At this very moment I’m sitting in the laptop room in our Sydney hostel. I definitely expected it to be filthy and cramped, but it isn’t at all. This hostel is spacious and fully furnished… many people are hovering over the kitchen counters eating their food civilly and people on the lounge couches watching television on a flat-screen TV. The hostel is so close to everything! I love it.
My sister and I are beginning to acquire an Aussie accent unconsciously. I’m not complaining. I love hearing Aussies chatter around me. Plus, everyone is tall here. I am no more “Di-Yong”, but a normal sized human being (until my 10 days in Australia are over… I’ll be making my way to Penang, Singapore).
Today, the family and I went to the Sydney Fish Market and ate the best seafood platter of my life. I am allergic to some specific shellfish and wasn’t paranoid eating this dish as I happily popped fried lobster balls and oysters into my mouth. It was too delicious for me to worry. It was only five minutes after eating I felt like I was about to fall into a deep eating coma. Thankfully, no major allergic reactions happened. We walked towards Darling Harbour and sat on the docks in warmer weather than Melbourne (thank god).
While my sister and I were sitting on a bench, we had a short encounter with a strange man. He came up behind us as we were looking a map of Sydney and casually tried to start conversation with us. “It’s a nice view, isn’t it?” he coyly enunciated. “Yeah,” I responded politely. Then there was an awkward silence. “So… Can I have your number?” he asked with a grin on his face. “Sorry, we don’t live here.” I told him. He then slowly turned his back to us and left our seating area to hit on some other girl.
My family and I made our way to the National Maritime Museum. By that time, fatigue started to hit us all and we left for the grocery store. We crossed the Pyrmont Bridge and I took a bazillion photos. In my opinion, the view of Darling Harbour prettier than any Vancouver harbour. We reached a shopping strip on Pitt Street very similar to Robson Street. Everything is super expensive here though. I found out minimum wage is $18 so I guess that makes sense. It’s night time, I’ll be blogging soon.
Love,
Elle. xoxo
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Day 9 - Sydney, Australia (July 11, 2011)
We’ve arrived in the Big Hostel right in the heart of downtown Sydney that’s just a 15 minute walk to the Sydney Opera House. I’m sitting in the common room that’s pretty nice where travellers are eating breakfast and we’re waiting for our room to be de-occupied. Coffee is definitely needed right now at 7:46am. The 7-hour bus ride here was absolutely horrible. The Serbian bus driver was crude and grumpy. My mom went up to him afterward and said thank you in Italian, and all he could say was, “You can’t guess my nationality. English is fine, thanks.” In addition there were two stinky backpackers that were sitting in the two seats in front of mine and Ashley’s. I wanted to cry. Ashley and I huddled together with a wet wipe in our hands, just smelling it to get rid of the body odour intoxicating us. I was tempted to throw a wet wipe on top of their heads but then I regained my sense of manners and told myself no. Once we got off the bus and fresh air was in me, I relaxed my cringing body and could finally see clear the pure magnificence of where I am. The city of Sydney is enticing and I’m excited to discover this new part of Australia.
I’ll be updating you more often now that there’s free Wi-Fi here!
Love,
Elle. xoxo
I’ll be updating you more often now that there’s free Wi-Fi here!
Love,
Elle. xoxo
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Day 8 - Melbourne, Australia July 10, 2011
The past few days have been incredibly busy. This is my third day staying at my cousin Albert's house with his wife and three boys in Melbourne, Australia. It's wintertime and freezing compared to Malaysia; I've gone from 38 degree weather straight down to 14 degrees. It's beautiful here! It’s exactly like Vancouver except with better weather, tons more surfing, a lot of hipster/London style clothing, and awesome Aussie accents. Yesterday, Albert took my family and me on a roadtrip along Great Ocean Road. If you have to chance, look it up on Google Earth... It is the most gorgeous thing I've seen on my trip so far. We drove along the eastcoast of Australia along the cliffs and watched the turquoise waves curl gracefully as surfers in wetsuits paddled out further into the ocean. We got to see the Twelve Apostles scenic view and the Loch and Gorge. I was in awe. The drive was over 7 hours in total from where we were staying but it was worth the wait.
Today, we went to the Victoria market in downtown Melbourne with my cousin Albert. His son Louis is probably the cutest thing ever. He’s 6 years old and has gotten acquainted with my sister and me. He is so imaginative and observant. We were window shopping as well and I loved the majority of the clothing they had on display. Tomorrow we’re staying in a hostel near Sydney. I don’t know how my parents will handle things.
I am in love. I am deeply in love! I'm going to move here next year. My parents and Ashley surprisingly are encouraging me to study here next year. If my grades and application are good enough this year at SFU, I'll hopefully be able to study at the Monash University in Melbourne. No matter what, I know that I'll be back here.
Love,
Elle.xoxo
Today, we went to the Victoria market in downtown Melbourne with my cousin Albert. His son Louis is probably the cutest thing ever. He’s 6 years old and has gotten acquainted with my sister and me. He is so imaginative and observant. We were window shopping as well and I loved the majority of the clothing they had on display. Tomorrow we’re staying in a hostel near Sydney. I don’t know how my parents will handle things.
I am in love. I am deeply in love! I'm going to move here next year. My parents and Ashley surprisingly are encouraging me to study here next year. If my grades and application are good enough this year at SFU, I'll hopefully be able to study at the Monash University in Melbourne. No matter what, I know that I'll be back here.
Love,
Elle.xoxo
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Day 4 - Downtown and Petaling Street, KL, Malaysia (July 6, 2011)
Auntie Dai-Yee, Uncle George and Mama left this morning to go back to their home in Ipoh. We will be seeing them when we get back from Australia. AHH! By tomorrow my family and I will be flying to my dream homeland where the kangaroos roam free.
Uncle Francis, my dad’s old school friend, was kind enough to lend his chauffeur to us for the day. His chauffeur’s name is Azlin. He is the sweetest, most amiable chauffeur I’ve ever met. Well, that’s to say, I’ve never really met many chauffeurs in my lifetime. He has five children and calls his wife Lovely. That is enough to win me over. He drove us over to Kuala Lumpur City Centre where we shopped and he picked us up again to go to Pavilion shopping mall.
We went to the famous Petaling Street Market where vendors crammed their little shops beside one another in messy rows. They sold everything under the sun: souvenirs, toys, food, clothing, etc. Chinese red lanter
ns zigzagged throughout the market on string tied onto poles. Scooters were parked in odd places in alleyways. Many backpackers travel to see this specific destination where you barter for prices of items. Plants and moss crept along the walls of old colourful stucco buildings. Traffic was hell. It was 10 times worse than being in Vancouver during rush hour. My family and I befriended a newlywed couple sitting by a durian stand, who came to Malaysia specifically for this fruit. They were Australians travelling all of Asia. Durian has a creamy texture and has a unique taste. I like it. They shared some with my dad. Suddenly, roaring thunder cracked and rain began to fall as we ran for cover. The rain was soothing in the humid heat.
At the indoor market I took a keen observation of the cultural workers, the Bahasa (Malay) accent, and the traditional clothing. I began to see a resemblance between Malaysia and Canada in how they are so multicultural. (Let me not lead you to believe that Malaysia’s political system is anything remotely close to Canada’s… I’ve realized how fortunate and blessed I am to live in Canada after hearing and witnessing the corruption from the government in everyday life, the extreme censorship, the cheating educational system, and the obvious discrimination that still exists. I wonder if my blog post will be censored from writing this… anyway, I’m drifting away from my point.) Malaysia incorporates Indian, Arab, and Chinese tradition into their clothing, their language, and incredible food. Malaysia with its palm trees, butterflies, birds, and radiating sun reminds me of Hawaii. Malays look like they are Filipino. And here I am: a Chinese hyphenated Malaysian hyphenated Canadian. I am beginning to really confuse myself as to what my parents consider as their true culture. I’m grateful that I can say I have many cultures that make up who I am. I am also quite curious to meet more of my extended family living in Singapore and Australia in the next weeks ahead of me.
For supper, we ate basically in an undercover alley for dinner. The tile floor was slippery from the rain outside and a metal fan blew grime into our faces. My sister told me it had good ratings in the Malay newspapers, so we trusted her. We ate stingray served with chilli sauce. Yes, you heard me. Stingray- I feel so invincible right now. It was dingy and delicious. My tongue started to swell up and lightning bolts shot out of my mouth. Just kidding, it just tasted like fish. I also had coconut water straight from the coconut shell. Azlin came and picked us up and he drove us by the KL tower and the Twin Towers. Both architectural structures lit up beside the sunset sky and sparkled like diamonds. It was breathtaking. At 7:30pm sharp, the Call to Prayer began and resonated throughout the city. The voice was beguiling and the sung louder as we passed this beautiful white mosque. The congested roads we drove on were enclosed with palm trees and overhanging branches that dangled Christmas lights. Scooters squeezed their way between inching vehicles. Night time in Kuala Lumpur was fascinating. Azlin took us back home after that.
I think today was the best day so far I’ve had in Malaysia. I’ve now experienced high-end materialism downtown Kuala Lumpur and the real working class of Malaysia on Petaling Street. Tomorrow, Uncle Francis is taking us to some sort of museum. A demain!
Love,
Elle. xoxo
Uncle Francis, my dad’s old school friend, was kind enough to lend his chauffeur to us for the day. His chauffeur’s name is Azlin. He is the sweetest, most amiable chauffeur I’ve ever met. Well, that’s to say, I’ve never really met many chauffeurs in my lifetime. He has five children and calls his wife Lovely. That is enough to win me over. He drove us over to Kuala Lumpur City Centre where we shopped and he picked us up again to go to Pavilion shopping mall.
We went to the famous Petaling Street Market where vendors crammed their little shops beside one another in messy rows. They sold everything under the sun: souvenirs, toys, food, clothing, etc. Chinese red lanter
ns zigzagged throughout the market on string tied onto poles. Scooters were parked in odd places in alleyways. Many backpackers travel to see this specific destination where you barter for prices of items. Plants and moss crept along the walls of old colourful stucco buildings. Traffic was hell. It was 10 times worse than being in Vancouver during rush hour. My family and I befriended a newlywed couple sitting by a durian stand, who came to Malaysia specifically for this fruit. They were Australians travelling all of Asia. Durian has a creamy texture and has a unique taste. I like it. They shared some with my dad. Suddenly, roaring thunder cracked and rain began to fall as we ran for cover. The rain was soothing in the humid heat.At the indoor market I took a keen observation of the cultural workers, the Bahasa (Malay) accent, and the traditional clothing. I began to see a resemblance between Malaysia and Canada in how they are so multicultural. (Let me not lead you to believe that Malaysia’s political system is anything remotely close to Canada’s… I’ve realized how fortunate and blessed I am to live in Canada after hearing and witnessing the corruption from the government in everyday life, the extreme censorship, the cheating educational system, and the obvious discrimination that still exists. I wonder if my blog post will be censored from writing this… anyway, I’m drifting away from my point.) Malaysia incorporates Indian, Arab, and Chinese tradition into their clothing, their language, and incredible food. Malaysia with its palm trees, butterflies, birds, and radiating sun reminds me of Hawaii. Malays look like they are Filipino. And here I am: a Chinese hyphenated Malaysian hyphenated Canadian. I am beginning to really confuse myself as to what my parents consider as their true culture. I’m grateful that I can say I have many cultures that make up who I am. I am also quite curious to meet more of my extended family living in Singapore and Australia in the next weeks ahead of me.
For supper, we ate basically in an undercover alley for dinner. The tile floor was slippery from the rain outside and a metal fan blew grime into our faces. My sister told me it had good ratings in the Malay newspapers, so we trusted her. We ate stingray served with chilli sauce. Yes, you heard me. Stingray- I feel so invincible right now. It was dingy and delicious. My tongue started to swell up and lightning bolts shot out of my mouth. Just kidding, it just tasted like fish. I also had coconut water straight from the coconut shell. Azlin came and picked us up and he drove us by the KL tower and the Twin Towers. Both architectural structures lit up beside the sunset sky and sparkled like diamonds. It was breathtaking. At 7:30pm sharp, the Call to Prayer began and resonated throughout the city. The voice was beguiling and the sung louder as we passed this beautiful white mosque. The congested roads we drove on were enclosed with palm trees and overhanging branches that dangled Christmas lights. Scooters squeezed their way between inching vehicles. Night time in Kuala Lumpur was fascinating. Azlin took us back home after that.
I think today was the best day so far I’ve had in Malaysia. I’ve now experienced high-end materialism downtown Kuala Lumpur and the real working class of Malaysia on Petaling Street. Tomorrow, Uncle Francis is taking us to some sort of museum. A demain!
Love,
Elle. xoxo
Day 3 - Family Reunion, KL, Malaysia (July 5, 2011)
I woke up to devour soggy Roti Canai in the kitchen for breakfast. I’m starting to get used to this heat. Uncle George and Auntie Dai-Yee took my dad, Ashley, and me to the Pasaraya (known as a hypermarket somewhat similar to T&T back at home). Believe it or not, I bought a pair of cute sandals for $3.25CAN. I am constantly astonished by the prices of things here. When we went back home, we were met by my cousin, Brian; his wife, Leena; and their most beautiful 2 year old daughter, Ashelyn. Her skin tone is perfectly brown from her mother’s Indian background and she has the largest brown eyes. I couldn’t believe how intelligent she is! She would talk in full sentences to all of us and charmed me with her sweet smile. Ashley taught her the handshake where you pound it and explode and she picked it up the third time around. I blew up my cheeks with air and crossed my eyee and played peek-a-boo with her. I felt so proud making her laugh. High fives and hugs were earned. I wanted to steal her home. It is funny how easily entertained I am making kids laugh. Maybe I should take up a part-time job as a clown? Just kidding… I cringe at the thought of that.
We went out for lunch at this outdoor cafeteria looking restaurant where they had food on display. Large pots were filled with a selection of curries and platters overflowed with deep fried food. A man served rice behind the counter topping off your plate with whatever fried dead animal you wanted. I should have never taken Foodsafe… There were so many things wrong with that picture. The excessive amount of oil used to create this food could be used to drown a city. I was just waiting for someone to have a heart attack. My sister and I decided it was best to share a plate.
After lunch, Ashley and I roamed the little boutiques and bakeries in Taipan square. A light breeze crept I found this pretty cream lace dress for $11CAN. We discovered King’s bakery and ate a best egg tart I’ve ever had. By the time we reached home, we discovered that Brian and his family had left back to their home. Auntie Dai-Yee told us that Ashelyn was searching for us outside the house window asking her where her two friends were. We were told she asked that question on the way home in Cousin Brian's car. I hope we get to see her again before we leave.
We were picked up by a chauffeur for dinner sent by my dad’s old school friend, Francis. He invited us for dinner with his family. Considering he sent his chauffeur to come pick us up, my sister and I thought it useful for us to dress up for the occasion. I prepped up in my new dress and wore my white flats. Around 8pm the chauffeur drove us to an all you can eat restaurant that served hotpot. I wanted to cry it was so good. There was barbequed crab and fish, teriyaki chicken and bountiful amounts of ice cream for dessert.
Uncle Francis was very sociable and a likeable man. He and dad told us their childhood memories together. They both told us how they used to play hide and go seek on the streets with ten other friends. They would catch fighting spiders and release them into their neighbours houses, only to find themselves being chased by their neighbour’s vicious dogs. They caught bats in badminton nets, got into fights in the schoolyard, swam naked in the oceans in Penang, and climbed up palm trees to steal people’s coconuts. They didn’t have the money to buy toys so they made nature their toys.
I think that explains why my childhood was the way it was. My dad would take me fishing all the time when I was younger. He helped me carve my own slingshot. We explored the depths of the forest behind my house and caught dragonflies. I loved to catch ladybugs and grasshoppers, play in the dirt, and plant seeds in my mom’s garden. I only had one Barbie and that Barbie was given to me from a friend as a birthday present. (I really loved that Barbie, Lindsay.) When I look back now I don’t think I would change anything about my childhood.
Uncle Francis’ 6 year old kid, Alexes, is cunning and intelligent. A vendor selling toys came to our outdoor table right beside Alexes. He showed a sense of interest at first and then turned around to say how expensive the toy was. Everyone at the table laughed. After dinner we went to Sunway Shopping Mall for a mini tour. There is a merry-go-round installed inside of the mall. It was at a full stop, totally empty, except for an odd couple inside the top cage. I didn’t think of anything yet until it was 30 minutes later and I noticed it hadn’t budged since. The merry-go-round operator was happily chatting away to one of his friends on the lower floors. Ashley took the initiative to talk to him. Apparently the previous operator forgot about the couple and went on his break, switching with the current one. I watched as the current operator lower the merry-go-round and the Australian tourists get out of the cage, relieved. I’m just glad that wasn’t me because I’m scared of heights and am claustrophobic. The mall was beautiful and so luxurious. Hoping to see it tomorrow.
I’m not sure what tomorrow beholds, but I’ll update you.
Love
Elle. xoxo
Monday, July 4, 2011
Day 2 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (July 4th)
Cousin Gary’s House, Kuala Lumpur- July 4, 2011
Malay Words/Sayings I've picked up so far:
- Selamat Datang! (Welcome/Goodbye)
- Bahaya! (Danger)
- Keluar (Exit)
- Kahlua (Stairs)
- Tarimakase (Thank you)
I woke up in a dreary state at 8:25am this morning that lasted all day. My legs and arms were sprawled across a queen sized bed in an air conditioned room and I wondered where I was. Everything just felt so surreal. On the bottom right corner was my sister wrapped in a blanket sleeping, but I first thought she was a pile of pillows. So when I poked the blanket to see what the bump in the bed really was, I accidentally poked her bum. She rolled over and groaned, “Hey!” she said. Oops.
My parents were already downstairs laughing with the rest of my family. A few minutes later, we were out the door heading for breakfast. I didn’t feel talkative at all even though I wanted to be. I wanted to know more about my aunt and her family, but I just had no interest in talking because I was so suppressed by the drowning heat that was making my head dizzy. We walked to the nearby marketplace and sat in an Oriental smelling restaurant open to the streets. I ordered a barley drink with a lemon wedge and ice to drink along with the greasiest, smokiest, meanest Chow Mein I’ve ever eaten. After breakfast, my family starting packing for Australia and Gary left for Singapore. Gary’s sister, Jean, came to visit all of us in the afternoon while my sister and I were taking a mid-morning nap.
The tall jokes continue. The second Jean saw me, her face showed utter shock. Her second comment towards me was, “Wahh! Eli, you’re so tall!” as she analyzed me from head to toe. Downstairs, my mom discussed how my feet hung off the bed I was sleeping in last night. Real funny, mom. For lunch, the family drove to Mid Valley shopping centre, which was one of the largest shopping malls in KL. On the way there I noticed that beside the highway there were sidewalks especially built for motorbike riders. Bikers were riding faster than drivers on the highway. An impulsive notion sprouted in my mind wanting me to experience this. Your body cutting through the wind in this hot weather, plus the adrenaline of racing sounded like a brilliant idea to me. I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll get to try it sooner or later.
The first floor we entered had around 40 unique and stylish restaurants built into the long walls enclosing the broad walkway. The family and I ate in this restaurant called “Little Penang”. Oh, I don’t think I’ve mentioned this, but most meals you buy here are a maximum of $3CAN. My sister and I shared two dishes: one consisted of coconut rice, Malay curry chicken, roasted peanuts and ikan bilis (tiny crispy fishes); the other one was regular Cha Quay Tao (stir-fry flat noodles with eggs, shrimp, and lup cheong [a chinese sausage]). For dessert, we had ice ka-chung, which is essentially a snow cone in a bowl with unique toppings. It’s considered cheaper to eat out than to make your own meals at home. It was today I started worrying about the cleanliness of the places I was eating at… I began to regret not taking my Hepatitis A shot.
After our feast, Jean, Ashley, and I went shopping around the mall. We stopped at one of the Malay department stores, like the Bay in Canada, and checked out their shoes. It was quite demoralizing for me. Although my feet are Size 9 I could barely fit into their Size 10 shoes. Jean tried to cheer me up by saying that people’s feet usually swell when they visit Malaysia. I noticed the clothing style is much similar to what Canadians would wear, except with a twist… whether it be fabric cut out in places where they should be or a crazy pattern that I’m less than acquainted with at home. Clothing is fairly cheap here but Gary left us with a piece of advice saying that Singapore is where it’s at.
Tomorrow is a mystery. Tonight, I’m sleeping on Gary’s couches in his living room underneath a ceiling fan and blasting air conditioning. Amen sistah!
Good morning, Canada and Good night, Malaysia. I’ll update you soon!
Love,
Elle. xoxo
Malay Words/Sayings I've picked up so far:
- Selamat Datang! (Welcome/Goodbye)
- Bahaya! (Danger)
- Keluar (Exit)
- Kahlua (Stairs)
- Tarimakase (Thank you)
I woke up in a dreary state at 8:25am this morning that lasted all day. My legs and arms were sprawled across a queen sized bed in an air conditioned room and I wondered where I was. Everything just felt so surreal. On the bottom right corner was my sister wrapped in a blanket sleeping, but I first thought she was a pile of pillows. So when I poked the blanket to see what the bump in the bed really was, I accidentally poked her bum. She rolled over and groaned, “Hey!” she said. Oops.
My parents were already downstairs laughing with the rest of my family. A few minutes later, we were out the door heading for breakfast. I didn’t feel talkative at all even though I wanted to be. I wanted to know more about my aunt and her family, but I just had no interest in talking because I was so suppressed by the drowning heat that was making my head dizzy. We walked to the nearby marketplace and sat in an Oriental smelling restaurant open to the streets. I ordered a barley drink with a lemon wedge and ice to drink along with the greasiest, smokiest, meanest Chow Mein I’ve ever eaten. After breakfast, my family starting packing for Australia and Gary left for Singapore. Gary’s sister, Jean, came to visit all of us in the afternoon while my sister and I were taking a mid-morning nap.
The tall jokes continue. The second Jean saw me, her face showed utter shock. Her second comment towards me was, “Wahh! Eli, you’re so tall!” as she analyzed me from head to toe. Downstairs, my mom discussed how my feet hung off the bed I was sleeping in last night. Real funny, mom. For lunch, the family drove to Mid Valley shopping centre, which was one of the largest shopping malls in KL. On the way there I noticed that beside the highway there were sidewalks especially built for motorbike riders. Bikers were riding faster than drivers on the highway. An impulsive notion sprouted in my mind wanting me to experience this. Your body cutting through the wind in this hot weather, plus the adrenaline of racing sounded like a brilliant idea to me. I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll get to try it sooner or later.
The first floor we entered had around 40 unique and stylish restaurants built into the long walls enclosing the broad walkway. The family and I ate in this restaurant called “Little Penang”. Oh, I don’t think I’ve mentioned this, but most meals you buy here are a maximum of $3CAN. My sister and I shared two dishes: one consisted of coconut rice, Malay curry chicken, roasted peanuts and ikan bilis (tiny crispy fishes); the other one was regular Cha Quay Tao (stir-fry flat noodles with eggs, shrimp, and lup cheong [a chinese sausage]). For dessert, we had ice ka-chung, which is essentially a snow cone in a bowl with unique toppings. It’s considered cheaper to eat out than to make your own meals at home. It was today I started worrying about the cleanliness of the places I was eating at… I began to regret not taking my Hepatitis A shot.
After our feast, Jean, Ashley, and I went shopping around the mall. We stopped at one of the Malay department stores, like the Bay in Canada, and checked out their shoes. It was quite demoralizing for me. Although my feet are Size 9 I could barely fit into their Size 10 shoes. Jean tried to cheer me up by saying that people’s feet usually swell when they visit Malaysia. I noticed the clothing style is much similar to what Canadians would wear, except with a twist… whether it be fabric cut out in places where they should be or a crazy pattern that I’m less than acquainted with at home. Clothing is fairly cheap here but Gary left us with a piece of advice saying that Singapore is where it’s at.
Tomorrow is a mystery. Tonight, I’m sleeping on Gary’s couches in his living room underneath a ceiling fan and blasting air conditioning. Amen sistah!
Good morning, Canada and Good night, Malaysia. I’ll update you soon!
Love,
Elle. xoxo
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Day 1 - Kuala Kumpur, Malaysia (Sunday, July 3rd)
Cousin Gary’s House
My family and I finally arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. As we walked through the arrival gate, I was fascinated by the diversity of religions displayed in this foreign city– there were a group of tranquil Buddhist monks with their heads shaven in orange robes. I have never in my life seen a monk until today. My eyes were drawn to their footwear: socks and sandals… a sure protest against Western fashion. Catholic nuns gracefully floated across from one gate to the other. Many Muslim women wearing hijabs and black robes clung onto their husbands. Many of the Muslim men were wearing haji’s. And there was I in my evident Western style clothing. I was basically standing underneath a huge neon sign saying, “Straight from Canada”. My height was not to be overlooked either. I am sure that I was the tallest woman in the KL airport.
At last we saw my cousin Gary and Ashley waiting for us by the front entrance. We moseyed outside the double doors into the thick, musty air and I was encompassed in a humid heat, somewhat similar to what I’ve experienced in Mexico. Then we met up with my Uncle George and my aunt Helen. Vehicles in Malaysia have the driver’s seat on the right side and people drive on the left side of the street. People drive like they are on steroids with no concern for pedestrians at all. My mom was scared for her life and she sounded like she was on a rollercoaster. My sister picked up a bit of a Malay accent. Twenty minutes later, we arrived at Gary’s house that looks more like a bachelor pad. Finally, I got to see Mama (my grandmother).
She is the sweetest lady. I played one of my songs for her on Gary’s acoustic guitar. I think she was quite pleased because she smiled gently at me. Although there’s a large language barrier between us, she understands that I love her.
The heat is inescapable. Even with an air-conditioner and a fan in work you feel wrapped in a woolly blanket all the time. Gary took us out and about the dense market area basically right in front of his house. It felt as if we were playing Frogger crossing the two multi-lane roads to get to the marketplace. Restaurants and outdoor food vendors cooking Thai, Malay, and Indian food dispersed this spicy aroma into the dense air forming an overwhelming sense of hunger in me. We ate lunch at this restaurant called White Coffee; I had an iced coffee that tasted like dark chocolate. It was delicious. The coffee was served with condensed milk. The kitchen was displayed in front of the tables and all the cooks were staring at me and my sister. We decided why not take a picture. So we took a picture with them. Another bizarre observation- on the rim of restaurant roofs, they have pipes that spray out a cold mist to cool down the air. I felt the soft water caress my hand. It was so interesting.
I’ve grown quite a reputation already here. Gary has taken into account of my abnormally large Size 9 feet when I was wearing flip flops outside and called me Big Foot. I’ve also acquire “Di Yong” as my new nickname. It means “big look” in Cantonese. Even though I should, I’m not offended because it holds so much truth in Malaysia. I am a freak of nature here. I feel self-conscious every time someone looks up at me and gasps with their eyes wide open at my height.
Later on, my sister and I walked to the nearby running track three blocks away where we expected to run 4km… and ended up running 1.6km. Yet, it felt like a 4km run. Sweat poured out of every gland on my body and I’m pretty sure got a tan in the time span of 20 minutes. Back at Gary’s house, I took my first “cold” shower in KL. I did not realize I had to turn on the water pressure on the wall outside the bathroom, so under trickling water I lathered myself with soap. It did not feel like a cold shower. I had to have a lot of patience to wash all the shampoo out of my hair.
Dinner soon crept up and I was starving. We walked across the road to the marketplace again to another restaurant called Thai cuisine. One thing I love so far about Malaysia is the food. It is incredible. We ordered grilled chicken wrapped in bamboo leaves, stir-fry fiddleheads, Thai calamari with sweet chilli sauce, and this chicken feet skin salad. I know, it sounds gross, but the taste bypasses the name my far. We had this refreshing iced Chinese tea along with a scrumptious meal. I am definitely going to gain 15 pounds on this trip. Damn it.
My jet lag is starting to hit me hard as I’m struggling to keep my eyes open. It’s approximately 9pm in Kuala Lumpur, when its 7am Vancouver. It’s especially difficult for me because I love my sleep. Tomorrow, my family and I are planning our schedule for Australia. We will be leaving Kuala Lumpur in in 4 days for Melbourne. Gary, Ashley and I were thinking of going to Singapore without the parents for two days before we leave for Australia. It costs approximately $160CAN to travel there and back and we found it a bit pointless to only stay there for that short period of time. So we decided after we come back to Kuala Lumpur from Melbourne, Australia, we’ll leave for Singapore with my parents then. My brain is starting to malfunction. I’ll keep you posted,
Love,
Elle. xoxo
My family and I finally arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. As we walked through the arrival gate, I was fascinated by the diversity of religions displayed in this foreign city– there were a group of tranquil Buddhist monks with their heads shaven in orange robes. I have never in my life seen a monk until today. My eyes were drawn to their footwear: socks and sandals… a sure protest against Western fashion. Catholic nuns gracefully floated across from one gate to the other. Many Muslim women wearing hijabs and black robes clung onto their husbands. Many of the Muslim men were wearing haji’s. And there was I in my evident Western style clothing. I was basically standing underneath a huge neon sign saying, “Straight from Canada”. My height was not to be overlooked either. I am sure that I was the tallest woman in the KL airport.
At last we saw my cousin Gary and Ashley waiting for us by the front entrance. We moseyed outside the double doors into the thick, musty air and I was encompassed in a humid heat, somewhat similar to what I’ve experienced in Mexico. Then we met up with my Uncle George and my aunt Helen. Vehicles in Malaysia have the driver’s seat on the right side and people drive on the left side of the street. People drive like they are on steroids with no concern for pedestrians at all. My mom was scared for her life and she sounded like she was on a rollercoaster. My sister picked up a bit of a Malay accent. Twenty minutes later, we arrived at Gary’s house that looks more like a bachelor pad. Finally, I got to see Mama (my grandmother).
She is the sweetest lady. I played one of my songs for her on Gary’s acoustic guitar. I think she was quite pleased because she smiled gently at me. Although there’s a large language barrier between us, she understands that I love her.
The heat is inescapable. Even with an air-conditioner and a fan in work you feel wrapped in a woolly blanket all the time. Gary took us out and about the dense market area basically right in front of his house. It felt as if we were playing Frogger crossing the two multi-lane roads to get to the marketplace. Restaurants and outdoor food vendors cooking Thai, Malay, and Indian food dispersed this spicy aroma into the dense air forming an overwhelming sense of hunger in me. We ate lunch at this restaurant called White Coffee; I had an iced coffee that tasted like dark chocolate. It was delicious. The coffee was served with condensed milk. The kitchen was displayed in front of the tables and all the cooks were staring at me and my sister. We decided why not take a picture. So we took a picture with them. Another bizarre observation- on the rim of restaurant roofs, they have pipes that spray out a cold mist to cool down the air. I felt the soft water caress my hand. It was so interesting.
I’ve grown quite a reputation already here. Gary has taken into account of my abnormally large Size 9 feet when I was wearing flip flops outside and called me Big Foot. I’ve also acquire “Di Yong” as my new nickname. It means “big look” in Cantonese. Even though I should, I’m not offended because it holds so much truth in Malaysia. I am a freak of nature here. I feel self-conscious every time someone looks up at me and gasps with their eyes wide open at my height.
Later on, my sister and I walked to the nearby running track three blocks away where we expected to run 4km… and ended up running 1.6km. Yet, it felt like a 4km run. Sweat poured out of every gland on my body and I’m pretty sure got a tan in the time span of 20 minutes. Back at Gary’s house, I took my first “cold” shower in KL. I did not realize I had to turn on the water pressure on the wall outside the bathroom, so under trickling water I lathered myself with soap. It did not feel like a cold shower. I had to have a lot of patience to wash all the shampoo out of my hair.
Dinner soon crept up and I was starving. We walked across the road to the marketplace again to another restaurant called Thai cuisine. One thing I love so far about Malaysia is the food. It is incredible. We ordered grilled chicken wrapped in bamboo leaves, stir-fry fiddleheads, Thai calamari with sweet chilli sauce, and this chicken feet skin salad. I know, it sounds gross, but the taste bypasses the name my far. We had this refreshing iced Chinese tea along with a scrumptious meal. I am definitely going to gain 15 pounds on this trip. Damn it.
My jet lag is starting to hit me hard as I’m struggling to keep my eyes open. It’s approximately 9pm in Kuala Lumpur, when its 7am Vancouver. It’s especially difficult for me because I love my sleep. Tomorrow, my family and I are planning our schedule for Australia. We will be leaving Kuala Lumpur in in 4 days for Melbourne. Gary, Ashley and I were thinking of going to Singapore without the parents for two days before we leave for Australia. It costs approximately $160CAN to travel there and back and we found it a bit pointless to only stay there for that short period of time. So we decided after we come back to Kuala Lumpur from Melbourne, Australia, we’ll leave for Singapore with my parents then. My brain is starting to malfunction. I’ll keep you posted,
Love,
Elle. xoxo
Day 1 – Taipei, Taiwan (Sunday, July 3rd, 2011)
Taipei Airport
I looked outside the airplane window at 5:11am Taipei time. It’s weird knowing that I lost a day by just travelling to the other side of the world. Back in Vancouver, time is about 3pm. Jetlag has not hit me yet. I looked out the window as we were landing and saw this bright fiery bulb sitting on the horizon laced with heat waves hitting the pavement. I’ve never seen such sun in my life before. Back in Canada, the sun’s calm and distant. The sun here is blazing and is so close you can feel the radiation burning your face from you airplane seat. My dad, mom, and I were confused and vigilant, tentative of which big arrow on each sign would bring us to our next departing flight. We stopped for a brief but quaint trip to the bathroom. I entered inside a stall and did not find a toilet seat in sight. I tilted my head down as I discovered this rectangular basin built into the floor. We were supposed to do our business in that thing?! My face twisted. I heard my mom in the stall beside me gasp. A few minutes later we left the stalls, my mom talked about the backsplash of this so-called toilet. OH MY. I’m guessing this will not be the first and last time we will encounter these bathrooms. After a long search for our destination, we ended up here.
Currently, I’m sitting in a room full of Oriental people and I feel like the B.F.G. from Canada. Everyone’s at least a few inches shorter than me. The ladies are petite and delicate. I definitely don’t fit in. My dad’s got his orange earplugs in, slumped in his chair with his legs crossed. My mom plays with her hands and she’s probably bored to death. “Are you describing us?” she smiles at me. I nod. I look around me now and there are children running around the leather-seated chairs, sharing the same anticipation my mom has. It’s funny, I’ve never written about things happening right at the moment. “The water tastes,” my mom sticks out her tongue strangely, “…different here. Include that.” I tell her that it tastes different in every country. My mom is totally excited that I’m writing about this vacation. And so am I. I’ve never blogged about a trip, only written in a journal. It’s so much faster! The only downfall of this is that I have to filter my thoughts in this entry since it will be publicly posted. And that is why I brought my own journal to handwrite in.
The layover in Taipei is another 2 hour wait until we board the plane for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Thank God there’s air conditioning, otherwise I think I would pass out. It’s apparently 27 degrees outside and it’s only 5am. I have no idea how I’m going to survive this trip. My parents say that I visited Malaysia when I was one year old, but I can’t vouch for that. Technically this vacation will be my first real experience travelling to my parents’ homeland. I’m so intrigued and fascinated by the things I will witness in about four hours: the Malay culture so closely affiliated with the Muslim religion, the persistent street vendors, the lush mountains and clear azure oceans, and, most of all, the Malay food. I’ve heard so much about the food from talking over facebook with my sister. She’s currently staying at my Aunt Patrina’s house and she’s told me that that’s all my family does. They just feed you until your belly shapes into a perfect sphere. Although, I am not excited for the fact that I will most likely be 15 pounds heavier when I come back to Canada.
Most of all, I’m so excited to see my sister, Ashley. For those of you who don’t know me that well, my sister is also one of my best friends. She knows everything there is to know about me. I love her to death. Her personality could be described as “Wiyan Fri” in Thai: free spirit. She acquired a passion for travelling and meeting new friends along the way. We’re similar in that sense. Prior to her current visit in Malaysia, she was in Thailand with her best friend, Sonja. I’m so thankful that she’s coming on this trip with my parents and me. Honestly, I don’t think I could handle my parents alone for 5 weeks straight.
On Thursday, July 7th, we’ll be leaving on another plane from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Melbourne, Australia. This is when I plan to go surfing. Surfing is one of my top things to do on my Bucket List and I’m finally fulfilling it! I cannot fathom the depths of my happiness.
I’ll update you soon, time for me to do a lap around the room with the little Oriental children. My legs are turning numb from sitting too long.
Love,
Elle. xoxo
I looked outside the airplane window at 5:11am Taipei time. It’s weird knowing that I lost a day by just travelling to the other side of the world. Back in Vancouver, time is about 3pm. Jetlag has not hit me yet. I looked out the window as we were landing and saw this bright fiery bulb sitting on the horizon laced with heat waves hitting the pavement. I’ve never seen such sun in my life before. Back in Canada, the sun’s calm and distant. The sun here is blazing and is so close you can feel the radiation burning your face from you airplane seat. My dad, mom, and I were confused and vigilant, tentative of which big arrow on each sign would bring us to our next departing flight. We stopped for a brief but quaint trip to the bathroom. I entered inside a stall and did not find a toilet seat in sight. I tilted my head down as I discovered this rectangular basin built into the floor. We were supposed to do our business in that thing?! My face twisted. I heard my mom in the stall beside me gasp. A few minutes later we left the stalls, my mom talked about the backsplash of this so-called toilet. OH MY. I’m guessing this will not be the first and last time we will encounter these bathrooms. After a long search for our destination, we ended up here.
Currently, I’m sitting in a room full of Oriental people and I feel like the B.F.G. from Canada. Everyone’s at least a few inches shorter than me. The ladies are petite and delicate. I definitely don’t fit in. My dad’s got his orange earplugs in, slumped in his chair with his legs crossed. My mom plays with her hands and she’s probably bored to death. “Are you describing us?” she smiles at me. I nod. I look around me now and there are children running around the leather-seated chairs, sharing the same anticipation my mom has. It’s funny, I’ve never written about things happening right at the moment. “The water tastes,” my mom sticks out her tongue strangely, “…different here. Include that.” I tell her that it tastes different in every country. My mom is totally excited that I’m writing about this vacation. And so am I. I’ve never blogged about a trip, only written in a journal. It’s so much faster! The only downfall of this is that I have to filter my thoughts in this entry since it will be publicly posted. And that is why I brought my own journal to handwrite in.
The layover in Taipei is another 2 hour wait until we board the plane for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Thank God there’s air conditioning, otherwise I think I would pass out. It’s apparently 27 degrees outside and it’s only 5am. I have no idea how I’m going to survive this trip. My parents say that I visited Malaysia when I was one year old, but I can’t vouch for that. Technically this vacation will be my first real experience travelling to my parents’ homeland. I’m so intrigued and fascinated by the things I will witness in about four hours: the Malay culture so closely affiliated with the Muslim religion, the persistent street vendors, the lush mountains and clear azure oceans, and, most of all, the Malay food. I’ve heard so much about the food from talking over facebook with my sister. She’s currently staying at my Aunt Patrina’s house and she’s told me that that’s all my family does. They just feed you until your belly shapes into a perfect sphere. Although, I am not excited for the fact that I will most likely be 15 pounds heavier when I come back to Canada.
Most of all, I’m so excited to see my sister, Ashley. For those of you who don’t know me that well, my sister is also one of my best friends. She knows everything there is to know about me. I love her to death. Her personality could be described as “Wiyan Fri” in Thai: free spirit. She acquired a passion for travelling and meeting new friends along the way. We’re similar in that sense. Prior to her current visit in Malaysia, she was in Thailand with her best friend, Sonja. I’m so thankful that she’s coming on this trip with my parents and me. Honestly, I don’t think I could handle my parents alone for 5 weeks straight.
On Thursday, July 7th, we’ll be leaving on another plane from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Melbourne, Australia. This is when I plan to go surfing. Surfing is one of my top things to do on my Bucket List and I’m finally fulfilling it! I cannot fathom the depths of my happiness.
I’ll update you soon, time for me to do a lap around the room with the little Oriental children. My legs are turning numb from sitting too long.
Love,
Elle. xoxo
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