Friday, September 21, 2007
Malaysian Adventures
Strange yet fun things can happen in Malaysia if you let them. For instance...
After having lunch in Chinatown with William Tuesday he pointed me toward Central Market, where I looked for a birthday card for a friend. I found a card stall, but of course they were all in Malay. Not speaking the language, I asked the young lady how to say Happy Birthday so I'd know which cards to look for. She told me, but I think I got it wrong...I thought I had found a birthday card, though I didn't really know what it said, so I wrote my own message in there for Eddie, who was turning 21 that day. When I gave him the card that night he laughed, said it was very sweet, then told me it was not in fact a birthday card. I had confused "Happy Birthday" with "Happy Celebration of the Day of Forgiveness," or some such. As it was explained to me later, I apparently gave him an Eid card, probably the first he's ever received. I didn't even know they had cards for Eid.
While searching for his card an attractive young Malay man passed me in the Market and did a double take. I noticed him to and gave him a look...very nice. Dressed kinda flashy for midday, but I saw all sorts of styles in KL and it looked good on him, so yay. He had been turning down one hallway but instead turned back to where I was going. He'd get in front of me, look back to see where I was going, then change direction to match mine. Being the outgoing fellow I am, I figured I should at least say hello, especially since by this time we were just sort of standing there looking awkwardly at each other.
Me: Hi
Him: Hello
Me: I'm William (Shakes his hand)
Him: I'm Ahmad (long handshake). Nice to meet you. Where are you from?
Me: I'm from the US, visiting friends here. Are you from KL?
Him: Yes, I live here. You are very handsome.
Me: Thank you. I think you are very handsome too.
Him: Do you want to go into the toilet?
Me: Wow, look at the time! I need to go. Nice meeting you!!
No toilet sex for me. I'm not a US Senator, so I don't think I'm supposed to do that.
From the first day there I heard people talk about Cherry, a hairstylist some of the guys go to. They were all Cherry this, Cherry that, wondering what he does for fun, talking about how cute he is, discussing his hair. Based on the guys I was with, I'd say Cherry's a good stylist, great hair all around. Anyway, he came up in conversation more than once, so on my last day there I decided to go find him. He actually works in a town outside of KL, at the end of the light rail and then a cab ride. I thought this would be a good chance to learn about the hair industry in Malaysia, something I'm always curious about in other countries (that's Adrian's influence) and also a good excuse to get my eyebrows done (interestingly enough, they don't wax them, but instead pluck and then shave with a little razor...that was fun). So after Cherry pointed me to the eyebrow lady and I got that done, he agreed to talk to me about the industry. I'd told him some friends of mine were clients but he wasn't quite sure who I meant. He asked me again a few minutes into the conversation and I realized I had their pics on my camera, so I showed him and he recognized them. He loosened up a bit after that, once he realized I really knew his clients and wasn't a stalker (well, wasn't ONLY a stalker). We talked for about 45 minutes, and while I'm not 100% sure he's gay (I outed myself to him, and gave him plenty of chances to say something, but after all, Malaysia's a bit conservative so whether he's straight or shy is tough to tell) he is without a doubt one of the most charming young men around. I see why the guys like him, and not just because he's a really good stylist. We talked about much more than hairstyling and I thought he was great...and I imagine right about now some of my KL friends are saying "wait, you did WHAT???"
After meeting Cherry I stooped in a Tough Jeans store on my way out. The salesman was trying to sell me some shirts that were on clearance sale. They were nice, but he kept bringing me Mediums and they were too big. I asked for some Smalls and he said "well, the seam is here on your shoulder, so that means this is a good size for you." I replied I thought they were too baggy and he said "yes, but men wear shirts with more to them...women wear tighter shirts to show off their bodies but men don't." Well, *I* do...you go lose 20 pounds and then tell me you don't want to show off a little bit. After years of wearing baggier shirts because I needed to, I'm not buying more of them now. I found one that did fit well and took that, but as for the rest, you can keep them. Telling me not to wear a tight shirt...didn't he realize I'm gay?
So anyway, I'm in Hong Kong right now and have things to write about this place (I'm having a very good time, and thank you Eric for showing me around yesterday!!) and also more to write about KL. But now I'm going to head out for my last day of shopping/sightseeing (the same thing, really) and then Sunday I head home. It'll probably be Sunday night (Monday morn in Asia) before I can get another post up, but I think I may write some of these out longhand just to capture my thoughts until I can get to a computer again. Toodles.
After having lunch in Chinatown with William Tuesday he pointed me toward Central Market, where I looked for a birthday card for a friend. I found a card stall, but of course they were all in Malay. Not speaking the language, I asked the young lady how to say Happy Birthday so I'd know which cards to look for. She told me, but I think I got it wrong...I thought I had found a birthday card, though I didn't really know what it said, so I wrote my own message in there for Eddie, who was turning 21 that day. When I gave him the card that night he laughed, said it was very sweet, then told me it was not in fact a birthday card. I had confused "Happy Birthday" with "Happy Celebration of the Day of Forgiveness," or some such. As it was explained to me later, I apparently gave him an Eid card, probably the first he's ever received. I didn't even know they had cards for Eid.
While searching for his card an attractive young Malay man passed me in the Market and did a double take. I noticed him to and gave him a look...very nice. Dressed kinda flashy for midday, but I saw all sorts of styles in KL and it looked good on him, so yay. He had been turning down one hallway but instead turned back to where I was going. He'd get in front of me, look back to see where I was going, then change direction to match mine. Being the outgoing fellow I am, I figured I should at least say hello, especially since by this time we were just sort of standing there looking awkwardly at each other.
Me: Hi
Him: Hello
Me: I'm William (Shakes his hand)
Him: I'm Ahmad (long handshake). Nice to meet you. Where are you from?
Me: I'm from the US, visiting friends here. Are you from KL?
Him: Yes, I live here. You are very handsome.
Me: Thank you. I think you are very handsome too.
Him: Do you want to go into the toilet?
Me: Wow, look at the time! I need to go. Nice meeting you!!
No toilet sex for me. I'm not a US Senator, so I don't think I'm supposed to do that.
From the first day there I heard people talk about Cherry, a hairstylist some of the guys go to. They were all Cherry this, Cherry that, wondering what he does for fun, talking about how cute he is, discussing his hair. Based on the guys I was with, I'd say Cherry's a good stylist, great hair all around. Anyway, he came up in conversation more than once, so on my last day there I decided to go find him. He actually works in a town outside of KL, at the end of the light rail and then a cab ride. I thought this would be a good chance to learn about the hair industry in Malaysia, something I'm always curious about in other countries (that's Adrian's influence) and also a good excuse to get my eyebrows done (interestingly enough, they don't wax them, but instead pluck and then shave with a little razor...that was fun). So after Cherry pointed me to the eyebrow lady and I got that done, he agreed to talk to me about the industry. I'd told him some friends of mine were clients but he wasn't quite sure who I meant. He asked me again a few minutes into the conversation and I realized I had their pics on my camera, so I showed him and he recognized them. He loosened up a bit after that, once he realized I really knew his clients and wasn't a stalker (well, wasn't ONLY a stalker). We talked for about 45 minutes, and while I'm not 100% sure he's gay (I outed myself to him, and gave him plenty of chances to say something, but after all, Malaysia's a bit conservative so whether he's straight or shy is tough to tell) he is without a doubt one of the most charming young men around. I see why the guys like him, and not just because he's a really good stylist. We talked about much more than hairstyling and I thought he was great...and I imagine right about now some of my KL friends are saying "wait, you did WHAT???"
After meeting Cherry I stooped in a Tough Jeans store on my way out. The salesman was trying to sell me some shirts that were on clearance sale. They were nice, but he kept bringing me Mediums and they were too big. I asked for some Smalls and he said "well, the seam is here on your shoulder, so that means this is a good size for you." I replied I thought they were too baggy and he said "yes, but men wear shirts with more to them...women wear tighter shirts to show off their bodies but men don't." Well, *I* do...you go lose 20 pounds and then tell me you don't want to show off a little bit. After years of wearing baggier shirts because I needed to, I'm not buying more of them now. I found one that did fit well and took that, but as for the rest, you can keep them. Telling me not to wear a tight shirt...didn't he realize I'm gay?
So anyway, I'm in Hong Kong right now and have things to write about this place (I'm having a very good time, and thank you Eric for showing me around yesterday!!) and also more to write about KL. But now I'm going to head out for my last day of shopping/sightseeing (the same thing, really) and then Sunday I head home. It'll probably be Sunday night (Monday morn in Asia) before I can get another post up, but I think I may write some of these out longhand just to capture my thoughts until I can get to a computer again. Toodles.
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savante: someone needs to at least buy me a drink before sex, and that place didn't have a bar. And yeah, I was rather taken with Cherry
alex: I don't know, I saw a LOT of guys in KL who would look gay by US standards but are (probably) straight. But I think you're right...I certainly hope you are, he should be playing for our team.
And Cherry, if you are reading this...yes, we're talking about you. Because we like you. :-)
alex: I don't know, I saw a LOT of guys in KL who would look gay by US standards but are (probably) straight. But I think you're right...I certainly hope you are, he should be playing for our team.
And Cherry, if you are reading this...yes, we're talking about you. Because we like you. :-)
That was a very direct response from a Malay guy! o_O Never would've expected a question like that - even I would've fainted from shock. =P
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