Straining my neck in Kuala Lumpur

Gone are the days when Malaysia was an obscure Southeast Asian nation "somewhere there in the map." When I visited Kuala Lumpur a few days ago, the first thing that really struck me was how progressive the country has become. The traditional Malaysian sensibility is still there but now everything seems monumental and advanced.

Take, for example, the Petronas Twin Tower, the tallest twin tower in world that allows visitors to catch a glimpse of Kuala Lumpur from its skybridge for free.

The Malaysian fetish for metal and skyscrapers continues in the nearby KLCC Mall. Though somne of the world's biggest malls are in the Philippines, Filipinos will surely still be amazed.