tummy time

I am not going to include a picture in this post and by the time you finish reading you will thank me.
Had a first last night. All was fine. Had dinner with the family. Went for a stroll after eating by the pool and down to the fish pond. Saw a Monitor Lizzard slip into the pond. Came home. Read to Nevi and we got her to bed. D and I did some computer work. I went to bed to read my book, Understanding Islam. I went to bed and was having a hard time sleeping. Eventually at about 2:30 am I started vomiting. Oh yes and I vomited hard for awhile. Back and forth~ bed...bathroom....bed ...bathroom. Devin woke and helped me choose a homeopathic remedy cause water was not staying down for even five minutes. Took Arsenicum and it allowed me to stop wretching and fall asleep. Gladly,have not puked since. Devin stayed home a bit this morning while I slept a bit extra. Now I seem ok. So, I must have eaten something or who knows what. I am a bit whirly today, but ok. We will take it slow today. I see movies in Nevi's future.
So there is my lovley post for today thus far...the joys and the not so joyous. I am sure it will not be the last time I have this experience while living here BUT glad it was me and not Nevi. Have a lovley day~

Today

Today has been a day unlike any we have had thus far. Today for 2 hours Nevi is playing with a 19 year old named, Lena. Lena is the daughter of a co-worker of Devin's who also lives here. Lena was bored and Nevi has at times been bored. SO- I asked Lena if she would like to be with Nevi a bit so I could work out. My work out was great. The quiet is great. And the fun for Nevi to be entertained by another is I am sure beyond great!
So now- I am going to meet the two of them and take everyone to lunch. My treat-

Kitchen

I came to Asia with a desire to learn Malay/Chinese/Indian/Thai cooking. I was going to get a tutor and start making things like mango sticky rice, curried chicken with nan and mint sauce, fried noodles with coconut milk etc. Well, just the other day my kitchen was delivered in two boxes. Box one: microwave. Box two: hot plate. Now it is a fancy hot plate. Digital and computer- but one burner. So- I feel my dreams of learning to cook ellaboarte dishes fading away- but not completely. I will learn to cook a meal for our family on one burner. I am also not giving up and am looking for someone to give me cooking classes, but we might have to use her kitchen!

5th Anniversary bling

What a surprise I had on 7/24/09! My sweet and thoughtful husband handed me a little box (always a good sign). I opened the box and almost fell over. Beautiful saphire earings!WOW! Turns out he had bought them last year when he was in Bangkok- even more exotic a gift. They are set almost exactly like my engagement ring- even the same cornflower blue stones. I was amazed, thrilled and really really touched. Thank you honey- I LOVE them.

Where is Sarah?

You might be wondering where I was the whole time Devin and Nevi were sightseeing...I was all by myself!Yup- do not get very much time to myself these days- so I took this opportunity to go for a walk alone. I walked the river path near where we were staying...then I went to a place called Cold Storage. Cold Storage was a Malaysian livin girls dream. It is a grocery, but no ordinary grocery. There I found so many comfort items- not really for me and Devin as we LOVE Asian food right from the vendors on the street, But our dear daughter could use a Ritz cracker every now and again...oh and peanut butter and Annie's Mac and Cheese! I was able to buy some groceries to carry over the border for the occasion that warrants comfort. This made me as a mother feel really good. Maybe one night Nevi will be surprised when I cook spaghetti with Prego sauce on it....in Malaysia tomato sauce means it has Ketchup on it:)

Traveling as a parent is a very different lens to look through. In Devin and my past experiences of traveling to other cultures...we forgo all that is Western- as much as is possible. This time as a mother- I am relinquishing my own pressure to do that and opening to the ever present need for the familiar under our feet and the unknown sprinkled on top! I had a lovely four hours or so alone to remember- this is my experience too. Love Papa/Daughter adventures not only for the two of them...but also for ME!

Merlion

Another famous spot in Singapore~ The Merlion. Yup part Lion part Mermaid. I guess there are three Merlion sculptures in Sing...here is one!

Real Ice Cream Sandwich

Devin and Nevi found the roaming vendor who sells real ice cream sandwiches....choose your ice cream flavor and choose either bread or wafer for it to be shoved in...white, green and purple swirled bread with chocolate icecream for Nevi and the weird bread with Durian Ice Cream for the Dev....for those who do not know- Durian is a local fruit- nicely in season right now....it is prickled on the outside and then on the inside is this white jellied kinda stuff. The issue with Durian is it smells.....bad. It smells before it is cut open, when it is cut open and when you continue to burp it up all the day long!In fact you see signs prohibiting Durian in hotels and elevators. Devin has had it twice now- me and Nev...not so much!

Largest Fountain in the World

Along their way~ they also went to the largest fountain in the world. This picture does not show how big it trully is...but you walk out over a walkway and then you are to walk around the fountain with your right hand in the water three times making a silent wish.

Kisses to you all

A beautiful Nevi smooch to all of you reading our blog!

Singapore Flyer

On Sunday, Devin & Nevi hit Singapore for a bit of father/daughter time. First they went to the Singapore Flyer which is basically a huge feris wheel with small capsules the size of little apartments really attached. The views as you can see are amazing. Mom stayed with her feet on the ground- cause as beautiful as the view might be- a bit too high for this gal. Devin could tell you more about this adventure- but the pictures show a lot!

Night Safari

Saturday night we went with a group of Xerox folks and Michelle/Anna to the Singapore Night Safari. Wow. You ride around through the jungle on a tram/bus and view animals at night in their habitat- usually feeding. Animals like tigers, buffalo, antelope, hippos....not in cages...but a small river of water and a few electric fences away. Awesome. Nevi loved it- even the fire throwers who opened the evening. A late night, but really touristy fun.

New friends

Nevi swimming in yet another pool with her new friend, Anna! We are so lucky to have been introduced to Michelle, Pete, Anna and Whitney by my dear friend Jennifer Palmer. Anna and family have been living in Singapore for awhile now and their wisdom and frienship is a blessing. We hope to have lots more fun with them until they return to the States in November.

Too much for one day

And then after IKEA, I found myself in Toys R Us. I won;t go there at home...but when you have a daughter who is having a birthday in a few weeks and you are away from home with no presents to be found...a mother goes to Toys R Us when you spot it! We are crossing into new territory in so many ways here. Nevi asked for a Barbie for her birthday! Crap, I thought. Really thought we might escape Barbie world-but being over here BARBIE and her whole world of crap is everywhere. So the request as been answered. I walked out of TRus with 2 barbies and some extra paraphenalia- which will make our almost 6 year old very happy on August 7th ~I hope!

IKEA

Yup= it is true there is an IKEA in Singapore. We went and bought some things to add color and cozy to our apartment. Strange- inside there I could have been in the US except for the awesome rice cooker utensils I got!

more to come

Hey-
We are back from a great weekend in Singapore! Singapore is it's very own island and country. There is a 1 KM causeway over the Straits of Johor which seperate Johor Bahru, Malaysia and Singapore. It only takes us under an hour to go from where we live into Singapore....of course depending on traffic and immegration antics in 2 countries. Singapore is SO different from JB. I had been there 10 minutes and I saw Starbucks, Toys R Us, Giorgio Armani shop, lots of hotels, beautiful condo apartments everywhere...anyway- it is very clean- has stringent laws and restrictions- but these repressions create a clean, beautiful, crime free city. We were blessed to stay in a co-worker of Devin's lovley apartment in the central area of Sing. We had such fun with friends who live in Singapore and sightseeing. I will post pics later tonight I hope of our Night Safari trip, our IKEA adventure...and more. Stay tuned!

Two weeks

So a bit over two weeks ago- Nevi and I left Portland for lands unknown. I can't even believe it has only been 2 weeks. Here we are in Asia...living, exploring. Some moments are like complete freedom and others are like we are struggling to keep faith in ourselves and this life change. The transition into a new life is both exilarating and painful. Overall, I think we are doing pretty darn well. We rely on comforts when they present themselves, and we stretch our views~ ideas and thoughts each day. Each of us shows a different aspect of ourselves each day- cranky, stressed, over done, tired, happy, over joyed, brilliant, foggy, scared, comfortable, free, restrained, confused, angry, hot, ever filled with love and appreciation. Devin is working his tail off- long long hours, huge brain work trying to problem solve issues at hand...many hours away from his girls. Nevi swims everyday and that brings her calm...Sarah escapes each night into her book to find quiet amidst all the change and constant motion of an energetic young girl. We are greatful for each day, each experience to see that the world is diverse, ever changing and complex. Today is Devin and my 5th wedding anniversary...10 years together ~5 years married. As he is at work and I am at home...I am grateful and appreciative of my life partner...for all he is, all he does, all he hopes and all he dreams. I love you, D.

Delights

Nevi's favorite discovery has been the Nestle Milo...basically chocolate milk with ice...refreshing indeed. We went to a sweet Indian street resturant one evening in Batu Ferringhi. We had Banana Roti which is a pancake with banana's and drizzled with honey. I also had a different Roti which was filled with curried potato, onions, lentils with a lentil dipping sauce! YUM.

Butterfly Farm

Devin went off to work in town while Nevi and I headed out a way to a Butterfly Farm. Look carefully on the flowers...there were 150 different species here. Flying all around you. A koi pond, some monitor lizards and lots of wings!

juice

Oh Pineapple juice not mango...although everywhere you go fresh squeezed juice is the norm~ pineapple, mango, starfruit,honeydew, watermelon, apple, carrot, cucumber,dragonfruit, fresh and delicious.

Comfort

Our dear sweet Nevi is such a trooper. This change is not easy. She misses her friends, her family, her independence and so every now and again you just give in to the comforts of home. In Penang, there are so many tourists- that even in the Hawker stalls there was PIZZA....mushroom and black olive her favorite...with a bit of mango juice! Comfort food for a courageous almost 6 year old~ well deserved.

weather can change in an instant

After our adventure to teluk...the wind began to pick up a bit and shift in many directions. We decided to get on the bus back toward our hotel. Good idea cause within about 20 minutes this was out our hotel window! It lasted about 15 minutes with pelting swollen rain drops...and then complete.

Teluk Bahang

We went on an adventure down the road to a fishing village called Teluk Bahang. We walked around and ended up at the Jetty right where the enterance to the smallest national park of Malaysia is...there was a group of young boys playing in the muck...collecting crawfish and clams. There is nothing more universal than children loving to play in the sand and explore. Nevi had to get her hands in too. After awhile Mama was soooo ready to move along...nice picture!

and like this...

Evaporative Cooling Technique

It is so humid and hot here. Sometimes Nevi does not want to go anywhere at all in the heat. Who can blame her. Well, Devin her brilliant engineer father decided on this day to teach her about evaporative cooling technique....yunno get stuff wet with cold water and the heat of your body will dry it and cool you at the same time. We went out into the world with the two of them like this...

Monkeys!!!!!

 

Nevi came in off the balcony screaming monkeys, monkeys....I went out and sure enough swinging on the phone lines...a family of monkeys. Here they are sitting on a roof of a house outside of our hotel!

Another Pool

Staying at the ParkRoyal Hotel and here is yet another Nevi swimming pool- this child LOVES the water!

checkers

A game of checkers on the street- checkers are beer bottle tops~

A good ride

Nevi's favorite mode of transportation when she is wilting from the humidity~ her beloved Papa.

Hindu Temple

Sarah & Nevi loving up the protectors of a Hindu Temple!

Pool at E & O

Devin and Nev having fun in the pool while Mama is having fun out of the pool!

Penang

I will post more from Penang later...but I am so hungry I could scream. We moved from Georgetown out to the beach today in Batu Fengghi. Not sure how I feel about resort world....but darn are we lucky. More soon:)

Red Garden Hawker food

Oh yes....Mango rice SRB's absolute favorite....and the Nev eating hard boiled little quail eggs....food heaven and all for about $8...bliss

Kuan Yin

Chinese Goddess of mercy, prosperity and fertility~ SRB in awe paying homage in a few places honoring Kuan Yin today.

Largest Buddhist Temple in Malaysia

Nevi praying with her hands to her heart in Namaste~ Bliss.

Peace and Joy Coffee House

Here is Nevi while we eat lunch...mee gerong (fried noodles), bread with kaya (coconut spread), broth and noodles and all kinds of things we have no idea what it is...Kopi ice (iced coffee with sugar and milk) and more- yum!

Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang

Here is our hotel at night and the pool- such an incredible journey back into colonial British time...right down to the pull flush toilets!

Nevi's favorite pool

There are three swimming pools here for Nevi to choose from each day. This is her favorite...water slide and all. There is also a swim up pool bar only open on the weekends...Mama will like it when it is Friday Ladies drink discount day!