Fab 5 Saturday...

As promised, Fab 5 is coming to you on a Saturday due to yesterday's golf and margaritas...just not enough time to get everything done!

So here it is without further ado...

1. Friends. We had our friends, Betsy and Kirk, visiting for the last 3 weeks...and it was fun. Their vacation seemed to become our vacation. Lots of good food, good drinks, time catching up...Just fun. If we have any other friends who want to make the trek halfway around the world...we'll happily open our house up to you!

2. Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year started on Thursday...and I love the quiet in KL when this occurs. Many people leave KL and head to see family and friends - leaving the city quiet - which is a welcome change. 

3. Golf. Played another 18 holes yesterday with Blaine and Damian. I had some good holes and some bad holes, but most of all I continue to have fun learning this game..

4. Australia Planning. Well, we spent a little more time planning our trip to Australia in March. We now have flights from Sydney to Brisbane and back to Sydney booked. I've sent a message to a tour company out of Sydney and I'm hoping to hear back from them soon. Last, but not least, we need to book our hotel in Sydney - but there's about a million choices - so I'm not too worried.

5. Summer Flight Home Booked. There is something so comforting in having that summer flight back home booked...just knowing that we'll see family and friends soon gets you through until the end of school.

Today is the big Duta Tropika Staycation at the pool...margaritas, swimming, food, friends...what more do you need!? Sounds like the perfect way to wind down the Chinese New Year!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!!

Age and Wisdom...

With age comes a greater wisdom, an ease and comfort with oneself.

-Cherie Lunghi

 

I love this quote...agree with this quote...am trying to live this quote.

 

When I was younger, I found myself trying to please everyone...never saying no...striving for constant validation. But validation comes from within. And, you can't please everyone. And, it's okay to say no.

 

Now, in my mid-40's...I find it so much easier to be happy with myself, to know the value in the things I do, to know where my boundaries are and when they've been crossed, to surround myself with people who I value and who in turn value me, to know when to say thank you and when to say no thanks, to share love with those close to me and spend time with those that matter...

But, I will say that this quote does not apply to all - it applies to me. Perhaps you are "young" and have found that comfort within...Kudos to you. It's not easy to find it at a young age. Or, maybe you are "older" and still searching...keep looking...it is there. You will find it.

F*@k It Friday!

I wish I could say you were getting a Fab 5 Friday today, but I jotted down my notes for this blog yesterday when I was having a "Malaysia Day." So...I've changed it up today! Yes! It's F*@k It Friday! A day where I am airing my grievances...think Festivus, but just occurring on a random Friday in February.

1. Drivers in KL. Yes, I hate you...those are strong words. I know. But, I have never lived anyplace where I need to use my horn so often - or scream obscenities - as much as I do. (And I'm a frequent user of obscenities.) You need to stop the lane drifting, stop cutting people off, stop trying to squeeze into a lane when you knew 5 kilometers ago that you needed to be in my lane, and you need to stop blowing through red lights. That stupid PSA on the local radio station - LISTEN TO IT!! It makes some good points.

I think they just hand these out at the local DMV here.

2. Construction. I am not anti-construction, but I absolutely hate road closures/changes and then there is not an ounce of work going on.

3. Local FedEx. It has been like pulling teeth to get our package out of the hands of the local FedEx office. I sit here on this Friday hoping that it will be delivered today...hoping.

4. Burpees. Yeah, yesterday's WOD was AMRAP burpees. Screw burpees.

5. Missing My Family. And yes, I am missing "home" in the US. Something about booking your tickets home for summer makes the longing for family and friends that much greater...

But, seriously, I am better today...

Cambodia Through Pictures...

I'm not going to spend a lot of time writing about what we did as it was pretty similar to our December trip except that we had the pleasure of Kirk and Betsy being with us...But, I did take a TON of photos. Managed to throw together a few photo collages and here they are!

 

Angkor Wat

 

Ready to head into Angkor Wat

 

Angkor Wat

 

Blaine receiving a blessimg

 

Angkor Wat

 

Angkor Wat

 

Angkor Wat and Tuk Tuks

 

Ta Prohm - Where the movie "TombRaider" was filmed

 

Ta Prohm

 

Ta Prohm

 

Ta Prohm

 

South Gate

Bayon

 Bayon

 

Bayon

 

Friday Night on Pub Street

 Saturday Quad Tour

 Rice fields and farmland

 

Through the water

 Stop at a new temple - Candy for the kids

 Temple and school

 Picture time!

 Our new friends - because we had candy!

 Abdandoned temple

 Liquid refreshment time with our guides

Everyone on their quads

 

Saturday night at Angkor What?! Bar

I feel that Cambodia is a must visit if you are in the area...the temples are amazing and I find the people to be very gracious!

Fab 5 Thursday...

Yeah, yeah...I'm writing this on Thursday because we're heading back to Siem Reap tomorrow and there will be no time for blogging - so you'll just have to deal with it.

I'm not going to waste any time...just going to let the Fab 5 flow!

1. Friends Visiting. Kirk and Betsy arrived safely and it's fantastic to have visitors. So nice to have familiar faces in the house and it's really fun to do some of the touristy things around KL - or just laze by the pool! Yes, I know this is not MY vacation, but can't a girl enjoy a few extra beers and some time by the pool with friends?!

2. Butterfly Garden and Bird Park. No, in all the time we've been here...we've never been. The boys haven't been...none of us have been. So, we spent Sunday afternoon getting some fresh air and looking at the butterflies, bugs and birds.

 

Photos from the Butterfly Garden

 

Bird Park

 

Peacocks everywhere...and some hungry fish!

 

Feeding the parrots

 

Family pic

3. FRIM. And you guessed it, we've never been here either. So this was Tuesday's adventure...a hike up to the canopy walk and then a hike back down. It was hot and the canopy walk is a tad scary, (Really! Ladders tied together with some boards and zip ties!?!? Yes, there's a wire cable, too, but you're walking across ladders and boards and zip ties!) but we all made it! Now, I'm not sure I ever need to do the canopy walk again...but I'm glad I did it ONCE.

 

Obligatory pictures before we start our hike

 

Canopy walkway

 

Gorgeous views

 

Walkway fun

 

Posers

4. New article in WOD Talk. Yes, a new article on the Asia Championships hit WOD Talk on Wednesday morning. I hadn't submitted anything in a while, but Heather was happy to give the new competition some press...

 

You can see the entire article at WODTalk.com

5. Cargill School Visit. Wednesday had us visiting the local school that Cargill supports with the delivery of new backpacks and books, along with breakfast. The attendance rate of the children is still super low, but you can't help but love the little smiles when you're out there. Maybe...just maybe...a few more kids will start attending school. Cargill is going to start sponsoring breakfast for those kids who will attend school and monitor the attendance rates in hopes of seeing some improvement. It breaks my heart that school is not a priority...

 

The kiddos! 

I think the little dude with his hands on his head is thinking, "Man, I need to listen to this mat salleh again! Can't I just eat my breakfast in peace?!"

 

Backpacks and books for the kids

 

Group pic and nasi lemak for breakfast

 

Betsy and Kirk trying their first authentic Malaysian dish - nasi lemak. 

All right...Enjoy the weekend! Tomorrow we're off for a kid-free weekend of temples, tuk tuks, and cheap drinks in Cambodia!