having my five small meals a day from street vendors, walking around in 35+degree weather, visiting the extended family, making a trip to HK & Singapore and getting my Malaysian ID done. Apologies for the less than satisfactory blog update, I promise loads of food pictures, local stories and awesomeness upon my return as I head back to living like a local – with minimal use of technology.

And now as a tribute to my newfound Malaysian patriotism – Negaraku, A Malaysian National Anthem