Another busy few weeks at the KL Kjol Household. We had a wine dinner we attended with friends and the expat group towards the end of March at a restaurant called 1919, Asian Fusion food. Food was ok, they started us off with an awful sour plum drink, blah, and then the free flow wine started which was nice. I think there were 4 courses, didn't get to eat the starter salad as it was insanely spicy, I'm not even sure Eric ate all his and he loves the spice. Next was fried eggplant, I don't like eggplant and this was delish! The main course wasn't that great, again spicy and fishy flavor, not great. All together though it was a nice night with great friends.
A couple days later we headed out for a weekend at the water and the Formula 1 track. We went with our KL besties and had a fun weekend. First day was spent by the pool and a nice Chinese dinner at the hotel. Next morning, breakfast and off to the races. This was my first Formula 1 experience and holy crap was it LOUD! Eric and I spent the day watching the races and hanging out. I left just before the last race as you can only watch a car go around a track so many times before it starts to blur together. Eric stayed and met up with Scott to watch with him a couple other guys from their seats. I went back to the hotel and got some much needed sun and hung out with the ladies. The boys finally made it back later and we all headed for Steamboat Chinese food. None of us had tried it before, it's interesting but not my favorite, not sure I'd try it again. Next day we hung out for a bit and then I headed home and Eric headed back to the races for the finals.
A quick shout out to my mom and dad for the AWESOME care package!! Face wipes, gardettos, girl scout cookies, (peanut butter patties will always and have always been the best.cookie.ever) Rudy's BBQ sauce, and some Easter goodies :) Thanks guys!
Had a dinner out with friends at a Malaysian restaurant in town called Songket. Nice little stage set up with tables around for the Malaysian/Asian themed dances they put on during dinner. Different food, the appetizers we had were all great, but the food ok. I'm not a huge fan of the local cuisine. Dancing was enjoyable, something different to do going out rather than just dinner.
Next up...more monkeys! Yep, can't get enough of the monkeys here!! Our friends mother was in town and wanted to see some monkeys before she left, and we knew the perfect spot to take her for an up close and personal look. We got some great pictures this time. Eric was sitting on a log and a monkey came up next to him and decided he looked like a good perch, so got in his lap! Another monkey took perch on top of a motorbike, looked like he was going somewhere fast :) Eric and I got to pet a monkey again, very exciting. Also saw a poor little monkey dangling from a tree limb and trying his little monkey hardest to get back up to a level that he could climb back up, but unfortunately he couldn't do it...the little monkey fell on the ground. He was ok, but he gave us a fright! loving the monkeys!!
This little guy was just pooped I guess.
Notice anything hanging from the tree in the middle there...???
Next stop, (a couple days later) the Batu Caves on Eric's day off on this past Wednesday for the installation of the new King. Here's a little wikipedia synopsis...
Batu Caves is a limestone hill, which has a series of caves and cave temples, located in Gombak district, 13 kilometres (8 mi) north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River, which flows past the hill. Batu Caves is also the name of the nearby village.
The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is the focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia...
Now that that is out of the way I can tell you what we thought. Very impressive to see the gold statue at the bottom of the cave steps. It's the tallest statue of that specific god in the world. Monkeys everywhere, tons of people, and beautiful temples and caves. There are 272 steps you climb up to reach the temples. It took a couple rest stops on the way and some monkey pictures of course, but we did make it to the top. That's tough work in this heat and humidity! We did it though, and glad we did. The culture here is so rich it would be a shame to miss any of it.
As I have decided that we need to start crossing local attractions off the list of things to do here, we went to Aquaria, the aquarium here this weekend. It was a nice aquarium, I've seen bigger and better, but this one was nice. The main aquarium had some big sharks, a giant sting ray, big sea turtles...gorgeous animals. It was something fun and different to do for a little bit.
Eric has spent the last couple days in Singapore, he left Sunday and comes back tonight. The days are the same, but the nights are a little long and lonely, glad he's coming back tonight! Happy I have the girls to keep me company though :)
A special congrats to my little brother-in-law and his new fiance. He proposed and she said yes!! So happy for you both!!! Can't wait until we can celebrate with them later this year.
We have a trip planned for the end of the month, woohoo, it's to Penang. Still in Malaysia, but we want to explore our new country as much as the ones surrounding it. I can't wait for this trip, the beach, the culture, and the food!
I had my first tennis lesson today, well half of one, I split time with a friend. It was fun, I enjoyed it. Apparently, I have a good back hand, better than my forehand. Might even take another lesson.
I also drove today!! It was my second time to drive, both times have been only about 10 minutes, but this time Eric was not in the car with me to help with the left side. I took the car to the grocery store and didn't hit anything, not even in the parking garage!! I'm so proud of myself :D It's a little difficult driving on the right side of the car on the left side of the road, but I managed. Just need to practice a bit more now when we find the time for me to.
One more bit of information I know you can't live without...I have won twice in a row in my desperate housewives of KL poker gome! YAY ME!
If you are interested, here's a link to the rest of the pictures I took at Batu Caves and Aquaria (there are some good ones)...
http://photo1.walgreens.com/walgreens/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=9644560001/a=4748092_4748092/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=walgreens/
Bye for now! :)
