travel update

It's a great time for travel around KL with Air Asia and MAS (Malaysia Airlines) currently having a big price war. I'm a big fan of Air Asia - comfortingly new planes and amazingly good food for a budget airline (even if you have to pay a bit for it).
The last month has been full of impromptu travels hence the blog and email neglect.
I went to Miri on a work trip, but due to kindness of client managed to squeeze in some tourism after hours. Then a few days later I foolished volunteered to take someone's place to climb Mt Kinabalu (not to be underestimated! A humbling experience for Claire's legs and a reminder to self - Must use expensive gym membership!!). Mid-May, took another scuba trip, this time to Tioman Island. Once again, everyone saw turtles except for me (mostly because I was busy lying on beach rather than diving for most of the weekend). I was happy to survive the Berjaya Air plane landing on small airstrip squeezed impossibly between mountains, houses and ocean. Oh - another highlight - 3 beers for 10RM ($3) at every resort's beachfront bar happy hour....heavenly. Tioman Island is basic but quite beautiful, except for the fact that a chunk of it is currently being butchered by a new Marina - darn progress. Great weekend but also great to get back to air conditioning and shops...yes I am spoilt...
I went to the MANZA ball last night (Malaysian Australia NZ Association) - fun night and good to hear the national anthem (always a bit goose-bump inspiring, and then red-face inspiring when I didn't know the words to second verse). Everyone seems to go to every nationality's ball up here (if you can afford and get your hands on a ticket) so it's just as well I have a good selection of lovely bridesmaid dresses to choose from!

April already? ...and identical weather...

Climatically, Malaysia is a great place for a person who doesn't much like change...there's no grief about summer ending and days getting shorter. It's always the same, 32 degC with a chance of a thunderstorm. I never bother looking at the forecast. Apart from when it's pouring (almost daily, and ALWAYS when I've left my umbrella home), it's always swimming pool and beach weather - the only difference is which side of the country to go to to avoid monsoon. Over Easter, a buddy visiting from the UK and I spent 4 blissful days in Langkawi (It seems I have metamorphosed from a 'high altitude trekking' type holidayer into a 'doing nothing' holidayer). I was quite proud of my ability to doze on a deck chair for hours on end (sensibly under umbrella -some things haven't changed). On a particularly active day we rented a scooter and did an hour of sightseeing. Even my ski trip in Japan back in late Feb was spectacularly lazy - some called it the 'coffee shop tour' of Niseko mountain...there were cute little coffee shops buried in powder all over the place...
I must say it's lovely when people notice my blog postings drying up. Someone even wondered if I was still alive. I guess the novelty of being in a new place has has worn off a bit (thank Goodness!) and the interesting things that I notice now fall under those no-no topics (politics, race/religion, business dealings, the nocturnal habits of expatriats in seedy nightspots!).
So instead I'll talk about kittens!..........in Langkawi , my friend and I visited a great resort called Bonton, owned by an Aussie animal lover who set up an animal refuge on the island. To my delight, the resort was full of animals and profits go to the refuge (great excuse for a 3 course meal if ever I had one!) . There was even a cat in the empty bungalow that the staff showed us when I was sussing out a place to stay next time...not a good place for people with allergies...
As an aside, I'm so glad K explained the benefits of the US Primaries to me while she was here. I am now also hooked on CNN too & even finding the US election coverage vaguely interesting...who would have thought that possible a few weeks ago when I was snorting in disgust at CNN's pronouncement of: 'entire world mesmorised by US election' or similar.
I have uploaded some photos, but no captions, lah. Quiz: See if you can work out which is Japan and which Langkawi for yourself.

"Don't Smoking" on the speedboat

Gemma and I had a great (if brief) time in Phuket with Claire Mc. Patong Beach area was not nearly as full of seedy Aussie yobbos as feared. Or maybe we are just Aussie yobbos ourselves, and didn't notice? Power lines EVERYWHERE - incredible. It's like Kathmandu I guess. People so friendly even when bargaining...

Phi Phi island snorkelling trip was lovely - We embraced the touristiness of it all, and wore our labels with our boat number and lunch table number proudly. We dutifully took photos of Viking coves and greedy monkeys. The water was magic. The fish were everywhere especially when I produced bread (part of the tourist package). Considering the number of tourists every day, the water was surprisingly clean. I didn't see any Tsunami memorials - the only reminder is tsumani evacuation routes signposted everywhere. Our trip guide Alex was great. We admired the firm but forgiving way he dealt with the people who didn't seem to know what "Be back on the boat in half an hour" meant, and were still swimming over an hour later... gggrrrr. He just suggested they get a private trip next time, it's more better. And remember - Don't Smoking on the speedboat!

Definitely got to get back to Thailand to see more!

landslide

The Flower Power gig was a Malaysian company's annual dinner. My colleagues and I managed to have fun & win some prizes but were pretty happy to bolt to a night club afterwards and drink something other than alcohol-free punch.

I've been having some communications issues here and I might start trying to learn Bahasa Malaysia again, esp. now that I know how similar it is to Indonesian. e.g. Trying to order Thai takeaway over the phone:

Claire: "One Pad Thai please"

Operator: "sorry, we don't have that"

Claire: "But I ordered it 3 days ago from the same place! "

Operator: "sorry"

Claire: "what other noodle dishes do you have?"

Operator: "sorry, none"

Claire: "ok, just one green chicken curry. Oh and some steamed rice"
Operator: "Sorry, we don't have that".

Claire (loses her cool): "I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE A THAI RESTAURANT DOESN'T HAVE PAD THAI, NOODLES OR RICE!!!"

Eventually I got everything I wanted...

And it makes me glad that I'm in Malaysia where everyone DOES speak English, even if they struggle with my accent...not sure how I'd fit intensive language lessons in amongst all this shopping and travelling!

At work we've been talking about Barlow and Chambers lately, for some reason. The Pudu Prison where the execution happened is very close to KL city centre. Conditions were apparently awful and it was closed soon afterwards and converted to museum for short time, till they needed it to use a lock-up for drug addicts etc (there has been talk since of demolishing to build residential accomm, but no-one would want to live there- ghosts for sure!). The night before they were executed, they stayed in a pitch room with no windows and were granted about a 7 ringgit allowance for a meal of their choice - usually KFC was what the budget extended to. I had forgotten that the execution caused much bad feeling btn Malaysia and Australia because the guys were executed while an appeal was underway. THey were the first Westerners to be executed under Malaysia's new drug laws.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barlow_and_Chambers_execution

On a cheerier note, I've discovered the funniest thing at work. Everyone has an 'alias' using their first name and initial of their surname. e.g. Mine is ClaireW. Check out my colleague's alias below. This is 100% legit - I thought they were joking until I checked myself in the directory...

ClaireW/"company name inserted here"
UfukER/"company name inserted here"

There have been some instances of hijacking, bag snatching and unprovoked beating up of expats here lately. I am doing less walking around and taking more taxis - at least I have a reason for doing it rather than laziness or being too laden down with Ted Baker bags... One guy (an oil and gas service company employee) got his leg broken by the moped gang. On the whole, i still feel safe here. Am just taking more precautions e.g. bag over shoulder, carrying less valuables, etc.

Went to a fabulous Japanese resto the other night with the American Association - tagged along with a few Americans from work. I pretended to be from Noo York. Met some great people - all so friendly and positive and enthusiastic about life hehre. Enjoyed Sake for the first time of my life after the couple across the table introduced me to a brand you can't buy anywhere else in Malaysia. It didn't even taste too much like Metho. See photo of their AMAZING Chinese NY special meal - all that sashimi, salad and sauce for $15AUD)- i sure wouldn't want to grate all those vegies for that! http://www.daidomon.com.my/

2008 - an auspicious (吉利) year we hope...

Apart from another rotten cold, 2008 is shaping up to be a goodie so far - as Chinese numerology might predict - and it's hard not to be happy because tis the season of public holidays. I've no idea what we are celebrating tomorrow but I am all in favour of it all the same. There are 3 more public hols coming up in the 1st half of Feb and I am very excited about Gemma coming to visit - we are off white-water rafting and then to Phuket - here's hoping there won't be too many Aussie cringe factor!

Despite my love affair with public holidays, work is going fine. The guys I work are delightful and most of the time I can translate the thick Scottish accents into English. One of them is dating a Chinese girl and he told me about the Chinese custom/tradition after women give birth - for a month they are to stay in a sort of isolation and have their tummies massaged by a visiting masseuse every single day. Traditionally, the new Mums weren't even supposed to shower for the whole month (ugh!), after which they proudly present the new bub and their flat tummies to the world. It seems we Westerners know nothing about Yummy Mummies!

It has been an interesting week. Out for dinner last night with a former colleague - a Russian guy who I worked on the rig with in Gabon - a happy reunion all thanks to Facebook! Out for lunch today with 3 new friends from the Mexican embassy. One of them is Vegetarian so we went to a Buddhist Temple where there was an enormous buffet which cost 5 Ringgit including a (vile) drink (A$1.75). All they ask if that you don't take more food that you can eat - and that you don't wear anyone else's shoes home....

I know a blog needs photos which is why I've irrelevantly uploaded some piccies of my new paintings which arrived just before Xmas. I love love love love them and though it sounds super daggy, they remind me every day to be grateful...which is a great antidote to the "poor me"s that can creep into my head when I'm missing folk from home. I'm not missing obvious things like the beach, though - and I've got over the lack of mid-strength beer with considerable dignity and grace...

happy new year readers!

My first visitors!!!

Had a great day so far with Mum and Dad here. Their plane was slightly delayed because (as the pilot explained in a disapproving tone) Malaysian Airlines had to eject an inebriated passenger at Perth and then turf off his baggage. Soon afterwards, the air stewards circulated economy class with tumblers full of what looked like urine, but turned out (to Mum and Dad's delight) to be very cold Tiger beer. Kind of ironic for an airline belonging to a Muslim country. Maybe there's an exemptions to the rules while flying...just like my diets have always gone out the window in the air...
Despiting protesting they needed a lazy day after 2am bedtime, Mum and Dad managed to devour 4 massive shopping centres (KLCC, Pavillion, Star Hill, Low Yat Plaza), see 300 Xmas trees, photograph same, endure 300 decibel Xmas carols (the Muslims seemed to be enjoying the amplified orchestra much more than we Westerners), order custom-made shoes and prescription glasses, sample mucho local fare involving lychees, all without getting run over by a moped (not a bad effort considering you have to look both ways - sometimes they drive on the wrong side of the street). Even though we were all tired, we've also managed no arguments so far - even with differing opinions about the germ count on escalator handrails. This bodes well for the 10days ahead. A mutual love of Ted Baker merchandise kept us all happy. Tonight it's champagne on the balcony then off to dinner at Senses for some fine dining. We're taking the underground train which should make Dad happy! It's great having visitors. Mum and Dad notice things that I don't and remind me not to take the view for granted. Mum was almost speechless when she first saw them (quite a feat ha ha!)

Ho Ho Ho

Ho Ho Ho. At the risk of sounding critical of my beloved home country, I think Malaysia does a very classy Christmas. Today in the shopping centre underneath the Twin Towers, I came across a string quartet planing classical music so beautiful that I felt a bit tearful. I can't remember the last time that happened (being inspired to great emotion in a shopping centre), except maybe last Christmas at Karrinyup shopping centre trying to find a parking spot! I am really looking forward to showing my parents all the cool stuff. Like buying a whole coconut with a straw in it as a drink with your meal...

I have joined a Fitness First gym and I'm glad I've started getting fit for Japan ski trip quite early...I found myself puffing in a PILATES class! The gym is very high tech, and I was quite excited to see TV screens on the treadmills and cross-trainers etc, until I've remembered how stupefyingly boring CNN can be, even if you are cycling! I am really grateful for the CDs that friends have given to me recently, thanks a lot guys and Katrina...

It has been a good week. Last weekend had all the pre-requisites for a good weekend - time around the pool with a book, a fair-weather hash complete with obligatory beer skols and bawdy songs, some vodka-fuelled nightlife and of course, MORE SHOPPING.

I've had 7 days at the new job now and it is going well. I am quite motivated and hoping it extends into more than the initial 8 weeks. I feel like I have stepped into Aberdeen - my colleagues are almost entirely Scottish. However, change is NOT as good as a holiday, and I badly need the week off next week.

Something that is amazing me up here is how it still feels like there isn't enough time in the day. I don't have to do any house work. I have no travel time, everything I need is walking distance, I have no kids or pets or hubby to look after, I have a lot less friends up here to share my time with, I never cook because there is a good restaurant about 50 m away (where the yummy meals from the buffet cost about three dollars), and it still kinda feels like there isn't quite enough time to do all the things I want to! "Busy" must be a state of mind...!