on our way

So this might be our last post in awhile. We leave for Perth, Australia tomorrow evening. This is about how organized we are... We will fly into Perth and spend two days exploring the city. Then on the 16th we pick up our campervan. Visit www.britz.com and look at the voyager to see our ride/home for 14 days! We will camp in spots like Albany, Denmark, Walpole, Margaret River, Busselton, Bunbury and back up to Perth. Our hope is to be on the beach for Christmas celebrating the Australian way with a barbie on the beach! Devin has found a paragliding/hang gliding site in Albany...so flying for him! Genevieve is going to track wombats, wallaby's and kangaroos....with the hope of seeing dolphins too. We will post when we have Internet access...so stay tuned.
We wish you all a Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa.....or any holiday you chose to celebrate! The Bailly family is Aussie bound...if our bags are packed by tomorrow that is...cheers!

Cheongsam

This is a gift for our sweet Stella McGarry for Chinese New years, but I had to post it cause it is too cute! Genevieve has a similar one. It is called a Cheongsam and traditional for celebrations. Chinese New Year is February 14th this year!

Me

Ok people have been reminding me that I rarely have photos of myself on the blog...so here are two from today. As you can see I took them myself: thus the extended arm! But I went down the road today and got my hair cut. Was not sure what that would be like here in JB where blonde thin hair is well....not seen. The best thing about getting your hair cut here.....they shampoo your hair when you are sitting in a chair...they lather you up and then massage your head for well over 10 minutes- then you go rinse. NICE! To top it off, it cost me 35 ringgit which is $10USD. My husband loves that price:)

nail mania

I have never really written too much about the Mall mania that happens here. I think I have alluded to the fact that JB has not very much to do...so people go to malls. They go on weekends with the whole family...they go during the week to drink coffee and walk about. Well- Nevi has been on vacation from school since November 21! So as a special treat, yesterday my friend Kate and I took our daughters to a mall for Christmas toenail action! Nevi chose red polish with white snowflakes and jewels! Nail art is a HUGE thing here....as much bling and sparkle as possible. Nevi's toes are super cute.

I went for the plain (no art) but festive sparkly red...the Bailly girls will have festive feet on the beach in Australia! A really fun Mother Daughter Girl date!

Cooking

The fruits and vegetables available to us here in Malaysia are so delightful. Many many of them are locally grown which is even better for the environment and our wallet. Stir fry is a common dinner for us!

and look who loves to help~ Miss Montessori herself.

story

So, when Devin and Nevi were on their Father/ Daughter adventure...this is one thing they witnessed. Now, I am telling this without being there- so Devin might need to comment, elaborate or change my re-telling of the story. Nevi wanted to swing...from one platform to another across the mud pit. So of course, she did. Devin too. Well, these people saw Nevi do it and decided to try as well. OOOOPS. Not as easy as it looks!

Definitely- stuck in the mud.

Christmas in Malaysia

I was really thinking ahead when decided to bring our little fake Christmas tree with us to Asia. Every year, we put this little tree in Genevieve's room. But here it is our only tree and very sweet. This year red lights. It is wrapped with white lights, but the voltage is 220 here. When we plugged the lights in they were brighter than most LED lights.....not cozy at all. So I bought some Malaysian 220 red lights. Of course when I plugged them in a wire broke and I got the shock of my life. 220- not fun to be shocked with...but Devin fixed the wire and all is well.

Too bad we can't take the little tree to Australia with us on Sunday. IT would be awesome in our campervan! Oh well....

Our Daughter

Devin and Nevi went on a father daughter adventure last weekend. Later we will post some beautiful pictures from the trip. But here are some pictures of our beautiful daughter.. and yes we are bias.
She is just growing so much these days. She is open to the world, people, cultural details and experiences, foods, and so much. I hope one day she will remember living in Asia and gather up all of the openness and love she has found here.
Beautiful blossoming child!

Chana Daal

Here was my latest local cooking adventure. There is beautiful Indian food here. Daal is a common meal. Chana means yellow lentils...sort of like yellow split peas.

Roti with Daal over brown rice

Chana Daal

Saute onions, carrots and garlic in oil til cooked.

Add three cups of water

add one cup of Daal

Lower heat and simmer for about 30 minutes

add 1/4 t tumeric

1/4t cumin

1/4t cayenne

1/4t coriander

1 t salt- pepper to taste

1t sugar

Cook down til the consistency is smooth, but the lentils are not mushy.

Serves 4-6

I added more than 1/4t of most spices to taste

Weekend Walk

A few weekends ago- Devin and Nevi with our friends, Hannah and Mike took a walk down the "pipes". Basically it is a cut through the golf course and our local shoplots. Mike and the girls working it!

The Pipes

Nevi and Hannah, sweet friends

Port Dickson

At the end of our road trip, we landed at a special resort on the west coast on the way toward home. The Thistle Port Dickson is a new resort. I was lucky enough to meet the new General Manager's wife, Lindsay at an international woman's coffee. She is fabulous. I told her we were coming and she had our room upgraded and it was amazing! This is the lovely beach side bar and pool. Devin and I had a nice evening sitting down here one night while grandma was with Nev. You can see Grandma and Nev walking on the beach in the distance.

Yup- nice. Devin does not love resort life...I do and I am not ashamed to admit it! I am happy in all kinds of places and environs. But I do love the peace and relaxation of a beautiful spot. So this for me was a great way to end almost 10 days on the road.

FUN!

We all swam and swam and swam. Here is Nev riding her whale!

When we arrived, these sweet guys delivered a glass bowl with a real fish in it. One of the many fine details of a first rate resort. Guess who loved it?????? And guess who loved Nevi?????

Cameron Highlands

Ok I posted when we got back pictures of Cameron Highlands...but here are a few more~ Grandma Jan and Nev

Nevi discovered a chrysalis

My two favorite nature walkers!

Ipoh

Ipoh is a town about 2 hours north of KL. There is not much here for tourists except really good food! A co-worker of Devin's grew up here and mentioned some places. When we arrived for dinner not everything was open...but we had a nice little local dinner and check the town out. Yup- you guessed it the sign says, STOP. And that child has attitude to prove it!

We love taking pictures of different spellings.....here is a little side shop...Best Lokking for sure:)

more roadtrip~Kuala Lumpur

Holding hands is the best way to walk in the world~

Devin found this small hair cutting place up some dark stairs on the edge of china town in KL. Here is his stylist...oh yeah!

Dev and his dream bike...by about 1 day he missed seeing the motorcycle races...so sad for him.

Another Deepavali colum- dyed rice -so intricate and beautiful!

Mother and Daughter at the Petronas Towers

One Malaysia!

From our hotel room looking down on Devin and Nevi swimming in the pool

KL

Old KL

KL

We spent the whole day walking all over KL. We shopped a bit, walked, explored, ate, walked, shopped, ate....it was hot...crowded in places...humid...and fun! This was an example of the hot...

Nevi in the fabrics which FILL Little India~

fountains in the center near the government buildings...a refreshing spray!

Shopping...

Kuala Lumpur

After Malacca we drove about 2 hours to the capitol city: Kuala Lumpur. This is called a hawker market....tons of food stalls and some of the most interesting and delicious food choices EVER!

fresh fish....vegetables and fruit.

The famous Petronas Towers lit up at night...a beautiful sight.