Brickfields Tour

Brickfields is a part of KL that is officially known as Little India. In the early days of KL, the area was a center for brick-making since the whole area was a clay pit. Brickfields is also called a "Divine Location" because of the many religious structures that are concentrated in the area.



List of religious buildings we visited:
- Zion Lutheran Church
- Vivekananda Ashrama (place for meditation)
- Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple
- Three Teachings Chinese Temple
- Sri Kandaswamy Hindu Temple

Our tour was sponsored by the Malaysian Culture Group (MCG) and given by Balan Moses, a native of the area. He grew up in the neighborhood and is now one of the senior editors of the New Straights Times (local newspaper) and a pastor at Zion Lutheran Church, the first stop on our tour. He has written a book about the history and growing up in Brickfields called "Brickfields - A Place, a Time, a Memory."

We had a wonderful tour guide and exploring all of the different cultures packed into this small neighborhood was a treat! :-)

Car Parks... so confusing!

So I was at an Expat mingle (put on by a mag. in town)... I had a couple glasses of wine and a beer. So afterwards I go to try to find my car... (car parks... aka parking garages, are so confusing here!) and I went down with the people I knew and wound up not knowing where I was. So I wandered around for 10 minutes, going from B1 to B2 and back asking all the guards on the way... never able to find my car. 37? Section 37? Sidenote, I really should have remembered the floor I was on...
So, thank god, some guard in a big golf cart pulled up and gestured me to climb in! At this point I was happy to oblige because nothing was looking familiar. He drove me around for 10 mins -- note: as I am directing him the wrong way to get to the car saying sorry every other sentence. Finally I give a piece of information that proves helpful (it's by the grocery store escalator!) and we are able to find my car... at which point I cheer and clap my hands excitedly.
The guard laughs and I make him take 5RM for his troubles driving a confused girl around the car park. Granted, I think that is what they are paid for... though it seemed like he was a knight in shining armor. The guys watching the CCV tape (aka guards at the front entrance) must have figured out that I wasn't going to find my car anytime soon! So they sent my golf cart man! haha Good times. I love helpful people! ;-)

Something I Didn't Know About Malaysia...

So there are many things that I didn't know about Malaysia before coming here... so I thought I would impart some info on my family and friends! I might just make this weekly thing!

I was driving around (really lost, actually) in downtown KL, and passed about 6 of these...

24 hour KFCs! The Malaysians love their fried chicken! ;-)

from the website... http://www.businessjihad.com/?p=464

Time to Be Tourists - Part 2

Continued from the last post...

Chilling Waterfall Hike
Our relocation agent Robert hosted the hike... he is such a character! (see picture!) During the hike we crossed the river 6 times (shown with the big arrows on map) -- the water was cold but it was very refreshing after hiking in 95 degree weather! The payoff was the waterfall and swimming hole at the end!  It was a great time!

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

Sungai Buloh Nurseries & Beggar's Chicken
I went with the American Association of Malaysia on a tour of the Sungai Buloh Nursery and lunch. The row of nurseries are about 30 minutes north of the city and have pretty much anything you can grow here in this tropical environment. I bought a couple of beautiful orchids, 2 succulents, and a new guinea impatient -- they are all still alive! :-)

We had lunch afterwards at a place that is known for their 'Beggar's Chicken' -- it has to pre-ordered the day before and is slow roasted for 8 hours the day of... They wrap the chicken in plastic, clay, and then parchment paper and cook it in a bed of coals with Chinese spices -- it was wonderful!! Not to mention that it was on the side of a highway, in a 'shack looking' - tin roof type dwelling.

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

They also served what they call 'trotters' -- aka pigs feet. Very gelatinous, I tried them, but wasn't really a fan... yum!

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

There's a Time to Be Tourists...

Since we have been here in KL, be have out and about the city trying to get a feel of the location geographically, but also culturally... here are some of the places we've been in the last couple of months...

Petronas Towers & KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Center -- mall underneath)

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

This picture is for Nando (Lio's step-uncle)... this is a very popular Indian restaurant chain here in KL. 

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

Menara KL
Menara in Bahasa (Malaysian) means tower... just like the needle in Seattle (only bigger)!

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

Malaysian's are totally into F1 racing... so here I am sitting (albeit, blurry) in a fake F1 car and playing a video game! ;-) Totally Malaysia! (not really...)

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

They also had a little zoo there... and they let us hold some of the animals!

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

My favorite part was that they had raccoons and squirrels as if they were exotic animals! ;-) Though when Lio's parent were in Detroit and KC, they were amazed to see so many squirrels! It was actually quite funny!

Snack Time!  Corn kernels with lots of butter!

From KLCC, Petronas Towers, Menara KL, Chilling Waterfalls, Sungei Buloh Nurseries

More continued on the next post...! :-)

Surfing in Bali

So I know it has been way too long since I have posted... I haven't forgot that I promised all my friends and family back home that I would keep them updated!! Sorry! We offically have the internet working!

Here are the long awaited photos of Lio and I in August surfing in Bali!  Enjoy!

View all

Get your own

[note my awesome shorts... I didn't have any 'surfing' shorts and that's what they gave me! Bad ass! haha]

FREE Internet!

So tonight I was just convinced by what I call the 'apartment helper' [unfortunately I do not know his name, just that he does the biding of our landlord who lives upstairs from us] to believe that we have FREE (note -NO payment for services: Free! - foreign word in Malaysia) internet at the condo we live in.

I have to preface this with a little info -- Lio bought a wireless USB modem for internet access at the condo about a week and a half ago (instead of going to the local coffee shop, which is what we had been doing) that is suppose to have at the max 5MB/sec, but the most I have gotten is 8KB/sec -- aka as slow or slower than Dial-Up -- PAINFUL. So during the past week Lio and I decided to get hard-wire internet (meaning get a phone line and get DSL, the best they have here in MY) -- it must have a better download speed right? -- and I have been DREADING having to go to outlet to register (there are only 5 in the whole Kuala Lumpur area!).
So to register I need an electric bill, water bill and my passport... and 3 hours of waiting in line and then telling me I can't register today because of some ridiculous reason. (I assume...)

The Solution (I pray!): I was on my way to the grocery store, saw the 'helper' and told him that I wanted to register for internet and phone and I needed a photocopy of the electric bill. He told me that there was free internet in the condo and that I just need to plug in my computer. He came up to help... but to no avail - he will send an IT guy tomorrow!  Can't wait!

Hopefully it isn't the same guy/group of guys that stole Lio's new 16GB Ipod Nano and headphones from the kitchen counter while they were installing the new bathroom mirror a couple of weeks ago...

I'll keep you updated, maybe I'll be able to Skype from home now instead of the coffee shop! :-) YAY! 
[Note, please take this post with a grain of salt -- I'm a little bitter tonight. Happy Birthday to me!]
-Rach

Joys of Driving - Malaysian Driving Rules

So Lio left on his 5th 'mission' of the year to China for 3 weeks last weekend.
This means that if I want to get anywhere, it is either a taxi or driving! :-) I was quite stressed to be out by myself (though I have been practicing with Lio while he was here - women, you know how enjoyable it is to drive with your husband while he's watching your every move...) -- thinking that I will ruin the car... (depth perception is a bitch when you are on the other side of the car... I can't tell how close I am to anything on the left side!)

My adventures started Tues by going to the office of Alliance Francaise in KL to register for French classes -- I'm really excited to start so I can finally talk to and understand Lio's parents! I am taking the 80 hour class meeting twice a week (Tues/Thurs) from 9:30 to 1:10pm - it runs from Oct to Dec. I have books and everything -- I feel so studious again! Also, no wrong turns to get there -- a different story to get back... I took the same wrong turn twice (had to take the same 10 min detour each time).
You would think I would learn... sadly you are mistaken.

For Wednesday I went to Ikea and Ikano (mall next to Ikea -- what a creative name!) to get some some random Ikea odds and ends and a printer at the mall... Mission Accomplished! There and back with no problem! I need to get some pics up of the apartment now that it's starting to look like a home! :-)

Thursday, I went to the American Assoication of Malaysia (AAM) for a day trip to the Sungei Buloh Nurseries -- I'm not lucky/smart enough to get directions right two days in a row... I was a little late and an extra 4 miles wiser -- great way to start the morning! :-P NOTE - All detours in Malaysia take at least an extra 3-4 miles and (in rush hour) sometimes can be 30 mins.
I will post pictures/comments tomorrow when I can get to the coffeeshop -- our internet here is soooo slow!

**For BONUS reading about Malaysian Driving habits (it's a little long)... I have included an email that Lio sent me (I've also seen it on an expat blogger's site) -- it is really funny and pretty much all true (unfortunately!). In case you're bored... **

Malaysian Road Rules: A guide for expatriate drivers in Malaysia
(taken from http://www.xyzasia.com/malaysian-road-rules/)

Since arriving in Malaysia in 1997, I have tried on many occasions to buy a copy of the Malaysian road rules, but have come to the conclusion that no such publication exists (or if it does, it has been out of print for years). Therefore after carefully observing the driving habits of Malaysian drivers, I believe I have at last worked out the rules of the road in Malaysia. For the benefit of other expatriates living in Malaysia, and the 50% of local drivers who acquired their driving licences without taking a driving test, I am pleased to share my knowledge below:


Q: What is the most important rule of the road in Malaysia?
A: The most important rule is that you must arrive at your destination ahead of the car in front of you. This is the sacrosanct rule of driving in Malaysia. All other rules are subservient to this rule.

Q: What side of the road should you drive on in Malaysia?
A: 99.7% of cars drive on the left hand side, 0.2% on the right hand side, and 0.1% drive in reverse (be on the look out for drivers reversing at high speed in the left hand lane of freeways, having just missed their exit). Therefore on the basis of 'majority rules', it is recommended that you drive on the left. However, be aware that only 90% of motorcyclists travel on the left hand side - the other 10% ride in the opposite direction or on the sidewalk. Fortunately, motorcyclists traveling in reverse are rarely seen.


Q: What are the white lines on the roads?
A: These are known as lane markers and were used by the British in the colonial days to help them drive straight after consuming their gin and tonics. Today their purpose is mainly decorative, although a double white line is used to indicate a place that is popular to overtake.

Q: When can I use the emergency lane?
A: You can use the emergency lane for any emergency, e.g. you are late for work, you left the toaster plugged in at home, you are bursting to go to the toilet, you have a toothache or you have just dropped a hot coffee in your lap. As it is an emergency, you may drive at twice the speed of the other cars on the road.


Q: Do traffic lights have the same meaning as in other countries?
A: Not quite. Green is the same – that means “Go”, but amber and red are different. Amber means “Go like hell” and red means “Stop if there is traffic coming in the other direction or if there is a policeman on the corner”. Otherwise red means the same as green. Note that for buses, red lights do not take effect until five seconds after the light has changed.

Q: What does the sign “Jalan Sehala” mean?
A: This means “One Way Street” and indicates a street where the traffic is required to travel in one direction. The arrow on the sign indicates the preferred direction of the traffic flow, but is not compulsory. If the traffic is not flowing in the direction in which you wish to travel, then reversing in that direction is the best option.


Q: What does the sign “Berhenti” mean?
A: This means “Stop”, and is used to indicate a junction where there is a possibility that you may have to stop if you cannot fool the cars on the road that you are entering into thinking that you are not going to stop.

Q: What does the sign “Beri Laluan” mean?
A: This means “Give Way”, and is used to indicate a junction where the cars on the road that you are entering will give way to you provided you avoid all eye contact with them and you can fool them into thinking that you have not seen them.


Q: What does the sign “Dilarang Masuk” mean?
A: This means “No Entry”. However, when used on exit ramps in multi-storey car parks, it has an alternative meaning which is: “Short cut to the next level up”.

Q: What does the sign “Pandu Cermat” mean?
A: This means “Drive Smartly”, and is placed along highways to remind drivers that they should never leave more than one car length between them and the car in front, irrespective of what speed they are driving. This is to ensure that other cars cannot cut in front of you and thus prevent you from achieving the primary objective of driving in Malaysia, and that is to arrive ahead of the car in front of you. If you can see the rear number plate of the car in front of you, then you are not driving close enough.


Q: What is the speed limit in Malaysia?
A: The concept of a speed limit is unknown in Malaysia.

Q: So what are the round signs on the highways with the numbers, 60, 80 and 110?
A: This is the amount of the ‘on-the-spot’ fine (in ringgits - the local currency) that you have to pay to the police if you are stopped on that stretch of the highway. Note that for expatriates or locals driving Mercedes or BMWs, the on-the-spot fine is double the amount shown on the sign.


Q: Where do you pay the ‘on-the-spot’ fine?
A: As the name suggests, you pay it ‘on-the-spot’ to the policeman who has stopped you. You will be asked to place your driving licence on the policeman's notebook that he will hand to you through the window of your car. You will note that there is a spot on the cover of the notebook. Neatly fold the amount of your fine into four, place the fine on the spot, and then cover it with your driving licence so that it cannot be seen. Pass it carefully to the policeman. Then, with a David Copperfield movement of his hands, he will make your money disappear. It is not necessary to applaud.

Q: But isn’t this a bribe?
A: Oh pleeease, go and wash your mouth out. What do you want? A traffic ticket? Yes, you can request one of those instead, but it will cost you twice the price, forms to fill out, cheques to write, envelopes to mail, and then three months later when you are advised that your fine was never received, more forms to fill out, a trip to the police station, a trip to the bank, a trip back to the police station, and maybe then you will wish you had paid ‘on-the-spot’.


Q: But what if I haven’t broken any road rules?
A: It is not common practice in Malaysia to stop motorists for breaking road rules (because nobody is really sure what they are). The most common reasons for being stopped are: (a) the policeman is hungry and would like you to buy him lunch; (b) the policeman has run out of petrol and needs some money to get back to the station; (c) you look like a generous person who would like to make a donation to the police welfare fund; or (d) you are driving an expensive car which means you can afford to make a donation to the police welfare fund.

Q: Does my car require a roadworthy certificate before I can drive it in Malaysia?
A: No, roadworthy certificates are not required in Malaysia. However there are certain other statutory requirements that must be fulfilled before your car can be driven in Malaysia. Firstly, you must ensure that your windscreen is at least 50% obscured with English football club decals, golf club membership stickers or condo parking permits. Secondly, you must place a tissue box (preferably in a white lace cover) on the back shelf of your car under the rear window. Thirdly, you must hang as many CDs or plastic ornaments from your rear vision mirror as it will support. Finally, you must place a Garfield doll with suction caps on one of your windows. Your car will then be ready to drive on Malaysian roads.


Q: What does a single yellow line along the edge of a road mean?
A: This means parking is permitted.

Q: What does a double yellow line along the edge of a road mean?
A: This means double parking is permitted.


Q: What does a yellow box with a diagonal grid of yellow lines painted on the road at a junction mean?
A: Contrary to the understanding of some local drivers, this does not mean that diagonal parking is permitted. It indicates a junction that is grid-locked at peak hours.

Q: Can I use my mobile phone whilst driving in Malaysia?
A: No problem at all, but it should be noted that if you wish to use the rear-vision mirror to put on your lipstick (women only please) or trim your eyebrows at the same time as you are using a mobile phone in the other hand, you should ensure that you keep an elbow free to steer the car. Alternatively, you may place a toddler on your lap and have the child steer the car whilst you are carrying out these other essential driving tasks.


Q: Is it necessary to use indicator lights in Malaysia?
A: These blinking orange lights are commonly used by newly arrived expatriate drivers to indicate they are about to change lanes. This provides a useful signal to local drivers to close up any gaps to prevent the expatriate driver from changing lanes. Therefore it is recommended that expatriate drivers adopt the local practice of avoiding all use of indicator lights. However, it is sometimes useful to turn on your left hand indicator if you want to merge right, because this confuses other drivers enabling you to take advantage of an unprotected gap in the traffic.

Q: Why do some local drivers turn on their left hand indicator and then turn right, or turn on their right hand indicator and then turn left?
A: This is one of the unsolved mysteries of driving in Malaysia.

Honeymoon in Bali!

So finally here are pictures from our honeymoon in Bali! :-)
The pictures are below, but I'll summarize some of our trip here -- then you can refer to the pics! :-)

We arrived in Bali on the August 9th (Sunday) and left on the 16th (Sunday)... it was so nice to get away from unpacking boxes!! The first few days we spent decompressing at the beach, Lio and I both read 2 books while we were there!

We took surfing lessons on Tuesday -- I have just the 'before' pics, but we did buy the CD with all of the pictures that the professional took from the beach -- so I'll put them in another post! It was really fun!! I was better at it than Lio (haha) -- I got up the first time and it took Lio quite a few more tries but he got the hang of it by the end! :-) It was really nice because we did a private lesson (1 instructor and the 2 of us) -- so I'm sure that helped our success rate!

Wednesday we went to a special dinner that included traditional Balinese music and dancing -- 'The Best of Bali.' You will see a couple of pictures from that night. As we entered they dressed us up in traditional clothing -- the wrap to cover the legs with a special belt and a head scarf for the men and a flower in the women's hair. It was really fun and interesting to hear the music... the best way I can describe it is Chinese chime music?? And the dancing was a little Chinese also with them posing and then moving their eyes back and forth at some points in the dance. It was kinda creepy but a cool experience all the same!
NOTE - I don't claim to be an expert on Chinese music/dancing, so I'm sorry if I've offended anyone! :-)

On Thursday we did the ubiquitous souvenir shopping at the only mall on our side of the island. They mostly specialize in craved wood figurines and very tight basket weaving.
We also did a 'fish spa' -- this is where you put your feet into a tank with little fish who eat the dry skin off of your feet. (see picture) It's actually a fun experience -- it just feels like bubbles running over your feet and legs. (I even convinced Lio to do it with me!!)

That evening we went on a private sunset tour of the Uluwatu Hindu Temple which was built on the side of a cliff. What beautiful pictures!! We had to be dressed in the traditional attire to enter the area around the temple -- but we were not allowed to go into the actual temple. We saw a TON of monkeys -- see the pics (Lio loves monkeys apparently...he took lots of pictures of them!) - they tell you not to wear sunglasses, earrings, and keep everything close to you because the monkeys will steal it.
We actually saw a girl who was wearing pearl earrings and a monkey ran up (the monkey must have been scoping her out) and ripped one out of her ear. (She was fine, BTW) The local kids got the earring back from the monkey by giving it a treat, then charged the couple money to have it back. Sounds like they have a little system going to me...
Anyways, our tour guide was a trip... I can't even explain him here -- but he was very talkative and said the same thing over and over again -- quite interesting!

Friday we scheduled snorkeling and a trip to Turtle Island. We didn't expect much from the Turtle Island part because we had scheduled the tour really just for the snorkeling. What a NICE surprise!! We first went snorkeling, it was a little subpar... there were a lot of people/boats and the water was really dirty on the surface (lots of seaweed, etc.). Though we did get to see a lot of really colorful fish, it was sad to see the condition of the coral... people were standing on it, etc.
The best part was Turtle Island! (see pictures!!) We got to see baby, adolescent, and then adult sea turtles!! It was so cool, we held a younger turtle and then got to stand in the water and feed the 50-60 year old ones!! They don't bite -- unless you get the food (seaweed?) right next to your leg on accident, which I did! I got bit!! It more just startled me -- it didn't hurt. Then after the turtles, we went and saw the other animals they have there... iguana, hawk, and a toucan. The toucan was very friendly -- it wanted to get into our mouths when it was on our arm... someone must have fed it from their mouth and that idea stuck! It was pretty funny!
We did feel a little bad about seeing all of them in cages, but they looked healthy and maybe they rescued them or something. It was just such a cool experience to be so close to the animals!

Tubing!
On the way to Turtle Island we saw the coolest tube ever... they pull it behind a boat and it FLYS! Ha! It was pretty scary actually! They strap you in between the baffles of the tube (only 2 people will fit - one on either side) and then a guy rides (you can see him more than the people strapped down) on the top -- in a position like you would ride a normal tube. He was not tied onto the tube... he was just holding on. Crazy -- they went really high! (see pics!!) I don't know if they would let you use that on Table Rock! :-)

The last couple of days we relaxed at the beach/pool and didn't want to leave when Sunday rolled around!! It was such an awesome vacation!!

Here is the web album... just click on the pictures to get to the bigger pics!

We're Back!

So, as some of you might not know... Lio and I went on our belated honeymoon to Bali, Indonesia last week!
We stayed at the Nikko Bali Resort in Nusa Dua on the east side of the southern peninsula.















Here is a picture of Lio and I before our surfing lessons!! :-)
I will get around to posting a longer blog with pictures later this week!

From Honeymoon in Bali

In Our Apartment!

Sorry for the recent lack of posts! We are currently in our new apartment and trying to unpack!
The biggest reason is that we don't have internet there and I don't have a cell phone that works here... we are working on both this week!!
I will get everyone my contact info as soon as I get it! :-)
And to come... pictures of our apartment!! Can't wait to be connected to the world again!!

Our New Apartment

Here are some pictures of the apartment that we chose... we are hoping to get into the condo within 2 weeks. (cross-my-fingers)
The furniture is not ours, so it will all be taken out before we move in.
We are so excited!! :-)

Things to Do, People to See! Part 2

Part 2 of our last week in KC...

Wednesday (8th)
La Bodega
The Kidwell's (Steve & Jill)
We had sangria, a ton of different tapas, and great conversation! It was so fun and so good to see Steve and Jill after such a long time! :-)

Steve & I (sadly, we forgot our camera that night and this is the only picture I have with Steve that I can find! Playing golf in 100 deg weather...very attractive!)

Thursday (9th)
Pizza and Wine!
Geraldine & Orestes
We went over to their apartment and had dinner -- we brought the wine, they provided the pizza -- it was perfect!! Exactly what we needed -- a relaxing night discussing and catching up on life! We appreciated them taking the time out of their busy schedule to see us! (Orestes is finishing his doctorate and Geraldine is taking night classes to get her masters!) No pictures that night either...

Friday (10th)
The Classic Cup
& Tomfooerlies (for drinks)
Jennifer & Brett, Geraldine & Orestes

We had wonderful time having dinner and drinks with everyone that night! Thank you to Jennifer for thinking of the idea!! :-) Also, thanks to Brett who drove in all the way from Columbia! It's always nice to be surrounded by GREAT friends!
We do have pictures for this one!

Lio & I, Jennifer & Brett

Lio & I, Orestes & Geraldine

Saturday (11th)
Lio & I cooked dinner for the family -- stuffed peppers, tomatos and squash; rice and 'gratin dauphinois' (potato gratin w/a ton of cream and emmental cheese-YUM!) -- then the top of our wedding cake for dessert! (Since we couldn't take it with us!)

I guess it figures -- we were a little too nice one another at the wedding... I'm glad we don't have pictures after we fed each other... icing was everywhere!

Sunday (12th)
My Mom & Dad smoked baby back ribs and sausages for our last night - it was so fun to have everyone there at the table that night! :-) We told the funnest stories and had some great laughs! It was wonderful and I will miss everyone so much... :-( Love you all!

Monday (13th)

Rachael Moment -- (that morning) I of course forgot to change my phone to a pre-paid (before we left) so I could keep the number -- I drove 25 mins all the way to the AT&T store and they told me I couldn't do it there and had to call the customer service line. Worthless... So I wasted a good hour and a half getting that done.

When I got back, we just got everything packed up and brought our bags downstairs -- 2 large suitcases apiece, along with 2 carryons apiece! My dad came back from work, we had our wonderful leftovers from the last two nights and then headed to the airport. (It was so sad to leave!)

Our Itinerary: (all local times)

Monday 4:40pm - Kansas City to Minneapolis (1.5 hours)

Monday 7:00pm - Minneapolis to Los Angeles (4 hours) -- then a 6 hour layover in LA

Tuesday 1:34am - Los Angeles to Taipei, Taiwan (13 hours)

Wednesday 7:30am - Taipei, Taiwan to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (4 hours)

These pictures are from the third leg of the flight... (we are so tired - it was 3:30am in the morning for us with the time difference)

Things to Do, People to See! - Part 1

Before we left, we had a full schedule:

For the 4th of July weekend my family and I went down to Table Rock Lake. Lio ended up flying in on the 3rd to Springfield, MO -- only an hour away from the lake. It worked out perfectly since we thought Lio would not be able to come for the weekend (because his audit was going to last till the 3rd) -- but he got off early and was able to make it!! It wouldn't have been the same without him! :-)

For the 4th, it threatened to rain for the first part of the morning, but ended up clearing up and we tied up in a cove that had a live band playing on top of a houseboat! It was so fun! The houseboat is in the background of the picture, with the band playing on the top deck...
(Note - The awesome poodle that was hanging out with everyone in the water... it would have been perfect if it was holding (pawing) a beer)

For the fireworks, we took the boat out on the lake -- it was so neat to see all of the boats (I'm sure over a thousand) with their lights sparkling on the water! (Wish I could have gotten a picture! - It was took dark though...)

Sue & Steve (Mom and Dad) Melody & Joe (family friends) Doug, Christi and Hunter (Doug's friend)

Lio and I

We drove back on Monday the 6th, and had dinner dates throughout the next week... :-)

Tuesday (7th)

BB's Lawnside Bar-B-Que

(at 85th and Troost in KC, MO)

They had a live blues band playing that night - Trampled Underfoot. It was a great night, we had Amanda & John, Dave & Lois, Auggie, and the Dietze family all there -- we had a blast sitting outside, listening to music and having some beers! PBR bottles (I think they were bottles...) were the bucket special that night... ahhh, it reminded us all of college!

mmmm... ribs! The Dietze's and the Suckolics'

Cari & Christi enjoying their meal

(yes, the French fries are like a quartered potato...huge)

funny stuff... Lio & I

Preparations for Malaysia

So getting ready to move overseas after just getting married is a little more work than I thought initially! :-) I have made a fun little list of all the things we have had to do before we leave...

-- All new forms of ID... I just received my new DL, Passport, and Social Security Card. Also changing all my credit cards to my new name -- if not, I won't have any credit when we come back to the US.

-- I had to get an International Drivers License (IDL) at AAA - so that I can drive in Malaysia and get a local Malaysian Driver License.

-- List of Shots I Received: (over a month's time)
- 3 for Hepatitis A & B
- 3 for Japanese Encephalitis
- 1 Tetanus with Whooping Cough
- 3 live-virus pills for typhoid

-- We have stocked up on about $500 worth of cold/flu meds, ibuprofen, Tylenol, Rolaids, band aids, bug spray, deodorant, sunscreen, books, 6 months worth of prescriptions, etc. so that should get us through the next 6 months, at least.

-- Generally hoarding everything that I think we can't get there... especially summer clothes! Since I can only get summer clothes in the US during the summer, all other times I'll be here, I can't buy anything because we don't need sweaters! :-P

-- Set-up the SlingBox, so that we can watch updated and uncensored American TV over our computers in Malaysia.

-- Finish all wedding thank you notes before we leave for KL, almost done! :-)

More frequent and interesting posts to come once we get to KL!

-Rachael

Last days in Michigan ...

Here we go ...

... 2 days before Rachael and I get out of Michigan!
We finally gave back the keys of our apartment yesterday, quite sad, but this means another chapter to start: Malaysia, here we come !! Bye Bye Michigan !!

The relocation process is quite long, as the packers/movers came last week, and as you can see on the pictures, our place was a mess and full of boxes: it will be like Christmas when we will open them in Kuala Lumpur ... in 7 or 8 weeks! ;-)
I tried to help, but really ... didn't do much ;-)

Also, our travel bags for the trip are ready, even if we will be very packed with plenty of stuff!!
We bought lots of CDs, electric converters, etc ... I guess we are ready to leave.

Rachael will be in Kansas City at her parents' house this Saturday, and I will be in Ecuador for the next 3 weeks, before going back to the USA taking Rachael with me, and then flying to KL mid-July !!

See you soon around the globe, and Thanks to Michigan for a great start of my life together with Rach.

Lionel

Wedding Pictures & Moving Status

I know... this is supposed to be a blog about moving to Malaysia -- but I can't resist!

So we have finally gotten our wedding pictures up and running! Here is a link to the Picasa Web Albums... #1 and #2: (just click on any picture in the slideshow and it will take you to the Picasa Web Album)

(WARNING - Over 600 pictures... I am still in the process of picking out the "good ones" and putting them in a separate album. So unless you have lots of time on your hands... I'd wait for the other one! :-) )





Back to the move... So it has been a little while since we have posted, the move activities are taking up a huge part of my life right now... organizing, shopping, and stressing out in-general. Then I am trying to change my name with all the proper authorities... very time consuming stuff for sure. I'll be posting some more once we get our stuff packed up at the end of next week! :-)

Starting a New Chapter

So here we are, Lio and I -- husband and wife now! I can't believe that only 3 weeks ago, we were married -- makes me get a little teary-eyed even thinking about it again... It was wonderful to see our family and friends and share that special day with them!
The photographer is sending us our pictures today by mail... so I will post some here & facebook as soon as I get them! Very excited to see them!

The last three weeks we have been trying to decompress from all the stress that we had on us from the wedding. Now the stress is just changing -- from 'wedding' stress to 'moving' stress. We have really put off worrying about the move until after the wedding... I don't think we wanted to overshadow the wedding by making it all about the us leaving the country.

The move in question is our move from Royal Oak, MI to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (thus the blog) We are gearing up for it as we speak... the movers will be here on June 3rd, 4th, and 5th to pack us into our container that we will have shipped overseas. It should arrive there (before going through customs) around July 22nd. So hopefully we'll get our stuff by the beginning of August! (cross-my-fingers) I'll explain in a later post about the customs regulations and laws in Malaysia... but they are very restrictive.

WHY we are moving:
We are moving because of Lio's job -- he works for Lafarge as an Audit Manager in Southfield, MI and his office is closing this summer. The other two Audit offices are in Paris, France and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Due to the cost of living in Paris -- super expensive -- and that we might be back there sometime in our life (since Lio is from France), we chose the Malaysia option. The assignment will only be for around 2 years, so we are thinking of it as an adventure!

Everyone is welcome to visit, just give us a ring -- it's TROPICAL (85 to 95 deg. everyday of the year) and a few hours drive from Singapore, a short flight to Thailand, Bali, Philippines, and gorgeous beaches! We will have at least one guest bedroom and plenty of couch space! :-)