some information...

This time in two weeks i will be gracing the skies with my presence as i travel towards my summer destination... I'm looking forward to using this space as an outlet for my experiences, as well as information for anybody who wishes to pray for me... as I'm not there yet, here is some general Malaysia information....

Climate

The temperature fluctuates little throughout the year. Average temperature is between 21 C and 32 C. Humidity is high. Click here for the current four-day weather forecast in Kuala Lumpur.

Clothing

As Malaysia's climate is sunny almost year round, light clothing is ideal. It is advisable for ladies, when entering mosques and temples, to wear long sleeves and loose pants or long skirts.

Time

Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Etiquette

To avoid "cultural offenses," here are some tips:
- Remove shoes when entering homes and places of worship.
- Dress neatly in a suitable attire which covers arms and legs when visiting places of worship.
- Handle food with your right hand.
- Do not point your foot at someone.
- When giving or receiving money gifts to/from a Malaysian, do so with your right hand.

Here is an exract from a www.geographia.com:

"Once you have overcome your jet-lag fatigue, step into the real heart of Malaysia--the citizens of the country. You would be pleasantly surprised at the warmth of Malaysians. For deeply entrenched within each of the different races is the engaging charm and traditional hospitality for which Malaysia is renowned.
Malaysians enjoy meeting people from other lands. So, do go right ahead and strike up a conversation. After all, the whole point of travelling is to know other cultures.
When greeting a Muslim, offer your right hand then bring it towards you, fingertips lightly touching your heart. This is the traditional Salam or 'greeting of acceptance'. Hindus greet with a Namaste (in Hindi) or Vanakam (Tamil). Both palms are brought together as in prayer at mid-chest level. With a Chinese, you may shake hands. If you are really unsure about all the different forms of greetings, just smile and nod your head slightly when introduced."

Here are some fast facts about Kuala Lumpur from lonely planet...

Full Name
- Kuala Lumpur
Area
- 243 sq km/94 sq miles
Population
- 1,800,000
Languages
- Malay (official) - Known as Bahasa Malaysia
- English (other)
- Tamil (other)
- Chinese (other)
Currency
- Malaysian Ringgit (RM)

more from lonley planet...

"Kuala Lumpur is an Asian tiger that roars: in almost 150 years, it has grown from nothing to a modern, bustling city of almost two million people. Take in its high-flying triumphs from the viewing deck of the world's tallest building, then dive down to explore its more traditional culture in the back lanes of Chinatown.
It's a modern Asian city of gleaming skyscrapers, but it retains much of the local colour that has been wiped out in other Asian boom-cities such as Singapore. It has plenty of colonial buildings in its centre, a vibrant Chinatown with street vendors and night markets, and a bustling Little India."

There's lots of information here now to be going on with, please leave a comment if you are reading this, I'll update again with more specific informaion, about what I will be doing, as well as who I am if you don't know me, closer to my departure