Selamat Pagi!

It's been another sunny week here in Kuala Lumpur. This week I have actually started my research project for Opito. It's only week one but there has been a few hurdles, not to mention the language barrier! The research I am doing is basically to try and make the business structure here similar to the UK. Problem number one: UK- not for profit (NFP); Malaysia- nonexistent!! I spoke to a few NFPs over the week to try and grasp how it works over here and it was really disappointing to hear that charities don't get any support, funding, tax relief or otherwise from the government. Even the Malaysian SPCA is scraping by, fundraising and then paying taxes on that! That explains why so many stray animals can be seen on the street...

So I'm now looking into offshore companies because it may be an easier option than trying to go NFP. The one positive thing I have found that relates to Opito is the emphasis the government are putting on vocational training in order to achieve developed status by 2020.

It's been busy at work and it's going to get busier this week as I enroll the help of business advisors and our accountant.

But there was still time to explore and indeed travel on my time off.

Last week I went to Central Market. Loved it. It was a nice atmosphere, lots of beautiful local and handmade items and I had some Taiwanese food which was delicious. I could've spent my entire savings in there on silk dresses, handbags and arty items for my flat! I bought a few things and vowed not to go shopping again that week... Instead I went back to Chinatown (avoiding Petaling Market and my crazy Jimmy Choo stalker!) and visited the temples. They are so extravagant... everything is colourful with giant gold statues and offerings for the Gods... I don't know much about Taoism but I'm sure I'll learn more over my time here.

This weekend I went to Melaka and I am contemplating writing travel books...things you should know but they don't tell you and things other travel guides say which is not the reality.

My colleagues told me to get a Transnasional bus- it's safe and it's reliable. So off I go to the (enormous) bus station. I know where I want to go, how I want to get there and vaguely where the ticket counter is... They see a Western girl and they pounce!! All these people trying to get me to go to their ticket counter, onto their unreliable and unsafe (so I'm told) buses despite me saying clearly I am going Transnasional... Wish I'd been warned about that one!

The journey was good- I met an Indian guy called Kartiq who has been here about the same time I have and is contracted out here for 2 years. In two hours I learnt a lot about India and he about Scotland! We ended up just sightseeing together when we arrived in Melaka.

Melaka has a lot of colonial influence, particularly Dutch and Portuguese so all the buildings are painted in bright colours and covered in flowers. You arrive in Dutch square which is all painted red- a church, museums, a clocktower and a windmill. A river runs through the middle- the riverside walkway decorated with more colourful flowers and several small cafes. 'Dutch Harbour' was such a nice cafe that we went back several times! Rickshaws dominated the roads there- each one covered in flowers; some playing music and all covered in multicoloured fairy lights at night.

My hostel was nice. 'Jalan Jalan Guesthouse' was like a tranquil garden in the middle of the city- an indoor/outdoor mix with lots of greenery and water fountains. The only downside was the mosquitoes. It was right in the heart of the city- only a stones throw from Jonker Walk- a famous market street. The best part of the place, however, was the people I met. A fellow student, Elska, from Holland and a Geordie backpacker called Nigel.

On St. Paul's Hill is where most of the sightseeing places lie. There are old ruins, a palace and museums all sitting on a hill. The ruins were beautiful- old gravestones filled them. Luckily the Dutch girl, Elska, was with us so she could translate them for us! A bridal shoot was also happening there- we all took pictures of the happy couple by the ruins. The sun was beating down up there so by the time we got back down the hill, we were all in need for an ice cold refreshment!

The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering, taking pictures and darting in and out cafes to get drinks. Coconut water is so refreshing!

After grabbing some food, we all took a sunset cruise on the river. It was so relaxing and the perfect time to go there! It reminded me of Venice- pretty buildings on the water. As the sun went down, more fairy lights lit up the river. It was done so subtly and stylishly that it can be described as artistic... a world away from Blackpool Illuminations! Just small shapes of different colours twinkled from the old-style lamp-posts as we sailed down the river.

Next stop: Jonker Walk. The infamous Saturday night market was in full swing. Crowds had flocked here to buy pretty much anything imaginable but there was still a lot of overpriced touristy junk! The best part had to be the chocolate fondue we had! There were also cultural shows- we watched one with two dragons who resembled sparkly Santa Clauses! It was great! The rest of the night, Kartiq, Elska, Nigel and I danced away in the Geographier bar to live music with the locals. It was brilliant.

On Sunday we wandered round Melaka a bit more but tourist-wise it can be seen in a day. So we hopped on a local bus to Muar on guidance from DK Travel Guides. Oh dear. It's just another big town, not the 'most cultural town in the state'. Sure, it was pretty-a huge river, rainforest on the other side and two beautiful mosques but not really worth going out your way for! Nice day though and then we went back to Melaka and wandered some more until it was time to come home.

My colleagues advice about buses was seen when we filled up our bus at the petrol station. The driver of the budget bus next to us fills up, pump in hand, cigarette hanging out of mouth!

I had a brilliant weekend- Melaka is fantastic. And so it’s back to KL and back to another week’s work.