Although this post is loooong overdo, better now than never. Just a few weeks ago, although it already feels like months ago, I went to Malaysia with Tom, Hil, and Caroline. We 
took a break from Shanghai to celebrate the Chinese New Years under the sun, by the ocean, and with some much needed fresh air. Although the presence of sun looked doubtful at first, we all walked away with nice tans in the end. After surviving a 5 hour overnight plane ride full of screaming babies directly in front, behind, and to the left of me, in addition to dodging a near emergency landing due to medical reasons, we arrived at our hostel doorstep at 5am on a rainy Sunday morning. Left to wander the city for hours in the not so glorious weather, the picture of a sunny ocean side holiday retreat sadly started to fade from my mind. 
However, despite the rain, KL was a fascinating city. In light of everything else going on around the world, it was pretty amazing that Hindus, Muslims, Malays, and Chinese could live side by side in a seemingly peaceful manner. For example, around the corner from a Islamic Mosque was a Chinese temple that was right across the street from a Hindu temple. Better yet, the masala dosa guy was right next door to the Malaysian curry guy, whom was across the street from the Chinese noodle guy; cuisine heaven. We topped the night off with some cocktails at Sky Bar, while taking in an amazing view of the KL tower, surrounded by resting clouds. We departed KL the next day by bus for a 3 hour drive to Kuantan. Although Kuantan is a pretty nondescript city on the eastern coast, it did have an excellently priced Hyatt resort...due to the monsoon season. After some local advice and checking out the weather history, we decided we would take a risk and book the resort, hoping 
for the best. Had we decided not to go, of course it would have been sunny the whole time, but since we took a chance and decided to go, it wasn't sunny…at first. The first night I was pretty down trying to think of all the positives to distract me from the lack of sun; we were in Malaysia after all. Eventually the clouds opened up (after some "sun" dancing), and I was able to go from our ocean side hotel room to poolside, to ocean side, back to pool side, to the swim up pool bar, and back to oceanside. Anyone that knows me knows that as long as there is sun...I'm a pretty happy person.
The trip was thoroughly relaxing...for us. Although, being as we were in an Islamic country, I'm not too sure if the bikini clad and alcohol consuming westerners (not just us), contributed to the idea of relaxation for the Muslim guests of the hotels. What can be said is it was an interesting experience nonetheless. Swimming and consuming alcohol around families whose females were dressed from head to toe in 80 degree weather while swimming laps in the pool; quite a contrast from swimming pools and beaches Stateside.
From delicious Nasi Lemak (chicken and coconut rice wrapped in paper), amazing hospitality from a local friend, a Chinese New Years dinner celebration with 100+ locals, and witnessing monkey sex on the roof of the resort (apparently Hyatts have monkeys too), the trip was peaceful and memorable. Beach side fireworks, Malaysian surfers, nasi lemak, sun and ocean, Malaysian surfers... and a tan; We done good.
From Kuantan we headed back to KL where I left my friends to head to Hong Kong for a few days to finally complete the application process for my Chinese residents permit. There are ups and downs related to the Visa process and one of the ups is a company paid trip to Hong Kong. Unfortunately, one of the downs is paying taxes on my salary. Luckily I was still enjoying a tax free salary in Hong Kong, which proved to satisfy my increasingly growing expensive taste. Tapas restaurants, bars, cafes, bookstores, even a neighborhood called Soho…NYC in Asia; Hong Kong might be my next home.
Now back to Shanghai, where I am, in bed. Proof I haven't had a minutes rest as a sick day is the first chance I have had to write. All in all this month has been busy but good. For a more photos go to…. http://www.facebook.com/home.
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