For the last few days, I’ve been in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia staying at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort.

The pattern has been hot and humid mornings before wet, pre-monsoon afternoons although I’ve been in meetings or dinners every day so I have not been able to enjoy them. But today I had the chance to enjoy the facilities as the conference ended yesterday and my flight isn’t until early this evening.

Except the weather deteriorated yesterday such that there was rain all day … and today has been the same. Being British, of course, I enjoyed the pool for a couple of hours this morning before coming back to my room to shower, change and pack.

Yesterday’s dinner was attended by the local Attorney General and the Tourism Department stepped in to sponsor the event, so it was a glittering affair.

So what are my overall impressions of Malaysia? Well Malaysia Airlines’ website suggests that its airline code, MH, stands for “Malaysian Hospitality”. And for once it’s not an idle claim. The airline was superb, its staff friendly and helpful and I have found that to be the case everywhere I have been. Excellent service, always with a genuine smile and talking to some local lawyers, they confirmed that was the Malaysian way.

Simply outstanding! I will be back…