National Monument. And, yes this is the Malaysian National Monument. It was designed by an American and much to the dismay of many Malaysians, looks very American.


Marion's favourite place in KL is Butterfly Gardens.






Sweat beads. It was 38degC yesterday!




Monkey's crossing


This is the park where I often meet Rose, Marion and Davina for lunch.


Marion calls this the "Spiderman Castle".




View of the Petronas Twin Towers(3rd and 4th highest buildings in the world) from the KL Tower.


The other side of KL. Who would ever eat at a restaurant like this?


Or this?


Christmas trees are appearing in the strangest places.

Marion wanted to have a Canada Day parade, so Rose and her made these flags in school and we lined up her barbies and threw candies while singing 'Oh Canada'!


Yum.


Dress up!




Marion modelling her new clothes.

We were going through our London photos and thought we'd put some more up.


Trafalgar Square.


Waiting to meet the queen.


Sleeping babies. Ahhh.


I like London.

Singapore! Pure luxury! Singapore is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and very obvious as you drive accross the boarder from Malaysia. Everything is done well and extremely beautiful. The roads were all organized and all the road signs were accurate (what a concept...and in English)! But that's not why Singapore is so amazing. It is very clean with a thousand dollar fine for littering. The country has also invested in great landscaping with all the roads and walkways perfectly manicured. Singapore is a shoppers dream world. They have mega malls on both sides of Orchard Road, the main road, it runs for about three kilometers. Just think about that, malls three to six stories high for three kilometer's, both sides of the street! But we did not shop. We enjoyed walking around seeing and enjoying the history of the place. We took a boat tour down the river which was very informative and calmed Roger's tourist heart (he got to see most of the city and learn a lot of history.) We stayed right on Orchard Road, and the most enjoyable thing was eating at a cafe and people watching. A very fascinating city.






Orchard Road. People everywhere!

Our first family holiday ever! The only thing we wanted for this holiday was sun and sea. We spent five days on a coastal island called Langkawi. We rented a cabana five steps from white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue water. We would wake to the sound of tropical birds alarming us the sun was up, we went to breakfast in an
"open air" restaurant, it had no walls so you were completely surrounded by the jungle. After breakfast we would grab our swim gear and books, go lie in the sun until lunch, eat, go lie in the sun. I have never experienced anything quite so relaxing, private beach, the sound of waves, palm trees over head. We did venture out to go on a cable car up the mountain where we saw breathtaking views of the surrounding area and Thailand. The resort offered some fun, Roger enjoyed time jet-skiing, and we had a romantic dinner for two on the ocean watching the sun set. The island and beaches are still so pristine and natural, I want to live there! Marion was so happy spending hours playing with her sand toys, collecting shells, running in and out of the ocean, monkeys in the trees over head, what more could a kid want? It was Davina's first ocean experience, she most definetly loved the sand. I again realized how much I love the ocean when we got off the plane and the sea air meet me I felt like I was home, hearing the waves lull me of to sleep, waking to the views, peaceful! Roger has been reminding me I am a prairie girl now, but I know I have ocean in my blood and that never really goes away!





Cable car
















Dinner for two.

I never thought I would call a swanky downtown apartment home. I have always wanted to experience what it would be like to live in a high rise right in the heart of a lively city. I never thought it would be in Kaula Lampur, Malaysia! We rented a eighteenth floor, three bedroom serviced apartment just one block from Roger's work. It has a beautiful pool and a kids club with free drop in a gym and buffet breakfast every morning. We were excited to get all our things from Canada and finally make a home. I have been enjoying shopping and decorating with my Asian goods. After a month of eating out, we were all relived to have a home cooked meal. The first meal I made at home Marion looked at me funny and said " Mom you remember how to cook?" Today I went to China town and bought flowers, I got so excited over the cheap prices that I bought anything I liked! I returned home to look over what I bought four dozen roses, three bundles of cluster orchids, carnations for Marion's room, and a large bouquet of hybrid roses, all for twenty bucks! I almost fainted with joy! Now that my condo is covered in flowers, candles are lit and I am looking out over the amazing city views. I now wish my friends and family could come and visit me in my new home. Tea any one? And just as I put the finishing touches on this home, pictures came in from our new place in Africa.... Marion asked me what our address is? I answered her question, she then proceeded to tell me she thinks she should put a mailbox on her suit case! I think she is embracing this no roots thing! The pictures are of the lobby of the apartment, views from the our condo, the girls so sweet in my bed, I hope the video works for you. I miss every on alot more now that I have a home but no visitors.

We just moved out of the Mandarin this week (into our permanent residence...we'll have pics of this soon...I've been asked a few times "where do you live?"). It was tough to say good-bye. Malaysia is still a developing country but Kuala Lumpur City Center isn't exactly roughing it.





The Mandarin from my work.

















Marion's first week of "pre-school".


Davina's almost first crawl.








Mall beside the hotel.


Inside the mall.