Monday ,( Malaysia), 17 Oct., 2015  -  Kuala Lumpur
   Today we explored the region around the Central Market / Geo Hotel and took a walk to Taman Eko Rimba Eco Park. This wild area in the centre of the city is at the base of the KL Communication Tower where we had dinner on Friday.  We were told they discovered a 2 metre python in the park a couple of years ago.  There are paths throughout the park and an elevated suspension walk.

 Lunch was a familiar sub from a Subway Restaurant.  We also discovered an interesting Museum of Communication which chronicled communication in Malaysia from drums and runners to computers.

  One interesting note about our hotel. Upon entering the elevator we tap our key card to a sensor and our floor is automatically selected.  We cannot get to any other floor.  Also, as in all the hotels so far, when you enter the room you insert your key card in a slot which allows the lights to be turned off.  Removing the card when you leave turns off all the lights after a minute.

Tuesday ,( Malaysia), 18 Oct., 2015  -  Kuala Lumpur
   At 9 am we were picked up in a small van to go on an excursion to view an aboriginal village and visit the Elephant Sanctuary.  After about a 10 minute drive we were transferred to a larger, almost full bus, then taken to an apparently central tour area where people were transferred to the vehicle headed for their tour. Our tour,  with only had 4 of us, wound up in a 15 passenger van.  After about 2 hours of driving, much on a 4 lane divided highway we headed down a 2 lane winding road and drove by ‘the village’, a collection of homes built with bark siding. (There were also simple modern concrete homes beside many of the original ones that are provided free of cost to the poor natives upon application.

   Then it was onto the Elephant Sanctuary.  First stop was a video presentation on the sanctuary and on the capture of wild elephants that due to shrinking jungle begin to invade plantations.  We then went to an area where the juvenile elephants are kept. The opportunity to feed them was offered.  Next stop was a display of some of the training of some adults.  Each elephant has 2 trainers responsible for its training.   These trainers, both men and women, do all of the work of caring for their specific elephants so that the elephants begin to relate to them as family. \in the wild, elephants live in family groupings and find separation very stressful.  There was then an opportunity to hand feed them atermelon chunks.  The elephants were then taken to the river for a bath and photo opportunity.

  A highlight of the trip was to get in the river with a baby elephant (up to about 5 years old)  and wash and splash.  Eva came out all wet and I got some great photos and video.  Back in the van we got back to the hotel about 5:30 pm.

Wednesday ,( Malaysia), 19 Oct., 2015  -  Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok
   A day of travel, not particularly exciting.  A taxi picked us up at 8:50 am for a drive of almost an hour to the airport.  Our flight was at 12:20 on a Boeing 737 and was uneventful.  (The fish for lunch on board was tasty.)  Again it was a long drive into the city and our hotel, the ‘On 8' which is located at the end of a little short street, I’ve yet to get my bearings as to where it is in the city.  For dinner we went up the street to what appeared to be a genuine Thai restaurant for a typical meal.