June 2004

Dear Kids,

I’m looking for a flashcard for my camera. I tried a camera dealer in the shopping center adjoining the hotel. He didn't have one.

A nice guy, watching my efforts, suggested another shop across the mall. They suggested I try down the street “in front of MacDonald’s.”

It is 110 in the shade. I found MacDonald’s but no electronics shop.

I tried another shopping center...”there’s a place next to Pizza Hut.”

I asked a security guard where I could find Pizza Hut. “Outside,” he gestured.

Couldn’t find it.

Then I spied a camera shop. They had a wide variety of cards.
Card purchased, I went back on the street and saw I was actually in front of KFC.

Where am I? In Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia—the northern part of the island of Borneo!

Kuching means “cat.”

I stayed at the Crown Plaza (during a convention of Muslim politicians).

The lift was filled with 50+, nationally-costumed (caps and “aprons”) men. They stared at me and started whispering. Finally one was pushed forward, “We want to know where you are from.”

I smiled, “I was born in New York but have lived in more than 30 countries. Where are you from?”

Giggling, they shouted in unison, MALAYSIA! WELCOME TO MALAYSIA!

Nice people!

A Cleaner Sweep
Minneapolites regularly wash down the buildings in the center of town, but these cats really take pride in keeping their city free of litter.

*********************************************************************

DID YOU FIND THIS FREE ARTICLE INTERESTING AND/OR VALUABLE? If so, please donate to keep the website free and fund the addition of more articles like this. Any help is most appreciated - simply click below to securely send a contribution through a credit card and Paypal.   Please email me your travel tales, "postcards," and questions. I'll publish the most interesting, appropriate or outrageous in Correspondence - All the best, Ted (short for Edward)

copyright © 2006, EDWARD CARTER