19 Feb
We have moved into a new apartment 3 bed 2 bath. Not as nice as last but a lot cheaper $1000 for the month. Still has aircon, fans and views over the nice pool and playground. We realise after being here a few days that we could have got a place for about $600 a month if we had asked around locally a bit. But it's all learning and we are still very happy with our deal. Lots of locals live in the complex as well as quite a few Western oldies. Germans and English mostly. Plus Japanese for some reason.
The best thing is we are a walk down a hill and a couple of long blocks to the main strip. The beach is long and great for a good walk. The kids are happy to swim in it as the waves have mostly not been very rough. Unfortunately I had a sting from jellyfish a couple of days ago and Morgan the next day. Few tears from him but it settled within an hour.
The beach area has many different cafes and hawker stands serving a combo of Malay, Indian, Middle Eastern dishes plus the usual Western fare thrown in. So nice for kids to get a pizza now and again. Ant and I are more than happy to keep eating soups, rice and noodles day/night
Friday, February 20, 2015
Penang - The bright side
Feb 8th
So once we lost a week to illness we have finally been able to discover some of Penang and so far we like what we see.
We are staying in Batu Ferrenghi in the north of Penang Island at a complex called Miami Green at Miami Beach. It is very comfortable with all the mod cons and a enormous pool with a big kid slide.
It has lovely ocean views and great breezes. Unfortunately it is not in the main part of Batu or Long Beach so we have to get a quick bus into town. We do have a little bay that is fine to swim in but the water can be a little cloudy and churned. But the temp is fabulous so I just put up with not perfect clarity.
Close to this is Raj and Mary's cafe which we frequent almost every day. They have the most amazing story - when the Tsunsmi hit this part of Penang suffered the most. On that morning their 22day old baby girl was asleep on a mattress in the beachfront cafe and the wave took her out to sea and brought her back in still on the mattress - unharmed. What a miracle!! I saw the 10 yr old girl happy normal and very alive!!
So once we lost a week to illness we have finally been able to discover some of Penang and so far we like what we see.
We are staying in Batu Ferrenghi in the north of Penang Island at a complex called Miami Green at Miami Beach. It is very comfortable with all the mod cons and a enormous pool with a big kid slide.
It has lovely ocean views and great breezes. Unfortunately it is not in the main part of Batu or Long Beach so we have to get a quick bus into town. We do have a little bay that is fine to swim in but the water can be a little cloudy and churned. But the temp is fabulous so I just put up with not perfect clarity.
Close to this is Raj and Mary's cafe which we frequent almost every day. They have the most amazing story - when the Tsunsmi hit this part of Penang suffered the most. On that morning their 22day old baby girl was asleep on a mattress in the beachfront cafe and the wave took her out to sea and brought her back in still on the mattress - unharmed. What a miracle!! I saw the 10 yr old girl happy normal and very alive!!
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
My little troopers
So impressed at how well the kids are coping with all the walking. Every day we must do approx 1.5ks to eat meals or go to beach.
Jude and Sylvie in particular just soldier on, Morgan a bit more likely to whinge but still doing great.
They have to navigate stuff on the footpath, uneven paths and open drains. Plus of course be on the lookout for motor bikes etc.
They are very good at staying with us and holding hands.
Jude and Sylvie in particular just soldier on, Morgan a bit more likely to whinge but still doing great.
They have to navigate stuff on the footpath, uneven paths and open drains. Plus of course be on the lookout for motor bikes etc.
They are very good at staying with us and holding hands.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Penang and the sickness from hell.
The night before we left to go to Penang I had a fever and sweated heavily during the night (sorry about that whoever had to wash the sheets).
Luckily on the day although I felt average I was not terrible and we caught a flight for the grand total of $25 AUD to Penang. All went smoothly and we met up with our next Air Bnb Host - James.
We were pleased to find our 3 bedroom apartment being in a quiet area with lots of greenery and good ocean views. However for the next 3-4 days it did not matter where I was...cos I was so sick and slept like a newborn. My throat was horrible and I was just so so tired. Luckily Ant was a good 48hrs behind me so coped on his own until I was a bit better and then he too was out to it for 2 days/nights.
After that we kind of tag teamed through the next 3 days etc...and finally came out the other side.
The kids got fevers and mild coughs etc but nothing really compared to us (or they just manage to hold it together better than us)
From now on when we talk about sickness we will refer to it as 'Penang sick??' so not the intro we needed but oh well these things happen.
Luckily on the day although I felt average I was not terrible and we caught a flight for the grand total of $25 AUD to Penang. All went smoothly and we met up with our next Air Bnb Host - James.
We were pleased to find our 3 bedroom apartment being in a quiet area with lots of greenery and good ocean views. However for the next 3-4 days it did not matter where I was...cos I was so sick and slept like a newborn. My throat was horrible and I was just so so tired. Luckily Ant was a good 48hrs behind me so coped on his own until I was a bit better and then he too was out to it for 2 days/nights.
After that we kind of tag teamed through the next 3 days etc...and finally came out the other side.
The kids got fevers and mild coughs etc but nothing really compared to us (or they just manage to hold it together better than us)
From now on when we talk about sickness we will refer to it as 'Penang sick??' so not the intro we needed but oh well these things happen.
KL
Well we arrived in the massive city that is Kuala Lumpur after a very easy flight on Air Asia.
The kids loved the take off (who doesn't) and they all got a tablet which was the best thing ever!!
We did not pre-order food so there was limited options but we made do.
The long taxi ride is such an eye opener with endless high rises and development. Traffic as crazy as I remember with no concept of a traffic lane. All the usual for Asia.
Lots of modern cars though and we found out later how incredibly cheap fuel / gas is.
Arrived at our first Air bnb apartment which was a very modern 2 bed unit in Bukit Bintang walking distance to numerous undercover walkways that link so much of the inner city and make for safe, stress free, well signed moving around.
Most of the days we just went out for a big walk...when to KL Park which is quite pretty with water fountains and a massive playground for the kids. About 6 times bigger than the usual 'big' playground in Australia. So had to keep an extra eye on them as easy to get lost.
Another day Ant took them to the Aquarium which they enjoyed. Always exciting to see a shark up close.
The kids loved the take off (who doesn't) and they all got a tablet which was the best thing ever!!
We did not pre-order food so there was limited options but we made do.
The long taxi ride is such an eye opener with endless high rises and development. Traffic as crazy as I remember with no concept of a traffic lane. All the usual for Asia.
Lots of modern cars though and we found out later how incredibly cheap fuel / gas is.
Arrived at our first Air bnb apartment which was a very modern 2 bed unit in Bukit Bintang walking distance to numerous undercover walkways that link so much of the inner city and make for safe, stress free, well signed moving around.
Most of the days we just went out for a big walk...when to KL Park which is quite pretty with water fountains and a massive playground for the kids. About 6 times bigger than the usual 'big' playground in Australia. So had to keep an extra eye on them as easy to get lost.
Another day Ant took them to the Aquarium which they enjoyed. Always exciting to see a shark up close.
Friday, January 30, 2015
The SE Asia adventure begins....
I have dreamt since I was in my 20's of living overseas in a developing or underdeveloped country and having a simple life whilst teaching my children (that I hoped would arrive) about the world we live in. At the same time I would be enriching myself and hopefully making some use of myself to others if the opportunity presents itself.
Just wanting to step back, take stock of this life (which fly's along now in the 40's) and stop to smell the roses or is that orchids and to appreciate the lovely life I have created and been blessed with.
This is a diary for our little family to look back upon. We will ask others to join, to have a peek, as some are interested, but the photos and blurb is not set out to be interesting to you or entertain you...it is just what it is.
And so it begins...January 27th 2015 at Gold Coast Airport flying Air Asia.
Just wanting to step back, take stock of this life (which fly's along now in the 40's) and stop to smell the roses or is that orchids and to appreciate the lovely life I have created and been blessed with.
This is a diary for our little family to look back upon. We will ask others to join, to have a peek, as some are interested, but the photos and blurb is not set out to be interesting to you or entertain you...it is just what it is.
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