This comes to you from Malaysia, specifically from a city called Melaka, about 2 hours south of Kuala Lumpur. I've never been to Malaysia before. It's an interesting place. It's rather intimidating when there is an announcement on the flight coming that drug smuggling is punishable with death in Malaysia. Not sure why the airline feels they have to make that comment. If you were planning on smuggling drugs what should you do - leave it on the plane? Maybe declare it? Take your chances? Seems a bit late to be giving out that warning. Maybe when you buy your ticket it should come with a warning.
The population here is about 40% ethnic Malay, 40% ethnic Chinese and the rest from South India (Tamils) or indigenous people (mainly in Borneo). The Malays look a little like the Philippino's, but are darker skinned. Almost everyone speaks English. It's the second language here, taught in schools. The Malay language has the same cadence as the Philippino language, although I am told that it is different. The characters are the same as in English, so I can now read Malay, although I don't have much idea what I am reading. There are many words borrowed from English. Here are some examples
Universiti
Seksjun
teksi, etc.
The food is a mix of Chinese and Indian, spicy and very flavourful. In keeping with the English tradition the morning refreshment break is called "Tea", rather than the "coffee break" that we are used to. They serve very different things with the tea or coffee - spicy fried cookies, flavoured rice, a samosa-like pastry. Very tasty.
The weather here is warm to hot, and humid. Apparently it's like this all year round. They don't have seasons here. I guess I have become used to the change in seasons, for I find it strange not go go from summer to fall to winter etc. With one season all year round it removes the weather as a topic of conversation.
The hotel is on the coast, but it's not very attractive. The beach is under development, there are unattractive mud flats at low tide. Doesn't have the same attraction as beaches elsewhere usually do. The water is not enticing, nor is the sand.
The meeting here is a typical Asian meeting. Much emphasis on how individual doctors treat patients and their own septic approaches, rather than doing what the evidence suggests is best. I think it must be cultural. These are intelligent people, yet they don't get it. Even when it's spelled out, when the evidence is listed study by study the prevailing attitude seems to be to ignore the evidence, or perhaps more usually to undertake treatments for which there is no evidence of benefit, and the potential for harm.
We have seen this now time and time again in the meetings in Asia. Oh well! not sure why they keep asking me to talk if they disagree so profoundly with my approach.
I have now given two of the three talks I am due to give here in Malaysia. The last is tomorrow, and tomorrow evening I leave for Vietnam. Only one talk there on Sunday. and on Monday I go to Bangkok. Next instalment will probably be from Bangkok
The population here is about 40% ethnic Malay, 40% ethnic Chinese and the rest from South India (Tamils) or indigenous people (mainly in Borneo). The Malays look a little like the Philippino's, but are darker skinned. Almost everyone speaks English. It's the second language here, taught in schools. The Malay language has the same cadence as the Philippino language, although I am told that it is different. The characters are the same as in English, so I can now read Malay, although I don't have much idea what I am reading. There are many words borrowed from English. Here are some examples
Universiti
Seksjun
teksi, etc.
The food is a mix of Chinese and Indian, spicy and very flavourful. In keeping with the English tradition the morning refreshment break is called "Tea", rather than the "coffee break" that we are used to. They serve very different things with the tea or coffee - spicy fried cookies, flavoured rice, a samosa-like pastry. Very tasty.
The weather here is warm to hot, and humid. Apparently it's like this all year round. They don't have seasons here. I guess I have become used to the change in seasons, for I find it strange not go go from summer to fall to winter etc. With one season all year round it removes the weather as a topic of conversation.
The hotel is on the coast, but it's not very attractive. The beach is under development, there are unattractive mud flats at low tide. Doesn't have the same attraction as beaches elsewhere usually do. The water is not enticing, nor is the sand.
The meeting here is a typical Asian meeting. Much emphasis on how individual doctors treat patients and their own septic approaches, rather than doing what the evidence suggests is best. I think it must be cultural. These are intelligent people, yet they don't get it. Even when it's spelled out, when the evidence is listed study by study the prevailing attitude seems to be to ignore the evidence, or perhaps more usually to undertake treatments for which there is no evidence of benefit, and the potential for harm.
We have seen this now time and time again in the meetings in Asia. Oh well! not sure why they keep asking me to talk if they disagree so profoundly with my approach.
I have now given two of the three talks I am due to give here in Malaysia. The last is tomorrow, and tomorrow evening I leave for Vietnam. Only one talk there on Sunday. and on Monday I go to Bangkok. Next instalment will probably be from Bangkok
