Fresh Start, New Year!

Who doesn't love September? For those who base their annual calendar around the school schedule it almost feels like the ringing in of a 'New Year'. Refreshed from extended holidays, 'new year' resolutions have been made and the mental 'clock' has been reset. Overall, it's been one for the books!

First, I am getting a do-over with my students. Both myself and my eclectic group of children have embarked on Year Two together. It was the smoothest first week of school to date, and I am excited to continue to watch the little grasshoppers hop...seriously, one month away from them offers a fresh perspective as to how bright and special each of them are! I know it sounds cliche, but for a student who wasn't reading when they left in June to casually mention "Did you know there is a two, to AND too!?" I almost fell off my chair! On an even brighter note (as if that description of my day-to-day couldn't get any more sun-shiny yellow) my newest colleague, Mr. Tyler has brightened all days! I still get shocked when I look up from some playground drama to see Tyler just strolling by.

As always, the first weekend before the school year starts is Malaysia's Independence Day...filling our deeply ingrained need for a 'labour day weekend' before heading back to school. Hutchy had rented a 14 seater van (which none of us were sure he could handle) and we were set to cruise through the night. Destination; Kapas Island. I had my quiet reservations about heading back to the island where I had picked up dysentry in the Spring, however, I hand-sanitized like a Mo, questioned the source of each ice cube, eventually said *^% it, and made it out unscathed....save the horrendous jellyfish stings. As most of our regular crew was still away on summer vacation, we got to know some new peeps and caught up with some old faithfuls. If time has proved anything, three days on a deserted island makes fast-friends.

Although things are fresh, new and exciting, as they often are in September, the city of Kuala Lumpur is currently none of those things. Since we have returned back, the haze levels have been fluctuating from moderate to hazardous due to the out of control burning of forests in Indonesia (all in the name of palm oil). It feels like we haven't seen the sun shine in days and days, face masks have become my new favourite accessory, school has been closed, and generally we're going a bit shack wacky  (with a hint of asthma) from all the indoor living (how indoor cats do it, I'll never know).

Rooftop view pre-haze & now during the seemingly perma-haze

 So what do you do with your time when the 'fresh air' is deemed poisonous? Well it's a bit like being in the deep freeze of winter-- You stay inside--We play poker, go to movies, spas, order-in, wander the mall...and celebrate fabulous people! With heavy hearts we have bid adieu to our original KL bestie, Sweet Dee. After working, living and traveling with Danielle for the past two years, it's hard to  imagine life in Malaysia without our ever-constant, over-ordering, drink-spilling, pun-loving, bright smiled, third wheeling, social butterfly. She and Damian are off on the next adventure!....However, not before one more night of Regalia nonsense was had to send them off <3

Adios amiga ♥♥♥ We love you!

 On the docket for the coming months...Thailand, Malaysian Oktoberfest, Deepavali, Indonesia and India! Anyone planning to be wandering around these parts? Let us know, we'll plan a weekender :)

Recipe: Butter Chicken Masala

I've always liked to think of myself as one day becoming the type of person who cooks, shares and holds onto recipes. Currently, I am not someone who does even one of those tasks. About twice a year my Mom gets a phone call asking for the recipe to her chocolate chip cookies, and even that can yield iffy results. So in an attempt to be the Betty Crocker adult I have idealized (cue eye-rolls for gender role stereotypes), I give you the recipe for Butter Chicken (or paneer) Masala!

 Ingredients
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp ginger garlic paste

2 tbsp oil
2 tbsp butter
1 bay leaf
2 green chilies
1 tsp red chili powder
2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped&pureed
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
1 tbsp coriander powder
1/2 cup full fat milk
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste
250grams cooked chicken or paneer
Toasted cashews to garnish

Method:
1. Blend onion, ginger and garlic into a paste. Set aside.
2. Blanch and puree the tomatoes. Set aside.
3. Heat cooking oil and butter in non-stick pan on medium heat.
4. Saute onion paste and bay leaf until light golden brown- approx. 4-5 min.
5. Add green chili and red chili powder. Saute for 30 seconds.
6. Add tomato puree. Cook until oil separates from the puree- approx. 3-4 min.
7. Add coriander powder and garam masala powder.
8. Add milk, water and salt. Cook until oil separates on the surface- approx 4-5 min.
9. Add chicken or cheese. Cook until gravy is desired consistency- approx 2 min.
10. Garnish with fresh cream and toasted cashews.
___________________________________________________________________________________

To someone such as myself this recipe seems a bit ambitious, but trust assure, it's well worth it!
Seriously though, if for nothing else, make this dish to emulate Emeril with all those spices; "Bam!" a little chili, "Bam!" some coriander.

What's the worst that can happen?!
Happy Birthday, Ty -_-

Railay Beach, Krabi

There is always a reason why the beaten path is so well traveled;  Thailand is a perfect example. When we told friends that we were headed to Krabi, we either got one of two reactions. 1) Ew, Why? or 2) Go straight to Railay Beach. With such consistent reviews, we booked into a resort and headed directly for Railay. Thailand hotspots are always great; they're comfortable, clean and convenient. The food is great, and the cocktail list is extensive.

We left our condo at the ridiculous hour of 4am, but it was all worth it when we found ourselves waiting for a longtailed boat, drinking our lattes beside the Andaman Sea by 8am. As we rounded the shores of Krabi we were in awe of the limestone formations and cliffs jutting up through the sea. It was a picture-perfect, all-too-Thai tourist moment. Again, there's a reason why these places are inundated with tourists (unless you are touring during the rainy season, which I highly recommend).

As it was low-season, we managed to snag a beauty of a bungalow in a nice resort for a decent price (although it seems that we are always willing to spend a bit more on accommodations when we are away for just a few days). For the next four days we were lucky enough to dip in the pool when the emerald green sea was just a bit too tepid, sip on cocktails, and finally got to catch a Muay Thai fight.

Usually we are hard-up to find the odd Canadian rambling around KL amongst crowds of Australians and Brits, but it was Canadian night at Railay Beach. As it was a **slightly younger crowd of travelers, we sat back and watched the pre-fight entertainment including girls and guys volunteering their bras and boxers in exchange for free beers, and an amateur boxing match which concluded with (and I could not make this up) one of the Canadians exclaiming 'It's like I'm wearing a fuckin' parka in here, eh?' There couldn't have been a moment where I was more proudly Canadian. 

 Oh, except for being Canadian in Malaysia right now in light of the au naturel Canucks who are moving mountains (check out the National Post's article). Not caring to take a stance on either side of the debate, I will say this; However oblivious, stereotypical or tacky things can get (we too have had our time to shine), I can say that the Canadians we have run into abroad have, at the very least been harmless, void of ill-intentions and always up for a good time (however misguided that maybe). And for the bad-seeds out there, have some regard for the cultures you've traveled across the world to experience- Just as in retrospect it wasn't cool to peroxide your hair in high school, this too shall pass, Slim Shady. You will return to the real-world and realize you looked and were acting like a tool. Try to save the streaking for the Jays home-opener, eh?

I've digressed... So after a few days of Thai curries and a healthy dose of Canadian-isms, Railay Beach held up to its recommendations. Its got all the great bits there is to love about Thailand compacted into a scenic little peninsula...just enough distance for a cheeky naked mile ;) 

Plate Culture: Indian Cooking Class

Tyler and I are always in search of our next meal. Criteria; It needs to be big in flavour and bang for our buck. In Kuala Lumpur there is no shortage of restaurants that fill the bill. However, it's no secret that around the world, my kitchen of choice is the extremely convenient, transient and ever-local, Casa de Tyler. Tyler is amazing at using a variety of spices, fusing the best flavours from different cuisines and recreating world-dishes at home. One of the trickiest dishes to recreate at home has been (North in particular) Indian curries. Up until now, Chef Ty has done a great job with various curry dishes....but there has always been something missing from the spice equation. (His words, not mine. I would NEVER bite the hand that feeds me, figuratively or literally). So, this past weekend Tyler and I finally took an Indian cooking class.

Similar to the TV show 'Come Dine with Me', where amateur chefs host diners in their homes for an evening, Plate Culture invites customers into individuals' homes to have a private cooking lesson, share in their company and enjoy authentic cuisine. Having found our wonderful Chef Shamini online, we were eager to find the missing link to a perfect curry. We made several dishes that were all different, equally colourful and impressive...if I do say so myself. It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon; slowly cooking and chatting about Indian food and culture, learning about the different spices and pastes (some of which we had previously been using incorrectly), and finally enjoying the fruits of our labour in a full blown Indian mid-day feast! Check out the goodness;

South Indian chicken curry, spicy pumpkin, prawn sambal, raita and chai tea served upon a banana leaf~ holllaaaa

 Although the highlight for Tyler was the chicken curry, mine was, hands down the ever popular paneer (cheese) butter masala. I know this is not a notable achievement for over a billion people, but for us this is a major culinary milestone. Yes, we can now make butter chicken in our house, probably everyday.

Ingredients
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
2 tbsp oil
2 tbsp butter
1 bay leaf
2 green chilies
1 tsp red chili powder
2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped&pureed
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
1 tbsp coriander powder
1/2 cup full fat milk
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste
250 grams paneer
Toasted cashews to garnish

Ok so I know it seems like a lot of ingredients and a labourous dish to make, but Chef Shamini made it seem so easy (even at times with a sweet little babe on her hip)! We are super confident we could do it again... and plan on it. As Tyler already makes a great bbq chicken tikka, we are excited about some curry-filled patio evenings with our fellow spice-route lovers. Until then we are looking forward to our next visit with Shamini, where we will add to our repertoire and figure out some breads for dipping!

***Please note that although I have consistently used 'we' in this blog post, it is most definitely meant as the 'Royal We'. Tyler is the King of the Kitchen in our house. I on the other hand, rarely wander over to that corner of our studio apartment. 

Dog Days of Dysentery

So in my last post about Kapas Island, I smugly highlighted some different camping approaches found between our group, and groups of local campers. One being a remark about the excessive use of fresh water while camping. I am here to eat my words (or crow).

Turns out, yes fresh running water is a necessity when 100+ people are using the same four squatter toilets (so is bleach). Where am I going with this? Well, I'll tell you where I ended up for the last four days...

What started the day after we returned from our weekender as a suspected bout of food poisoning (which is more common than I care to admit), I started to grow concerned when I couldn't shake it after the 5th day. On the third visit to the doctor, he decided to admit me to the hospital for fear of dehydration. After two days in the hospital, when blood tests had been done and symptoms had not subsided, it was concluded that I had picked up dysentery somewhere along the way.

No one likes being admitted to the hospital, and my hospital stay in a foreign country was no different...except perhaps the conversations about my bodily functions were much more bizarre and colourful than they needed to be, as language was often an issue. As it took a couple days for the doctor to figure out what exactly was wrong with me, and Tyler was away on a work-trip, my stay-cation came with its highs and lows.

In chronological order, I give you a photo story;

Ok, so for someone who is firmly not a fan of selfies, I will be the first one to tell you it's weird to have so many pics of one's visit to the hospital, However, as Tyler was away, and my family in Canada were on constant alert...photographs needed to be taken and sent. As a result, a reflection of my boredom, frustration, happiness, and disgust (for plain rice porridge). You can also pinpoint the moment Tyler left, and returned three days later....he makes me smile in all situations :)

If you haven't thought to yourself that I am being a tad melodramatic (because I am), let me tip you over the edge (and I swear this is true). After being in a windowless hospital room for four days, I walked outside to the pouring rain on a sunny day (cue CCR) and a rainbow stretched over the sky. Do you have chills? As for my health, I am gobbling antibiotics and happily on the mend at home!

Return to Palau Kapas

Ahhhh, it's a four day-weekend, we managed to beat the traffic out of the city and were back on the quiet island of Kapas. Slipping into our bikinis and sipping on our first cocktail held only a brief moment of satisfaction as we watched overcrowded boats pull up on shore and human chains form to unload enough gear for a small army to set up camp. The little slice of heaven was about to be inundated with big, big groups ready to 'connect' with the outdoors...and we were unknowingly set up in the centre of shanty town.

As our group had previously joked that we had brought enough bbq-ables, snacks and beach games to survive a post-apocalyptic camp, we didn't realize that we were in for a weekend of real community living, that at times felt a little chaotic. When we travel we hope to experience and understand a variety of cultures. Aspects that tend to be easily experienced and highlighted when jumping into a new culture are religion, language, dress, food, etc. As one would hope and suspect, after spending an extended amount of time within a culture, the experiences and understandings would run deeper. As we experienced first-hand this past weekend, everyone does camping differently.

Camping crew- Minus photographer Ellie, and Kenny.

Who wouldn't want to camp in paradise?!

So within our groups' home countries (Canada, Australia, England, Spain, Switzerland and New Zealand) we have similar camping styles....You know the kind of camping where you lounge, swim, snack, throw a ball around, go for a stroll, have a bon fire, play cards kinda deal. For our local neighbors, there was certainly some of that going on, but so so much more. As there was a major over-population problem (due to the lack of planning and suspected greed on the part of the
campground owners) we, with little choice straddled the line between Malay/Western camping. I'd like to reflect that I always enjoy when we visit a beach and the local community is there appreciating it too. Sometimes we have visited beaches where the only beach-goers are foreign tourists, and the locals are walking up and down selling merchandise or services. It would be like Canadians running the chairlift but never getting to ski. It's nice to have the opportunity to appreciate what's in your own backyard!

First of all, no one sleeps. As our five tents called it a night there were constant groups of children and adults wandering around our tent chatting, crying, having a refreshing drink, playing tag. As it was so hot and the windows had to be open to our tent (apologies to all who saw us sweating in our skivvies...but you should've been asleep!), I opened my eyes on more than one occasion to someone just having a swat and a think outside our tent door. No personal boundaries, no segregated campsites, no sleep. Secondly, no one goes dirty. Amazingly, within twenty minutes of the groups arriving, there were mothers doing laundry, scrubbing the concrete in the cooking area and showering; everyone showers ALL the TIME. Tyler noted a man in the men's shower, fully clothed, marching back and forth under several shower heads. In general, the camp was a hive of activity... although we chose to spend the day finding different areas and positions to sleep in the shade. To each their own.

So how did we fair in the face of diversity? I would say pretty well (and our neighbors as well need to be thanked for their tolerance of us)! Again the simple differences in our approaches to camping seemed to create a natural berth from our neighbors, in an otherwise very crowded situation. Keeping to ourselves and smiling seemed to be a great tactic, however our camping practices were just very different;

Camping/beach attire: As little a possible
Camping beverages: Beer
Camping breakfast: Bacon
Camping entertainment: Gambling/poker
Camping sleeping arrangements: Co-ed
.....there's nothing halal about that.

The next morning, as Hutchy would look up from his book and declare that we were on the beaches of Normandy- the boatloads just kept coming....until a hush fell over the camp as the generator finally quit. It was like that moment in Dr. Seuss' The Lorax when the last trufflula tree was chopped. And just like that all the Whos down in Who-Camp packed their Who-tents and headed back to their Who-lives. Literally, as quick as they came, they had left. Turns out all that laundry, excessive personal hygiene and frolicking in the fresh well-water was, although annoying, our blessing in disguise. The generator that had been working tirelessly to pump ample water had quit. And there in lies the last of the stark differences when camping; we needed very  little fresh water (a large tub of rain water sufficed for the next 3 days).

So we happily remained on the little piece of paradise for the rest of the weekend, marveling at its beauty, peacefulness and lack of activity. We feasted on BBQ buffets, lost game after game of poker to Kenny, snorkeled everywhere, played badminton, dealt with persistent mosquitoes and generally loved life.

The March Malaysian Tour

I think we blinked and March was over. We spent the month working (hard) for the weekend, indulging in late nights, early beach days, and making some headway on our ever-growing list of Malaysian weekenders.

First up, we headed off to the food-famous island of Penang to gorge on streetfood, trape around on rickshaws and to soak in a bit of colonial-vs-Malaysian-ness. Penang did not disappoint, although the intense heat was a killer (you know the wonton soup is AMAZING when you are willing to sweat it out at midnight just to have a taste)!We didn't do much exploring of the island as a whole, but mostly wandered around the city of Georgetown dipping into gitchy cafes, dim sum dives and the odd museum...mainly for the air-conditioning (although I can now tell you all about the Penang Hill Railway which opened its doors in 1923). Anyway, Tyler and I didn't get a chance to explore as much as we would have liked due to the onset of a month-long bronchitis saga...however, we liked what we saw!

Even though I was super sick, Holi festival was in town and although not in India, I figured this was the closest I was going to get. We put on our whitest clothes and headed for the Hindu temple a couple blocks from our house. We had a blast throwing powder at each other, pretending we knew how to Bollywood dance...and then trying to find a taxi to take us home. Having a giggly paint fight with a 9 year old is something teachers can only dream of; If you can, get to a Holi Fest within an Indian community.

Literally, metaphorically--Night and day.

About mid-March we got the sudden news that our friends Ali&Serkan were being quickly relocated to Europe. As the sound of breaking hearts echoed through the halls of our condo, a going away party was planned and executed with what some may call sophisticated poise ($1.50 mojitos, a live band and a taco stand on the corner is really all the class I can handle at this point in my life).
We miss you boys!

As the departure of Serkan and Ali was somewhat abrupt, Tyler and I had unwittingly booked a 6am flight for the next morning. As we had already considered ditching the flight before the farewell party got rolling, I was pretty proud of us for packing, getting to the airport, taking one seriously rocky boat ride and arriving on Perhentian Island by 10 am...it wasn't all family-fun smiles, but we got there.

So the chain of islands on the east coast of Malaysia are BEAUTIFUL, but are not always available due to weather. The Islands had just 'opened' up in February, and the seas were still rocky....however the weather and water had calmed closer to land and were awesome.Tyler and I spent the next 8 days seriously decompressing. We feverishly read our books (everyone should read A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry), snorkeled around, played cards, marveled at the seriously crystal clear water and celebrated Tyler's 27th birthday! As we had been warned about the lack of alcohol on the island as it is in a more traditional Malay part of the country, we had a few tricks up our sleeves, and spent our evenings watching the Sugar-gliders make their way home while hitting the Uno hard. The lack of party that usually comes along with an island paradise was really refreshing. It was the most relaxing vacation I have ever had!

Photographic evidence of doing pretty near nothing for a week....but THAT water!

 Unbelievably enough, when Ty&I got back from the Perhentian Islands....I still had a week of vacation (I have very little to complain about with my work situation). A group of co-workers headed to the hills for some gossip, laughs and continued R&R. Cameron Highlands is a mountain area three hours up a very windy road where there is copious amounts of fresh air, tea fields, scones and strawberries. With Magesh who kept the tour group on its toes, we had a great time chatting and chatting and chatting....and buying strawberry themed souvenirs.

Ok, so as you can see we have been a bit manic about seeing bits and bobs of Malaysia in March. Although we are still pretty enthusiastic about our Malaysian tour, we can pump the brakes a bit and start to throw in some international trips again...bbbeeccaauuussee we are considering spending one more year in Malaysia. Yes, we've been threatening to leave Asia for a few years, but Tyler and I are really excited to sign contracts at the same school (the whole working at separate schools is really just not working for our lifestyle). Here's to one more time around the block!

Coconut Oil- I Put That Sh*t on Everything.

Coconut oil seems to be something I find myself rambling on and on about with friends, co-workers, perfect strangers on the subway..and poor Tyler. Much to the annoyance of my local friends (who have known about the not-so-secret benefits of coconut oil since they were tots), I talk about the 'innovation' of coconut oil and all its magical properties and uses way too much. So in an attempt to get it off my chest once and for all, I've put together a list of my most common uses for coconut oil (also crediting friends who share the same love for the all natural, all encompassing product).

SO to start off, we buy cold-pressed coconut oil by the gallon. We use the same bottle for all our purposes- nothing scented, nothing added, nothing fancy. It all comes out of the same bottle we keep above the stove. In warmer climates it comes in a clear liquid form, however when home over the holidays, I saw it in its solid white form...it's like ice, it will melt and is the same product. As well, if it isn't painfully obvious, I am not a nutritionist, scientist, beautician or any sort of 'ist'. I can only claim to love coconut oil because of what it gives me at face value. Our relationship is pretty transparent. To delve deeper, ask Google.  So what do I most commonly use coconut oil for? Here we go;

Cooking: We almost exclusively use coconut oil for our cooking. It's lighter, smells amazing while you are cooking, and adds an extra flavour dimension. I know you might think that you don't want the vague flavour of coconut in everything you eat...but it pairs well with everything (Pairs? Who do I think I am?) We (Tyler) use it for chicken, curries, stir fry, soups, brownies, cakes... seriously, it's our cooking oil of choice (except when serving an aglio olio- stick to the olive oil.)

Hair Conditioning: Before coming to KL I always had healthy hair- not dry, not greasy. I didn't use any products on my hair including conditioner and maintained a glossy, thick mane. However, after baking on the equator for a year and a half, my hair has become dry, bland and straw-like. Solution: Coconut oil. I rub coconut oil through the length of my hair and on my scalp at least once a week, then tie and wrap it up for several hours (or I usually just sleep with it in). Note, rinsing the oil out can take a couple of tries, but the results are fantastic and totally worth it. Ever ask yourself why those Indian girls have the most amazingly healthy hair? It's coconut oil. Works for brunettes, blondes, black, dyed, curly, straight hair...ask my friends!

Teeth Brushing: So I've seen a few things about 'oil pulling' posted on other blogs....read those articles for the whole explanation. But the long and short of it is, you take a tablespoon of coconut oil and swish it around your mouth for about 20 minutes. Yes, I know it sounds gross, but remember, coconut oil tastes like COCONUTS. When finished, spit and brush with the ol' Crest. Why you ask? Well to start, it is a natural teeth whitener. As well, it removes all kinds of toxins and bacteria from your mouth, and in turn your body. Trust me when you spit it out, you will see. Remember it turns back into a solid when cooled, so careful with the pipes!

Body Moisturizer (From Ellie): How many of us have a coconut scented body moisturizer....with a bunch of other added ingredients? Coconut oil is the real deal...just rub on and smell like a vacation all day. Our friend Ellie freezes hers into a solid so it's a bit more manageable/less messy to rub on.

Removing Make-up (From Danielle): Sweet Dee can get into some pretty creative make-up, not to mention the need for waterproof everything in the constant humidity, and if she swears by a makeup remover, you can trust it will work. Just like any make-up remover...it removes make-up. BUT it doesn't dry out your skin :)

Anti-aging and Digestion (From Magesh): I haven't tried this one personally, but my Indian coworker who has beautiful skin, nails, hair, and teeth AND not-so-coincidentally is a lover of all things coconut oil (she even renders it herself from the milk...ahhhmazing!) claims that for years, her grandmother has been taking a teaspoon of coconut oil each morning before she eats, and that she looks shockingly young for her age. Although I have no photographic evidence of this woman who has been drinking from Aphrodite's teaspoon for decades, when the time comes, I will gladly consider coconut oil over botox, and honestly, I have yet to find a reason to doubt coconut oil...or Magesh for that matter.

I will be the first one to scoff at trendy health crazes....the words gluten-free, almond milk, chia seed, kale, and quinoa make my eyes roll involuntarily. (I'm sorry, but being raised by a Mother who was sneaking flax seed into everything and tried to pass 'BRANies' off on me as a teenager...it's part of my rebellion- Sorry Ma ❤️). Although coconut oil could easily be added to the list, I urge you to buy it, use it, and use it often. 

It's Always Sunny in Singapore

In the spirit of keeping New year's resolutions alive, I'm finishing and posting this blog about a couple different weekends spent in Singapore; First in the 'Fall', and the second this last weekend. Apologies for the wacky timelines and irrelevancy ....

Oct-ish, 2014: With Tyler heading off to Spain for 10 days, a perfect combination of heightened jealousy, and a fabulous friend's school being on term break resulted in a quick trip to Singapore. I boarded the bus at midnight and was off for my first (although relatively minor) solo traveling venture. Having worked all day, I was in dreamland for the majority of the trip, only to be awoken at 4:30am by a Bahasa yelling bus driver telling me to jump off the slowly moving bus (I can only assume that was the message).  As the bus is not allowed to physically take passengers across the international boarder, we were all dumped on one side, herded through immigration and scurried to meet the still-moving bus on the other side (as they are also not allowed to park anywhere along the boarder). As there were about 100 blue buses blaring their horns and slowly creeping through the pickup area, I feel pretty lucky to have found my chariot on the other side! Still pretty dazed and confused, 10 minutes later, we were all told to again get off the bus. Totally disoriented, I tried to play it cool, and just stay on the heels of a woman I recognized from our bus.That strategy seemed to be working until we reached the lines separating Malaysians and 'Others'. I knew I was on my own if I didn't act fast. Tapping her on the shoulder I vaguely asked "What are we doing?" Puzzled, she looked at me and replied, "uhhh immigration...?" After a total Oprah 'Ah-ha' moment, I realized we were IN Singapore. Duh!
So classically, in the MaryTyler duo, I don't do my research. My dear ol' Ty does an amazing job filling in the blanks (quasi-importants such as visas, hotels, currency exchange, etc). After my foyer into 'doing it on my own' I learned two things; A simple Google search can provide a great heads-up, and when in doubt and if things don't make sense, just ask a stranger (or five)...just be wary of any grown-man still rocking the rat-tail.

After catching a few more winks at Amanda's and waking up to a beauty of a breakfast, we were prepped for a day at Universal Studios. So a little tidbit about Tyler and I's relationship; We were never taken by our respective families to Disney World, Universal Studios, etc. in Florida. A tragedy that is not lost on us, although time has continued to heal. Generally speaking, it's pretty common for Canadian families to make the trek down south at some point during the darkness of winter, however our families did not...or they went before our existence. Just one of the many ties that bind us ..until now. I would have felt badly about going without Tyler bbuutttt he was in Europe, so meh! Our day at the park was as expected; long-ish lines, over-the-top themed roller coasters and of course carnival food at its finest. Getting the impression from Amanda that the Singapore Universal Studios, although entertaining, is  perhaps not all a large-scale theme park could be, I'm still looking forward to catching my 'white whale' in terms of theme parks...with Tyler of course ;)

Being the fine host she is, Amanda was happy to accommodate any sight-seeing request after leaving Sentosa. I asked to head to 'The Gardens by the Bay' as Ty and I had not previously ventured that way. To my amusement, Amanda's effortless knack for stumbling upon ideal situations took the cake for an amazing night out! We walked along the river checking out the Chinese lantern festival, crossing over to enjoy the light show in 'The Gardens'. The Gardens are a series of tree-like frames made to look like the Umbrella Acacia tree (or a bunch of alien spaceships coming in for landing). Growing out of each of the frames are plants with awesome amounts of twinkly  lights creating the overall affect of a magical 'Midsummer's Night Dream-esque garden. We walked around for a long time, and headed up to the canopy walk for the light/music show. The cherry on top was the great vantage point we had when the fireworks started popping off! Closing out the night with some great butter chicken, Amanda sure knows how to treat a gal!

Fast forward 3 months: This past weekend I headed back to Singapore to attend a training course. Luckily (for my bank account) Amanda generously offered half of her double bed pro-bono. It was a real bonus to know that I was meeting Amanda each evening, who had great spots in mind for happy hour drinks and tasty food, making the most of the working-weekend. And in true Amanda form, we effortlessly stumbled upon Singapore's 50th birthday party; a giant street party down one of the city's main drags, Orchard Road. As always, I really enjoyed my time spent in Singapore. Although people often comment that Singapore is too organized, lacks culture and comes across as sterile, I can say with confidence that now again, I enjoy a little order, and good clean fun in my life (although the state of my closet would suggest otherwise).

If you find yourself there, check out the butterfly garden in Changi Airport!

Kuching, Borneo; The Cat's Meow

Tyler and I have pledged to see more of Malaysia. We figured that it would be a real shame not to have really explored our host-home for the past two years, previously having really only scratched the surface with rendez-vous to Langkawi (any-beach S.E Asia) and Sabah, East Malaysia. So now added to the hopefully ever-growing list of Malaysian cities explored is Kuching. Kuching is located in East Malaysia on the island of Borneo, in the state of Sarawak...as that means very little to me without a point of reference, check out the map.

Tyler and I were meeting an array of people in Kuching. The Chinese New Year crew included Amanda Juray, Hutchy, Danielle, Damian and two new Swiss friends, Johanna and Dino. We had a pretty spectacular welcome to Kuching as we landed at the stroke of midnight marking the beginning of Chinese New Year. Much like the Western New Year, midnight gave the green-light to thousands of fireworks being sent up into the sky. It was a pretty neat perspective to enjoy the show! Upon arrival we checked into our hotel,  The Pullman and chilled. (I would have highly recommended it up until the last night. That hotel is totally haunted...in a 'I don't think I believe in ghosts, but that just got real' kind of way.) Otherwise, The Pullman was host to lounge cocktails, poolside poker games and a whole lotta robe-wearing.

As it was Chinese New Year (Gong Xi Fa Chai!) most of the town was shut and things were pretty quiet. This did not stop us from hitting the parks. First up was the Orangutan Sanctuary. Last year Tyler and I had traveled and trekked in Sumatra, Indonesia to catch a glimpse of our distant cousins (we could probably marry them in some States). As we fell in love with them then (in a platonic way), and they only inhabit two islands in the world, AND we found ourselves on the second of the two islands, we had to go. It was a very easy trip, and we weren't disappointed as we saw 10ish orangutans just hanging, swinging and being generally awesome.

 The next day we hit up Bako National Park to try and catch a glimpse of the weird and well endowed Proboscis Monkey. These monkeys are a rare species with an usually large NOSE (perverts...), and can only be found in Borneo. In order to get to the park you need to catch a bus to Bako Village and hire a boat to the park. Not realizing that there needed to be high tide in order to leave the village, we spent some serious time lounging, pacing, playing charades and puzzling each other with useless trivia. A serious quality I look for when choosing friends is the ability to shoot the breeze; these guys have got it (...said the guy with two NOSES). Finally, we headed off down the crocodile infested river. Having examined the various killer characteristics of crocs during our wait on the pier, we figured we were headed the way of Captain Hook as the boats ran aground. With all hands in tact, we arrived at the park, spotting a big Bearded Pig straight away, and the illusive Proboscis Monkey not too long after. Trip satisfied. Otherwise we walked and climbed along a jungle trail for a an hour or so, then headed back to the boat. With the water levels much higher by this point, we were flying!

It's no Bay of Fundy, but we were appreciative of the rising tides!

Obviously not my picture, but check out that schnoz!

Otherwise, we wandered the lovely town of Kuching for a couple of days. It was awesome being in a Malaysian town that wasn't Kuala Lumpur. We spend 97% of our time in Malaysia in KL (a blind estimation) and as a result, have a pretty one-sided impression of the country. Although the good far outweighs the bad, the things that can grind my gears about KL (insane traffic, never-ending mall culture, obscene piles of trash) were by and far removed from Kuching.  I know things always look shinier and brighter while on vacation, void of work responsibilities, free to have a day-beer, but it really felt like the best parts of Malaysian culture were being highlighted in Kuching-- totally recharging my love for Malaysia.  Gotta love that!

As the town began to slowly open up after the holidays, we indulged in some great food (as always), putted around the river, breezed through the natural history museum with 10 minutes to closing (blowdarts, mutant jungle animals, and headhunters can really capture your attention) and marveled at cat memorabilia. Did I forget to mention Kuching means 'cat' in Bahasa? A truly puuuuuurrrfect fit for a feline fan! (Feel lucky I only managed to throw in one bad cat pun. The trip on the other-hand was riddled with cat gestures, props, puns and sightings).

Kuching is the cat's meow!

Into the Tickle Trunk

Ok, so this blog is being posted at least 2 months after it happen and was written. All I can say is that New Year's resolutions are in full-swing...one being to continue with this blog, finish and post an array of half-written posts. Now that I've written it down and put it out there on the internet....its gotta happen! Thanks for reading!

This year we were very excited to be in KL for Deepavali!  Deepavali is the festival of lights, celebrating the triumph of good over evil (there's a great animation on Youtube that explains the whole story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d2ZJxNxFao)...or as I like to describe it, 'Indian Christmas'. The lead up to Deepavali was great; Malls were decorated, cards were being sent, snacks and cookies were magically appearing.  We really had much more a feel for the celebration this year, as we were invited to a co-workers family home for lunch.The day of Deepavali was a public holiday (again, thank you Malaysia) so we sat around and ate cookies and snacks, had a big ol' feast of homemade curries and lamb, drank beer and visited. Sound familiar? The only difference between Christmas and Deepavali (besides, you know, the cultural and religious aspects -_-) was that instead of everyone sitting around in their jammies sipping Bailey's, our friends were wearing the most beautiful saris and jewelery to match. Honestly, the ladies were stunning! It was a great gathering (and strangely enough, the first time we have been in a Malaysian home since being here..All new experiences to be thankful for!)

Similarly to Christmas, Deepavali is celebrated for many days...which really jived well with us. Each night (and oddly day) the city was lit up with fireworks, and we continued to celebrate through the weekend, including a school celebration all day on the Friday. Complete with my own sari, henna and bindi, among other activities, we had one of the funnest dance parties I've been to in a long time. Bollywood dancing (lead by the superstar Magesh) with 40 laughing, bouncing kids all banging on their own instruments was a riot. A noisy, noisy riot. Teaching can be ridiculously fun sometimes. Needless to say, a great way to finish the school day before a two-week holiday.

Topical, eh?

Because of our school holiday being a couple weeks later than last year's, we also spent Halloween in Kuala Lumpur. Knowing that Halloween is pretty frowned upon by particular religious groups, we weren't expecting the level of sugar-induced spookiness we can all appreciate from home. However, we headed to a house-party in our condo, which struck a strong resemblance to a party at home...except there was about 30 nationalities present and no one was wearing their snowsuit under their costume ;) Seriously though, Hutchy did a great job making sure the place was strewn with cobwebs and Danielle did not disappoint on candy duty. Thanks neighbors!

The next morning Tyler and I headed to Langkawi for a week of beach sitting on the duty-free island that serves as a cheap and quick getaway to the expats of KL. Throughout the week we had a brief cameo from the wonderful Amandajuray, and were eventually joined by the whole KL gang as the week progressed and people shrugged off their work (or otherwise) duties. Our first order of business was to buy a cooler, stock it with ice and 50 cent beers. After 4 days of lounging, reading and general sloth-like behaviour we peeled ourselves off the lounge chairs and scooted to a couple waterfalls on the island. When we last visited Langkawi the waterfalls had been dried up, but being as we were teetering on monsoon season, the falls runneth over! We visited both Seven Wells Falls and Langkawi Falls, swimming in the deep pools of cold fresh water (I hate to be a complainer...but sometimes the ocean and pools are just too warm..and what's the deal with salt-water!?). It was such a good day, we had no qualms about doing it again the next day with our friends. It's no secret we love a good roadtrip, and nothing makes a roadtrip sweeter than a convoy...so we were pretty content to zip around the island with our swimsuit clad gang. Otherwise, we celebrated Sasha's birthday on the beach, watched some killer sunsets and generally chilled the eff out.