After several days in Japan, and a few weeks hiatus from my healing practice, we are now in the eastern Malaysian State of Sabah. I used to tell my friends it was the northwest tip of Borneo (which it is) but most people associate Borneo with, well, the end of the earth. True enough, we had to fly via Seoul from Japan to get here, but arriving at Kota Kinabalu airport was a frequent traveler’s delight. Those of you who have jetted into a relaxed and tropical vacation airport (minimal security and hassle) know what I mean.
The local East Malaysian people are wonderful, and the food is great. Our taxi driver was born to a local tribe and assured us his people had stopped head hunting a while ago. Good tourism move, local people.
The economy here seems to be good (despite high inflation and a recent petrol hike), because the shopping malls are full, day and evening. Or, like me, maybe people are desperately seeking air conditioning and a cold drink. I suspect both are true. The financial investors around here must feel bullish about Sabah’s future, because there is a huge Hypermall just completed just north of Kota Kinabalu. This thing looks like the size of a small American town. Oh, boy.
Yui, of course, is in Asian food heaven, buying up every local delicacy – sweet or savory – she can get her hands upon. Occasionally I will make the mistake of parting my lips during one of our market outings, and she will attempt to sneak something unknown past the guardian taste buds in my English mouth. Before I know it I’m chewing on something suspiciously lime green, vaguely moist, and covered in coconut flakes. I contemplate the sensation a few seconds, and then decide to take a chance and chew, usually finding it not so bad after all.
I’ve resumed my private telephone healing practice, and the phone lines to the rest of the world are as clear as if I’m calling from Japan. Despite a twelve hour time zone difference between Bor.., I mean, Sabah, my working life is back to normal. Now I’m here it seems the end of the earth is no longer so far away.