Election in Malaysia

We don't get involved in the politics of the country, but we are involved in a government sponsored project and so it's possible that we have a vested interest in whatever happens next. Even after 56 years of the same party winning every election, everyone here still gets excited with the anticipation of possible change.

But for fun it's mostly about the flags.

There are areas of green, and areas of blue, and sometimes there are layers of both colours.

The green chaps started putting up their flags soon after we arrived in 2011. They went from little flags on poles, to huge flags waving from the tops of trees, and then there were long green ones with rows of white circles, and huge square ones with an array of white spots.

And now they are obviously getting bored with just flags, and branching out to other green and white objects. Can you see the plane (above) ... and then there is a helicopter ...

But this one is particularly cute!

I wonder if anyone votes based on their favourite flags.

Trip to Langkawi - but not a holiday

Many visitors to Malaysia have been to Langkawi - it's a favourite tourist destination. So we were, of course, delighted when our Fellows' Tactical Conference was to be held there instead of the usual fancy hotel in central Kuala Lumpur.

So we had meetings, as you do at a conference.

(That's me on the right near the fire extinguisher.)

We had a massive room, space for anything you fancy at the bottom end of the bed (something do do with the position of the room at the end of a hallway).

And of course we had great views of Langkawi - lovely and lush.

Some people go to Langkawi for the beaches - though obviously not on this side of the island. Mind you, when I say 'island', if you count all of the bits and pieces in the  water they claim there are really 99 islands.

The other thing people go there for is the 'duty-free' shopping - everything is duty free, and chocolates and alcohol are especially popular.

And then there is the cable car, which you have to see if you can. In very windy weather they close it, and we got to understand why.

 Notice how the tiny cable cars sway around as they vanish into the mist.

 There was less and less to see as we climbed. (That's new fellow Linda with me.)

 Yep, really thick cloud at the top there.

And in the moments before we vanished completely there was a noisy unnerving cross-wind that tried to push the car around ... and then everything was very quiet.

Nothing at all to see at the top. Nice view coming back down out of the clouds.

Look what I found in the College Canteen!

I found this just sitting on the bench where you pay.

Very cute, and perfectly friendly.