Read the Signs

Just call me a troublemaker with a capital T! Anyone who is or will be travelling in the near future, my best advice is simply this…”Read the signs!” That’s right, I have done it again. Somehow I don’t think this will be my last run-in with the whistle. First, let’s talk about this whistle thing. A whistle, really??? What exactly are you going to do to me with a whistle? I thought I was good getting my bluff in with the counting, but these people are serious. And to top it off most of the security in the park were women. Which in hindsight I can see how that would be better in making moms more at ease, and I digress.

So after the park swing issue, we try to be more aware of what is happening around us so I don’t get into trouble. Clearly that is not working. Our outing Monday began early with daddy heading off to work right after breakfast. Puppa and I headed down to the playground first and then went on to try to see the towers. We thought we should take a short cut through one of the big department stores in the mall. I went for the door, but it was stuck. So of course, I do what any rational minded person would do, I start shaking it. About that time I notice three men sitting off the side of the door, who are now running toward the door shaking their hands at me saying, “no, no ,no!” What I had failed to realize, the places don’t open around here until at least 10am. Guess we better start reading those signs!

After lunch and naptime we went swimming. It was sprinkling a little, but nothing major and with the temperature outside we figured no problem! We got the kids ready and went down to the pool. No one else was in the pool...DUH! Yep, we got in anyway, I mean it was just sprinkles. We were having a great time playing in the wading pool with Zoe and AJ loving it. I took some time to take my own advice and read the signs while I was in the pool. Clearly, I am a brilliant person for reading the rules after you start swimming. I notice at the bottom is a rule that sticks out at me..."No swimming in the rain." Oops! I figured that was only if it is raining hard or lightning. About this time I notice a worker standing out by the pool watching us. I looked to see if she said something, but when she didn't I just went back to playing with the kids. Shortly after that, a manager looking person came over and asked us to get out because they had seen some "flashes."

Thank goodness for that man. We no sooner got back to our room than the rain began falling harder and the thunder and lightening came. It was definitely my first experience with a true monsoon downpour. And as my FIL says, another black mark on my record. He is convinced they have a file on me with photos and notes with all my indiscretions.

Best Laundry Day EVER!!

I did laundry on Monday. It was such a hard job. For 20 minutes, I sat on the floor and sorted our clothes. I made three piles…one for David, me and the kids. Then I took out the paper and a bag for each pile and I listed out each article. Finally I called housekeeping and asked them to pick up the bags. Later that night there was a knock on my door and my laundry magically appeared clean, folded/hung and sorted into each person’s piles. This may be my biggest fantasy come true! I should not be getting used to this, but man this is awesome! This probably saved me three to four hours of time. My next wish is to have this type service readily available in my everyday life. Can you imagine the time you would have to play with the kids or actually have time for your own hobbies?

Our First Day in Malaysia

We have made it! Got in late Saturday night and everything went very smoothly. It was about an hour drive from the airport. The place we are staying right now very nice. It is called a corporate suite, which means it is basically a really nice hotel that has two and three bedroom suites. We only got a two bedroom, but I think it will be just fine for a month or so. There is a little kitchen with a stove and fridge for fixing some meals. Both rooms have there own bathroom, which is very helpful with the kids and with Tony being here. Also there is maid service every day! And they will do our laundry! I love that part!

We spent Sunday morning having breakfast downstairs in the cafe for the buffet they provide with our room...it was weird but we found things we like to eat. I noticed the food is not HOT here it is more like room temperature. Strange, but I think I can get used to that as long as I eat before the kids show up and my food becomes cold faster. After breakfast we took a walk around. You can see the Petronas Towers from the windows of each room in our apartment (very cool). There is also a HUGE park and water splash pad just across the street so that is where we headed this morning. I will have to take some pictures of the park, because when I say HUGE...well that doesn't come close to describing it. It looks like it belongs somewhere in Texas and inside an amusement park that you have to pay $40 to get to. It is like one of our parks in the neighborhood back in Katy Texas, only there are ten more connected to it with the rubber floors and ramps and swings. The kids were loving it and we only got to explore about a quarter of it.

I did get in trouble already. I was pushing Zoe on the swing and of course I went to swing with her. I heard this whistling coming from the security close by and I looked over and she was whistling at me. Apparently you cannot swing as an adult. Wow! Embarrassing!! But I am not in jail. Tony has not stopped messing with me about it since.

Next we hit the biggest shopping mall! It has about 6 stories...will have to go back and get more accurate count. They had everything from Cartier and Chanel to Gap and Banana Republic. A Burberry store caught my eye and had a better selection than I have ever seen. I found my future Christmas present, although David came in and told me to come on. He is not as much fun to shop with. We ate lunch at KFC...we figured it had stuff that we knew the kids would eat. We will try something new for dinner.

Back in the room for kids naps after lunch. I am certain I could hang out in the hotel all day and not get bored. There is an amazing pool, playground, gym and a putting green (not that I care about that thing). This place really is amazing. I have had some moments of realization that this is now my home for the next few years and it scares me a bit. But I think we may have gotten one of the best places to stay and live. I have a lot to get used to with the Ramadan and all the Muslim traditions. We hear the chanting a few times a day starting at 5am from the mosque across the street. It is weird and yet I am so curious about how incredibly devout a person can be to a religion. You have to applaud their devotion.

After nap time, we went back out to look around the market shops. Wow, very interesting. I have decided that the cool air is great and smells normal...but when you get hit with some warm air you better hold your breath. It stinks for some reason. The markets were narrow and crowded and not the best place for the kids so David went back to the hotel to take them swimming while Puppa and I went to the grocery store. That was a new experience too. Could not find lunchmeat anywhere so the kids have either cheese or peanut butter sandwiches to choose from. We did find some stuff I know they will eat and like though and milk which is needed in our household. We used to go through 2 gallons a week...they don't sell by the gallon. It looks to be the size of a quart. I will be finding different grocery stores when we figure out where we will live permanently. For now we will just make do with what we have.

We all had a nice swim before dinner and then just ordered room service for dinner. It was really nice. Everyone got to choose something and we were able to eat in our PJ's. Nic went off to bed around eight and Zoe stayed up to watch Avatar with Daddy and Puppa. She only made it to nine though. She was very tired. Puppa is sleeping in Zoe's room (they have two twin beds) and Nic is sleeping in a crib in our room. Works out rather nicely for everyone.

This was our first day of our new adventure and I am excited to have more to write about and experience in this country.