Thanksgiving in KL

We had Thankgiving dinner in Kuala Lumpur - it was a few traditional Thanksgiving favorites mixed in with the regular dinner spread. It didn't quite hit the spot like mom's home cooking, but the intentions were good and it was a welcome effort.

The pumpkin pie tarts were an interesting touch.

Dried Betel Nut

I found some dried betel nut for sale in a Kuala Lumpur grocery store, and it was the coolest thing ever. Understand that betel nut is sort of like tobacco (it's something folks in southeast Asia generally chew as a mild stimulant), so finding candied dried betel nut like this for sale as a food in a grocery store is sort of like finding tobacco for sale as food at the local 7-11. But, alas, betel nut is a fruit (the tree it grows on looks sort of like a palm tree), so - why not?

It was sweet and tasty. I'm not sure if eating it was a stimulant, but I'm surprised it's not eaten more popularly as a food!

KL skyline

More pictures of parts of the Kuala Lumpur skyline. There are a number of districts in KL that reflect a building boom around the 60s and 70s, but now the downtown teems with brand new skyscrapers. Malaysia is booming from the looks of KL.

KL bus tour

We took a bus tour of Kuala Lumpur, and got a good feel for some famous sites around town. Here are a few snippets of our tour.

Prayer direction

A prominent feature of hotel rooms in Malaysia is the direction of prayer. A little searching and you'll find an arrow indicating the direction towards Mecca, which Muslims face during daily prayers.

Just as I've been struck by the faith and devotion of Thais when they interact with their holy sites and symbols, I've been impressed by the discipline with which the Muslims I've met in Malaysia approach their daily prayers. Faith is an inspiring thing to behold.

Malaysia - more signs

Kuala Lumpur Chinatown

Malaysia - yet more twin towers