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.