Malaysia vs UK

It's been a day for crashing, with tears and headaches, soggy tissues and comforting coffee, irritable bus drivers and reliable good friends. (You know who you are - thank you.) I'll not add another sob-story to the ever-growing ocean of blogged tragedies. Instead, here's a collection of photos over the past few years specially for an ole friend who asked whether I preferred Malaysia or England. We carry the greenest grass wherever we go, though sometimes it really takes a bit of effort to recognise that. I'll start with the smallest, often-overlooked things.



Clyclamen mini on a blue napkin.

(Indoors, Dorset, UK)









Pink Thunderlily amidst "pearl grass".

(Domestic garden, Selangor, Malaysia)








The West, where young people are highly skilled in intepreting centuries' old music on traditional instruments...

(Concert hall, Bristol, UK)




...and the East, where the elderly listen to their choice of music on the latest technology.

(Night market, Selangor, Malaysia)













From small ancient seeds inspiration sprouts...

(Vicars Close, Somerset, UK)









...giving wings to our immortal dreams.

(Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)





Wherever in these two countries you may be, you'll always find a place...

(Poole, Dorset, UK)





...to lose yourself amidst stormy waves, or in calm waters discover the sublime.

(Kuala Rompin, Terengganu, Malaysia)





But though the trees could be the same to most of us...

(Along Boh Tea Plantation, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia)






(Along the Thames, London, UK)










...it's easy to admire the effortless beauty of an arching fan vault and light filtered through dusky glass,

(The Octagonal Room, Wells Cathedral, UK)



and absorb yourself in the endlessly patterning lace-like supports of a tropical wooden roof.

(Awana Kijal, Terengganu, Malaysia)




Whether sipping cold pina coladas on warm sand...

(Terengganu Coast, Malaysia)







...or steamy kisses in frosty air,

(Lacrosse fields, Dorset, UK)








Each to his own likes and dislikes.

(Moat around Bishop's Palace, Somerset, UK)







After all, isn't the world a big enough playing field for all of us?

(Kuala Rompin, Terengganu, Malaysia)