From "Roti" to "Rusks"

Actually, to be more accurate, the title of this blog should be From "Rice" to "Roti" to "Rusks" because last July, I was still living in Thailand. What a year it's been! As far as the title goes, rice needs no explanation. Roti was the delicious Indian flat bread we enjoyed in Malaysia, especially at breakfast, and rusks are a dried cake similar to biscotti that we've learned that many South Africans dunk in their coffee or tea and enjoy as a snack.

After only 2 weeks, Sam and I are settling in nicely. In a way, each move has gotten a little easier as we both know more about what to expect. I've learned that loneliness is inevitable, but that it won't last forever, and I've also learned to laugh to myself at the frustration of needing help with even the simplest of things. For example, today I was in an elevator needing to go up. There were 2 buttons in which to choose from. One was a "G" and the other was a "B". Since I was in the parking garage, I assumed the "G" meant garage and I pushed the "B". Wrong! When the door opened and we were still in the garage, the 2 local men also riding in the elevator looked at me like I was an idiot for pressing the wrong button which I guess I was! Note to self- "B" means basement and "G" means ground. Next time I'll know. There is no greater teacher than experience!

One last thought for this posting is that I want to say thanks for reading my blog and joining me in experiencing yet another part of the world. As I mentioned earlier, loneliness is one of the pitfalls of moving about as much as I have in the last year. Sometimes I joke and claim that my computer and the Internet are my best friends! Of course the reality is that they're only the tools I use to connect to you, my friends and family. If you have a moment to leave a comment, I'd really appreciate it. It really lifts my spirits to know that someone has actually read my ramblings :) Thanks! or should I say "Dankie" (Thanks in Afrikaans)

Jet Lag Thoughts....

It's 2:08 AM and I should be sleeping, but instead I find myself wide awake, starving, and thinking lonely thoughts from another time zone. Truthfully, I've been indulging myself in a pretty full blown pity party...thinking of all those I've recently left behind...remembering the tears I shed on the way home from the airport yesterday evening as I shared with Sam special moments from both Texas and California...and even more tears as we talked about the details of the move to Cape Town and the reality of leaving even more friends began to sink in.

Unfortunately for me, my brain has an incredibly annoying habit of "half empty" thinking.... I so wish I was a more natural optimist! At least I'm a pessimist who knows there's a better way. I'm thankful that even at this early morning hour with a let lagged mush brain, God has given me the discernment to recognize this dark hole for what it is and the desire to refuse the temptation to sink even deeper into melancholy.

The reality is that in one more day the movers will be here...in six more days I'll be on a plane to Cape Town. The reality is that I'm truly blessed! Each move I've ever made from as far back as I can remember has always made my life richer and I'd be hard pressed to choose a person or experience to sacrifice. Even my recent "mugger moment" is precious to me in it's own way :) Life is a journey...whether you live in one place or many, the truth is we're all always movin' on. Fortunately, we're never traveling alone.

The pictures that I promised...

I really do need to make it my goal to create new photo albums on my shutterfly account as it's my joy to share our travels with family and friends who choose to join us vicariously. I promise I'll get to that in the near future. But for now, the following pictures are the ones I promised in my last blog....Simple Thoughts. I've found that traveling really does have a way of causing me to examine my own beliefs while questioning and learning about the traditions of others.

Dressed to visit an Islamic mosque.

This is a picture of the Putra Mosque located in the government center of Putra Jaya just outside of KL. I visited this with high hopes of being able to admire the artistic beauty and also to learn more about Islamic worship.Unfortunately, as a non-Muslims, I could only walk to the entrance and look in. I'm not exactly sure why I had to dress for that...

The following pictures were taken at Batu Cave. It's the most important pilgrimage site for Malaysia's Hindus. During the Thaipusam festival celebrated in late January or early February, over a million pilgrims visit the cave. Sam joined the celebration on his birthday this past February...I need to learn how to post his video


A very tall golden statue of Lord Murugan with 272 steps up to Batu Cave behind it.

My favorite picture taken at Batu Caves! As an act of thanksgiving, parents bring their children to this temple. The child's head is shaved and then a powdery paste is spread over the child's head. Our driver, Ravi, surprised us by asking a family if we could hold their daughter. The family was very happy to allow us the honor...not quite sure if we were good luck or if they were just more than happy to allow others to share in their joy.

Reminds me of a Madonna and child...I'm guessing this God must be for children or maybe families.

Another god...Ravi pointed out the monkey like face and tried to explain that it had something to do with how people were in the beginning...I'm thinking he was referrring to evolution.

These last pictures were taken on a tour of Chinese cemeteries sponsored by the American Association of Malaysia. We learned a bit of Chinese culture by touring 2 memorial parks during Ching Ming, or All Souls Day which is celebrated for 20 days in April. I learned that Chinese people believe in ancestral worship and life after death and so during the 20 days of this festival families visit their departed loved ones graves. On their visit they bring the favorite foods of the deceased for them to enjoy. Our tour guide told us that they communicate with the dead by asking yes no questions. For example, they ask the family member if they've finished eating and then throw 2 coins over their shoulder. If the coins land with the same sides up, the answer is no and so they allow more time. If the coins land with opposite sides showing the answer is yes and they can pack up the picnic.

They also bring "paper" versions of all the necessities their loved one might need in the next life...clothes, cars, perfume, money...these are offered and then burned

The dead are buried according to feng shui practices...a hill behind them and water in front of them

Chinese wear color coded clothing to a funeral. The color is symbolic of how they are related to the deceased. The green is a grandchild, blue is a child...

This grave is not a grave at all. It was build to cheat death...interesting story.

Simple Thoughts

Recently, I joined a group from the American Malaysian Club and toured both old and new Chinese cemeteries as part of Ching Ming or All Souls Day. It's always so interesting to learn about another culture and their beliefs and traditions. In this blog, rather than post pictures of the trip, I'd like to share some thoughts I've been pondering about the experience and about other recent experiences too. (I promise to post pictures soon!)

Our tour guide, a lovely Chinese lady, explained that Chinese people, including herself, believe in ancestral worship and life after death, but what really got my attention was when she shared that the rituals that must take place upon the death of a loved one and every year after that are so complicated that today many Chinese convert their family members to Christianity on their death beds in order to avoid having to carry out the expected traditions. Over and over throughout the tour, she repeated that it was just so much simpler to be a Christian and it's that thought that has prompted me to share.

I couldn't agree with her more. Christianity is simple. It's so simple that it can be summed up in one word. Love... One verse. John 3:16. God wants the whole world to know him and to spend eternity with him. Why is simple so hard to accept in life, not just death?

Another example of the simplicity of Christianity is how it compares to Hinduism. The Hindu temple we visited this past weekend at Batu Cave was full of representations of different gods and specialized priests that served these gods. Our driver explained how that different gods handled different problems...sickness, money, children. Some prayer requests even had to be taken to priests in India for answers. I'm sure I don't understand it all, but what I do understand is that I worship one God, and that my God is more than able to handle anything anyone brings to him in prayer. In fact, my God knows the prayers of anyone who calls him Father before they pray...he knows what can't even be put into words. This is the God I've put my faith in.

One more "simple" thought I'd like to share is that in Christ, one is free... something that I've learned that not all religions share. Living in an Islamic country for the past few months has taught me that for a majority of Malaysians, religious laws govern things like what they wear, what they eat and drink, and when and where they pray...all things that I'm, as a Christian, simply free to choose for myself. In fact, the laws of the country even govern how non Muslims live out their religious beliefs. Christians and members of other religions in Malaysia are able to meet together and worship, but they are prohibited from sharing their faith with Muslims.

In closing, I can't help but wonder if the simple truth of Christianity is what might make it hard for people.... something so easy (I'm mindful that it was anything but easy for God as he sacrificed his son)... so easy to ignore or put off. Maybe John 3:16 is just too good to be true or too simple for people who want their own works and effort to pave their way into whatever they believe comes after this life. Simple thoughts, I know, but I felt compelled to jot them down.

...Easter's on its way!

A very special picture of Uncle Ed and Dad ...Three generations later, Riley Lynn hippity hopping down the bunny trail gathering treats for her basketOn a list of random facts you might not know about me would be that Easter's my favorite holiday.

As a child, my love of the holiday was because I looked forward to all things pretty and new like spring colored Easter dresses with hats, shoes, socks, and purses to match. I just loved the sweetness of fluffy lambs, downy ducks, and baby bunnies and can still remember dreaming of delicious See's chocolates and sugary Peeps. I'd be so excited about my beautifully wrapped basket filled with tiny treasures and eggs hiding here, there, and everywhere that I wouldn't be able to sleep on Easter eve! I still love all those things....

Now, I also love that Easter's a time when the world hears the truth that Christians celebrate everyday...the truth of promises kept and the blessing of hope Jesus has given us all. As I sit here writing this, I find myself wondering the differences I could make if I awakened on Easter morning and every morning, with the same eager anticipation I felt as a child, ready to search for and discover the day's blessings and opportunities God has already prepared for my basket of life before I was even born. Something for me to think about...

A Taste of Malaysia

Recently, I had the joy of taking a Malaysian cooking class http://www.malaysia-klcookingclass.com/ with my new friends, Meredith and Elizabeth. What a treat it was! We cooked from 10:00 - 2:00 and learned so much...not just about cooking, but also about the colorful multicultural history of Malaysia. I'm convinced that there's no better way to experience a country than to spend a day in the kitchen with local cooks willing to share not only their family recipes, but also themselves. Our menu was - Otak-Otak (marinated fish in banana leaves), Char Koay Teow (Malaysian fried noodles), Kari Ayam (chicken curry), and Roti Jala (lacy pancake).

First, each dish was demonstrated. Next, we had the treat of sampling it. After that, we went to our individual cooking stations and cooked the recipe ourselves. Finally, as this picture shows, we feasted on a full serving of our creations. Yummy!

A picture of my Otak-otak...first time for me to use banana leaves in preparing a meal. The origin of this dish was interesting. Our instructor shared that otak means brain and that the recipe was developed as a way to use old fish, including its head or brain. The ingredients for otak-otak are: "fresh" fish, egg, fish curry powder, coconut milk, tamarind paste, kafir lime leaf, kaduk leaves, salt. sugar, banana leaves and spice paste( lemongrass, red chilies, onions).

This dish was so much fun to make. The Roti Jala or "lacy pancakes" had the texture and taste of a chewy crepe. The ingredients for Roti Jala are: flour, salt, tumeric powder, egg, coconut milk, water, oil. After being cooked on one side only, the pancakes are folded and then rolled before being served with curry.

A picture of one of my favorite dishes, Char Koay Teow! This is a national "comfort" food. I'm guessing our equivalent might be homemade macaroni and cheese. The ingredients are:oil, garlic, chili paste, fish cake, prawns, flat rice noodles, egg, bean sprouts, chives, light soya sauce, thick soya sauce, water and salt.

The beautiful cooks who shared their talents and heritage

Figuratively speaking, there's more than one way to "taste" a country and just like in sampling any cuisine, there are going to be dishes that you love and others you'd prefer not to have again.

In closing this posting, I'd like to say that the cooking class at Lazat is an experience I truly look forward to having again and again. However, the attempted motorcycle mugging that took place yesterday, I'd prefer never to sample again! Fortunately, I am sitting in the safety of my apartment typing about it and counting my blessings rather than in a hospital room recovering from what "could" have happened. I'll be the first to admit that being jerked onto my hands and knees by a tug on my purse strap by a passing motorcycle mugger into a street full of rushing traffic really took the wind out of my sails, but I'm not going to let it stop me from continuing to explore this beautiful country that I've been blessed to spend a bit of time in. I'm a little scraped up and sore, but thanks to the experience, a whole lot wiser. Cheers!

Recent Road Trips

The following entries are a small sampling of our recent road trips. We're so fortunate and thankful to have a car and driver which makes it possible to leave the city for these short little jaunts.

March 21, 2009

2 hours to the north... Fraser Hill

Sam and I ventured out of KL once again. This time we headed 2 hours north and explored the wonderfully weird little highland town of Fraser Hill. We not only enjoyed hiking jungle trails, but also savored the cool mountain air while having coffee and shortbread on the veranda of a beautiful English cottage all the while listening to the sweet sounds of the town's over 250 recorded species of birds and the call to prayer from a local mosque! After several hours of trekking around the jungle and town, we finished the day by dining with the locals at a quaint Chinese restaurant just off the main square.

The center of town...By the way, to get to Fraser Hill, we traveled on the only road into town, The Gap, a one lane former mule train road that is open on odd hours for going up and even hours for coming down.

Ye Old Smokehouse- built in 1924 by the English Red cross as a gift to surviving dependents of soldiers who had lost their lives in WWI. Today, the Tudor style house is a hotel and restaurant. It was a photographer's dream...and it's my dream to be a photographer!

Having coffee at the Smokehouse with our new friends, Elizabeth and Auden. They recently moved to KL from Washington D.C.

Looking into one of the Smokehouse guest rooms..wish these windows could talk!

Wild beauty spotted along one of the jungle trails we hiked.

March 14, 2009
2 hours to the south...Melaka

Our first major road trip was to Melaka. Melaka was once a thriving port...had an important role in the spice trade which prompted the Portuguese, Dutch, and British to successively colonize it. Today the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The first protestant church in Malaysia. It was constructed by the Dutch using the bricks that had been used as ballast in the ships that sailed from Europe.

St Paul's Church...the first Christian church in Malaysia. It was built by the Portuguese in 1521.

Jalan Hang Jebat, formerly known as Jonkers Street...a colorful shopping street in Chinatown just across the square from Christ Church.

The Cheng Hoon Teng Temple is the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia. It was built in 1646.

Lunch! Chicken rice balls..a specialty of Melaka :)

My next goal will be to post complete albums of all of our snapshots on Shutterfly. With any luck and a little determination, I'll have that done before we take our next road trip. "Selemat jalan" for now!

How to season a wok and other tidbits from Chinatown

It's always nice to meet new friends, learn interesting tidbits of history, taste different foods, and acquire new talents...all of which I got to do today! I toured KL's Chinatown along with about 15 others as part of a field trip organized by the American Association of Malaysia.

Of course, meeting new friends is the best! I met ladies from Whales, France, Canada, various states within the United States, and even a lady from Katy, Texas. That makes 2 women from Katy in 2 weeks. Can you believe it?

The most interesting food that I was served was actually a special drink. It was iced nutmeg tea. The owner of a Chinese restaurant located in KL's historical Central Market explained that it takes over five hours to brew as it requires a double boiling process. It was quite flavorful..sort of had a peppery taste and is claimed to have positive medicinal qualities.

As far as history, I learned things like KL was originally a tin mining town, and that the founder of the city, Kapitan Yap Ah Loy, has a very small street in Chinatown named after him in addition to an altar of honor at See Ya, the oldest temple in KL. I also learned about the three largest ethnic groups, Malay, Chinese, and Indian, and how their cultures, religions, and viewpoints on life contribute to a diverse experience for all.

However, the most unique lesson of the day was learned in a Chinese shophouse that sold anything and everything for the kitchen. One of my new friends and I returned to this shop after our tour was completed in order to purchase woks. I would've gladly paid twice what we paid just for the experience! Not only did we leave the store with cast iron woks, but also with very through animated instructions on how to season them given to us simultaneously by both the Chinese shopkeeper and an elderly Indian "auntie" who was also shopping at the store.

The instructions are as follows:
1. Wash the wok with soap and water.
2. Get a fresh coconut from the market and have the grocer mash the coconut.
3. Rub the mashed coconut flesh all over the wok
4. Boil water in the wok and add Chinese tea...allow to simmer.
5. Drain the tea and fry a chicken egg.
6. Throw the cooked egg away.

After completing these steps, the wok should now be seasoned and ready to use. According to many sites that showed up on a Google search, I could simply use vegetable oil, but how fun would that be? Tomorrow, I'm planning to shop for mashed coconut and Chinese tea. With any luck, the wok will be successfully seasoned, and Sam will have fried rice for dinner!

Hiking Malaysia... a Sensory Smorgasbord of Green!

32 years ago we hiked the hills of Malibu Canyon ... Today, it's our joy being together hiking and exploring a whole new world .... How thankful we are for the friendship we share and for those of you who've lovingly encouraged us and have journeyed with us over the years!

So many shapes and shades of green...

This picture fails to capture the awe we felt as we hiked up this mountain bike trail to the canopy walk...but it's the best we could do with Sam's cell phone camera :) Next time, we'll take a movie!

I guess this is why it's called a rain forest!

I've been in Malaysia 2 weeks now, so I figured it was time to sit down and record some thoughts...share some pictures, especially for my readers who may not have Facebook, my favorite mode of communication these days.

First of all, let me assure everyone that all is well. It's amazing how quickly that I've made the transition. In fact, in less than a week after arriving, Sam and I had already entertained visiting co workers in our apartment twice. There's no way I could have done that my first week in Bangkok, but I guess the move to Malaysia is more like picking up where we left off.

Our field trips so far have included markets (both big and small), restaurants (mostly neighborhood), and parks. I saved the best for last in that list. If I were to choose one word to describe Malaysia so far, it would be "green". However, the color is just the beginning. Walking....hiking through the parks is much more like trying to sample everything possible at a sensory smorgasbord...the earthy smells, cool rain drizzling or pouring down, birds or maybe monkeys taunting, thunder rumbling, cascading waterfalls...it's a feast for sure, and Sam and I are "pigging out" as often as possible!

Oops! "Pigging out" was probably not the best choice of words in an Islamic country. In order to purchase pig products (bacon, ham...), one must go to a separate section of the store. So much to learn!

Happy Birthday!

Make a Wish!

Riley Lynn dressed in her mommy's 1st birthday dress

I should be packing (or sleeping since it's 1:27 AM... 3:27 PM Malaysian time) , but instead I find myself playing on the computer...reliving the precious moments we spent celebrating Riley's 1st birthday. Just wanted to share!

Letting Go...

Riley Lynn...almost a year old

This morning I treated myself to a surf side quiet time. The plan had been to watch the sun come up, but instead I was blessed with one of the best night's sleep I had had in a long time and didn't wake up until 8:00. Even though I'd missed my favorite morning moment, I knew that God still had blessings he wanted to share with me on the seashore, so I hopped up, threw on my jeans, and grabbed a hoody.

I've developed some special traditions since moving to Corpus, one of which is morning devos on the beach. My first stop is always McDonalds where I grab a large coffee, 4 creams, and a bacon egg and cheese biscuit before heading over the bridge to the island. This morning I even splurged and added a few apple pies to my order! Next, I drive along the beach until I find a quiet place to park. Then I pray, eat, read, walk, sing, pray, listen, pray.... You get the idea! It's my time to commune with my Heavenly Dad. I don't know what it is about the beach...seems like the static of life disappears with the soft roar of the waves and I can finally focus and hear what he wants to share.

This morning as I sat staring at the turbulent sea, my thoughts began with a question from The Sound of Music- "How do you catch a wave and pin it down?" The simple answer is you don't! My personal application of this obvious truth is that somewhere along the journey of parenthood, parents must acknowledge the ever changing limits of their influence and control over their child's life. When a child is young, the task can be daunting as I've recently been reminded of by caring for Riley. Children simply don't have the life experience to recognize dangers like hot stoves, deep water, and moving cars, so a parent must vigilantly try to stay one step ahead of them in order to navigate a safe passage through each day.

However, at some point, well it's not really a point....more like a series of points, the role of navigating life becomes the child's and parents must let go. It's not just the letting go of physical control....that's the easy part. It's the letting go of hopes and dreams that can be challenging. God has blessed each of us with a free will. No adult has the right to control another...to do so would assume that they were God-like in their knowledge and abilities which is ridiculous. Only God has the power to catch a wave and pin it down. Only God can control our every thought and action, but he doesn't. He knows all too well that to intervene in this way would rob him of the beautiful opportunity for the loving relationship with us that he so desires. He loves us enough to let go of his control and allows us to choose our own path...our own relationships.

These thoughts bring me to my own "letting go" and "loving" update. I'll be returning to Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 21. Vanessa has chosen to return to Trey and will be attending school at HCC in Houston. It is what it is...just another step as we all prayerfully try our best to live life. Thanks for joining us on the journey. How blessed we are!

Merry Christmas!

From Malaysia...

and Texas...

We want to wish you a very Merry Christmas.

May your holidays be filled with precious blessings,

savored by hearts overflowing with love and gratitude

for the gift of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

and joyfully shared with family and friends.

Our love and best wishes always,

Sam, Tracey, Vanessa, and Riley

Home Sweet "Malaysian" Home

Capsquare Residence ...20th floor

Our view

Our neighborhood...notice the Starbucks!

I've been back in Texas now for a little over week, but leave again tomorrow. Before I head out with our girls to celebrate Christmas with our family in Oregon, I wanted to post a few pictures of our new home in Kuala Lumpur. Sam and I were blessed to actually find and move into a furnished apartment over my Thanksgiving visit. Speaking of my visit, it was wonderful though way too short! Sam is doing well and sends his love. Of course, he's glad I can be with the girls during this time of transition, but is also looking forward to my return.

Beeee...autiful Blessings!

...just wanted to share a few pictures from Halloween. What a blessing it was to be with my girls to share yet another "first!" I'm convinced that there is no greater joy than experiencing the thrill of childhood once again, only this time through the eyes of Vanessa as she celebrates life with Riley.

Precious moments with Grandmommy's Honey Bee!


Posing for pictures before visiting friends

My Beeee...autiful Bees. Riley was a "busy" bee, Vanessa was the "queen" bee, and I joyfully chose to be the drone!

Trick or Treat!

Since I haven't blogged in over a month, I'm treating myself to time on the computer while my girlies are occupied.... Riley with napping and Vanessa with studying.

As far as an update... Sam and I are moving to Malaysia on November 1st. Nope! This is not a trick. Actually, Sam broke the news to me about a month ago on my birthday. It's been almost 2 years ago since we accepted the Thailand position. At that time, we thought we'd be there for a minimum of 3 years and were really hoping for 5. Unfortunately, the company had different plans. Such is the life of an expat!

Actually, now that we've adjusted to the idea, we're looking forward to the adventure of living in and exploring yet another country, though we'll miss our life and friends in Thailand greatly. The current plan is for Sam to stay in the company's guest housing until we're able to select an apartment which we'll do over the Thanksgiving holiday. I'll be travelling to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the 20th of November to join Sam until Dec.4. Then, I'll return to Katy and continue helping Vanessa with Riley until she finishes her semester at HCC. In January, we'll move the girls to our home in Corpus Christi where Vanessa will continue pursuing her dream to become a nurse. Once she feels confident and we have care for Riley, I'll move to Malaysia and will begin making a home for us there.

Until all that comes to pass, I'm enjoying the treat of sharing in Vanessa's joy as she cares for her precious Riley. So far, I've been blessed to see this little fairy princess grow hair...enough for a clip-on bow, sprout 2 pearly teeth, stand solo in the sand on the beach, and take her first steps. My jack-o-lantern is truly full and overflowing with magical moments!