3 days left to 2010...

Actually 2 only.....i'm a little disoriented with the time difference here in Malaysia - still going by my laptop time here when i blog.

Had the pool to myself this morning most of the time until the tail end of my swim.  The water felt nice and fresh at 9a.  Hung out with niece the rest of the day and we took off to the club again.  They swam and i went to the steam room - it was super crowded at the pool around 5pm.

Counted about a dozen mosquito bites from the youth retreat yesterday.  Mt.Singhai was a steep climb up - good trails mostly covered by the dense forest.  I was drenched with sweat from the humidity.  It felt great - would have gone on but the rest of the way to the top was unmarked & treacherous and didn't have proper shoes.  We barely felt the rain on the descent when the storm moved in.  It was wild and beautiful.

The guys at the lodge had it right - beer with crab cookout.  Not sure about the Karaoke though....  I tried a taste but retire early.  Not much sleep with 8 teenagers in the next room.  Legs felt pretty sore from the dash up the mountain - but the swim helped stretched body out next day.

Before we left - screams from the room indicated an unwelcome guest.  I voted to not kill it - but poor spider, i was the only one who rose to defend it but a little too squeamish to put it outside.  Sorry spider.

Rain swim

The monsoon rains here kept the temperature fairly cool to swim.  Though the humidity is a little challenging, i felt good for the first time swimming in Malaysia.

The lite drizzling was welcoming - felt the droplets on my face.  I couldn't remember the last time i swam outside in the rain.... Sat in the steam room for 10 minutes - felt great -  i think the massage this morning helped ease the tightness from my back.

Eventually i need to face the run.  They said it would take a few years but i'm already feeling the itch to start.  The swims have been slow progress and i need to push through each morning...

Tomorrow - have been asked to speak at a youth camp - hope i survive!  The plan is to hike up mount sinai with these teenagers - that would be a good test of stamina.  Read and bed early this evening and maybe an early swim before the drive up to Deer Farm with these group of energizer bunnies.

3 countries in 7 weeks

Singapore.......Malaysia.........Thailand

Some random thoughts:

Being asked to emcee a wedding coming up right after the Thailand conference.  That should be fun.  350 guests..... oh dear.

And speaking at a youth leader's retreat........  That would be interesting - if i survive to tell about it....

Gotta get prepped for the conference the next couple of days.

Date with God tonight

Time to read and journal this evening.  Christmas day is almost over here in Malaysia but only just beginning in Canada.  It was fun to skype everyone Christmas eve (over in Ontario) this Christmas morning here.  Timing's everything...

Grabbed some shots - love the tropical plants here.

Different Christmas

Went to church this morning - rainy Christmas.  Didn't mind it as the downpour came and went.  Decided to head to the pool with my niece.  Surprised to see a couple of other people at the club.  Drizzled as we swam - out of breath in a couple of laps.  The weather's nice but the humidity makes it hard to exercise.

Simple celebration with sister's family.  Definitely memorable..... satay for dinner amongst other local cuisines.  Being away from Vancouver definitely makes this holiday different.  Nice to not have to be involved in lots of activities but also missing home a little.

Gave me a chance to learn how to blog and upload some pictures.  A bit more time to think and reflect.

Christmas Cantata

It's all about love....that was the theme at tonight's church service in Kuching.  Hope, love, joy - hmmmm... Happy Birthday, Jesus.

Sleeping baby - cute...... :)

Went to Sarawak club for a swim - there were only a couple of people there.  Christmas Eve - Ran into an old friend at the club.  Nice to catch up.  It rained when we went to the mall to pick up a pair of flippers.  When it rains here - it pours....torrential downpour - like the storms here.

Green Christmas

Got into Kuching yesterday - relatively smooth going thru customs.  Just as we land, the annoucement on the penalty of drug trafficking i paused - Other than a passing thought on whether i should have locked my check-in luggage.

Kuching - Cat city - I'm here - the weather's great - not as sticky as i remembered - and definitely bearable.  Sister picked me up and had a good afternoon of catch-up over lunch and a pedicure.  As we drove home, it rained....more like poured.  Gotta love the monsoon rain.  Definitely the best time to come.  Everything felt fresh.

Going to pick-up some trainers and head off to Sarawak club.  Found out my brother in law designed the pool there - look forward to the swim and heading to the Christmas Cantata this evening.  Fun - let the celebration begin.

Reflecting on the birth of Jesus - the best gift of all.  Giving of gifts to each other an expression of love - funny creatures that we are.  Reflecting on the reason for the season - remembering the beginning of faith....

swim singapore...

The outdoor pool was fabulous - went twice this week.  The early morning swim is still so much better than the evening.  I was tempted to eat a lot in the evening for some reason.

Club was nice - i felt spoiled by my sister and bro in-law.  Tonight we ate there - The fish and chips were amazingly fresh, crisp and left no grease residue.  Had mutton satay on a stick with peanut sauce, rojak (salad made with pineapple, tofu, beansprouts, spinach, cucumber, and ???) This was followed by chicken wings (tried one as i was afraid there's more food coming....and there was.  Had a couple of spoonsful of noodles with veg/fish.  Overall, i didn't feel so bad as it was all quite healthy minus the chicken wing.

I intend to make this holiday a healthy one - a little challenging considering food is the #1 entertainment and priority.  I've gone without chocolates for about two weeks - not intentionally but somehow the weather here curb any cravings for rich foods.

I feel like my tired little niece after the day of swimming, sun and shopping...

Queuing....

...is part of life here and in the food stalls - it's considered a compliment as customers pays patronage by lining up for their food.  I am not so patient when the city starts to impede on my time.  Most of it is a tourist trap and the locals seemed happily ignorant too.  Maybe its the festive season as people would spend more than they can afford.

Prada, louis vitton, chanel and....??? other brand names littered the streets especially downtown singapore.  I love walking down the streets though have very little interest for the glitz inside the stores.  I would not have minded just sitting down at a cafe and people watch if not for the restlessness of the two hungry munchkins beside me.  I think they get hungry every 30 minutes - how i envy their metabolism!

When they took off for the food court at Takayashime something center - i was lost.  Was thankful when they call me on their cell phones - oh ya.... both of them were armed with a separate cell phone when they were 7 i think!  I was probably still figuring out mine....

So much for the jungle - i had enough after a day in the city - slept for 10 hrs last night.

Singapore - Lion City

Picked up the courage to explore the Concrete jungle and its creatures yesterday.  Orchard Rd is not for the faint-hearted, navigating thru crowds of people but the festive ambiance all a part of the christmas celebration.  What possess me to brave the shopping craz and madness?  Oh ya - hanging out with my nephews - we sat thru a movie - TRON which i quite enjoyed if not for the air-conditioned theatre which is a reminder to me that i am a visitor who have not quite climatized yet.

Even the animals - at least the ones i observed at Sentosa island that morning were window shopping.  I caught the mother and two youngsters oggling at a window display before waddling away probably to look for a better bargain somewhere :)

10 days to go!

Yikes.... lots of errands to run.  No time for hand made creations this year.  Pick up some gifts for the munchkins and baking day tomorrow (that will be nice for friends here)  Started packing tonight for Singapore.  What to get for my sister?  Hmmm... Something that she would appreciate in the world of models.......  Got it!

Got her kids covered.  For bro in-law, sports jersey - too hot for Sing.  Need to figure out cable for laptop and camera.

Malaysia - Sister no. 2...chocolates :)  that's easy.  Sister 3, clothes - checked.  Spouses & kids....give it more thought later.

Ontario - Brother 1 & 2 & families (???) mom?  Later.......

Swimming

Stroke 1, stroke 2, breathe.....stroke 1, stroke 2, gulp/choke....stroke 2, stroke 1....now, where was i?!  Getting the breathing right is hard and i've managed to "swim" without getting my head underwater for almost 3 months....hmmmm.

I think one calls that playing rather than swimming.  My legs seems to be doing well with the flippers - one of the regulars introduce me to trainer flippers so i might start doing that....first the breathing.

Some of these guys are really inspiring especially the fast one in the lane beside me.  I called him ironman - not to his face of course.  He is an inspiration :)  I hope he continues to show up as i need some extrinsic motivation.  Somehow the attempt to keep up with him feels good (not his speed just the length of his workout)   One time i discovered that my fastest (with flippers) was his "slow" day.  Oh well.... i try :)  He is iron man after all!

December already!!!

Pushed past the 45 min swim.... and headed for the steam room after :)  No cramps today - that was a bonus and intrigued by what motivates some of these athletes to train so hard.  While i do it for fitness, i must admit, i was a little addicted to do my personal best and beat my own time.  Setting small goals helped only when i have the big picture in mind.  The bigger vision is to have a healthy body - at least in the time given to me on this earth.

Counting down to getting some rays.  Lots to do before i leave:  prep for roommate, gifts, book flights, register for conference, forms, work stuff, Christmas baking.....