The temperature in lowland Malaysia is in the low 30s every day, usually humid and always hazy, and it doesn't cool down much at night. When my friends say the weather is good today, it means it has clouded over completely, possibly threatening rain, and a degree or two cooler than usual. Although this is the "dry season" in Malaysia, it's still wetter than summer in Toronto; there have been three protracted downpours in the 17 days I've been here (July 28).

A lot of Saudis come to Penang to escape their summer heat (without leaving the Islamic world).

At the beach, a group of 5 kids are playing at the edge of the surf. The 4-year-old casually removes her bathing costume. Her father, lounging nearby in shorts and tee-shirt, suddenly notices her, becomes agitated, gives the girl a swat, and shouts over his shoulder. A woman appears, covered in black from head to toe including the face, and helps the girl put the swimsuit back on.

There are several similarly clad couples walking along the beach, sometimes hand-in-hand, he very modern, she medieval.