The Beach

We went to the beach this past weekend-- Port Dickson it's called-- which is supposed to be a 90 min drive. I think it took us more like 2.5 hours, and there was some yelling and swearing going on, at least until we were able to get back on the right highway. (needless to say Miles has started swearing again).

Malaysia has only recently added a maze of highways so that getting around is "much easier than it used to be". I'm just dying to know what it used to be like, because this "system", and I use the term very loosely, doesn't quite fit the bill. Some maps, people and books talk about certain highways like "E23" and "E1" or "Seremban" and "Pechala Link", but since neither number nor name is used across the board, it's almost impossible not to get lost. Where I come from, you follow on a map, google (not possible to google for directions here) or ask someone and you will probably hear "Take 101 North, to the 405 South then exit onto the 5 South and go 20 miles until Exit 'Santa Clause Road'." Period. And you know what? The signs will say "101 North" and "405 South", etc. Here for the equivalent trip you would hear, "Head out towards Ipoh, then follow the signs for Ipoh and Klang on the North South Freeway, but don't go to Klang, and then don't go to Ipoh, just stay on and go towards Damansara on the E6, go through the toll and you'll see a mosque." Problem is it won't say "North South Freeway" or "E6"-- ever. So you guess. And get lost. Problem is there are a few Expressways now and once you're on it, you're on it. For a goooood long while. It's as is the freeways were built without ever taking into account that they need to be labelled, the same thing every where on signposts. What a concept!

Okay, enough complaining. The hotel had free pony rides (Miles declined-- you know my boy....safety first as always!) a fabulous pool with two water slides. He was afraid to go down, so I climbed the stairs and sat down with him and readied us for the fun-- I thought if we did it once together, he would get into it-- wrong. But imagine for a minute the situation. White lady with tattoos on her back, in a bathing suit without any pants or long sleeve shirt on over it not to mention no burqa, heading down the kid's slide-- it's absolutely no exaggaeration to say that every single person by the pool watched us go down-- with jaws agape. And I do mean agape. And that was just at the pool. We hit the beach (the one in front of our hotel was pretty rocky but there it was so we checked it out) and I was feeling more and more uncomfortable-- I kept my sarong wrapped around me and sat there sweating. Fun. But seriously, I just wanted to sit in my bathing suit in the sand and make sand castles with Miles, but I also was trying to be respectful of my host country and it's (modest, muslim) customs. So the next day at a different beach a few km up the road (this one had fine white sand and few rocks), I didn't even take off my pants....I was getting tired of the stares. Thankfully it was overcast and getting ready to rain, so the sun wasn't beating down on my black pants.

Miles and Gilbert went into the ocean (the Strait of Malacca, opposite Indonesia) as far as they had energy to, and Gilbert was still only up to his knees. It was such a subtle grade-- and that was at high tide. We took a bunch of pictures-- it was really pretty.

Today Miles and I went to Ikea to get a few things, and had a fun little lunch at a sushi place. You know, the kind that had a little assembly line of sushi rolls, etc going past your head at eye level. This particular place also had computers for each table, which was where I was supposed to click in my order. It was too much to pay attention to while Miles was fingering every plate that went by, so I ordered the old fashioned way. Thankfully Miles didn't grab any octopus or eel!

New found freedom

Oh my god-- we drove this weekend! I feel like I can go anywhere! It was awesome-- we got lost both times, but we didn't get mad at eachother-- except when I made a right turn (try this in a land where you drive on the left-- it's very scary), trying hard not to hit a moped-- and Miles thru the car into neutral at the exact moment when I needed acceleration!!! Yes, Miles was in the front on Gilbert's lap-- I know I know-- as we had a bar box in the back seat-- I'll post a picture soon, it's an antique from the UK and gorgeous.

Yesterday we went to the chiropractor again and we drove there-- and Miles got reacquainted with his car seat. He was apprehensive at first, and then every few miles he would complain about how he couldn't move! Ha ha-- too bad. Safety First!

We are planning a trip this weekend-- probably to the beach as it's only an hour away. So awesome to have a car-- it really opens up where we can go and what we can do.

So Miles thinks he can tell time. Gilbert sent him to ask me what time it was, and instead he went straight to the bedroom digital alarm clock....stared at it for a good while and then ran out announcing that it was "40 o'clock!"

He has also memorized the books we read (yes, we need some new ones)-- so I read part of the sentence and he finishes it. It's really sweet to hear him telling me what's going on. He gets bashful if I ask him to read to me, but if I read half the sentence and stop....he will finish it. Love this age-- its so cute. As I write this, he stands nearby playing with his penis. Nice.

Some of you have asked if he is speaking Malay yet-- I didn't think so, but in the car the other day I heard him talking to himself, "Going to Jalan Ceylon! Regency Tower!"-- that's where we leave...on Jalan Ceylon (Jalan = street) and our building is called the Regency Tower-- he's heard me tell so many taxis where we live, now he knows. Which would come in handy if he ever gets lost-- heaven forbid! :)

We get a car today!

Sorry to all who have been patiently and methodically checking the blog-- only to find that I had gone MIA for awhile :)

Today we get a car! We looked at it and test drove it a couple weeks ago-- and it's taken that long just to transfer money and get the reg. and insurance done. Who knows when our Malaysian driver's licenses will come through. Could be months. Doesn't really matter to Gilbert though, as I doubt he'll drive any time soon. (he didn't drive much in Houston except to work and back-- I do most of the family driving) Since we live downtown it's even more scary, as compared with friends who live in the suburbs here where it's quieter and less frightening to begin driving on the left. I've driven on the left before-- during my long stays in Australia and Ireland, years ago-- but even then it was mostly in rental cars for short periods of time. When I had a manual in Ireland-- WHOA-- let me tell you it's another bag of marbles to drive on the left and shift on the left. Too much all at once-- but we made it out alive. But I digress-- that was many years ago.

Now I will be driving an automatic with a wild 2.5 year old in the back seat. And mind you, Miles hasn't seen his car seat since we left Houston, so getting him back into restraints will be an whole other blog entry :)

We bought a Honda City from another expat family who is moving to Houston-- the "City" is only made in Asia, but it's supposedly the model just below the civic-- although I think I like it better. Smaller front engine area, amazing turning radius (great here, as parking lots/spots are very small), and a huge trunk. The seat in the back also flip up OR down, which is great for trips to Ikea. Yes, we have an Ikea. I lied and said Miles was three so I could drop him off at "Smaland" to play-- in the US they have to be potty trained-- here the just have to be three years old.

Speaking of potty training, Miles is trying his very best. While we are at home he spends a lot of time in his truck chones (underwear)...he's very proud of them. They are days of the week, with each day having a different truck, car, tow truck, train, etc. His tushy looks so cute in those little chones it's hard to keep my hands off him :)

As long as I remind him & make it exciting (maybe even pee with him) he will go pee in the potty when we are at home. A few accidents though, usually right after I've asked him to go. Poor kid is just too busy playing with...yes you guessed it...cars and trucks, to stop and pee. And if I ask him if he wants to poop on the potty, his answer is, "Noooooooooo! No poop on the potty! Noooooo!" as if that was the silliest thing I could have asked him to do. He just chuckles and walks away as if, poor mama, if only she knew how things work.

He was starting to look really shaggy and with the heat I had to cut his hair. I bribed him. "If you let me cut your hair I will buy you a tricycle." It worked, but little did he know I wanted to buy him one once we got here anyway. We looked and looked-- seemed everytime we found one we liked, it was "finished" ie; sold out. This is very common here. DARN IT why don't they just take the model off the floor then? I finally broke down and bought a floor model, sampled by who knows how many kids and already had someone's butterfly sitckers on it...which made Miles very happy.

What else? My back has been horrible again this last couple weeks-- I had brunch with a friend yesterday and she took me straight up for some info at her chiropractor's-- instead of info I practically begged for an adjustment and some therapy (eletronic stimulation, like a TENS unit and a traction table, where they hook my feet in and hang me upside down. That felt really weird, but afterwards my back felt much better. It didn't last, but that was just the first appt. Should get better with time.)

I surpised Gilbert a couple weeks ago with an afternoon of Indoor Rock Climbing. Just trying to find things to keep him happy here (he declined to take up golf)-- and now I think we are going to start rock climbing together. This place is the "largest indoor rock climbing in all of asia". Should be fun.

Gilbert needs to go to Australia (Melbourne) in July to teach a class for two weeks, so Miles and I will be tagging along. I can't wait! The last time I was there was....1997. Wow. Although this time I won't be drinking 6 days a week.

My Arbonne business is going really well-- I'm booking parties and finding new clients here. It's not just America that loves their skin care. Miles will hopefully start school August 1st. I can't wait!

We hired a maid three half days a week-- Lani is from the Phillipines and Miles just adores her. He follows her around while she vacuums, mops, etc. (we have hardwood and tile so it always seems to need cleaning). She cleans Tues & Thurs and then Saturdays we ask her to come for a few hours so we can have date night/afternoon. We hit a matinee or go to dinner-- or both. She'll put Miles to bed and keep cleaning. SO nice to come home to a clean house!

Speaking of movies-- it's SOOOO cheap to go the movies! They even have Gold Seating, I think it's a special room, or maybe love seats-- all I know is that it's about $15 each. We have only done regular seating, which is about $3 each! To get popcorn, candy and a soda, you'll only pay about $5. It's awesome. We had our first family movie last week-- went to see Kungfu Panda. As soon as the lights dimmed, Miles said ,"Wanna go home?". He finally settled by supplying him with Mentos and more Mentos and even took a nap for the last 45 minutes.

Gotta run, we're off to meet Gilbert for lunch-- it's Friday here and most people get lunch from 12 to 2. This is so all the Muslim men can get to the Mosque to pray.

Promise to post pictures next time. Kisses, Vanessa and family