Gail's Borneo via Paris

Gail's Email 9/6/2014 4:53 AM

Dear friends and family,

I am here in hot and sticky Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia (on the island of Borneo) after a long, tiring trip from Knoxville.   The kind United agent at Tyson McGhee airport tried to check my bag all the way from K-town to Sibu, but could only get it as far as Kuala Lumpur (KL).  So when I got to KL I had to retrieve my bag (intact!) and then check in again at Malaysian Airlines.  

From JFK to Paris, I sat next to a 30ish Frenchman who spoke English with a very heavy French accent.  But he was charming with very white teeth and a ready laugh. His right arm was paralysed and his leg left was a prosthetic; the damage had resulted from a motor cycle accident when he was 21 years old.  He was quite philosophical about it all.  His home was Tours, about 2 hours south of Paris by train.

Air France is a lovely carrier.  Just before I left home I got an offer to upgrade my economy ticket to Business Class for the Paris to KL leg of the trip.  I said yes and it was a good thing, because I didn't sleep much from JFK to Paris, thanks in part to my talkative French ami.  One bonus of Business Class is that it admits one to the Air France lounge!  I had comfortable couches on which to stretch, access to all the food I wanted, plus various wines.  I had an adapter for Asian cities, but not France, so I borrowed one from the Lounge staff who required my boarding pass as collateral.  "You don't trust me", I said reprovingly.  They just laughed knowingly, having lost too many adapters, I suppose.  At any rate, I got my Kindle charged during the 4 hours I was in the lounge.

Business class on Air France!  Oh my, what a delight!  I was offered champagne upon claiming my seat and given  a hot towel.  Dinner was served on a crisp white tablecloth. A lovely salad, rolls, a chicken dinner with more wine and a variety of cheeses for dessert.  I was too tired to eat everything and just anxious to sleep.  As soon as I could I lowered my seat which flattened out into a bed, with my feet going into a large cavity under the seat in front of me.  With a blanket and pillow I slept most of the 12 hours from Paris to KL.  What joy!

The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is a marvel of modern design.  It is huge with trains running between the various terminals, but with easy signage, everything written in both Malay and English.  The tandas (toilets) are all clean and offer one's choice of squat or the traditional throne.  There is such a diversity of humans hurrying through the halls of shops and restaurants.  It was really thrilling to observe everyone, all races, clothing styles, family groups from children to solos like me.  In the middle of the international terminal, there is a miniature rain forest.  One can step out of the air conditioning into the hot, humid, sweltering atmosphere of the jungle.  Quite amazing.

KLIA seemed fairly normal after this year's tragedies.  The only difference I saw was when I boarded my flight to Sibu.  On the TV screen there was a prayer to Allah, the most compassionate and most merciful, for a safe flight.  There was also an option to read, among the various offerings of TV, music, movies, etc.  I was curious and so clicked it on.  You may have guessed:  it was the Qu"ran.

The MPI graduation was this morning, much pomp and ceremony.  I tried not to read my speech and so forgot some of it.  But they were politely appreciative.  This was the first graduation of students receiving degrees from MPI and the first time anybody had gotten a degree in Sibu.  Remarkable changes in just a few short years.

The big party is tonight - more feasting and performances by MPI students.  I'll try to send pictures when I get home - not sure how to do it on this computer.

Cheers!

Gail