Before I left Washington DC, I had been given very precise instructions from a friend to get a traditional, colorful Malaysian hijab (the head scarf that Muslim women wear). Especially at lunch time when women pour of their offices and in bazars on the weekends, the streets of Kuala Lumpur become a sea of gorgeous and colorful hijabs of the Malaysian style--beautiful and richly colored shades of purple, blue, green, red, and pink. Many include beautiful batik designs with intricate designs, such as flowers and vines. I had my instructions. While walking around a neighborhood in Kuala Lumpur, I approached a small group of Malaysian Muslim women who were wearing hijabs and I asked where I could get one. This involved more sign language and a lot of curious looks and smiles--for good reason. First, in ... read more

Okay, so it would have a lot quicker to just go to the Caribbean or Florida. The first leg of the trip was 14 hours. Left left Washington DC and few over Toronto, then across the Bearing Strait, across parts of Russia and China and then down to Seoul. It was really just a 24 hour layover, but I was a chance for a quick glance. Maniac taxi driver broke every conceivable law in the one-hour trip to town. Which cost 130,000 Wan. Still don't know what that cost. I made a mental note to check the weather before next trip. I knew that the weather in Malaysia would be about 90 degrees F every day, and as a result, I did not bring any shoes or socks, only sandals and sunblock. Turns out Seoul was ... read more