Living Like a Chinese Diplomat

 Today was full of goodbyes to the friendly service-oriented folks at the Conrad Hotel. Their hotel style is very personal, and Jane had a tough time adapting to them doing stuff for us. Our hotel is on Embassy Row, and we realized that it’s catering nearly entirely to Chinese Diplomats, of which all were men (we saw no other women with them). While we didn’t see any Europeans or Americans, there was a couple of Australian or New Zealanders that accounted for the other women in the hotel.  Even the hotel bar is named “The Diplomat”. 

Having seen the airport dining selections in Singapore, we opted to eat a hearty breakfast and skip lunch altogether before our 1:10 PM flight.  

Jane particularly enjoyed their in-house made pastries and breads.  Today she picked a Crocake (which we assumed was a misspelling).  When she bit into it, it turns out there was indeed cake inside the croissant bread.  Good job, Conrad.

We say goodbye to Thailand today, but we both agree that we must come back for a real stay with Joel. He is going to love this, we just know it.

We waited in the airport to check our bags and watched videos on how to wear a hijab. Ms Nes says to be prepared to wear one at some sites, so we bought $7.50 Thai silk scarves to wear.  With a couple of pins, we will be ready to tour the top sites in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow. 

A word about immigration and arrivals in Asia. Jane and I frequently discuss that Asian countries have immigration figured out. Up to 3 days before arrival, one completes an online arrivals card with some basic facts about your entry and stay. That arrivals card is matched to your passport number. At immigration you scan your passport, it lets you through a gate, takes your picture, and moves you through with no human contact. Today’s exit from Bangkok took 10 seconds with that procedure (no form required for exit). Today’s entrance into Malaysia took 30 seconds because we had a bad passport scan.  Immediately a man came to help, and we sailed through. Nobody yells or demeans visitors. Singapore and Bangkok immigration arrivals were similarly instant. Bangkok took less than 5 minutes because they scanned fingerprints too. Bottom line, America could do better, be kinder, and make the process easier.  If everybody is nailing it here in Asia, why can’t we?

We took a quick Air Asia flight to Kuala Lumpur and exited the airport about 30 minutes after touchdown.  On the flight Jane sat next to a CEO of a Japanese anime company.  They struck up a conversation because she was watching an anime that sincerely impressed him.  I don’t think he expected the American teenager to be that into it (boy is he wrong).

 I’ll save details for tomorrow, but Kuala Lumpur is not at all what I expected. The geography, the city, the buildings and even the plants are different than what Singapore and Thailand prepared us to expect.

Hilton Kuala Lumpur was also full of surprises, being far fancier than the low low price led us to expect.  Our 34th floor room has killer views of the city as well.

We are the target audience for this welcoming bed decor.

The Hilton cloth teddies also brought smiles. 

Let’s talk about dessert. Jane hasn’t been eating a lot of desserts, particularly after her stomach bug. I have been off sugar and gluten for months, and I haven’t had any either. Jane said today was the day. Flagship Hiltons include high end bakeries with gorgeous inventive desserts, typically reflecting the flavors of the location.  Jane decided this was the day for a dessert. 

Bravo Hilton bakers, looks outstanding. 

Little coconut cake with mango core coated in white chocolate and topped with a truffle. Apparently it’s as tasty as it looks. 

After an evening in the lounge playing wordle and inventing backstories and nationalities for the strangers we saw, we are now headed to bed early.  We get started again at 8AM tomorrow.