Lovely Presence
Trip Start
May 10, 2008
1
3
Trip End
May 15, 2008
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The usual exquisitely mannered greeting from the staff was as welcoming and unchanging as ever and I made my way to a comfy armchair overlooking the capacious entrance foyer and read my book. After a Tom Collins or too and an a couple of hours embroiled in worldy escapades of Marine Research specialists chasing bad guys across the globe and back, the story came to a pleasing end with the baddies caught, a new world treasure discovered and the heroes on a date in a hanglider.
Resting some more in the afterglow that comes with finishing a satisfying book, my gaze wandered to the restaurant below. I watched the back of a man who looked like I imagine my father looked when he travelled. Tidy, slim, neat and setting his napkin on his lap, waiting politely and patiently for service in the nearly empty restaurant.
I thought he might like something to read while he waited and wandered down to the restaurant and made my way to his table. As he turned to me I realized he was Oriental, but asked if he read English anyway and offered the book.
It turned out he was more interested in conversation that the book, so I pulled up a chair, given he had finished his meal, and we chatted for a good hour. He was well travelled and well versed in global economics, politics and agricultural economics which we discussed at some length. It turned out his daughter is studying it at University. We moved easily through more topics and rounded out the evening with religion and a discussion of Catholicism and Buddhism.
His name was pronounced like Fujee, we shook hands, and went on our way.
Sometimes life brings lovely presence.
