On our last afternoon in NZ we chanced upon the NZ America's Cup yacht returning to harbour in Auckland, victorious again. We witnessed it being winched out of the water and saw the ultra secret submarine shaped keel which has been the source of much mystery among yachties. Then we went to the park and took part in Scottish dancing commemorating Burns day. Dinner at Prego on Ponsonby Street completed a great finale to our visit with Auckland hosts Dee and Chris Whitby.
To Kuala Lumpur. Singapore Airlines magnificent - Silk Air (from Singapore to KL) one and half hours late and tiring after a long day. Got to Ali's apartment at around midnight (5.00am Auckland time) just in time to see Chelsea beaten 2-0 by Liverpool - aagh.
As news of London's heaviest snowstorm for 18 years reaches our ears we are basking in 30 degrees with humidity to match.
Ali, a teacher in KL, is facing Ofsted inspections all week so we have taken ourselves off to Malacca reached by the interstate bus which showed a frantically violent film on the internal television set with full volume for the entire two hour journey. This is a wonderful time warp of a city which was a major spice island trading post in the 15th century before being conquered by the Portuguese, Spanish, French and British (in that order I think). We are staying in the Hotel Puri which was the home of a famous philanthropist called Tan Kim Seng. The house has been restored as a magnificent, traditional example of an old Peranakan mansion.
It is a little daunting to eat out for $4 a head, only to visit a bar on the way back to the hotel and drink beer which costs more than the meal. Such is life in Muslim Malaysia. Enjoyed an informative river trip and met an interesting American from Chicago who had worked for IBM. The trip was advertised as a "welcome give your feet a rest" experience. That was no lie.
Colin faces the daunting experience of addressing Ali's class on the excitement of journalism as a career on Friday - in front of the Ofsted inspectors. Help!!! More later.
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