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I think that for me, and perhaps for others, it's not so much about  
wanting to live someplace else - or wanting to be someplace else, as  
it is about the fascination with different cultures, different  
geographies.

I really do love Malaysia though - its probably one of the best/ 
safest places in southeast asia and Oceana for westerners to  
experience the tropics - economically and politically it is safe and  
stable, the risk of disease is less, medical facilities are good,  
transportation is good and easier for us because thanks to the years  
of British colonial rule English is an official language - in the  
villages you'll find people who don't understand much english, if any  
- but people in businesses and government agencies are quite fluent.  
And they still LIKE Americans and westerners. The Malaysian economy  
is very much tied to technology and International trade, the level of  
education is one of the highest in this part of the world - many  
universities, many doctors, engineers, scientists.  Malaysia is a mix  
of people and cultures - Indian, Chinese are substantial minorities  
and are almost equally represented in the population. The government  
and high positions are still held primarily by people of Malay  
descent, but there is a high level of cultural and religious  
tolerance because of the mix.  I don't think that people realize how  
developed and modern this country is.  Here are links to a few maps with

Human Development Index - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 
Image:HDImap_spectrum2006.png

and Economic index (GDP) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 
Image:GDP_PPP_per_capita_world_map_IMF_figures_year_2006%282%29.png

Another map I really like is the Map of World Happiness (developed by  
UNESCO) -
http://www.asmmag.com/ASM/content/2006/ASM_035/ 
world_map_of_happiness.jpg

I still check the weather report in Oreana, and really don't want to  
live anyplace else, and would probably be gushing about the Amazon  
rain forest of Ecuador or castle ruins in Romania or Lurray Caverns  
in Virginia or fishing villages in Nova Scotia  - or wherever I might  
happen to be.   But, Malaysia is very special.

Steph

(and I would never ever be here if it weren't for the horses in our  
lives - which makes it even more special)


On Oct 29, 2007, at 5:26 AM, rides2far@xxxxxxxx wrote:

> > Steph's in Malaysia and I'm not.
>
> It's 65 degrees here, the leaves have changed and the colors are
> beautiful. The sky is very blue without the humidity, I just  
> trotted my
> green horse for the first time on a nice long uneventful ride. I  
> wouldn't
> change places with anybody in the world. :-))
>
> Angie


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