Fun in the Water

Today we're leaving Kuantan to go back to KL. It's been fun and the kids LOVE being in the water. 

Last night we went with Leo to another great Chinese dinner and afterwards to the Night Market where they also had a little carnival. 

Another Day in Kuantan

Today we went on the greatest boat trip with our new friend Leo. He has a little business down on the beach and he took us out snorkeling and fishing. It was just a great day.

When we got back from the trip we decided we couldn't stand our resort anymore. The whole place was pretty depressing and looked nothing like the pictures on Expedia. The pool was always closed, the bar was never open and the air condition didn't work. So we said, life is too short, took our bags and walked to another hotel on the same beach which we love! I have to say, though, that the kids didn't complain at all. They are real troopers.

For dinner, Leo took us to a restaurant where they cooked the fish we caught during the day.It was the best fish I ever had. Even Clara liked it, who doesn't like any sea food. We had a table right by the water. It doesn't get much better than that!

Malaysia

We have been in Malaysia now for four days but due to bad internet connection I haven't been able to post anything about our stay here yet.  But that hasn't stopped us from doing many fun things (as usual). 

We arrived by train in Kuala Lumpur (KL) late on Thursday night. The train ride was great, took about 7 hours and was very relaxing. In KL Adrie came to pick us up and it was great to see him after so many years. Bob and he worked together at NATO in Brussels.

Adrie is a diplomat for the Netherlands and works as an agricultural attache at the embassy here. He and his wife Concepcion live in a beautiful big house with a pool in town. We've been served wonderful meals with lots of fresh fruit. They have both mango and papaya trees in their yard. Concepcion is from Mexico and one night she made tostadas which we all loved. Another night we went to Hakka, a great Chinese restaurant with a  view of the famous KL Twin Towers. 

We also saw monkeys by the road and went up in the KL tower.

For lunch one day we walked over to a mall and had lunch and there we also tried the "doctor fish". You put your feet in water where little fish swim around. The fish nibble at your feet and it is supposed to help against skin cancer, promote circulation and make your feet smooth. In any way it was fun and tickled a lot!

Concepcion is very creative and taught the kids how to make pinatas. She also made a big orange cow out of papier marche, it took her 8 months!

We also managed a quick stop in Chinatown but we have to go back for some more shopping.

Yesterday we took a bus from downtown KL to Kuantan, where we are staying in a Malaysian resort. There are no other Western tourists here and it feels like the "real thing". Almost a little too much last night when the air conditioning didn't work. It is VERY hot here. We finally got it working in one room so we dragged mattresses into that room and all slept in there. Today they've promised to fix it. There's both a pool and of course the Ocean so the kids don't ask for much else. 

Last Day in Singapore

We got a lot in this morning despite the fact that we are leaving later today. We first went to the Singapore Flyer, a giant Ferris Wheel that took us on a 30 minute tour of Singapore from the Sky. 

Then we went over to the Raffles Hotel but since the famous bar hadn't opened yet we went next door to a very cool toy museum, The Mint Museum. The name stands for Moments of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys, but also because the toys are in mint condition. It is one man's collection that makes up for all the objects in the museum. One of the staff told us that what we see in the museum is only 10 % of all the toys he owns! Some were worth a lot of money. There was one car, The Green Hornet's car that was worth $15.000, the only one known to exist in the world. So if you have one laying around you know you can make some money:)

You could tell it was a man's collection, a lot of Star Wars and cars, not so much Barbies!

After that we went to the Long Bar in Raffles hotel and made up for last night. We had Singapore Slings (they had kid friendly non-alcoholic ones too). They were very expensive but worth it to be able to say we did it.

Now I have to go. We have a train to catch!

Singapore

Clara woke up this morning feeling back to her old self. After breakfast we took a gondola ride to Sentosa Island where we went to an Aquarium (very interesting). Afterwards we lunched with some monkeys. They suddenly appeared where we were sitting down and they were not scared at all. One of them came up on the table and took Clara's hot dog!

It is hot here so we came back to the hotel for a swim before dinner in Little India and then Night Safari, the only one in the world and we saw many, many animals. 

We were going to stop by the famous Raffles Hotel for a Singapore Sling on our way home but were all too tired. Instead we took a taxi back to the hotel, put the kids to bed and then had a beer from the mini bar. Nothing wrong with that. 

Tomorrow at 2PM (14.00) we take the train to Kuala Lumpur. See you there!

Clara Sees the Singapore Children's Hospital

Our first day in Singapore turned out to be very eventful. After arriving late last night we went out this morning to have breakfast. After just a short walk Clara said she felt dizzy and it wasn't long before she started having problems walking. We took her back to the Park Royal Hotel and Bob had to carry her the last part of the way. She was being giddy and crying at the same time and seemed to not be aware. She quickly became worse, feeling limp and pale. The staff took us to the doctor's office in the hotel but as we were waiting for the office to open we felt we had to take her to the ER. The hotel staff was absolutely amazing, staying with us the whole time, making phone calls etc. A paramedic came on a motorbike and shortly after an ambulance that took Clara and Bob to a children's hospital. The hotel staff offered to stay with Nick and Hanna so I could go too but the kids were very upset and scared (as we were too even if we tried to stay calm) so I decided to stay. 

It didn't take long before Bob called to tell us that Clara was feeling better and that her sickness was a side effect from the malaria tablets. Needless to say we were very relieved and grateful. Prayers answered, Clara was back home at the hotel after a few hours. They wanted to keep her over night but let us take her home if we promised to monitor her closely, which we have (she had two plates of spaghetti earlier which must be a good sign.) 

As I said the hotel staff has been wonderful here at the Park Royal Hotel. Not only have they come with complimentary meals all through the day, fresh pressed juice and exotic fruit. We also got upgraded to nicer attaching rooms for no extra charge.  Bob said that was the silver lining of Clara getting sick. Clara asked then what the silver lining was for her and Bob said that she did get to keep her nice pj:s from the hospital:) But more than anything the staff has been thoughtful, caring, efficient and compassionate. We're very grateful and Clara felt like a princess even if she was too out of it through most of the ordeal to remember all of it.

Although Clara was much better she didn't feel well enough to go to dinner with Bob's brother Dan's friends Dan and his wife and son who live here. Bob, Nick and Hanna went and had a great time while Clara and I stayed home. A very good end to a scary day.

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures

On our last day in Australia we went to a crocodile park. We saw many, many crocodiles. We saw them being fed with chicken, bones and all. They get their calcium from the bones apparently. Both salt water and fresh water crocodiles as well as snakes, birds, lizards and koalas made up the park. The kids got to hold a baby crocodile which I think they thought was a little scary. The adventure included a boat ride and a couple of shows. Very interesting but after several hours there we were all ready for the beach. 

Now we just got home from a nice Mexican meal and it is time to (again) pack the bags for tomorrow we leave for Singapore. 

Goodbye Australia, it's been great!

Kuranda Village

Today the sun was shining again which was very nice. We went on a gondola sky ride through the rain forest, 9 km up to Kuranda. The gondola stopped a few times so we could get out and walk around in the Rainforest, very cool!

In Kuranda we had lunch and looked in all the little stores there. Clara bought her second sarrong.

We went to the Australian Venom Museum where they had all kinds of poisonous snakes and spiders and bugs. Not my cup of tea but the kids got to hold a python, eeew!

On the streets in Kuranda we met a woman who had a pet wallaby (kind of like a small kangaroo) and its babies in a baby carriage. The kids got to hold them which they thought was exciting - of course!

To get back down again we took a train that stopped for scenic views along the way. It was very beautiful.

The day ended at Trinity Beach where the waves were big and the water warm, 27 degrees Celcius (don't know what that is in Fahrenheit but it is very warm.)

Just one more day in Australia, time flies!