Kuala Lumpur

as usual, i find there is little time to write - even as i travel. reminders to discuss:

1) Malaysia's ethnic and religious diversity
2) Chinese New Year
3) ear candles
4) Cameron Highlands
5) travelers met along the way
6) super VIP bus
7) sex trafficking
8) "Snow"

and Priya asked about the eyelash perm: it's a perm on your eyelashes to keep them curled. 400 baht (that's like $12) vs. more than 100,000 W in Korea (that's like $110).

i am doing my best to keep updated on personal blogs and international news. sad news for Korea because of the destruction of Namdaemun; hurrah for Obama who had been my second choice. Edwards has more grounded, progressive populist positions as well as much more governing experience; but alas, he is out of the race. my support thus goes to Obama, who gets my vote simply because his presidency will not ensure 20 years of dynastical governance. (he's a swell guy, too.)

in other news, i've had the privilege to visit with Joel & Sarah Heng-Hartse in two Asian countries now. it's so interesting to hear and share about our experiences living abroad: what we're learning, the foods we're eating, the cultures we're straddling, the decisions we're making for our futures. i realized on this trip that i've known them now for 5.5 years. not so long in the grand scheme of things, but long enough to remember reading books with them (Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger and Divided by Faith), seeing them get married, saying goodbye when they left for Eureka, enjoying Sarah's homemade lemon curd Sarah she brought back from California, and now being in this continent together. it never ceases to amaze me how paths cross and what we do to keep them intertwined. they's very good peeps.

oh, we had swam in the Indian Ocean.