Weird isn’t it, this sense of lostness immediately visited upon us when thrown among Asian elders.

It sounds like your trip promises lots of material for a short story or two.

The “centre” of KL is the Jamek Mosque at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers. You can go in for a look-see, as long as you don a ankle-length gown (male visitors have to wear one, too, like I did). See all the men having afternoon naps at the open halls. I presume they are workers, possibly truant.

How about visiting the Pudu Jail, now a tourist site I hear (I’ve never been).

If you are prepared to sweat it, I suggest just walking around the city and taking photos, in the company of someone else (Nick, perhaps). Be warned: KL is full of muggers and scammers. Watch your bag and camera.

Do not shake hands or greet strangers at the grounds of the KLCC. Scammers target especially tourists, as they did me (I had a backpack and a camera around my neck).

I was fortunate in that my sister-in-law loaned me her car on my last visit in May (for my nephew’s wedding). I went searching for my primary school but got lost.

I brought along my laptop computer (which has an inbuilt camera) to KL. With the iMovie HD, I recorded an interview with my uncle (my late dad’s elder brother) about the Wan family history. One of the highlights of my trip.

Hi gorgeous,
Thanks for the summary. So pleased you’re at Wild St!
Anyway, depression steals away our sense of self and our sense of fun. Keep fighting to bring them back.
And again, I’m so sad about Scout. I think Smokey is on the way out. She’s not well.
xxx

Yes - I agree.  That’s the bit of feminism that I dislike the most, the fact that it isn’t really striving for equality, it’s saying that women are better than men because they can do everything a woman does plus everything a man does.  She can save the prince but has to humiliate him by carrying him away on her back (not that he seemed to mind).

The swordplay - where did that even come from?!  She had showed no aptitude for it in the previous hour of the film.  And yes, I did like Melanie Lynsky’s stepsister too, and the fact that the Prince was inspired to start a university by Danielle.  But Danielle herself bugged the life out of me.  I think it must have been Drew Barrymore (who I don’t normally mind); she was just woefully miscast.  And the bookends of the her great great granddaughter telling the story to the Brothers Grimm was completely unnecessary.

Thought the movie had a lot more potential but was let down by its execution.

I reckon part of the problem with <cite>Ever After</cite> is its insistence on feminism. The prince can’t even rescue her; she produces swordplay out of her arsenal (or she fakes it) to win her freedom. And then at the end, she must insist to her childhood playmate that she can still “whip” him. Dougray Scott (who is a rather fine prince; such a contrast to <cite>Mission Impossible III</cite>!) ends up with not having very much to do but admire her, and that’s not very interesting romantically. Personally, I think the most interesting character is the stepsister who ends up helping her (the one who had to take the horse costume to the ball).

I’m sorry too.

Fitting indeed. Last night M. and I talked about what we liked best about Scout. I liked that she never investigated something gently if she could instead investigate it with a four-pawed leaping POUNCE. M. liked when she was littler and came up close to you for a cuddle. We’ll miss her, B.

She was a lucky little cat to know you & have you stroke her tail for her and submit to her lordship.  And to say ‘goodbye’ to her and miss her now that she isn’t here any more. We are very sorry she died.

Losing so precious a pet is sad.

I’m really sorry to hear about Scout, Bec! Very sad.

I’m very sad to hear about your loss :(

:( Sounds like you gave her a good send-off!

Oh!  Yeah you do...sometimes I’m a bit lazy with the linking.

Also, don’t I get hyperlinked anymore? :(

That’s so cool!

Ooh, shiny! ;P

You just have vampire-envy, G!

So cool! And I love the photos too.

That’s really cool!  I’m looking forward to borrowing my mum’s sewing machine after I finish my thesis.  I just won a book on sewing soft toys - perfect for my 4-month old niece!  And I’ve become addicted to craft blogs, so I’ve got all sorts of projects to fiddle about with.

Not so good without patterns, so I’m very impressed by your efforts, especially Squodgie.  So sweet!

‘You thought the content was thrilling?’ I commented inquiringly with accusatory fingers.

oh I saw them at the rocks… tis cool!

It’s awesome, the boys who I told to go up had an awesome time. It’s great to have em back and totally pumped for ministry. I reckon you’re part of that even if indirectly. Hope that sounds encouraging.

Catch ya on the flip side.

My counsellor seems to think that if you’re angry at something in particular and don’t deal with it, the anger tends to crop up in other things—like little slights and annoyances and the like. Certainly that’s the problem for me. Is it for you?

Hurrah for Koko Black!

I’m sure G is a closet Kylie fan, despite all appearances.

Your photograph captures that light so well! It looks really cool

So you want to go again?  More Kylie?  Sure!

You have *more* than two Kylie songs on your iPod.

Yum! Wish I had been there!

Yeah, I struggled to stay awake for talks as well last year

I wrote an indignant-on-your-behalf comment earlier at home, and the connection failed, so it didn’t get to you - probably just as well! 

To quote Khamal ‘Why are people so unkind?’ to which the reply is:  ‘Because they’re sinners, just like me!’

Poor Bec! So frustrating. *Big hug*. Soon it will all be over and you can just come home and blob!

Praying for you Bec!!! Glad things got better after the first day (BIGHUGS)
It does sound busy! Praying for lots of strength and perseverance and enouragement in Christ!
You Rock Miss Bec!!!
Sammi
xxx

I reckon you guys do a kick arse job at the AFES conference.

I also totally value people who have to trawl through loads of admin. I’ve spent a fair whack of this year living in that world and I have a newfound respect.

All the best with it thinking and praying for you guys. Sorry for not telling you sooner.

Oh it takes me back to last year. Residential College Life… welcome to my daily world here at Jane.

I think that admin staff anywhere are the modern equivalent of ‘below stairs’

Hi Bec, I’m another long-time lurker.

‘A layman, George Langhorne, was accepted as a catechist in 1832 to train for missionary work.’

From John Harris, ‘One Blood: 200 Years of Aboriginal Encounter with Christianity: A Story of Hope’.
A book I hope all your readers have read…

Of course you don’t have to!  Silly.

Ducks, ducks ...

Oh, man, do I have to ...?

:(

The neglect compounds previous neglect, and even though I’m sure it was mostly unintentional (could it be that they don’t actually know what you do ...?), it still sucks.

Praise God for the lovely people who are being lovely to you! And also for the individual rooms