English in Asia

I'm writing from Kuala Lumpur, my first stop on this first trip to Asia.

One of the most striking things here, at least for me as a business traveler, is the high level of English.

I realize that there are a lot of cultural and historical reasons for this, not least of which is the current status of SE Asia as an important emerging market. Nonetheless, it's impressive, especially coming from Barcelona, where English is still a growth area.

What I would point out is that in places where English is important for tourism, it's almost like clothing or personal style. It creates a first impression which lingers.

I've been surprised here by the very idiomatic use of English in speaking, but especially in signage, websites, menus and advertising.

At least on that one level, it makes a traveler feel welcome and able to understand.