Monsoon is no joke

One day, Devin saw the rain coming toward us...in his swimmers (Australian term for bathing suit) he decided to take full advantage of the rain drops...a shower outside in monsoon rains. They are not kidding around here with rain storms. So much water falls from the sky. This was taken in December. Now almost February and it has been 10 days since any rain has fallen. The land is dry...perhaps soon another shower!

Surfin Girl

Genevieve boogie boarding in Margaret River~ fun.

Explanation

I should explain something...in the next few sets of picture's if you look closely you will see Genevieve and others wearing a black arm band on the left arm just above the elbow. On Saturday last week, the Sultan of Johor Bahru passed away. We are in a 7 day period of mourning. All Muslim men have to wear their black and white felt hats, women wear either a white or black tadung...if you are not Muslim you wear a black arm band out of respect. The royal family will be in mourning for 40 days. So as you can see...we have black arm bands as the school has made it mandatory for all students...
A fascinating time in Johor...yet another cultural experience indeed.

Genevieve's classroom

In January, Genevieve began at a new school. She is in a class with about 25 other children. Here are some pictures. This is a whole new way of learning for her...as this is certainly NOT a Montessori classroom. Any of you who know about Montessori prepared environments...count your blessings! Miss Jasvini is Genevieve's teacher...she is very young and a brand new teacher. She is a lovely person...and is trying so hard...her job is not easy...with 3 physically challenged children in the class and 22 other children...not many materials at her disposal...oh I feel for her. And selfishly wish, Genevieve had a teacher with more experience...but alas it is an educational experience...

Genevieve at her desk

on the move...and her classroom!

Australia National Day 2010

January 26th is Australia's national Day (kinda like Fourth of July for us Americans). So, our friend's the Ryan's help Fairview International School celebrate! Sorry this is sideways...this is one of the teachers helping a little child straighten her tadung(head scarf).

This is one of Genevieve's teacher's, Mr. Suresh. He used to live in Australia so he created a PowerPoint with pictures and a bit of history. Standing next to him is our friend, Hannah. She is dresses like a swag....a kind of bush guy of the old days....a cork hat to keep flies off- a metal bucket to make tea...rope to hold her jeans!

Here is a chunk of the school with a few parents and teachers in the back. Usually the children are in uniforms, but they were invited to dress "Australian" style yesterday- boy Nevi got ready for school much faster! She is in the front with her white sun hat....cause if you are in Aussie in summer- you had better wear a hat...she chose an outfit just right for a summer Barbie(BBQ)!

Here is my friend, Kate pinning and Australia pin on Arvine...a boy in Hannah's class. Arvine LOVED the Vegemite and cheese sandwiches that Kate made to share!

Happy Australia Day 2010!!! G'day, mate. CHEERS!

Sri Lankan Sari bounty

Devin recently flew to Sri Lanka to spend a few days with our dear friend, Patrick Herms! He had such an incredible experience and a great deal of fun. I will post some of his pictures soon- but he will have to write the posts to give us all a glimpse of his journey. When he returned, out of his backpack came 5 beautiful sari's for me...a hand sewn beautiful dress and purse for Nevi and a few sarong's for himself. Here is a peek at the incredible sari's... I am going to keep two of them- maybe 3 and then the others I have in mind for a few gifts. Check out the incredible colors and such...

Genevieve's new hair do

Nevi's hair had not been cut since June and it was LONG! She decided the other day she would like a trim. So on Saturday, we went around the corner to a place inside the local shopping area. She also decided she wanted bangs....known here (as well as Australia and UK) as fringe.

Oh thank goodness...cause we were having our first mother daughter clashes in the morning about brushing and tying back her long hair. I sounded just like my mother to me..."if you have long hair, you are committing to take care of it....which means having it tidy and pulled back"
Now she can pull it back if she wants, but I do not need to pester her...phew- that was not making me happy at 6am each day. Thanks Mom for being patient with me all those years I had long hair and did not deal with it! Now, I get it!

family photo

Here is the view as the sunset from our camper

And the moon rose~

family bliss

Cape Naturaliste

This was a beautiful spot we found as we were trying to find a place to camp for a night. We hit it right at sunset...I cooked grilled cheese sandwiches as Nev and Dev explored....we enjoyed the sunset together and then decided just to camp in the parking lot it was so gorgeous!

Back to OZ pics

This was one of my most favorite sights on our vacation to Western Australia. Devin rented a surf board for the day...and in the deal he worked it out for Nevi to get a wetsuit and boogie board! Oh yeah- rad girl!

On her own two feet.

Papa is always there to hold onto...

Let's shred the gnar~

yet another beautiful beach in Western Australia~ SOOOO Beautiful. Sigh.

Glimpse

Just another picture of where we live... This is about 15 minutes from our apartment on a Saturday...crowded streets.

Thank you Ross Family

For Christmas, Nevi's Aunt and Uncle and cousin's gave her the coolest present. It is a book called Tree House Bugs by Klutz. In it are the materials and directions to make 5 bugs and then the book turns into the tree house. Then it gives you materials to make furniture and other stuff. If you are looking for a present for a child...this was a huge hit! www.klutz.com

Thank you Krista, Will, Ellery, Liam and Xander!

Dinner fun

It has been awhile since my last dinner post. this one is not Asian influenced. I had some eggplant in the fridge that needed to be eaten...and we needed a bit of comfort food. Every now and again, western or European type food just links us to home in the most simple way. A bit of red wine as a treat- yum....a nice salad and an eggplant sandwich!

I bought a fresh loaf of French bread at the grocery. Did not even know they had it there! Cut to size desired for each person and slice one side.

In a saute pan, olive oil and fresh garlic. Saute until garlic is golden

I peeled the eggplant partially as I like a bit of the skin for texture and then cube

Toss in with the garlic and saute adding oil as need be so does not stick.

Add fresh sweet basil and cook a few minutes to encourage flavor

Then I added already made spaghetti sauce, but if I could have...I would used sun dried tomatoes and fresh tomatoes to make the sauce...you use what you can get!

Slice some fresh mozzarella cheese and put on sliced baguette. I had to microwave it to melt it....not the best option but worked. You could just put in broiler for a few minutes to melt and brown. (Even better put the Mozzarella on top of the eggplant and toss sandwich in broiler for a few minutes at end. Ok that is if you have an oven:)

Then scoop in eggplant sauce

top with some fresh Parm cheese and some more fresh basil if you like....eat up!

family

We so want to be able to prove what we see sometimes...especially when on the road driving. But I am usually not quick enough with the camera or I do not have it with me. These pictures are not so clear, but at least you see what we mean when we say that families ride scooter and the adults wear helmets, but these tiny children most of the time do not! See the little one with the blankie hiding in there? Now this is not really representative...cause there are only three people on the scooter and I have seen I think 5 as the most so far: Also this child is positioned in between the 2 adults- of ten you see the babies sitting in front of the driver or holding on in the back for dear life.

This shot...well I got embarrassed cause I was being busted with the camera...but you can see this child is maybe 1...maybe. Now don;t get me wrong- I understand scooters are a more economical form of transport...but if you saw how people drive here, no rules, no consequences...oh my I would not want my child on a scooter. Such is life~ and I am glad oh thankful that I have the CHOICE!

Chinese New Year

As February approaches...Chinese New Year festivities begin to show themselves. I am so excited to experience Chinese new year here in Asia. In the malls, on the streets, in restaurants and local stores, decorations and lanterns, incense and lights are appearing...cookies, sweets, little red envelopes, traditional dresses, items of prosperity....everywhere.

This is a display in a local mall....the year of the TIGER! McDonald's...which is huge here...even has a prosperity burger for sale right now...not sure what it is...but every bit of prosperity counts!

everyday

These are typical scenes that we see everyday. It is important to understand- that even though we are blessed to travel all over SE Asia...where we live in Johor Bahru is unique unto itself. There are not many expats or Europeans around here. Our white skin is not only fascinating to some, but also mind blowing to others. The daily life here is hard. People work hard and still only make about $200-400 a month if they are lucky. Here is an example of a mobile kiosk. This guy is luck to make $5 a day.

This is JB at its finest...a Muslim nurse walking home...lots of cars...

this is Nevi and Hannah and Kate as we walk down the sidewalk to the dentist office...we gets stares everywhere we go...but mostly gentle and curious stares. Only occasionally- mostly when I am grocery shopping do I get huge, deep and a bit frightening stares. I have been followed a few times down two or three aisles by men who just stare deep into me...I finally stare deeply back and they retreat.

Typical street filled with shops...no idea how they all stay in business.

This is just outside my grocery shop.

sunshine

Every day I thank the skies for the sunshine. I LOVE living in a tropical place. I am a sun worshiper. Now,this does not mean I am not aware of sun damage...we wear mega sun screen. But I love days filled with sunshine. And we do know how blessed we are! This is the pool Nevi calls the dark blue pool....blue tiles. We live on the 4th floor and the pool is on the 2nd floor. Very convenient and very LUCKY!

Here is our sunshine girl.

Watch out for Lady Boss!

Our Sunday adventure

Today we had the most wonderful honor of attending a co-worker friend of Devin's wedding. It was beyond beautiful. Bride and Groom being blessed~

The Bailly family

The beautiful bride and attendants~

Genevieve and her friend, Melina and the sweetest little one ever...

All of us in traditional dress. Nevi in her Saree from India- our friend, Beena brought it to her...Beena brought me a Saree too, and I had it made into a Punjabi suit...and Devin in his Khurta.
more pictures soon~