To Travel Is To Live: July 2012

Tuesday 31 July 2012

Racial Differences

In the past 10 years Kuala Lumpur has become a lot more dangerous. There has even been a rise in kidnappings of western schoolchildren who live here.

I lived here from the age of 14 to 16. Back then I would take taxis across town, local busses and LRT's, and even go clubbing without any adult supervision or by myself ( not the clubbing part, there was always a large group of other kids there too!) There was never any thought that I would be in any danger.

Now as soon as I came to KL my family friend and her husband started to tell me about all the bad things that have happened and how dangerous the city has become. The scooter bag snatchers, who now also smash car windows and steal your handbag while you are driving, the kidnappings and rapes and murders.
Even the people in Melaka warned me about these dangers in KL. The funny thing is that all the different people I have spoken to have all told me the same thing. The Malays will rob you, the Indians will rape you, with the influx of Africans they will con you of all your money and the Chinese you can trust. I find it very intriguing and always try to find out more of why the people of Malaysia have these views. As I must have been very naive and held up in my own world when I was living here I never thought about these differences.

I really do not want to get caught up in this slight national racism, but somehow if so many people from different places in the country share the same belief there must some reason for it. However, whenever I am in a cab, on the sidewalk, or in a shopping mall I am always cautious no matter what race the people are. Also I do want to mention that I still feel safer here then in Europe as the people here have a more helping kind of mentality as opposed to many European countries where many people are more reserved and not as willing to help others in need of a helping hand.

I do want to add that I am not biased to any of the nationalities that I have mentioned as I do have many Indian, Malay, African and Chinese friends.

Smog over KL

Yesterday I felt alot better and didn't have a bad fever anymore, so I went into town to meet up with my friend Brandon from university. Berfor meeting up with him I decided to go to Midvalley Mega Mall which used to be one of my favorite hangouts when I was living here as a teenager. There I could see and hear many other people who were ill and had bad coughs just like me. Also every cab driver I have had the past few days has also been ill. I think its a mixture of the bad smog which has hit KL, all the muslims probably have lower immune systems as they are fasting and there is a bad virus going around the city.
Even my friend Brandon had a cough, so we were having a cough orchestra while having dinner.

About the smog which has hit the city, its insane! You cant even see the buildings which are maybe 700 meters away. Its a greyish white blanket over the city and it has made it very hot and humid.

Tomorrow I am leaving KL to go to Cherating which lies on the east coast of the Malaysian Peninsular. I came to realize that KL is not as fun without many friends. When I was living here I always had my friends and family around, which makes it a completely different experience. Now I have treated Kuala Lumpur as any other city without getting attached to it as its not the same and never will be.

Sunday 29 July 2012

Sick

I have come down with the flu! Well at least I hope its the flu and not malaria or some other tropical disease :) My family friend Jocelyn has been taking care of me and even given me some antibiotics. I never take antibiotics, but this time I decided to go for it as having the flu and a high fever in 30 degree heat is not fun. However if I'm not doing any better by tomorrow, Jocelyn will take me to a clinic to get me checked out. Hopefully I will be fine by then.