MALAYSIA - Oh, the Shopping

Anyone who visits Kuala Lumpur will surely need to join an SA (shopoholics anonymous) meeting soon afterwards. KL (as it is more commonly called) is a shopper’s haven with literally thousands of malls, markets, and stores to choose from. Perhaps the most illustrious of them all is Suria KLCC, a six-story mega mall (connected to the Petronas Twin Towers) that houses such high-end stores as Valentino, Versace, and Hermes. Sadly, none of these brands are in my budget but I had to look no further than Jalan Petaling for more affordable designer-wear. There, I could find Burperry handbags, Brada backpacks, or Channel perfume at much more affordable prices (get it?).

Throughout Malaysia, as in many other countries worldwide, there is a huge influence of American culture. As I walked through Bukit Bintang (yet another mall), I heard the likes of Ashlee Simpson, Avril Lavigne, and Kanye West blasted over store loudspeakers. Not to be forgotten of course are the staple American restaurants such as McDonald’s, KFC, and even Chili’s, which have all become fixtures on many street corners. Even TV shows like “Lost” are big hits in Malaysia and one of my taxi drivers did not hesitate to profess his love for the TV drama. Nevertheless, Malays remain profoundly committed to their religion and appear to have successfully melded their (predominant Muslim) faith with a consumer culture.