Aloha Everyone,
Yesterday we bid our temporary farewell to Singapore to embark on the first segment of a 21-days cruise. The cruise terminal was the most modern and the cleanest we have seen. The check-in procedure was very efficient with uniformed personnel wearing big smiles.
The only discomfort J.J. and I, along with some of our fellow passengers experienced, was when our passport was confiscated. In exchange, we were each given a card that stated that this is a receipt of your passport. It has to do with submission of legal identification to each of the country we will be visiting. With over 3,000 on board, how they process individual passports is unclear. We were informed that our official document will be returned at the end of our cruise.
At Port Kelang, J.J. and I rode a shuttle bus ($15 US) each and went to AEON Mall, a large, modern air conditioned shopping complex located about an hour from Kuala Lumpur. With international brand name stores, restaurants, a large supermarket, it could have been anywhere in the world.
Malaysia is a Muslim country. White Christmas trees, gingerbread houses, sleighs attracted parents and children to experience the Christmas holiday. Parents were taking pictures of their children in front of the display. The only thing missing was a Santa Claus.
There was also no nativity scene. It was interesting to witness coexistence of religions amidst the commercialism.
Aloha -- Cathi