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We're really slumming it now! Checked into the plush Berjaya Times Square Hotel on arrival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 50 odd floors of luxury. The room was bigger than our whole flat in London and the extensive rooftop pool had palm trees, waterfalls and impressive views over the KL skyline. Anna and Viktor you are legends! The concierge looked at our backpacks with disgust. That evening in an Argentianian place in KL's smart Bukit Bintang district we had the first decent piece of red meat since we left London and washed it down with a nice bottle of red. The budget has well and truly gone out of the window. So much so in fact, that we booked another night in the hotel - 'we just can't go back to communal showers after this' - Emma Carlsson. Oh yes and the shopping. We're going to need bigger rucksacks. Whilst eating crab and drinking cocktails, easing into life 'post-India' we considered our dilemma. Execute the current plan - go to Yunnan province in China (where the worst drought for 10 years had been reported hit Yunnan province, English speaking is rare and tales of poverty and pollution from fellow travellers were common) OR jack it all in and stay in clean, modern, civilised Malaysia - go to Tioman island and pick our spot on the beach.
So here we are in China. Country of a thousand million inhabitants. Emma reckoned we would regret it and I would never let her hear the end of it. A few weeks of pain to avoid suffering a lifetime of 'complaining' : ) China is like a different planet. Everything is 'same, same but different' and indeed no-one does speak English. Charades is the main mechanism of communication although we have now picked up some basics e.g. ping pong = table tennis. We are learning quick through necessity but inevitably a few glitches - like saying goodbye when trying to ask for the bill (which makes you sound like you are about to 'do a runner').
I knew ping pong was popular over here but was surprised to find it is their national sport. They also love to gamble, smoke and spit - the latter two which must be related. The guy on the bus next to us yesterday was kind enough to spit into a plastic bag which he carried with him. The chinese are also fiercely omnivorous. Frog porridge is a popular breakfast choice over here.
Anyway, we are continuing to 'slum it'. Went to a spa in Kunming a couple of days ago. Got given lovely little pyjama suits and after a lengthy charade session received a foot massage. We are informed that you shouldn't be embarrassed about being drunk in China. Clearly good for us and was well demonstated by a group of Chinese men in the hot-tub next to us.. Despite what we'd heard we are loving it here. The oldies doing Tai Chi in the park, the bizarre supermarket experiences, the clapping outside shops to entice you in to buy goods, Emma having to do her toilet business directly facing other girls, extremely violent triad movies on buses, finding a duck head in your soup.... never a dull moment!
PS. Congratulations Marie and Jonas, Emma bought a very fancy blue dress and has her outfit planned already. And a big hello to Tom and Joe - I hear you really kicked ass in Chamonix.
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