September

1

Long bus ride from Krabi, Thailand to Penang, Malaysia. Detained briefly at the border because I overstayed my visa by one day. That wasn't so much the problem -- they waived the fine -- but they couldn't find the "cancel" stamp!

Brief wandering around Georgetown, Penang.

2

3

Bus to Tanah Rata in the Cameron Highlands. Wander around small town, hang out admiring view from guesthouse, and play pool.

F.I.L. #15 & #16 (a package deal!)

4

Cameron Highlands: Jungle trek with F.I.L. #15 & #16. Climb to the top of Gunung Jasar. Cameron Tea Plantation.

5

Cameron Highlands: lazy day hanging out with F.I.L. #15 & #16. Minor jungle walk to pathetic waterfall.

6

Bus to Kuala Lumpur. Petronas Towers (the tallest buildings in the world, did you know that?!), Chinatown. Trying to get ticket home changed by a few days.

7

Kuala Lumpur: Wandering around town. Admire architecture of Railroad Station and Malaysian Railway Administration Building. Pass by Masjid Negara (can't go in) to Merdeka Square where the Malaysian Drum Symphony is rehearsing for a show that night. I get to bang a drum. More interesting architecture: Sultan Abdul Samal Building, Royal Selangor Club Building, Masid Jamek (can't go in here either). Central Market where I spend more money on non-essentials than I have all trip -- oh wait, that would have been the $100 worth of clothes I had made in Vietnam. Chinatown.

Learn that I can't change my Manila to San Francisco ticket, so make plans to scurry down the coast.

8

Bus to Melaka. Jonkers Walk in Chinatown (like a carnival!). Peering into a building where several Chinese Malaysians are doing the cha cha, I smile and wave. They call to me, "Cowboy!" (because I am wearing THE hat) and beckon for me to join them. I say back, "Cowboy Cha Cha!" and run in. I have a blast dancing with them for an hour or so. A crowd gathers to watch.

9

Melaka: Bike riding. Proclamation Independence Hall and Museum, Porta de Santiago (A Famosa), St. Paul's Church, ate at Glutton's Corner, People's Museum, Museum of Enduring Beauty (very strange), Christ Church, Stadthuys and museums, Chinatown where all on one street is a mosque, a Hindu temple, a Buddhist temple, and Cheng Hoon Teng, a Chinese temple. Portuguese Square, where I have an incredible meal overlooking the water.

Accident of the Week (I guess a month was too hopeful.) Fell off bike while standing still -- wouldn't you know there was gravel there! Hole in palm looks like a stigmata.

10

Bus to Singapore where I stay in a place so expensive (by my standards!) that it is equivalent to a week's worth of lodging elsewhere. But since I gave away my sheet, towel, and little bars of soap that morning, I can't stay on the cheap -- and you know what?! I don't want to!

Brief wandering in Singapore: Goddess of Mercy Temple, Sri Krishan Temple.

11

Singapore: change to cheaper hotel that still provides sheets, towels, soap AND toilet paper! Sadly give up shower in real shower stall with shower curtain and fabulous water pressure, however.

Breakfast at Albert Market stalls. Meet with Kennedy School classmate Judy Lim. Wander all around Singapore and pass by (or through) the following: Raffles Hotel, City Hall, Supreme Ct., Parliament, Victoria Theater, Singapore River, Boat Quay, "Speakers' Corner" (where no one is speaking despite the tourist brochure's assurance that free speech is alive and well here!), Chinatown, Sri Mariamman Temple, Thian Hock Keng Temple, Al-Abrar Mosque, Lau Pa Sat Festival Market.

Buy cheap plane ticket to Manila to begin the process of going home.

Learn about bombings while at Internet cafe that night (Singapore is 12 hours ahead of NYC). Sit glued to TV in hotel room (and thankful that I was staying upscale enough to have a TV to watch).

12

Singapore: too depressed to do the intensive sightseeing I had planned. Slow wandering around the city instead: Chinatown, Clifford Pier, Merlion, Fort Canning Park.

Tried chili crabs, a presumed specialty of the city, but they had been too Westernized to be incredible.

13

Flight to Manila; stay with friends Chantale & Susan. See CNN for the first time -- sit glued.

Happy Birthday Penny and Kurt

14

Manila: Hanging out, doing laundry in case I get stuck here for awhile. Attend church service the Filipinos hold in honor of the US tragedy.

15

Up at 5am to learn that my flight is on! Fly from Manila to San Francisco via Tokyo. Flight from Tokyo appears to be the first one back to the States since the bombings. Through the miracles of the International Date Line I arrive a mere 10 minutes after I leave Manila.

Re-entry into San Francisco is made special by friends Sarah and Len, who makes me Margaritas and delicious Mexican Mole. I sleep for hours during the day (couldn't sleep the night before I flew or much on plane), drink wine, receive flowers and many hugs.

Without any argument from USAir (which had been giving me a hard time when I asked to make changes from Asia), I change my ticket back to DC -- twice.

Happy Birthday Lin

16

San Francisco: attend a Henry Moore sculpture exhibit and walk along the waterfront in Golden Gate Recreation Area.

17

Up at 4:30am to check in 2 hours before San Francisco to DC flight. Brand new plane has only about 30 people on it.

18

Maryland: Since I woke up at 3:30am (a more common time for me to go to sleep) and can't sleep more, I spend the entire day in my pajamas -- really!

19

Maryland: Have not yet done so, but I have plans to get out of my pajamas today.

20

Maryland

21

Maryland

22

Maryland

23

Maryland

24

Maryland

25

Maryland

26

To Williamsburg

27

Williamsburg/Virginia Beach

Happy Birthday Kate and Laura

28

Virginia

Happy Birthday Robin

29

West Virginia

30

Maryland