Homestay / Kuala Lumpur

Well, we're back in Kuala Lumpur. The trip to the lake where we had the homestay wasn't so bad, aside from the fact that the bus was two hours late! Other than that, it was pretty uneventful... it rained in the morning and most of the journey, but clear skies awaited us when we arrived at our destination. The island and the lake which contained it were both beautiful--the glassy water and scenic backdrop really made me want to get out and waterski, and when you see the pictures I think you'll agree.

Our hosts (Aziz and Asiah) at the homestay were very hospitable and introduced us to many aspects of traditional Malay culture. Plus, the food cooked by Asiah was delicious! Yesterday, we went for a walk through a very simple village on the lake shore with Aziz as our guide. He was an excellent guide and shared many interesting stories and facts about Malay architecture, plants and herbs, and culture in general. Afterwards, a few of us went for an additional walk (which involved walking through rivers at points) up to a waterfall, which had a nice pool at its base where we were able to swim.

It rained a bit that afternoon, but other than that, the weather was very nice. In the evening, we had a traditional Malay dinner, sitting on the floor, wearing sarongs, and eating with our hands. Again, the food was great! Today, we took a quick tour through Kuala Kangsur, the capital of the state we were in, then boarded buses for a 4-hour trip back to Kuala Lumpur. We're having a farewell dinner tonight in 1.5 hours, and then that's it for the tour! I'm planning on looking around the markets tonight, then taking some sights in tomorrow.