Malaysian-American Alumni Partnership Community Weekend

I just returned from the 2010 Malaysian-American Alumni Partnership Community Weekend at Cherating Beach. There was a lot going on in Cherating this weekend. First, was Click Camp, a camp intended to help Malaysian kids, aged 14 - 16, improve their English speaking ability and gain leadership skills. In addition, the school teachers of the students in Click Camp were participating English Teaching workshop. Finally, there was a meeting of alumni from the various exchange programs between Malaysia and the US sponsored by the US Department of State. All told, there were about 300 people in attendance! Thanks to the US Embassy and Warisan Global for organizing this event.

The Trip to Cherating

I rode in a bus with a number of other exchange program alumni. As I have mentioned, the freeways system in Malaysia is great, so it was a quick three hour trip across the peninsula. Malaysian tour busses are very comfortable so they are a great way to travel.

I know that travelling 60 miles per hour is not the best way to take pictures of scenery, but here are some shots of some of the common forest crops in Malaysia.

Rubber


Oil Palm


Oil Palm. You can see why establishing oil palm plantations is so devastating to the local biodiversity!


Road-Side Rests.



Most Malaysian freeways are lined with a series of road side rest stops. I always enjoy watching the world go by while stopping there.

Obviously, both people and cars need to refuel along the way, so there are always lots of food choices at roadside rests. Ocassionally, I see a road-side rest with American fast food (KFC, BK), but usually there are a series of small stalls selling Malaysian food.





We don't see fruit like this at rest stops back home!




This stall sold chips (non of which I was familiar with). I bought some spicy tapioca chips. Let's say that they were "interesting"!



Surau

Muslims pray 5 times each day so all buildings come equipped with suraus, payer rooms. Becuase travellers can spend so muchy time on the road, all road-rests are equipped with suraus.

Because the sexes pray separately in Islam there are separate suraus for men...


and women.


Here Comes The Bride

When a car pulled into the rest area all decorated with streamers I assumed that it was a the bride and groom on their honeymoon. Instead it was the bride (in full bridal gown) and her attendents on the way to the wedding. I hope they all had a great day!