Results of My Vegan Diet

Do you think that all those nuts and berries are making me look fat? It seems to have caused my nose to get smaller though, hasn't it?

Now that my neighbour has been feeding me nothing but veggies, fruits, and nuts, I feel so much better, but there seems to be a serious growth in my face, wouldn't you say?

Sun is shining, birds are singing, and some crazy lizards are still chirping. Crazy lizards must not realize that it is the next day.  Their chorus is only during the night time hours.  I am now sitting at the computer awaiting a call from Ry, who is in India again, and hitting the upload button as I add files that have been awaiting a repaired website.  How droll.

As for that first picture, I cannot imagine how I have the nerve to post it.  But it does amuse me. I really DO NOT look like that. I play with my camera settings on the computer and that was the latest version of me while doing that.  I could not think of any other April Fools joke to play. April Fools is lost here. When you try to make a joke the locals take you seriously. So, you readers get to be my recipients. Now it might just come back and bite me. Many of you may just think that is exactly how I look.  For you, here is what I do look like, in a sepia version like the other, but hopefully with less chipmunk cheeks in my face. As for the vegan diet, it is great, and best of all - is delivered daily!

April Fools!

now back to work

Never Happy With What We Have, Are We?

Today, because it was pouring and thus compromised my internet, I took myself to my hairdresser for a trim.  While I waited in the chair for my turn I made an observation.

Seated next to me was an Orang Asi, which is the term used in Malaysia for the aboriginal people here.  Next to him was an elderly Chinese woman.  The Orang Asi was having a hair cut - a Farrah Fawcett kind of thing.  The aboriginals here have lovely black slightly curly hair. Curly enough just to kind of bounce around their head in a tousled kind of manner. Very attractive.  However, after the cut, he had his locks straightened with a straightening iron.  Why?  The Chinese lady was sitting patiently while her little plastic curlers did their magic to curl up her straight hair.  Once they were removed, there was a mass of little wee curlies adorning her head.  Why?

Now we come to me.  I went in for my usual trim, and Hoe does an incredible job.  Hoe, however, had other plans for me.  While I waited for my turn, she arrived with a brush of sorts and administered some gunk on the temples of my locks.  Not knowing what she did, and both of us compromised by language differences, I just accepted the treat she applied because she gave me the thumbs up when she finished doing this.  She always cuts my hair dry, but this gunky stuff was not dry, so she led me to the sinks.  Rinsed out the 'stuff' and took me back to the chair for the trim.  What was this magic stuff?  Well, I have been proudly nurturing my two little grey temples of hair that have sprouted last fall.  They tend to be kind of springy and a bit wavy, so I do my best to let them show.  I think I have earned the new colour and like to show it off in order to get the respect or whatever it is I think I might gain form owning these little bits of non colour.  Hoe had thought they were something to hide. She mixed up some dye and covered them with her magic wand.  Waaaaah.  Now I have to wait for them to grow out again and then probably give them a trim because they will be half and half.

What I deduced from my observation today is that whatever God gave us seems to be something we really did not want.  If we have straight hair, we want it curly, if we have curly hair, we want it straight.  As for myself, I was looking forward to being able to show off those grey temples a bit better with a fresh hair cut, but guess that is not going to happen any time soon.  I do know however, that over the years I have done all the things that these others in the salon did today. Like them, I felt it was something that made me look much better than if I had not.

Now I am looking for some way for others to see my full image just like those magic mirrors in British India shops that make you look fabulous in anything you try on.  Maybe I need to invent some kind of glasses that are mandatory for citizens to wear, whenever I am in view. Maybe they could also cause the viewer to see a 'touch of grey at the temples' too.

Raffi Comes to Malaysia

I am delighted that I found a way to get Raffi music for Malaysia.  Soon the little people here will be chanting Robin in the Rain and Baby Beluga just like my own children many years ago.  Thanks to Jason who got this ball rolling and to Raffi who made it happen.

I will definitely post a You Tube of the singers once the music is here, practiced, and performed.  Maybe Down by the Bay will be the first recital - watermelons are everywhere. It is funny how the songs have been stored in my bean over the years. When I think of Raffi I can (badly) sing all the tunes because they never leave one's memory.  My grandson can attest to that from the various car trips we took together and sang along with his and my own favourites.

This morning I will be visiting classrooms and having photos taken of me with the kiddos.  Guess I better figure out a way to tame my unruly hair. The M o E wants pictures of me interacting with the children.  I have tons of photos of the children, but being the photographer; none of myself.  Yesterday I visited a class that remembered me reading Hand Hand Fingers Thumbs to an entire school assembly. After playing several learning games and reading a book, they kept pounding on their desks and saying monkeys.  They loved that story and wanted it now! It was quite fun, and very loud.  I did not have the book with me but that did not matter. We sang it from memory and I was accompanied by all of them with actions and voice.  The applause when it is over makes me think that I might just trick myself into thinking I am a gifted singer.

I got the best feedback yesterday regarding my travelling library.  While at a school, the teacher approached me and said that her students would not settle down for the class she had prepared.  Many students were handing her story books that they brought from home and wanted her to read them. Seems that what I intended to happen with the library books they read in the little cart is happening here.  Once she read one of the stories, they settled into working.  I pointed out that what I wanted was for the children to 'want to read, not have to read' and that is exactly what is happening.  A very nice way to end a week, huh?

I now am imagining Raffi songs and various books that have been burned into the hard drive of the brains of these kids being chanted throughout the corridors of the schools in the very near future. The books are already being chanted; now time for the songs.

On Tonight's Menu...

A wonderful bowl of steaming cabbage soup with a generous side of Xiao Bai Chai.

I don't know if you who are reading this agree, but a life without vegetables is a life not very good.  If you think about it, eating meat is wonderful, but I could not imagine just eating meat with no vegetables involved.  On the other hand, eating vegetables, if you prepare them as my neighbour does, you don't even miss the meat. Truly.  I tucked immediately into the soup, and was in heaven.  It was a clear, kind of watery event, but the flavour was unlike anything I have slurped back in the past.   Laden with corn chunks and carrots it was fit for a king, or I guess a mentor.   And as always, I make sure no one is around when I nosh on the xiao bay chai. I don't like to share that.  I sure hope I learn how to prepare it like Yeet does. I love the stuff so much I even like my own version.

Of course I put my homemade lentil soup that had been warming on the induction cooker back in the fridge. It will be fine for breakfast.

Lotus Root for Dinner

Sorry, not a very good photo. Does not do the treat justice!  But I was ravenous last night and the food was there, so one click is all it got.  Lotus root is very tasty. Not sure many neighbours in Canada would look kindly upon me if I pulled the lotus flowers out of their ponds to make dinner. But here they seem to be a dime a dozen.  They are also very good for you. Full of all sorts of nutrients and fiber, and very low in calories.

Drove home today in what I guess would be called a 'white out' in monsoon terms adopted from blizzards back home.  When I travel in these conditions I really try to remember to keep my driver side window up, which I did today, and then just mosey along in the slower lane.  Worked today.  Now in my snuggly clothes I will settle in and get some work done and watch the rain fall on my lovely flowering shrubs.  Nice too knowing I just got a free car wash.  Nature is the only car wash I take advantage of here.  I take the attitude that if my car looks uncared for, it will also look unappealing to those who like to take things from an unattended car. That also works.

Back to Work

Now with B P seeming to be normal, I don the duds and return to the trenches.  Most distant school is my route today.

I am looking forward to delivering the cart of books for this school so that they can practice their ABC's and play Sahibba.  Some will also read some of the more difficult books I have piled into the cart.

Time to dash.

Fire Trucks and Fires

Arriving home from the doctor, I heard fire trucks travelling down my sleepy roadway.  I also could hear some noise from the upstairs of my home, so dashed up there to see what was wrong. Coming through one of the back bedroom windows was a cloud of smoke.  There is a large berm behind my house where once a jungle stood before our houses were built.  Over the berm is a massive orchard nursery that grows and exports the lovelies to you.

Seems one of my neighbours wants to take over this berm to grow vegetables. Not a bad idea; especially if I get to be a recipient. Also a very good idea, because the flora that grows naturally on the floor of a jungle is a perfect habitat for the fauna I do not want to meet - cobras and pythons.  However, he decided to clear the land by lighting a fire.  It was quite amusing to watch the firemen attempt to extinguish the flames.  For some reason, they wear camouflage uniforms; I guess to sneak up on the fire, or maybe to hide from what the fire fleshes out.  There he stood with a hose with less pressure than my own patio hose for my flowers.  He would wave the hose wildly, kind of like the Pope sprinkling holy water on the masses, in hopes that the drizzle of water that found its way out of the hose would reach the flames engulfing the palm trees.  Didn't work. But the truck soon left once the monsoon settled in; knowing that nature would take over and repair the damage.  

As for the doctor visit, she kept me there until she could take 3 normal BP readings in a row. I worked hard at making this happen, and then realized I was just keeping it elevated. So, I settled down and watched the replacement for India, A Love Story on the waiting room television and naturally lowered my BP in the process.  Who could not calm down when watching Daffy Duck and the Tazmanian Devil?

Allergies and B P

Now off to the doc to see what the B P reading is. Seems that the allergies and B P elevation have a common thread. I do hope that this time it is lower. I do not want to deal with this and wish it would just go away.  Wish me luck.

Thanks Alison for talking me out of the snit I got myself into over this!

Maybe I need to pick up a scrabble game and calm down.

Math

I just watched a documentary on Chinese writing and mathematics. Seems that the discipline and logic used in writing in Chinese is the same as that in mathematics.  Especially geometry.  So, my conclusion is that because I am not Chinese, I cannot help the fact that I am terrible in all things mathematical. It also can guarantee that I will not even try to learn how to write anything in Chinese.

Of course the documentary was much deeper than this gleaning. But, because it was about mathematics I tended to zone out many times. I think I captured the essence.

Scrabble

For those who know me, you will be delighted to hear I have found some scrabble players.  Now, because I bought some stupid game called Sahibba, I have to go and buy a scrabble game.  I will donate the Sabibba game to the travelling library.  It was advertised as a scrabble type of game but it is not at all.

Yeet and her friend Yin dropped in this afternoon and watched me laminate flashcards for this week. They both promised they will play scrabble with me. And we will bring the kids over too and it will improve their English too.   Jeng, Yeet's son came over today but was clearly bored with our conversation.  So I gave him a box of Curious George books to look at and before you knew it, he was reading all of them.

I don't care that I will not have a challenge in the game, initially. It is my hope that I will have to work to win within a few months.  So, who knows, if I get enough people to play scrabble with I don't know when I will come back to Canada.

And of course, I was given some kind of Chinese medicine for these allergies I have developed lately.  Nothing serious, just plant things that will eventually go away once the plants finish whatever cycle they are in. But with one dose of the stuff I already can breath better than I did with all the sack of stuff I got from the doctor.

Now to get the stuff ready for tomorrow. It will be a long day. Long in comparison to the usual days anyway.

Shopping List

Buy new kitchen tongs and paper towels.

I am brave.

Gecko and tongs in trash.

Sorry little guy - I bet you wish you paid attention in swimming lessons now.

Alone again, and more Saturday drivel AND Geckos Can't Swim

What I learned today was that bleach works exactly the same in Malaysia as it does in North America.  Guess the reverse spiral of things flushing down drains does not affect bleach effects.  Now I own a lovely blue towel with artistically placed white fluffy clouds.  I could not have done this as cleverly if I tried. Also a lovely tan linen dress that looks like I dyed it in a 1960s tie-dye kitchen. 

I think I wrote somewhere on this blog that once I gave away all my CD’s I would NEVER purchase another.  Well, I am not very good at keeping a promise.  Coming back from Singapore I carried 3 new CD’s in my satchel to add to my assortment that I bought a few months ago.  The lucky neighbours are getting a treat of my mixture of ABBA, Michael Jackson and the Gypsy Kings while I clean and do further damage to my laundry.

I wonder if my kids will have a chuckle reading these posts when I am pushing up daisies somewhere in this world; that is if I ever get around to publishing it.  I haven’t managed to amass a great deal of wealth to leave them, but if they ever have the energy, they can come to Malaysia and witness my legacy here.  The Madam Frances Library will live on long after I am gone, and children here can enjoy the silly books I have been reading to them.

So, why am I here?  I have wondered that often.  We always discover the reason we thought we did something was not really the end reason for doing it.  I don’t think I will even try to guess this one.  I have had so many epiphanies about this and each one over rides the former. Maybe I was put here to learn that you should never reach under your bed thinking you are reaching for a large black shiny twist tie.  It could be a baby cobra!

Right now, my purpose in life is trying to figure out how to get an overwhelmed gecko out of my kitchen sink. I washed a tall glass vase and was tossing the soapy water from the dishpan into the sink. Spying some wriggly object, I ran more water and discovered a drenched gecko.  I have tossed several clean glasses of water on him to see if he will try to leave, but to no avail.  Argh.  I liked the fact that we have established an agreement of not invading each other’s space, and I am not interested in doing mouth to mouth or CPR on the little guy.  I do draw a line.  I may never wash dishes again – at least until he dries up or moves on.   Can geckos swim?

All those silly people who keep telling me I am so brave should be reading this.  Can’t really claim any bravery in my makeup while I contemplate Gordon’s relative in my sink and the need to wash dishes.  I just took another look at the little guy. He is definitely much darker than a normal gecko. Kinda dark brown; not tan.  Last time I saw that, I swept up the critter and disposed of him in the trash.  I wonder how long it will take for him to dry out?

Drat, the last glass of water just drenched him and he did nothing.  Now what?  No one around to rescue me, I just can't pick up this little guy. I just can't.  I guess I answered my first question.  Geckos clearly cannot swim.

Waterman Wong deserves his own page

While I had house guests this month, I was lucky enough to have them stay home awaiting Waterman Wong's arrival to repair plumbing.  I had taken up residence on the sofa and used the main floor loo while the guests were here.  Slipping into the main floor bathroom one morning, I truly did slip across the floor before the overhead light fought its way into the on position.  Seems that the bathroom above had leaked a substantial amount of water into this room.  I fell dramatically on my left knee and lay there moaning in a heap on the ceramic floor.  After composing myself I figured out that nothing was broken - only badly bruised.  But what pain! (that was resolved with Yeet and her Chinese medicine the next day)  Now what?  Lucky for all of us, the landlady (in training) arrived that day and dispatched Waterman Wong to my home the next day.

I came home after work to a rather quiet subdued lot.  Seems Wong had climbed a ladder to survey the damage from below, and found himself flying through the air from 15 feet above the floor.  The ladder, like many items made from metal in Malaysia was more of aluminum foil quality than actual aluminum construction to hold the weight of a body.  He grabbed at anything along the way but unsuccessfully broke the fall. On the way down he grabbed a mirror, which shattered into shards of glass everywhere, the bathroom sink, which miraculously did not break when it hit the floor, and the head of the shower, allowing water to spew forth into the chaos.  Landing on the floor, he was uninjured, and collected himself up to survey the damage.  First thing in order - a new ladder.  That completed, he repaired the plumbing problem, then began to reset the undamaged sink. This was not as successful. He dropped the sink and finally crack it in half.  Off to a shop to buy a new one.  And best of all, he managed to increase the water flow in ALL THE BATHROOMS. Sinks and toilets.  Now, a gush of water hits you so hard you think you have turned on a hydrant.  I guess sand is in the water and it blocks the flow eventually.  Glad that the house guests were here. Otherwise I would be waiting until some time in May to get this work done.  And, they followed him around to point out all the other problems that I had learned to live with.

Now equipped with G force toilets and sink faucets, I can flush and turn on taps to my heart's content.  Funny how little things like this can bring such joy.  As for the new sink, I have been advised that it does not really fit the base - it is larger than the other - so DO NOT LEAN ON IT.  Could begin a whole new flood. I gaze on this wonderful sink and think I am truly blessed. It is larger, deeper, and shinier than the one it replaced.  Still only a one tapper - and off to the right, I comfort myself in knowing that I can wash my hands in record time and even remove all the soap from that wash.  Sometimes this exercise takes longer than the toilet tank to recover. Wow!  Still not sure how I remove the sand from the faucets, but that is not an issue just yet. And I have Waterman Wong in my address book in the blackberry. So who cares.

Xiao Bai Cai aka Chow Pi Chi

Could not turn off the computer until I found the correct spelling of my favourite veggie here.  Now to retain this for future reference.

g'nite

Glad it is TGIF

I probably returned to work too early. The doc told me to stay home this week, but I got antsy and returned on Wednesday, with the promise I would go for a blood test for the ever present dengue fever in my system.  Didn't do it today.  Too tired to bother with that. Now, weary, fell asleep on the sofa for a bit and awoke to the music of 'hello' at my gate.  Yeet, being the caregiver and best friend, sent Friday night dinner with her daughters huddled under a bumbershoot as protection from the pounding rain.  Always paying attention, she has sent me three dishes - all of which she knows are my favourite foods.
For today, I will call it Bok Choy, simply because I cannot remember how to spell the correct Mandarin name. If I were to write it phonetically, it would look like this: Chow Pie Chi, (very bad spelling though)
And a plateful of cucumbers alongside that irresistible vegetable curry.

Lucky me.  Bon Apetit

I never knew a potato could taste so heavenly when it has been stewed in curry leaves.  She is going to turn me in to a vegetarian one of these days!

Hard at Work Kids

Here are the neighbour children preparing the door bars for the new screen.

Don't think they were thrilled about the job, but then mom did not give them an option.  Auntie Frances picked up a jug of Welch's grape juice as a reward!

More Generous Gifts

While snivelling and not hearing a word because of the incredibly plugged up head I heard the familiar  'hello' at my gate.  Yeet arrived with a tape measure.  She went to work, measuring my french doors to the patio.  All day long, she was back with the tape measure and pieces of screen.  She was so fearful that I would contract dengue again that she screened the doors so that I could keep them open for fresh air.  What a treat!  Now with most of the front of my house open to nature, with a barrier of screens to keep out critters and skeeters, I am the only resident in our complex that has this amenity.  I told her that when I leave Malaysia she must uninstall them and take them to her own home.

Of course, no money is accepted for this latest kindness. So now to figure out how to pay her in another way.  Munching on fresh watermelon slices she brought was what I did that afternoon, while surveying the jungle across the street and drifting in and out of consciousness induced by antihistamines that would set an ox on its behind.  Not too shabby huh? I waited in anticipation for the soap opera "India, a Love Story" to come on TV. I loved watching the dramatic vignettes with music much like 'Chariots of Fire' and slow motion movement that were a regular theme. Always gave me a giggle. Sadly, they must have replaced it with some other drivel.  I was just getting hooked on the storyline.  There is no such thing as a TV guide here, so you just turn on the set and see what will happen.

So, how does one pay a kind and generous person for all she does? She is a vegetarian with very specific foods in her diet, does not drink alcohol, and has no interest in material things. I bought her a chair that someone told me she really liked (like one that she admired in my own house).  Turns out she did not like it for herself, she knew her mother would love one. At least I was able to provide something she wanted, but even then she never wants anything for herself. Any ideas?

Sure would be nice to evolve into a person like this on this latest journey I have embarked upon. Maybe that should be my goal.

A good video

After my nightmare trip back to Malaysia that I ranted about for several posts I am thinking I might have some fun making a video like this dude made.  He flew United and got no resolution to a broken guitar they managed to hand back to him.  How about a broken spirit after the nonsense I experienced with our 'national' carrier all in the spirit of corporate greed?  Could be fun making a video depicting that.

Here is the one sent to me regarding the guitar.  Here's the video http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=5YGc4zOqozo

As for compensation, the guitar player did not get anything from United, but he did get two new guitars from the company that makes them.  Maybe I can get a makeover once some cosmetic, aesthetic, and cosmetic surgery companies see how I looked after my journey.

For now, I get to enjoy my own 'private library' donated to me by my house guest who was cycling in Viet Nam before she arrived.  What a treat to actually have enough books to read that I have to choose one.  Right now, on the menu is The Litigators, a John Grisham novel.  Very funny one - I recommend it to you if you want to read something light and funny.

Better Look Intelligent Now

I have just been advised that RRU has picked up my blog for alumni and their social media channels.  What started out as a report to friends back home has turned into a journal or reflection of my daily encounters and adventures.  No more typing errors, spelling mistakes, or rambling and badly constructed paragraphs - Gilbert or Michael might be reading. Being a past student and ongoing employee of RRU, I hope that what I learn while living here comes back to Canada through documentaries and essays that would have given me good grades had they been marked.

I have had a few house guests from the western world and would enjoy more.  Coming home to people who need no explanation of the words I choose makes me realize that I need that contact now and then.  Anyone who knew me at the school is most welcome to visit.  Just be prepared for a very different way of life and extremely hot conditions.  If you can face that with a smile, you will also enjoy this fascinating place.  When dashing to the Pasar Malam for a coconut shake being the highlight of one's week becomes something to look forward to, then you know that you have passed the test of living in Kota Tinggi as a foreigner. I am now like the locals.  When I see a westerner I tend to chat them up.  It is so exciting to see someone from my own culture. Being surrounded by wonderful new friends that bring dinner, local medicines, and build window screens for you to keep dengue fever at bay are just a few of the wonderful experiences I have had. Being the ONLY white woman in this city makes me very visible to all.  They all know me; I am beginning to know many of them.  The KFC manager, the 7-11 guy, BHP petrol jockey, and many others greet me on the street - I am beginning to sort out who they are and those I can't I now ask. I have even been stopped by a woman, in a driving monsoon as I picked my way back to my car after going to the bank.  Holding up traffic, she would not let me go before she got my phone number.  Seems she wants me to attend her wedding. I sure hope I figure out who she is before that date.  I have attended a few weddings already.  It is no surprise to arrive home to my community and find marquees set up where we need to drive our cars to our car parks.  They can remain there for a week or so.  When a neighbour gets married, the community comes to the event.  I am now part of that community.

While I have your attention, I might as well make my pitch.  I have started a travelling library for the schools I work with.  I have managed to amass enough Dr. Seuss books to have a library cart at three schools now. It began with 8 books and has turned into 200 through my shopping while back in Canada and the generous donations of Canadians.  Second hand books come to me through the mail and get added to the inventory to make this dream I had a reality.  My goal is to have a cart at all five schools and then move them weekly so that the children have new books on a regular basis. Some of my colleagues have begun to see the value in this library and have expressed interest in how to begin their own.  It is a personal cost, but the reward is profound.  If we each have a library for each of our five schools, then we can trade with each other and bring more books to the students through this format. The only thing they have had access to for English books until this began was Aesop's Fables, which are too dense and complicated for this young audience learning a new language. You cannot imagine the glee when Madam Frencees arrives with the cart. Here is a photo of the first cart arriving at a school to show you how they reacted. If this project interests you, please leave a message on the blog and I will respond with how to get them here.

 choosing a book

There are no Seuss books here, so the experience is like magic to these kids.  They giggle and enjoy the books as much as any kids in North America

Congee for the Patient

My family can be assured I am always looked after when ill in this part of the world. I have had about 10 showers today - after each time I wrap myself in whatever semblance of a blanket I can find and shiver like crazy and then go limp in a pool of sweat. Perhaps I should say ' a glow', but sweat is more descriptive of the action.  Yeet arrived at the gate with the usual food offering, and came in to assess my health.  I explained I had seen a doctor and was on antibiotics. The goofy guy told me clearly to take the full 5 days for the prescription as it was a very strong medicine and required the full dose.  Problem is; he gave me enough for 4 days.  So after Yeet went on to measure my french doors, because she intends to build me screens for those doors, I decided I would take myself to the doctor office and pick up the final day of my prescription that was not given the other day.  Stopping in there, I found dozens of bodies in various poses, moaning, chattering, and looking like I did not want to sit beside any of them.  Doing an about turn, I left the clinic and headed to Kota Jaya.  The Pasar Malam was on.  A coconut shake was waiting for me.  Found a close parking spot and took my sack of ringgits and toddled down to the shake man.  I knew what I had to do.  I ordered one shake, and began to slurp it up the straw. Then, with addiction satisfied, I ordered 6 more.  A crowd gathered to watch this foreigner attempt to drink 7 shakes. I assured them I was taking them to others.  Not sure that was believed.  But with several little bag-like efforts strung on the shakes (Jan knows what I mean about that configuration) I headed back to the car.  Turning on the air conditioning full-blast, which is not my style, I drove homeward.  The shakes needed the help or they would have been murky pools on the seat of my car otherwise.  Good thing I came home with gifts.  Yeet was sending her daughter over to my house with rice congee for the patient.  So, I took my gift home and enjoyed the happy faces receiving coconut shakes topped with yam ice cream.  (I did tell the vendor that the vanilla with chocolate sprinkles really should be an option at all times)

even my hair turned yellow

So my belly full of rice congee (which really is not bad - kinda honey flavoured mucky rice) and a coconut shake I am ready for another shower and hit the sack.  Tomorrow I will face the clinic again - I still have one more day of the prescription and would hate to have taken this crap and not finished the course.

G'nite

Seaside Lunch View

Perched above the sunbathers and below the pool bathers, we tucked into some fine dining - but must admit that I forgot what I had.  BUT, you can be sure there was no chicken involved.

Elephants for Levi

As I promised, here are the elephants I saw one night. The little grey one is a girl and is 1 1/2 years old. The darker one is also a girl but she is already 2 years old. They were so darn cute. They would let you put your hand in their mouth to give them a banana.  The little girl stuck her trunk at my head and blew on me.  They also like to wrap their trunk around you - I think they are hugging.

Baby Chana with a bit of bed head

The big girl happily accepting a banana

Baby girl wants one too

Elephants at the entrance to the resort where we had a seaside lunch

glass art and hotel lobbies

Stayed at a hotel in Singapore that had a lobby filled with glass art.  Wondered if I could skip taking a towel from the room and just lift one of these objects and mail to my friend Marie.  I opted to not do it. So below is for Marie to enjoy.  As for the towels, I feel like my head is full of towels, but that is an allergy, not a light fingered hotel guest. I left with only what I took to the hotel.

As you might be able to see, they are glass objects that look very much like sting rays, shells, and various sea creatures with back lighting to make them sparkle and come to life.  This was about as much culture as I experienced at that level this past week. But proud to say that I did not take in any meals at McD's or KFC.

Happy St Paddy's Day

Home at last - sad to leave my buddy in Singapore.  We had a wonderful visit - I was so lucky to have friends actually make the journey to where I live and see how I live here.  Their time here opened their eyes to a different way of living, and they stepped up to the experience with open hearts. Thank you both.

Now listening to dancing queen on Abba Gold.  Good memories of our dancing and prancing about my home while we were all here.  Oops, I recall saying 'no more cd's for this girl'.  Just picked up 3 in Singapore to help me through times when I just wanna hear western words.  No more.

Tomorrow will post Phuket pictures. For now - finding a doc that can clear my stuffed head to allow me to hear things around me.

Cheers to the green - I still have some Jamieson's in my kitchen - complements of house guests! Maybe this is important here.  He drove the snakes out of Ireland.  Now he needs to make sure they are out of Kota Tinggi too!

Meandered to the dr. this afternoon after I got home.  Bit of a challenge - I mistakenly took two heavy duty antihistamines this morning instead of two pain pills.  Not a great thing to have in the system and try to navigate the roads of Kota Tinggi.  Really needed some relief from whatever I managed to pick up because I cannot hear anything and have a very congested head.  Seems all is inflamed - so of course the dispensing of  a pharmacy that could match any retail outlet is now in my home.  Also given a week leave from work, due to the antihistamines he gave me. I think I will ignore that one, but definitely will stay home for a day or so to get back into a clear head.

Adieu Phuket, Hello Singapore

We gathered our belongings and flew back to Singapore. I knew my mission here in Singapore was not something my friend would enjoy, so let her off the hook to go and find out how much she could look at, touch, and spend while I collected my laptop left here for repairs.

We had a great time together in Phuket.  Finding good watering holes and otherwise just loafing about was my goal.  Mission accomplished.  I think my favourite part of the whole trip was having all the locals who tried to give directions, answer questions, and be helpful in many ways confirm that what I have been telling Jan is all true.  Once home (tomorrow), I will embellish the trip details with some photos and more words. But for now, the computer shall get stowed in the travel bag, take a rest at the hotel alongside my weary body and await the veteran shopper to return before wanting to refuel and hit the town again.

Afternoon Tea in Kota Tinggi

After a flurry of shopping and cleaning, we entertained Yeet and her family and friend from Singapore for tea at the house Saturday afternoon.  Always trying to be sure of what can be safe to serve to vegans with diet concerns, we still goofed. The food fair, or known here as Pasar Malam was offering some kind of cookie that was promised to be egg free and all else.  Once opened, they looked more like small dense donuts or maybe a bun of sort, but on a plate they went and were offered.  After noticing there were no takers, Yeet volunteered the reason - we eat no onions.  Onions I thought, what the heck. So I cracked one open and sure enough - onions.  Bizarre, who puts onions in cookies?  So, those still sit in my kitchen awaiting the trash man.  Otherwise, the tea party went well, I presented a chair to Yeet because someone told me how much she admired my two chairs I own. Finally a way to pay her for the generous daily food delivery and wonderful Chinese medicine that arrives whenever I have some odd ailment.  She shyly sat it in, because I had made a sign indicating "Yeet's Chair" before they arrived.  Turns out she loved the chair but was thinking of her mother when she spoke about it. So, the chair will not be living in Kota Tinggi - it will travel to Pontian (south west of here, on the west coast looking on the shores of Indonesia).

Today I hope that we take it easy.  I need to gather my few things to take to Phuket and then methodically close up the house for the time I will be away.  Still have to go to the wifi cafe to book the hotel.  I sure hope they are up and running today.

And of course, after the tea party, the guests departed, a few minutes later the familiar 'hello' at the gate.  Hoo carrying a dish and Wee Wee accompanying him with another, we had our dinner once again.  Beautiful lotus root sliced and dressed with vinegar and sprinkled with sesame seeds.  And, knowing my  joy whenever curry is around, some sort of vegetable bits sprinkled with curry leaves.  I have been told not to eat the curry leaves, but today the message was all the leaves are completely edible in this dish.  They were flash fried or something, making them crunch in your mouth like delicate potato chips bursting with that magnificent curry flavour.

Hoo sweety acknowledges my thank your with a low bow and 'welcome'.  I have been trying very hard to learn Mandarin for 'thank you' and 'your welcome'.  Yesterday, I did my thank you in Mandarin, which caused a broad grin on his face.  Xiexie is thank you in Mandarin.  I am still working on your welcome, but need cue cards each time. 'Buyongkeqi' your welcome' in Mandarin is not easy to remember or pronounce.

Bon Apetit.  It was marvellous.

Sate in Kota Jaya

Our order almost ready!

It is not often I open my gates and venture out in the evening once home from work. But with company, and a disagreement in Giant food store; I returned to the nest without dinner for us.  Ah, I will give Sate Man another chance. He hangs his shingle by a back alley near my BHP petrol station. House guest was willing, so about 7 pm, after calling and confirming that he would be there by 6:30, we arrived at the stall to find no activity.  I called him again, and found he decided not to go.  The familiar phrase " Tomorrow I go, come then"  Irritated, but certainly not surprised, I disconnected the call.  Now where?  We began the journey to the city centre to see who has what to feed us, that is NOT Malay food. Chinese was on the roster, but where?  My favourite place is closed for the month.  Right!  Kota Jaya, which I had promised to take Jan to at some point. Good thing she remembers things. So off we set in that direction. I have never been there at night.  Parking the chariot, we began to walk the streets in search of a place to dine.  Resolved to dining on Chinese, we came upon a place with a sign "Sate 50 Sens".  Wow, good luck was ours!  No, not really; after finally finding a patron who could speak English, we discovered that the Sate Man has not shown up for about 4 days.  Must me my own sate man that was supposed to be there.  Ok, let's try Chinese again. Crossing the street, our nostrils were greeted with the aroma of SATE.  There before our eyes was a woman fanning the delicious morsels of sate.  Without skipping a beat, I ordered 20 chicken, twenty beef, (there are never any mutton - and most certainly never any lamb).  Order was to take away - meaning we will munch on them at home.

While I sat and watched the tidbits being prepared, Jan went wandering to find out what else was available. With package in hand, we traipsed over to a local Chinese eatery, where we served ourselves PORK, veggies, rice, and cabbage.  Good eats, our tummies full, we carried our Sate bag and found yet another Sate Man - with different bits of meat on sticks. His were much larger, and he even had the elusive mutton (never gonna find lamb here).  Noted, I will return to this feeding spot again - and know that sate man in my speed dial can now be deleted.  We are going back to this place later today.  Our hostess at the Chinese eatery told us that every Friday afternoon until 9 pm is a street fair in Koat Jaya, so of course we have to take that in to really understand Kota Jaya and Kota Tinggi before Jan leaves.  Plus, now I know what I will do on my Friday nights in the future. No more watching India, a Love Story for my Friday night amusement.  Hanging out at the street fair has taken over.

I think the order of finding this spot was timely.  Probably never would have been such a delight after a first class vacation prior to landing here if it had been offered at the onset of the visit.  But after being a nursemaid for the other guest, a housekeeper and laundress for all of us, this little jewel was very much a delight.  After our adventure today we will be able to sit and contemplate our next adventure in Phuket and how we plan to indulge our senses there.

Chinese Medicine Rocks!

The event of water damage and Waterman Wong repairing it all left me with a knee that fell heavily to the floor as I slid through the water in the first place.  Landing on ceramic tiles on an already injured knee was not what I wanted just before a vacation.  I could barely walk today, but had to climb many a stair and worse yet, descend them at the schools.  Yeet greeted me warmly as I arrived home, with her daughter and she taking up visitation with me on the patio.  She brought some kind of beverage made from some kind of flower (brought that to show me) and told me to drink it.  We decanted it into a pitcher and poured me a glass.  Then, she brought out some kind of Chinese herbal medicine patch and plastered gently onto my knee.  I could not stay to visit long - I had a nightmare bank visit that turned into something worse than I could have imagined. But it resolved somewhat, so I will keep the faith that things do eventually work to some degree here in you know where.  On my return, Yeet dashed over to my gate to see how my knee was.  Incredibly, I had noticed at the bank that it did not hurt, I could lift it into the car without having to carry my leg inside, and then I demonstrated for her that I could move my knee in all directions, except backwards of course.  I am sold on Chinese medicine. I have no idea what is in the stuff but if faith is the only requirement, I will demonstrate my faith at every corner.

Now in my nest, I decided that a run through with the vacuum was definitely in order. I heard the familiar 'hello' at my gate once I turned off the vacuum cleaner.  They were amazed that I could do housework when only hours earlier I could barely walk. I was too.  Still worrying, Yeet told me to take a bath and get to bed.  Or maybe she just wants some quiet in the neighbourhood and figured that was a polite way to phrase it. As for vacation time, I will be happy to demonstrate to my travel partner the motions I can make with these gams.  That, of course will be after she tells me how annoyed she is that she left her I Phone plugged in the charger here under my desk.  I saw that in the cleaning frenzy a few hours ago.  Good thing I lent her my spare phone I have here, so at least we can communicate when she gets back into the country.

As for the bank story, you would not believe it if I told you. So I won't bother.  I wonder if I have high blood pressure now?

House Guests, Plumbers, and other stuff

I kept thanking my house guests for the incredible help I was given with their presence.  Waterman Wong could have never done his magic had they not been here.  As I swanned off to work in my chariot, the two were in charge of staying home to receive his presence to repair one of my bathrooms.  I had numerous calls from the landlord always telling me is ETA, which I passed on to the ladies.  First arrival was the landlord (not really the landlord - he died) but his relatives and Waterman.  Bringing the ladder.  Remember, the ceiling in this palace, are about 15 feet on the main floor. He needed to access the upper bathroom from the main floor to see what was going on.  Things digressed from the arrival of the ladder. The giggles and recounting of events was most entertaining.  Once he returned to begin the job, apparently, he toppled from the ladder because it collapsed. You can only understand this once spending time here. Aluminum 'things' here are like aluminum foil with the same strength.  Down from the apex, the grabbed anything to break his fall which resulted in my basin being pulled from it's roots, then the shower head ripped from the wall - leaving a gaping scar along the way, and in the mix, the mirror tilted on the little sink and anything else that was in his path.  He somehow managed to salvage the sink from this massacre, but then once ready to reinstall it, managed to drop it and crack it in half. Alas, another trip to the shops to replace the broken vessel.  Once I arrived home, the house had been swabbed, the sink replaced, Louise making sure he repaired all the deficiencies that I have been told to live with.  Sinks that would dribble far less than a refined lady could spit, toilets that caused angst when you needed more than one flush, and a new shower head.  Yes, I do have good friends. That is why they joined me in my humble home.  And I, the hero, who was earning a living in the big city was wise enough to drop into Nando's and ask them to deliver dinner to the school I was working so that I could dash back and feed the hungry workers.

I am sad to see the end of this wonderful group we built in just one week - including several days of one of the group ailing.  Thank God they are leaving in shifts - I don't think I could survive with a full exodus tomorrow.

So, the result of today was a clean home, full bellies of Nando food and my wonderful Yeet offering of curried vegetables (because she knew my friend would love it too) and a few videos that really should be viral You tubes (but I promised not to do it) as we danced to the music of our youth that was part of their journey over this way, and last but not least, another name and 2 numbers in my blackberry with Waterman Wong as the saviour of the water woes in Kota Tinggi.

Seeing What I Do and Doing What I Do

Took the two house guests on my rounds the last two days to see where I go every day.  To give you an idea of where we were, here are a couple of pictures of two of the schools.  One, the Chinese school as you enter, shows mud, construction site, and not much else. That is the environment for the next year or so, and yet they seem to be able to cope with this and still be very much leading in the learning area compared to the other schools I work with.

On our journey to the next school, I stopped at a typical row of shops to buy them cold drinks, and they were completely fascinated with this box.  Inside the box was some chickens - I think 4 or so. So you can imagine how crammed they were inside. In the hot sun.  And behind the box, you see a stump; embedded in the stump is a cleaver.  Dinner anyone?

The Tamil school head mistress was warned of my guests arriving, so she waited with anticipation in her office - entertaining all of us very kindly before we took part in a classroom activity of each reading to the children before I played a game with them.  I think everyone enjoyed themselves.  Many photos were taken from the top floor of the school because the visa takes in Singapore downtown, which is only about 10 miles from where we were.  

House guests are Troopers!

This morning, after rising from the night rain beating on the house, we all surveyed the landscape.  Everyone was still 'in' for the books reading at two schools today.  I think the rain is letting up a bit, but I also think these two will get their fill of air conditioning. At this point, they love air conditioning and have even decided to share the bedroom that has it in my house.  But, rain here, means running the air conditioning full blast in the car, on a body that has been assaulted with rain on the dash to the vehicle.  Cold and wet, one sits in their seat, wishing it was a bit warmer because the temperature of the air that blasts at you does nothing to dry your clothing.

Maybe some photos to show what we did - later today.