Well, I still consider myself a newbie as we have been in Malaysia 8 months. From a writers point of view I consider this a blessing as I still fully absorb everything that surrounds me. I notice how the area (Taman Tun Dr Ismael) we live is changing. Concrete buildings are rapidly rising, shop fronts change, traffic comes to a standstill while the MRT noisily snakes it's way around us. My neighbour has a new baby and we are invited to a Chinese family for Chinese New Year.
We spend an hour each way getting to the suburb on the outskirts of KL to find a large terrace house with a food truck outside of it.
I enjoy trying everything that is piled high. Fried tofu, tiny crab, squid, beef, broccoli, fish balls. All cooked on sticks served with delicious sauces. I have to concentrate on the noisy chatter to be able to decipher new accents. Clouds and heavy rain descend and clear quickly. I am asked how I find Malaysia and I explain the myriad of places we have visited. Wide eyed they are hopefully impressed. I am still a guest in this country and I hope a good one at that!
They joke about thinking Australians were all laid back and did no work, when they heard they were getting two Australians in the office. Their minds soon change when they see the long hours the
Australian expats are prepared to work.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Friday, February 13, 2015
Collecting places and things
Renting a furnished apartment and having 3 households of furniture (a long story!) in Australia means that I don't need any more stuff. This was until my will power melted (yes, it was hot) in Siem Riep, Cambodia.
This in the coolest and driest part of the year. I better not go there in the hottest time!
We arrive finding our hotel shuttle is nowhere in sight so hail a taxi and for the next 10 minutes find our way to our hotel. Trip advisor has again hit the nail on the head with our luxury find for $A80 per night.
The hotel apologises profusely for not fetching us and and says we are old and need to rest! There would be complementary high tea waiting for us at 5 pm. Initially I am irritated for being called old, but I decide to run with it. After all, the high tea proves promising. Maybe a more mature age is an advantage.
The next day, we are told to sit at reception (we are old) and a taxi appears. Many beautiful temples later, we are dropped off at our hotel with promises for our next day.
Languidly we lie at the pool, have our cocktails and plan our evening. The ramorg (tuk tuk) enthusiastically waves and off we set in to old market town where I find $3 per meter cotton material and buy 11 different materials. I am planning to make another quilt.
We marvel at our cheap lobster and relish in the chicken and fish amok served in a banana leaf.
Interspersed in our trip are sad reminders of Cambodia's past and I remember in high school watching the drama unfold of the killing fields. Our driver does not let us be sad for long while we travel quickly through narrow streets, worn buildings, packed small shops and noisy food vendors.
This in the coolest and driest part of the year. I better not go there in the hottest time!
We arrive finding our hotel shuttle is nowhere in sight so hail a taxi and for the next 10 minutes find our way to our hotel. Trip advisor has again hit the nail on the head with our luxury find for $A80 per night.
The hotel apologises profusely for not fetching us and and says we are old and need to rest! There would be complementary high tea waiting for us at 5 pm. Initially I am irritated for being called old, but I decide to run with it. After all, the high tea proves promising. Maybe a more mature age is an advantage.
The next day, we are told to sit at reception (we are old) and a taxi appears. Many beautiful temples later, we are dropped off at our hotel with promises for our next day.
Languidly we lie at the pool, have our cocktails and plan our evening. The ramorg (tuk tuk) enthusiastically waves and off we set in to old market town where I find $3 per meter cotton material and buy 11 different materials. I am planning to make another quilt.
We marvel at our cheap lobster and relish in the chicken and fish amok served in a banana leaf.
Interspersed in our trip are sad reminders of Cambodia's past and I remember in high school watching the drama unfold of the killing fields. Our driver does not let us be sad for long while we travel quickly through narrow streets, worn buildings, packed small shops and noisy food vendors.
THE calendar
Well, I am never going to make it as an expat if I don't become friends with my calendar! Weeks fly past and I have neglected any readers of my blog. I think they have given up on me but now that I have resurrected my forgotton password, hopefully that will change.
Christmas saw me in Australia on our large property (compared to our 3 bedroom codo) slaving away. Our holiday place (see Bavarian Hut blog) has now become our Australian home when we meet up as a family. Our tenant looks after the chosen loved ones (my dogs) and I think he is rather happy to see us knowing that we will be leaving soon.
Reality strikes on my return when I try to book a week ahead to go away for a long weekend. Cheeky people have got in before me and being a competitive person I vow to get ahead of them. I have an in built reluctance to refer to my calender but realise that I will have to change my ways.
Obsessively we book short breaks to half a dozen places. I become more knowledgeable with everything geographic although my pronouciation of Asian places is sometimes unrecognisable. Fortunately I meet a helpful long term expat who tries to decipher which countries and places we might enjoy.
We listen to her advice and book to go to Siem Riep in Cambodia. We are on a roll and further book trips to Langkawi island, Penang, Australia and then Perhentian island.
In between our trips,we adapt to the heat, dust and noise which is KL.
Christmas saw me in Australia on our large property (compared to our 3 bedroom codo) slaving away. Our holiday place (see Bavarian Hut blog) has now become our Australian home when we meet up as a family. Our tenant looks after the chosen loved ones (my dogs) and I think he is rather happy to see us knowing that we will be leaving soon.
Reality strikes on my return when I try to book a week ahead to go away for a long weekend. Cheeky people have got in before me and being a competitive person I vow to get ahead of them. I have an in built reluctance to refer to my calender but realise that I will have to change my ways.
Obsessively we book short breaks to half a dozen places. I become more knowledgeable with everything geographic although my pronouciation of Asian places is sometimes unrecognisable. Fortunately I meet a helpful long term expat who tries to decipher which countries and places we might enjoy.
We listen to her advice and book to go to Siem Riep in Cambodia. We are on a roll and further book trips to Langkawi island, Penang, Australia and then Perhentian island.
In between our trips,we adapt to the heat, dust and noise which is KL.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Can...can...cannot
Being a fifty something year old means that I feel entitled to grumble and mumble sometimes. I notice the long hours my husband puts in at work, the haze, the traffic, our condo building which seems to empty early in the morning. Language differences crop up when I try to organise a car wash.
My regular trips to Bangsar (expat land) are beginning to irritate, as I wait for another taxi. My never ending search for something useful to do and adapting to the forward planning needed to get across the city.
We drive up to Ipoh and view the limestone cave temples. Just as we are leaving, I hear the high pitched sound of a gang of motorcycles approaching. Having received warnings about bag snatchers, I hurriedly cling to my bag and run to put a fence between myself and newcomers. They circle and look menacingly at me. I stare back and after split second they leave going back from whence they came.
Lying on our beds back at the hotel, we try to ignore the hammering which continues above us for an hour before complaining to reception. Tired, we traipse across the steamy road to try the open air 'food court.' All manner of foods is served here and we enjoy our first bit of R&R in Ipoh feeling very like the newcomers we are.
Later that day we frequent a popular western pub on the other side of town while we plan our escape home. Arriving at breakfast the next morning to squealing children, food fights, queues of people waiting for food, we realise we have made the right decision.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Me and my coconut
Ever since my older daughter told me that coconuts have anti ageing qualities, I have felt drawn to them. Whether or not this is true is not important. When I see a coconut, I just have to have it.
I remember times when we lived in Dar es Salem, how coconuts were retrieved by a brave person who would scurry up vertically. The sights and sounds of my childhood. Prayer calling, spicy food, fresh seafood...and coconuts.
Finding a quiet restaurant overlooking the ocean, I settle again for a coconut to drink while I take photographs of Bruce and the said coconuts. The caption under the photograph of Bruce will read 'Me and my coconut' and I laugh thinking this is not a respectful (unintended) way to describe my husband. Now you know why I seldom caption my photographs. Apparently being tactful is too hard and keeping quiet is a characteristic I am still learning.
I remember times when we lived in Dar es Salem, how coconuts were retrieved by a brave person who would scurry up vertically. The sights and sounds of my childhood. Prayer calling, spicy food, fresh seafood...and coconuts.
Finding a quiet restaurant overlooking the ocean, I settle again for a coconut to drink while I take photographs of Bruce and the said coconuts. The caption under the photograph of Bruce will read 'Me and my coconut' and I laugh thinking this is not a respectful (unintended) way to describe my husband. Now you know why I seldom caption my photographs. Apparently being tactful is too hard and keeping quiet is a characteristic I am still learning.
Plentiful Phuket
'A conference in Phuket,' I say blissfully planning our sojourn.
Bruce books our flights, while I get onto trip advisor. The resort we are staying at looks luxurious and stretches out to the hillside on the side of Patong Beach.
On the flight I am fascinated to watch the islands below us rising up from the sea, dense green jungle contrasting against the crystal blue sea. White sands and frothy seas outline paradise.
On the flight I am fascinated to watch the islands below us rising up from the sea, dense green jungle contrasting against the crystal blue sea. White sands and frothy seas outline paradise.
'Phuket is very hilly,' I say in between the bumps of the aircraft. Bruce smiles and repeats what Hugh Grant says in one of his movies. 'Hilly' he says, in a high pitched voice and we both laugh at each other.
At the resort we have a plentiful lunch and crash on the bed to get ourselves ready for the evening's activities.
Refreshed we catch a shuttle to the shopping centre and then onto Bangla Road. I am unprepared for the craziness of the scenes. Blaring neon taxis, beautiful ladyboys, touting, bars, restaurants and little shops line the pavements. Delicate Thai cooking smells permeate everywhere as the heat and dust take hold. Stray dogs take a dislike to each other as we buy a fresh coconut to eat on the beach.
I find it difficult to believe I had watched a Tsunami ravage the coastline years ago, not realising that I would visit one day. It is a sobering thought as we head back by open air taxi to our hotel. I am a bit disappointed that we have picked a taxi that has no blaring music or neon lights.
At the resort we have a plentiful lunch and crash on the bed to get ourselves ready for the evening's activities.
Refreshed we catch a shuttle to the shopping centre and then onto Bangla Road. I am unprepared for the craziness of the scenes. Blaring neon taxis, beautiful ladyboys, touting, bars, restaurants and little shops line the pavements. Delicate Thai cooking smells permeate everywhere as the heat and dust take hold. Stray dogs take a dislike to each other as we buy a fresh coconut to eat on the beach.
I find it difficult to believe I had watched a Tsunami ravage the coastline years ago, not realising that I would visit one day. It is a sobering thought as we head back by open air taxi to our hotel. I am a bit disappointed that we have picked a taxi that has no blaring music or neon lights.
The importance of a calender
In expat life, I am growing to appreciate the importance of a calendar. Months and years must be mapped out so that important holidays back home in Australia are not missed.
We book our flights for Christmas as we juggle work commitments, conferences away, touring and holidays in Australia with our family. I am also looking forward to showing my two daughters and son in law around KL when they visit next year. Accommodation is booked for a resort on the East coast as bookings fill up. I am adapting to life being organised so far in advance. I am not a natural at this, generally not being a person who likes routine, I prefer to be surprised by the day and any chores to be as unplanned as possible!
I continue being a FB fiend, enjoying my daily link ups, so important for the expat. I admire my photographs and try to make as few comments as I can. I am not the most tactful person and sometimes my honesty is not appreciated.
We book our flights for Christmas as we juggle work commitments, conferences away, touring and holidays in Australia with our family. I am also looking forward to showing my two daughters and son in law around KL when they visit next year. Accommodation is booked for a resort on the East coast as bookings fill up. I am adapting to life being organised so far in advance. I am not a natural at this, generally not being a person who likes routine, I prefer to be surprised by the day and any chores to be as unplanned as possible!
I continue being a FB fiend, enjoying my daily link ups, so important for the expat. I admire my photographs and try to make as few comments as I can. I am not the most tactful person and sometimes my honesty is not appreciated.
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