We just got to Phuket, Thailand after spending the last week in Melaka and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We found Malaysia to be a fascinating mixture of peoples and customs. The major enthic groups are Muslims, Indian Hindus, Chinese Buddahists and native aborigines. These cultures are all intermixed with a rich colonial history. It seems the Portugese and British took turns ruling the land. And of course, the Japanese made their own claim during the second world war. Then to top it off, they still have sultans with a largely ceremonial rule over the the states or provinces. However, they enjoy vast wealth (Boeing 737's, air conditioned stables for their polo ponys, etc.) and immunity from the law. A few years ago one of them beat their caddy to death with a golf club (I guess he suggested the wrong club).

There is also a strange mixture of old and new. On one hand there is a mad rush to become a "1st world country by the year 2010" as evidenced by the nearing completion of the twin stainless steel towers of the world's tallests buildings (1,300 ft). There is a mad construction boom in Kuala Lumpu that we've only seen matched in Berlin. On the other hand, not 200 feet from the base of these two ultra modern twin towers, lies an area of tin roofed shacks and squalor. We walked on huge rubber tree plantations and watched old men collecting small cups of sap and scoring new slashes in the trees to start the sap flowing again. But this is a thing of the past. Malaysia use to be the world's largest rubber producer. But that was before synthetic rubber. Now many of the trees are left unattended with only their old scares and perfectly aligned rows to indicate a forgotten purpose. Malaysia is striving to become another Asian powerhouse like Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. From the looks of it, they have a good chance. Unfortunately right now they are struggling with the economic crisis that has gripped the whole region. The most obvious indication for us is that things are incredibly cheap. I mean really cheap. About a quarter of what they would cost in the states. This is a fact not lost on Sherry. She's now talking in terms of "shipping containers". And Thailand promises to be even better (or worse)!!

We've only had a half day in Thailand so far, but we've already noticed that the people here are very friendly and smile a lot. By pure chance we will be here during the Thai new year celebration which starts on Monday and runs through Wednesday. Everybody says that it gets pretty wild. More later.

- Ken, Sherry, Piper and Skyler 

              
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