Rationality is NOT the foundation for Malaysian Architecture

For our long term followers who can recall the distant past, you may remember perceiving a hint of discontent from Chelle's posts regarding our visit to Malaysia.

The enjoyment of what was to be our first adventure into another culture, soon gave way to a vague uneasiness.

Now both Chelle and I consider ourselves open mind people with adventurous spirits, necessary items for people travelling with a small family one would think, so it threw us to be so quickly put off in a place advertised as child and tourist friendly. But this uneasiness was to stay with us.

It took some time to develop, but following our visit to the Petronas Towers an understanding began to emerge. As we sat through their highly entertaining and informative infomercial of a presentation, we learned that the foundation for the towers was Islamic rationality, not architecture, not geometry, not concrete, but rationality itself.

Considering that sitting on top that of that rationality was several thousand tonnes of very real, very hard concrete, I hoped their rationality was solid.

The uneasiness in my belly told me to be concerned.

My concern only grew as pieces of our travel started coming together, memories of conversations with friendly Malay's who'd told us they had been in Australia for many years “yes, in Melbourne, with the Opera House”.

I noted seeing full burka wearing muslim women in +30degree weather as I sweated out of every pore in my high tech breathable singlet and shorts.

Of not only not having nowhere to change a child's nappy in a shopping centre with half a dozen rest rooms but not being able to carry a clean diaper in public with out being assaulted.

Of so called Buddhist monks selling peace and love, no money no love.

Of international flights from domestic terminals, of leaving your bags unattended on the train to be rifled through or stolen or hide drugs while going through customs, of monumental buildings that cast shadow over slums.

This isn't rationality, its madness.

And we're stuck in an elevator going up 200m in a building based solely on this madness, get me outta here now!

I must be misunderstood, I thought rationality was the deliberate application of logic to uncover truth.

If this is rationality then the truth it uncovered smells a bit funky and I don't want any, thanks all the same.

Nickism 3:
Logic is flawed, feel the way.

Adios.