Off to Malaysia

It's 7:00 a.m. in Singapore and we are taking a bus to Kuala Lumpur at 8:30.

I had received information that the place we were scheduled to stay in KL had bedbugs. I don't think I slept for two nights thinking aboutit. I was also frustrated that my emails seeking to confirm our reservations and to ask about the situation were ignored. We'll lose the $50 deposit but that's a small price to pay. Basically, I was thinking from the "dad" perspective and wondering what I would want if it was Katie and Kelsey.

So, my friend Lucy Beh at the University of Malaya booked us rooms at her university. They are slightly more but I think worth the peace of mind. All have air con, towels, coffee, hairdryers, etc.

A nice meeting yesterday at IPRS. My friend Bhavani is the president and a minister of communication for the government of Singapore. I thought she did an artful job of dodging direct questions about freedom of speech. In one comment she says, "You can say anything." But in another she lists the things you can't say. One value of the trip is a renewed love of the Constitution. You never appreciate what you have until you are in a place that doesn't.

Students will find that Malaysia has it's own communication issues, including some very basic conflicts between the Chinese and Malaysian (Bumiputra) peoples. Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy that is Islamic (Sunni). It presents an interesting cultural communication problem.

The ride is 4 plus hours but the bus is air con and comfy. I plan a nap before the crazyness of KL Pudra Raya bus station. I let you know if we get there with everyone (just kidding).