Bali Bound

In about 8 hours the taxi will arrive to take us to Senai airport- our little local airport. We will then fly to Kuala Lumpor...then onto Bali! I think I have wanted to experience Bali since I was in college. I remember some friends going and showing me pictures- well those are still vivid in my mind. I have been told and have read that Bali is not the same as it was 20 years ago- well, what place is? This being said, I am excited to experience Bali. So far on our journey overseas, we have had the opportunity to travel so much. When we go somewhere new- we sigh see, explore, visit, walk, eat, stop for cold drinks and air con breaks....and I like seeing a place. But this trip- this is my wish...I want to be- just be. Perhaps that means nice walk about in the morning hours when it might not yet be 100 degrees...maybe a bit of Indonesian painting shopping in small markets...and lots of sitting by the pool, relaxing and enjoying the company of our family without feeling the pressure to run, do, run, see, charge! If anywhere it is a place to just be...I feel like it must be Bali. I will let you know what happens when we return...fingers crossed. Stay tuned for photos....back June 6th.

Friends

This is Ada. She is one of the beautiful staff here who makes our days bright! Right from the start of living here, she has made such a fuss over Genevieve. Genevieve calls her one of her Aunties. The other day we bumped into her in the car park as she was arriving to work on her pink scooter. She just pulled up beside us and tapped her hand on the back of her seat. Nevi climbed right on and around the parking lot they went. Friends. And seriously...fabulous pink scooter!

Fun in the Sun

A Sunday afternoon at the pool......life is magical.

yuck

Ok- so you will see on the post below that I am thrilled about Nevi's school adding some color to the walls etc....but this is what I am not thrilled about. Here is the bathroom in her school...toilet ok- room itself not so great, but look at the ceiling right above the toilet......black mold......oh I am so sick about the black mold here...makes me sad...makes me worried about children's health...makes me crazy that it is not scrubbed and painted....ok just a little rant from me today....for more positive thoughts on her school read the post below.....rant rant rant.

Nevi's School

I am so pleased that after 5 months of Genevieve going to Fairview International school, they have allowed the children to add some color around. When she first began, there was nothing on any walls, no color, no art, no real sign of children....except the children of course. The other day I was there for a meeting and was delighted to see more color!The bottom 2 pictures are Genevieve's classroom- sparse, simple, but finally a bit of color! Yahoo!

Our neighborhood

Here are some local shots of our neighborhood. This was Kate and I picking up some pants at the laundry/dry cleaners. I really love our little area, Taman U. everything you could need and want and a whole bunch you do not need or want. But some days- because now I have lived here for almost a year....I look around and realize...this is not like back home...some of that is good and some not so good. For example, the incredible amounts of black mold everywhere- on all the buildings, in the buildings all over is NOT good. I wonder why everyone I know here suffers from asthma...could it be the mold? But then I look past the mold and I see beautiful people...everywhere. I prefer to focus on that...the beautiful people.

Mixed Response

So the other day we had a first....FLAT TIRE on the HIGHWAY after we picked the girls up from school. Now, had we been in the States we would have phoned AAA for assistance or we would have changed the tire ourselves and been on our way. Well, not so much here. We phoned a driver at Pulai Springs where we live...and his response was....stay in the car and lock the doors and do not open them for anyone! I am on my way. Now, part of this luck is that Kate, my dearest friend in crime...is the GM of Pulai Springs, Mike's wife...but even more so Hafiz knows that 4 foreigners in a car on the highway is the perfect target for motorbike thieves.....guess they just come on up offer to help and either steal your purse or perhaps even your car....and leave you stranded in the heat. Not for us! We were good girls and waited in the car. Hafiz was there in less than 20 minutes- gave us another car...he dealt with the tire and off we went bumbling home. How lucky are we????? Feeling blessed again and again.
As you can see by the expressions...lots of responses to our dilemma....Nevi thought it was fun....Hannah not so much.....Kate was not surprised but still amazed and I, well.......just another day in the life!

The Glass Temple

Today we went on an adventure in Johor Bahru to find the new Glass Temple...and did we find it~ tucked way back behind a field car park

Outside looked like all of the temple I have seen...many many Hindu temples I have seen~

But inside!!!!! not like any temple I have seen....all walls, ceiling, altars...tiled mosaic mirrors! One minute I felt the incredible calm you feel in a sacred place- the next minute I wanted to hear loud disco and dance all around!

There was a beautiful Hindu family sending their prayers and offering money and flowers to the goddesses...such deep devotion- absolutely inspiring to me. This place was wild and magical...and now we finally can say there is something really amazing to see in Johor Bahru!

Gods and Goddesses

Kali: Goddess of Protection

No Evil

Johor Bahru

Today Kate and I went for an adventure downtown. These are some picture's of where I live- what I see each day.

We were downtown early in the day- later those carts will be open serving food on the street...it amazes me how the camera simply removes the black mold that is on most buildings here...this shot actually looks quite nice when in reality it is filthy dirty and yet absolutely what I see each day.

Here are a regular old section of shoplots- I am amazed at how all these little shops stay open...but they do.

here are our local buses~ even they look nice in the picture!

downtown JB

Downtown Johor Bahru- basically in the Little India section.

Downtown

A tailor shop that specializes in Sari blouses and Saris.

A florist on the street who makes wreaths for honoring deity at the close by Hindu temple.

SQUAT

This may be more than some of you want to know about me and my life in Malaysia...but every aspect of my life here is to be shared! here in Malaysia, most bathrooms are filled with rows of squat toilets. Please see photo for a very nice, clean and tidy squat toilet that I peed in today on my adventures out and about! First notice how nice my red toenails look with my $15 dollar red shoes! OK back to squatting....on occasion you will find a western style toilet in a public bathroom. But most of the time the squat is what is available. Well, most of you know I was an Outward Bound instructor...and well I can pee anywhere. In fact, I pride myself on my ability to piddle outdoors, off the bow or stern of a boat while sailing, on the side of the road, in a bottle, or even standing up in the Savannah lands of Eastern Africa....I am not afraid of tiny holes in the ground or going into the ocean for a piddle if need be....so squat toilets here do not intimidate me one bit. But here is the clincher...how do you effectively get the pee into the hole without splattering on your shoes/feet? As you can see I have my feet off the intended area....that helps...if you squat really low down as Devin has been researching with his local pals....it helps too- but I can not squat very low- so I just aim for the hole and deal with the consequences. Aren't you glad you know about this part of my life?
Oh yeah- why squat toilets you ask...well Muslim people do not use toilet paper instead they use that hose you see to wash with water- actually proven better for one's sensitive parts...and they also use their left hand to help out as well. For this reason the left hand is seen as dirty...only used for bathroom things....and the right hand is the clean hand used for eating, shaking hands etc. Most of the time when I do find a western style toilet...there are foot prints on the seat...as people often stand right up on the seat and use it like a squat toilet...sometimes there is even a sign behind the western toilet showing that standing on it is not allowed! See told you it was more than you might want to know:)

Storm

Last night during dinner the skies began to get dark. We watched as a storm was rolling toward us. Then the wind picked up- the thunder clapped and bolts of lightening snapped...the rain was immense. It lasted about 20-30 minutes. Mike, the GM of the resort got a phone call that the driveway was blocked by fallen trees. So, Devin and Mike left dinner to go see what was up. They ended up clearing trees with the maintenance fellas.....what a storm- seriously the biggest one we have experienced. Like a cyclone came through and was gone. Lots of continued clean up today!