Majestic Monday

It was a 'girls out' day today. I thought about a swim when I woke and later wished I had as, on cue at 4 p.m. the heavens opened and the deluge came. But I decided not to and had a quick chat with #1 son before he went to work and then Johor Bahru overnight.

J and I had a day out with KF, #1 daughter in law's mother. We started at the Sunway Mall in PJ to meet with her sisters but plans changed so we had coffee and a look at baby seats and 'travel systems'. Then plans changed again and we went across to #2 sister's (or was it #3 sister's salon. There KF's mother and three more of the Kees. There was a lot of laughter and chat and J had her hair washed, a head massage a blow dry. We talked cream puffs and durian and saw pictures of a very recent 3 Kees' trip to Germany and Austria. That was with the Kee sister who lives in Sweden. #8 sister is about to move to Melbourne which was one of the things that made J's day.

Then it was off to afternoon tea for the '3 ladies who lunch' in the Orchid Conservatory at the historic Majestic hotel opposite KL Station. The hotel is magnificent, the orchids stunning and the food pretty special but it was freezing. The temperature is for the orchids but not pre-warned none of us had wraps. Luckily the hotel is prepared and lent us pashminas but it was still a bit uncomfortable sitting under the draught of two strong fans. As usual J spoke to everyone, made a FB friend of the Filipino intern in the lobby and took many photographs of us, orchids and food.

The last hour was nosiy with the rain battering the conservatory roof and the thunder and lightning but we made it back before the rush hour traffic built up.

Before Cambodia I thought KL was quite different but coming but I suddenly see how westernised it is. It may be a veneer but it is streets ahead in first world developments from Cambodia, which still has the feel of the 1960's post colonial era with the noise and bustle of the motorbikes and tuk tuks and the low rise buildings. Here is is flyovers and cars and stunning high rise - a cosmopolitan urban environment.

The US and Malaysian flags are still lining the route to the Istana Negara although the President has gone east to the Philippines. Tonight we go back to PJ for dinner at #8 sister's.

Edit: Kees #1-3, 5 -8 & 10 & 11 were all there. Only #4 & 9 were missing. The 2 remaining brothers don't come but 3 brothers in law were there.