Can I have Corn with my Quarter Pounder with Cheese

Some of the Most Unusual Food Moments: (this was bound to come up at some point)
1. 8 dollars for a Big Mac in Brazil, anyone?
2. Take your choice- Pumba, Timon, or Ostrich in Africa?
3. Absolutely NO beef at McDonalds in India.
4. Lobster flavored crackers for my airplane snack, mmm.
5. KFC is everywhere you turn in Malaysia.
6. Cup of corn= huge. Corn everywhere. On the street. For your Happy Meal.
7. Chicken wings are further up on the menu than Big Mac.
8. Oh yeah, and the McDonalds is DELIVERY.
9. Oops- I mean, GOLDEN ARCHES RESTUARANTS….?

Well, I suppose that list will grow as soon as I hit the countries that are in 100% incomprehensible symbols. Soon, my idea of ordering will be pointing randomly at a series of symbols and praying for the best.

So Kuala Lampur. The four of us- Stephanie, Hallie, Lindsay, and I- headed to the airport our first night in Malaysia. A huge group was from SAS so we all sat together and what not. When we got there we roamed around and found a bus heading to our hotel. OKAY SO…. Our driver was dead set on killing us. He was whipping around these turns and overpasses at 90 miles an hour, the bus threatening to tip over at any second. Half of the bus was leaning over to the opposite side just to try and keep us balanced. He was just singing and screaming, smoking and yelling. It was ridiculous.

We finally got to the hotel at 1:30 AM. We lucked out. We got a room on the business floor. Free internet. A deliciously comfy bed. Oh man. Not to mention, I was in the city! I didn’t realize I was having a withdrawal until after realizing how great it was to be in a city again. I couldn’t get enough of it.

So let’s skip ahead to day one. Our mission: shop. Our result: oh dear. So we walked to Central Market. It’s a 2 floor market with cute little stores. Cancelled out the boys souvenirs in one big sweep, and bought myself a lamp and a dress while I was at it. This is where we tried buying a store’s music off of them. Who else came out with new music??

After spending an hour or two there, we headed across the street to McDonalds. My first McDonalds in about forever. Hello Quarter Pounder with Cheese and Fries! Yes, it’s partially disgusting, but partially the best meal I’ve ever had.

So on our way home we saw a street with rows upon endless rows of tents. Well, well, well- we stumbled upon Chinatown. “Oh, can we go look real fast” turned into another 100 ringit spent very, VERY quickly. So after buying another mound of things- we went back to the hotel, only to go to the mall. So we’re in Malaysia- what could a mall possibly look like? Okay, Malaysia hands down, knows what’s going on. Their mall is stunning. 8 floors of every designer, or type of food you can imagine. PS. MAC has a lightening system to lighten your skin. Yes. LIGHTEN your skin. Went to Forever 21, which was 7 rooms. Seven. Very overpriced though. Add 20 bucks to every purchase kind of overpriced. Even seeing some of those stores was interesting. Going through their jewelry it’s like, oh wow I could have bought that at Jaipur in India or the flea market in Africa.

We had dinner at another American restaurant. I’m almost embaressed that I spoiled myself to so much “home”, but the next couple stops are going to be the real test for me. Their food court, however, was nicer than some of our restaurants. It’s not like a in and out McDonalds with plastic seats. The sushi rolled on by while you sat on modern stools. The mom and pop restaurant had a chandelier and had a stream of water lining around the outside. The atmosphere was so classy and aesthetically appealing.

It was nice to be the minority for once. Instead of looking around everywhere and seeing white, it was nice to have a bunch of Japanese stewardesses, different types of Asians shopping and eating. It’s a different perspective.

On our way back we stumbled upon, go figure, another market. By now it’s 8 or so, and “just a look” turned into another big adventure. They sold all these movies for, like, 5 ringit. We were going through and seeing what has come out and what not.

Finally, we made it back. Hallie and Lindsay were tired. Stephanie and I really wanted to go out and see some of the nightlife there. So we joined up with another group of Semester at Sea students and went to Thai Cowboy with them. We were there until 2:30 or so when the group we were with started looking for food. We walked the row of bars, restaurants, and clubs. A local handed Gabe a free corn on the cob and started raving how good it was. Soon, we all paid 2 ringit (aka nothing) for the best corn on the cob we’ve ever had in our lives. God was it good. We stood on the street corner with all our faces in our cobs, just sitting on a sign and eating away. And that was that. Went back into our comfy comfy bed.