Greetings from Melaka, Malaysia! I am still planning on doing a post on the wonderful three weeks I spent in Beijing (including all the delicious food that I consumed), but I wanted to post a brief update here.
1. Jared, my friend from Montreal who blogs over at Globestompers, and I met the most inspiring traveler wandering around the streets of The Golden Triangle near our hostel: Yarets Vladimir Alekseevich, a deaf and mute man from Belarus who traveled around the world via motorcycle. Jared’s post on Yarets is here.
2. I’ve uploaded my pictures from the Erlian border crossing (Bryce: this includes your requested “ripped Mongolian Railway sign” picture) into a new album.
3. Thanks to trying Joel’s toothpaste when mine ran out, I’ve become obsessed with Crest’s Jasmine Tea toothpaste. It tastes like bubble tea, but is good for you (in the “cleaning your teeth kind of way, of course). Could I ask for anything more? NPR story on the tea-flavour is here. I have one tube that I brought with me from China and have been forcing everyone at our hostels to try it. Verdict: not so good. Oh well, more for me!
4. Jared and I plan on heading to Singapore after Diwali, the “Festival of Lights” (not to be too confused with Hannukah, another festival of lights), where the lights that adorn every doorway, lampost and alley signify the triumph of a person’s spirit over evil, showing the world that the “good” has shined through. In Malaysia, Diwali is called “Hari Deepavali,” and includes many open house events, where other religions are invited into Malay homes to experience Deepavali for themselves. Just one more reason to love Malaysia: what a warm, friendly and engaging place. Singapore will bring Halloween festivities (Jared’s favorite holiday) and our attending the Asian Youth Energy Summit 2008, a conference aimed at illustrating “the numerous opportunities available in sustainable development”, with a great line up of speakers on sustainable energy and technology. Should be a very interesting few days.
Picture from the Batu Caves, in Kuala Lumpur, just before Deepavali.
5. As you might have seen, my photos have taken a turn for the worse, since I managed to scratch my G9′s lense. I will pick up a new camera in Singapore too.
That’s it for now! Beijing and KL/Melaka posts to come soon.
-Jodi
I am a former lawyer from Montreal currently eating my way around the world, one country at a time. Marshmallow enthusiast, volcano climber and cave spelunker - and also a geek. Traveling since April 1, 2008. See the 
whats the plan for new years? I’m open- feel like going to a full moon party?