Yesterday was the sort of day I suppose people in Lichfield had in mind when they told me, before I left, ‘They’ll work you hard in Malaysia’.  But the day ended in a truly heart-warming experience.  It might not sound  heart-warming to have a man dressed only in a loin-cloth wave a sword at you – but it was.

Newcastle having been roundly thrashed 6-0 by Man Utd last night, I was just congratulating myself on being so far out of the leg-pulling reach of Dean Adrian, when it emerged that the Dean of Kuching is also a Man U fan. Life can be cruel sometimes.

The experience of preaching at the 6.15am service at St Thomas’ Cathedral in Kuching this morning was ground-breaking for me three times over, I think: it was not just the earliest sermon I have ever preached, nor just the largest congregation I have ever addressed (800+); I believe it was the most ethnically diverse congregation I have ever addressed.  (Preaching agian at 8.15am was not exactly run of the mill either.)

Parts of the experience were odd, I have to say:

It’s Saturday night in Kuching, but in the UK not even the Premier League lunchtime match has kicked off.

At the risk of confirming the impression of those of you who think I’m on a jolly, I’m posting this blog from the poshest hotel room its ever been my pleasure to stay in, in the city’s Crowne Plaza. And I’ve just got in from a surreal conversation with a local priest about church planting in Indonesian Borneo, while eating fresh water crab and prawns. I don’t know which part of the experience has been the more eye-popping and eye-opening.

I heard on the radio this morning that Sam Alladyce has been sacked as manager of Newcastle United.  I can’t believe this has happened when I’m not in the UK to take part in the discussion.

I’ve had a more leisurely day today, including a fine curry lunch at the Royal Sengalor Club in the centre of downtown KL.  It’s a tough life.  The Bishop’s Secretary for Visitors, Mr James Chee is a member and clearly delights to host his guests there over lunch.  It has the feel of the Raj.  The RSC is a Victorian cricket pavilion, which still looks out on a classic English cricket square of grass (except that it isn’t actually used for cricket any more).  It’s all marble floors and overhead fans and polo shirts and smartly dressed waiters.  But our curry lunch was wonderfully local: we ate with our fingers off banana plantain leaves.

What an eventful and encouraging day.  Though a good sleep would be welcome.

I was up early, to leave KL with Mr and Mrs Chee at 7.15 by car to Genting Highlands, a purpose-built casino ‘city’ 2000’ above sea-level and about 50km north of KL.  It’s Malaysia’s answer to Las Vegas: a gambler’s dream (with a theme park for all the family), and made an interesting venue for the West Malaysian Diocesan Clergy Conference – I must mention to Bishop Jonathan that we might look for an alternative to Swanwick sometime...

I’ve spent too  long in the air today and longer than I’d have liked in airport lounges.  But I am now safely arrived in KL.

Cathy drove me to the airport yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) and dropped me off at Birmingham International.  The flight was delayed but we took off for the six hour flight to Dubai at 9.00pm and duly touched down at 7.15am local time (3.15am UK time).  The journey took us over eastern Europe, Turkey and the Black Sea, and it dawned just as we were descending to land.  Lovely.