An Autmun Trip to Ipoh

We get a long weekend about once a month due to all the different Malaysian, Hindu, Chinese, and Muslim holidays. I am getting better at keeping track of which holiday is which but really, I am just glad for the time off! We decided to take the kids back to the water park in Ipoh. The boys went before a few years ago but Natalie has never been so off we went.

Pool water tastes YUCKY

Natalie's first ride down a water slide with her big brother.

Kyle gives Alex a lift so he can feed the friendly Raccoon.

The Bird Sanctuary is one of our favorite places.

The birds land on you and eat right out of your hand.

Alex trying to coax an albino peacock to take some food.

The bird isn't scared. It's just full. :)

We finally got Alex to let a bird sit on his arm and take food. This is an African Gray Parrot. It can talk in more than one language.

Little Miss Independent who refuses to hold anyone's hand when she walks. She folds her arms up like this and walks. It is so funny!

Watching the tigers fight and be fed was another highlight!

The Perhentian Islands

This summer we decided to take a trip to the Perhentian Islands for a few days to do some snorkeling, sunbathing, and general laziness. The travel agent sent a chartered van to drive us across the country which takes about 5 hours. Well, it should take 5 hours. But with the way these hired drivers do it, it's more like 3 hours. I prayed the whole way that we would just make it there alive and Alex (my poor car sick child) puked all the way there.

When arrived, we then loaded our luggage onto a banana boat for the 30 minute boat ride out to the island.

 The dock as we arrived...

 The water was crazy blue.

We did lots of snorkeling and it was so amazing!

John helping Alex build a sand castle.

The view from the deck.

Hanging out and reading

This is one place we will definitely visit again. Beautiful clean water and snorkeling!!!

A Bangladeshi Baby Shower

There is a Bangladeshi man who does a lot of painting at our school so John has gotten to know him a bit (well, as much as he can since the man speaks very little English). This man and his wife just had their first child, a boy. It is a Muslim tradition in their culture to have a party 45 days after the baby is born and he invited our family. We were the ONLY Americans there. It was quite an honor.

When we walked in about 40 men were gathered in a circle chanting and praying. This went on for a long time while we basically watched. Then came the FOOD! They treated us like honored guests. It was a great experience.

The proud papa and his baby boy

Some of the women served us (and Alex served himself!)

According to their tradition, the men ate first...

And then the women ate

Fourth of July in Malaysia

So obviously they do not celebrate the fourth of July here (although I admit the first year I wondered why there were no fireworks... duh).  But our little group of Americans at Dalat did not let that stop us. We gathered together on the beach and had a barbecue on the oceanfront. There was food and friends and sand and waves. We even had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows. What else do you need?

The kids had fun playing in the ocean

We all gathered and said a prayer for the United States and its leaders.

Beautiful sunset