Journals from the week ending February 7, 1997
New Experiences
by Sandy Williams, 2/3/97, aboard ship...When one sets out for an adventure in a new country, one can never know what to expect. Above all, one must be ready for absolutely anything. Malay food is no exception. As we set out for a traditional buffet in Kuala Lumpur, we kept that in mind.
We entered a restaurant with wonderful decorations, including colored lights and banners made of fresh flowers. A band played very danceable music complete with accordion, drums, and Malay singers. We passed long tables filled with curried lamb and chicken which are Indian dishes that are often very spicy. We had seafood prepared very differently with garlic and other herbs. For dessert, there was rice that had been mashed up and flavored so it looked like little Jello cubes. There were mangos and papayas and these little fruits called litchi nuts that are covered in a spiky shell that you had to crack open to get at the fruit inside. Dinner was followed by dancing in bright costumes and we joined in on the last song, much to the delight of the performers. As we left with smiles on our faces, we knew we had seen Malaysia in its true form.
The Sights of Penang
Francois Ares, 2/3/97, aboard ship...We started off the day with colors and clean-up as usual, then we went on a group tour. We all got into a bus and a tour guide showed us the most exciting sights of Penang. We went to a temple that had poisonous vipers and many people had pictures taken with the snakes all over them. We also went to a butterfly farm which had some huge bugs. After our tour, we had free time. Seven of us went to a steamboat restaurant and had an excellent traditional meal. We decided to go bowling after dinner, where we had a lot of fun. Curfew was at 11:00 PM so we all came back early to swim.
Kuala Lumpur
Meredith Shake, 2/4/97, aboard ship...While in Kuala Lumpur, we saw lots of beautiful sights and wonderful people. One of the activities we did was take a bus tour to see some sights. Our second or third stop was at an auditorium where we were treated to traditional Malaysian dancing.
The dancers wore brightly colored costumes as they moved to beat of the music. The band was an interesting combination of a violin, three or four different drums, something that looked like a guitar, and little metal pots that were hit. They made interesting sounds.
That night, we ate a traditional Malaysian dinner. They served interesting foods like little squid or octopus. I couldn't eat any of those because they were looking at me. Everything else tasted wonderful though.
At the end of the meal, which was accompanied by beautiful Malaysian music, more dancers came out and performed for us all. When they were finished, they invited everyone to come up on the stage and dance with them. Of course, all of us 'floaties' were up there in an instant. It was a lot of fun.
Overall, our stay in Malaysia so far has been wonderful and very enjoyable. I have learned a lot and look forward to spending more time here.