Man, is Malaysia's Weather HOT!
by YBLalat

Alhamdulillah, I arrived at KLIA on Christmas morning safe and sound and in one healthy and still attached piece. The trip was fine, although a bit taxing. But the experience of taking such a flight (en route via Minneapolis-Narita-Singapore-KLIA) was a great one - I enjoyed it the whole lot! Such an adventure!

Anyway, upon arrival, I was greeted by my sobbing mum and dad. They literally ran towards me and gave the biggest bear hug imaginable. I felt a wee bit embarassed (okay, maybe more) but they were quick to realize that dozens of eyes were gazing at us. There was this acute sense of gulit inside of me for not going home that often like they wanted always.

My kid brothers were a bit stunned. They did not know how to react to my presence. I produced my palm forward to shake hands with them, but they just hesitantly accepted it. Maybe it had been the two long years that I have been far from them, growing up from toddlers. Maybe it was the manner and style of dressing that I had on me that made them stop and to think - "This hippie is Along?"

But of course, mom was quick to raise her voice and told them to 'kiss the hands of your brother'. Hah!

My dad was curious as to why I only had one bag (and what small size it was) with me. In fact, he was a bit furious about that at first, but then I explained my reasons.
"You idiot! You forgot your bags! Where is your freaking bags?"
"Here. On my shoulder."
"That's it?"
"Yeah."
"You came in from a 25-hour trip with just that bag?"
"U-huh."
Silent pondering ensued.
"Okay, I'll get the car."

The first thing that struck me was how hot Malaysia is. I just could not figure it out how I was even born to this type of tortorous climate. The moment I got into the car, I was sweating like a pig. And at that moment,I was donnning the minimum two-layered Minnesota dress code: the thermal/underpants layer and the outer/fashionable layer.

There were these mad sweat factories under my armpits and in-between my buttcheeks. It was icky and itchy and wet and slimy all at once. All along the journey to my home in Kuala Selangor in that car, I was always changing position and wiggling awkwardly.

Obviously, my body has fogotten how to function in its own default mode. How I miss Dinkytown's snow!