One week into life in KL

Well, that was a mistake. I never should have layed down with the boys. Hotel drapes are soooo thick and heavy-- that was one dark room! Instead of a nice quick family nap, our poor jet-lagged bodies didn't wake-up for 12 hours. It was 2am here in KL (Kuala Lumpur) and we were all wide awake. Watching not-so-great-TV and trying to figure what we could eat until the breakfast buffet started at 6am.

A couple local friends took us out to eat at a great chinese food place last weekend that she's been going to since she was a kid-- between her three kids and Miles it was a regular zoo, but nothing phased the staff or our friends. I'm becoming less and less uptight here when it comes to the two-year-old shananigans that Miles gets into in public, as people here are super friendly towards kids and will often come take him from us so we can eat in peace for a few minutes. It's awesome.

A few more days of just not feeling quite right (and being exhausted by 7pm) and now I think we are feeling energized and healthy. Gilbert started work Monday, and Miles and I have been hitting the park (before 9am because it's wicked hot) and malls, and getting a feel for the lay of the land. We spent Wednesday morning out with a real estate agent looking at condos (we took Miles-- and he's really starting to get to like life out of the car seat-- oooh just wait until I get my car and he'll go into shock getting back into the "jail"), Thursday was an ALL DAY "orientation" of the area, local hospital (50% c-section rate), malls (huge and plentiful) and the best Indian food we've ever had. Friday afternoon was more house-hunting. Now we just have to narrow the condos down, and next week Miles and I will grab a teksi (taxi) and go check out some of the area Montessoris. Believe me, I can't wait for his first day of school!!!!! He's feeling less insecure now than he was last week, so I think he's getting into the groove of his new international experience. Thank god.

There's a couple Koi ponds here at the hotel, and we've been feeding them. There's a pregnant one, and boy does she have some crazy stretch marks. Do fish get stretch marks?

Still haven't gotten Skype set-up. Looks like we need more "RAM"-- which to us (and especially Gilbert) translates to= we need a new laptop. So as soon as his first paycheck arrives we'll be shopping. Things really are relatively cheap here.

And so is the traveling. Can't wait to check out Thailand, Bali, etc. And Gilbert will be doing some traveling for work (Melbourne, Russia and Indonesia) and you better believe Miles and I will be tagging along.

We have arrived

We got here about 24 hours ago-- and we are settling in and trying to recuperate from the jet lag. We are 15 hours ahead of California and 13 hours ahead of Houston, just the right amount to REALLY screw you up :-)

The trip (30 hours total travel time) wasn't as bas as thought it would be. My cold had turned into bronchitis just days before our departure, but thanks to loads and supplements, good vibes from my friends and a fantastic massage (I've never had a massage while sick-- but OH BOY I highly recommend it), I was well on my way to feeling better by the time we departed Tuesday night (the 15th). Our first segment from Houston to LAX-- first class on Continental. Wow. That's the way to travel. It was great-- we felt like total royalty.

The second segment was the 15 hour trip from LAX to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific. This time business class, and we were upstairs! So. cool. Oh my god-- it was pure heaven. Honestly, by the time we arrived, I felt really well rested. Laying flat really does the trick. I don't know how the poor commoners in coach slept sitting up! Okay, I do-- I did a 17 hour trip to Australia years ago-- you really arrive feeling like %#$*&. Gilbert wasn't nearly as well rested-- he decided to stay up and watch a couple movies-- smart move! Miles took a few long naps (I spooned him to sleep as usual (those were some wide seats!) and managed to slip out and buckle him in for the turbulence. He was able to walk around a bit and play cars and color and cover himself in stickers. The flight attendants LOVED him. He has been asking for one in particular, "Blessie" from the Phillipines, ever since we got off the plane.

Miles kept had been asking to go home, but at this point he was starting to get it-- he would tell people that we were moving to a new home, in Malaysia.

It was the third and last leg (3.5 hours) when Miles got really surly. Because this particular group of flight attendants decided he was to big to sit on my lap in a special kid seat belt (the last flight had allowed it) he was in hysterics getting buckled up for take off, landing and turbulence. I turned into "nasty mama" very quickly. I'm not perfect-- what can I say?

So we arrive in Kuala Lumpur (KL) around noon on Thursday (the 17th) and we're just assaulted by the humidity. The temp wasn't crazy, but boy is it humid here. As promised there was a mercedes "taxi" waiting for us-- placard and all-- to take us to the super duper swanky Crowne Plaza. Miles passed out in the cab on the way-- the trip was obviously affecting him! Check out the Executive Suite we're in: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/KULCP/rooms

We couldn't even check in downstairs with the rest of the folks-- we had to check in at the ritzy Club Floor Lounge.....wow, they really know how to make you feel like a million bucks! I think our suite equates to about $100/night. It's amazing what you can get for really cheap!

Once in our room we just barely took of our shoes when all of a sudden 3 of Gilbert's new co-workers called from the lobby (the office is only blocks away and they wanted to come welcome us-- so nice) and invited us to come down for a meal. We quickly brushed the travel gunk off of our teeth and headed down-- BO and all. We must have a been a pleasure to be around. Imagine how we must have stunk!

We were just saying how great we felt and were surprised by how awake we felt-- then half way through the meal, the table seemed like it was moving and I swear the room was spinning. Like you feel after WAY too many drinks. I found out later that Gilbert felt the same way. If Miles felt it, you wouldn't know it-- he was swinging from the railing and running around shaking all the blinds. So embarrassing.

We managed to stay up until 7pm-- when we all passed out for the next 12 hours. Miles woke a couple times, mumbling and acting confused, but was easily coaxed back to sleep.

Today we walked a little around the area-- change money, found some batteries for the sound machine that we can't plug in and then retreated back to our suite for room service, and for a nap. I swear we were the only ones sweating out on the street. Poor Miles had such a sweaty head.

I love how multicultural it is here-- my mom said, "Just like Berkeley!"-- yea, but Berkeley without all the white people. I stick out like a big sore thumb :-)

We are going to rest today, saturday and sunday and then Gilbert starts work Monday-- and we will start condo-hunting and trying to figure it all out. Supposedly our Allied air shipment arrived before we did, no idea when we get it, or how that all works out.

I'm trying figure out the phone situation-- when I do, I will post the info so folks can get in touch, easily and cheaply.

The boys are passed out-- I think I will go join them.....