Looking back...

2011 was quite the year. As I look back there are so many fond memories from celebrating with friends, travel, moving and the list goes on.

Here is a quick snap shot as I look back through the last year in photos...enjoy!

In January 2011 I visited Malaysia for the first time! Here Ridley and I are
at Perhentian Island.

In April I celebrated Ladies Night Out and birthday's of two of my
very best friends! 

And of course in order to take a one year leave, I left my
belongings and home behind to travel.

Visiting Kuala Lumpur for the second time.

Taking in the sights of Rome, Italy. 

Visiting Kota Kinabalu, twice.

Celebrating a Chinese wedding.

Going to out on the town in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Trying steamboat for the first time.

Learning how shrimp crackers are made.

Trying Mango Sago for the first time and falling in love.

Eating rambutan and again falling in love.

Learning how to open and eat Durian. 

 Golfing with the family.

Watching hockey of course. 

Receiving flowers all the way from Malaysia.

Celebrating at Westerner Days in Red Deer

Watching Smurfs 3D with one of my
adorable nephews.

Spending time my Nattikins,

Thanksgiving with my two handsome nephews.

Now I look forward to what 2012 will bring...

Mexico meets Italy during Christmas in Asia...

Mexican Christmas meets Italy in Asia was a roaring success. Even though there were only three of us for dinner we probably could have fed half of the Malaysian army which has a base in Miri. Okay maybe not half but probably about half a dozen of them. We had so much food!

I wanted to make home-made tortilla shells, just like my Momma used to make, especially when my dad was out of town since he was more of a meat and potato kinda guy. These specific tortilla shells are made from corn meal. However, who knew corn meal was going to be so hard to find in Miri. I started my search about the week before Christmas randomly looking in stores hoping that I would happen upon the main ingredient. I was beginning to lose hope and even recruited Ridley's sister Rezebel to assist. One afternoon a few days before the big festivities she went on a corn meal hunt and to no avail came up empty handed. One day I was picking up a few groceries and searched and searched the section with all the flour and rice flour, sugar and powdery substances when I saw it. I saw corn flour. Yes, that's right corn flour. So, I texted my Momma and asked her... "do you think I could use corn flour instead of corn meal." Her response, "Yes it won't have the same texture but should work."

Fast forward to Christmas Day and again we were on a last ditch effort to find corn meal. I wasn't quite convinced yet that this corn flour was going to work. I will also never listen to anyone ever again when they say to just do Christmas shopping on Christmas Day. Neither Ridley or I were sure if the stores would be open or not and thank goodness most were open. So we searched for corn meal again and searched for tortilla shells and once again came up empty handed. The one store we wanted to go to called the GK Market, which always has quite a stock of international foods, surprise, they were closed for Christmas. Shocking I know. 

So we headed home with most of the ingredients for a Mexican Christmas minus taco shells or anything resembling a tortilla. But, we had decided the day before that if we were not successful in our hunt that we would make nachos and some pasta and have somewhat of a Mexico meets Italy Christmas affair. 

I did not want to give up. We decided on tacos damn-it, we were going to have tacos. I figured I've got to be able to make these darn tacos shells with this corn flour stuff. Hello Google you are my best friend. Thank god for internet. I researched corn flour and oops it is actually corn starch. Who knew. Apparently there is a corn flour called Masa which what I could have used but of course didn't have. And in Asian countries a lot of the packaged cornstarch is labeled as corn flour. Oh so interesting trying to make something you have no clue how to make and combine that with attempting to buy ingredients in a country where you can't read the packaging. Oh well, lesson learned. So, I found a recipe to make tortilla shells with you guessed it, flour. Just plain old white flour. I know most of you are probably rolling your eyes right about know thinking boy this girl has no clue about cooking, and you are probably right. I don't have a clue, well a clue how to improvise my corn meal tortillas. But, now I do. And they turned out great!

Mexico meet Italy in Asia!

With Christmas Day behind us and our Mexican meets Italy meal over and done with we were, excited to have been invited to an expatriate's house for Boxing Day. Cam and Ioana, a lovely couple from Canada and Romana, invited Ridley and I to their open house. Ioana made a remarkable Romanian potato salad, along with a lamb roast and for dessert Cam made us banana flambé. I made Ridley watch very closely as Cam made our dessert hoping that he could recreate it for us sometime. Until I saw that Cam actually lit the pan on fire by letting a few drops of the Rum he had just poured into pan onto the open flames of their gas stove. It was at that moment I thought that neither Ridley nor I should attempt this flambé thing until we have visited Cam and Ioana's house at least half a dozen more times.

It was a great night as we sat and visited with Cam and Ioana and a few other friends who also dropped in to enjoy the open house. We heard some interesting stories about their travels around the world. We chatted about life in Miri versus life in Canada, and New Zealand and a few other places in between. We also told them about our eventful Christmas dinner and of course I told them about my struggle to find corn meal at which Ioana ran to the cupboard and pulled out a bag of the ingredient I had looked all over Miri for. When I asked her where she purchase this said ingredient, her response, "Oh I got this at the GK Market." Of course she did, the one store that was closed Christmas Day, but then again we wouldn't have such great stories to tell now would we...

Getting ready for the next adventure...

Christmas is upon us and while I am excited to celebrate the festive season in a new country with new traditions I am really looking forward to the New Year. I know 2012 will be a spectacular year and it will mean a continuation of my adventures which we will be starting early! On January 2, Ridley and I will be taking a little vacation to Singapore, as well as Johor Bahru and possibly Malacca, which are both in Malaysia. We have five days so we are going to pack in as much as humanly possible.

Since Ridley is busy at work, and well I am not so busy, I was in charge of booking this said mini-vacation. Being close to Christmas, New Years, and Chinese New Years the only flight 'deal' I could find was to Singapore, but we had always talked about visiting this unique country situated near West Malaysia.   So, we arrive on January 2 and will be staying two nights in Singapore, before we jet north to Johor Bahru and Malacca. We plan to spend a day sightseeing in Singapore as well as a day at the renowned Universal Studios. We will then take the hour bus ride north to Johor Barhu, which is the second largest city in Malaysia. From that point on we are flying by the seat of our pants. That is as long as I don't freak out at the last minute and book our bus tickets, hotels and make reservations for dinner...since I have a tendency to plan everything...and I mean everything, ok maybe I am not that bad. We will spend a day or two in Johor Bahru and maybe a day in Malacca before we head back to Singapore to fly home on January 7. That's right we will be vacationing from January 2-7 and will enjoy every minute of it.

For more information on our destinations check our Wiki-Travel:
Visit Singapore
Visit Johor Bahru
Visit Malacca

In the moment...

"For most people, we often marvel at the beauty of a sunrise or the magnificence of a full moon, but it is impossible to fathom the magnitude of the universe that surrounds us."

The moon right before the lunar eclipse.

A few days ago I watched a lunar eclipse. I stood there in the backyard and watched as the shadow of the earth covered the moon. I watched as the moon turned a vibrant orange and thought how amazing it was to be standing there outside watching, watching the lunar eclipse so clearly. It also made me realize that I was in the moment, just standing there soaking it all in.

See, if you know me, you will know that I am not one to sit still. I sometimes find it hard to concentrate on one task at a time. I tend to multi-task, a lot. I also tend to jump around from task to task, wait a minute that would be considered multi-tasking, correct? But, anyway back to my moment. I stood there amazed at how clear it all seemed. How clear the moon looked in the dark sky, how you could see the details of it with the naked eye. But what I also realized was how in that moment in time everything seemed to stand still. For that very moment I just stood in awe staring at the moon thinking how we are so small in comparison to the entire universe around us, and that I tend not to enjoy each and every moment. It was like I had an 'eat, love, pray' moment, oops I already said I wouldn't turn this blog into my self-discovering journal.

It all reminded me that the most important thing to remember is to live in the moment whenever possible.

These are just a few moments I will never forget.

Gram's 87 birthday and her joking with my nephews. She was always
having fun.

At the farm with my dad.

In Italy with my Mom.

Having fun with my best girlfriends who I grew up with.

Road trips with my sister.

Coffee...how can you go on a road trip without it.

How much we love our family and
how much we know our Dad loves us, can't beat it.

Being goofy, having fun and just being us!

My nephews...any moments with them are memories to treasure.

A man's, er woman's, best friend...

At the dog park where we loved to go with one my
my best buds Charity and her best bud Sunny.

So when you are away from 'home' you tend to miss a lot of the little things. Sometimes I miss being able to hop in my car and just drive. Here, driving is a wee bit different and I don't have a vehicle so that makes it extra difficult. I miss being able to call up a friend on a whim and go shopping, or grab a bite to eat, but, one of the things I miss the most is my loyal side-kick, Natty. Even though she has an addiction to shoes, scarves, Starbucks cups, well anything that is left laying around that she can sink her teeth into really, she is the best companion, ever.

Just a few months old and she was as cute as a button,

Now just over 2 years old she loves car rides.

Did I mention she may or may not be a wee bit spoiled.

Love birds...

On the weekend I went to my first Asian wedding in Malaysia between Helen and Volker. Yes, Helen and Volker. It was Ridley's auntie and her husband from Germany, so this Asian wedding was complete with an eastern European flare. Well not a lot of European flare to be honest mostly just due to the groom. 

The wedding favours, salt and pepper shakers!

And what I experienced during my first Asian wedding was food, food and more food., ok I need to clarify it was actually an Asian wedding reception I didn't go to the ceremony, The banquet hall was decorated with balloons and flowers as well as a traditional sign with the names of the bride and groom. A slideshow of photographs played for all the guests to watch while waiting for the wedding parties entrance. To be honest, it was similar to wedding receptions in Canada, minus the drunk guest who dances on the tables and then passes out in the corner...ok...that doesn't happen at all weddings but can happen.

So we ate, we talked, we listened to the emcee talk about the bride and groom, we listened to each of their respective children give their welcome speeches and we listened to Helen and Volker thank everyone for coming and being part of their special day. I think that was my favourite part of the night. Even though I had only meet Helen a few times and never met her children or Volker, or his children for that matter, the speeches were the best. The. Best.  They were touching and humourous and from the heart. 

It made me realize that love truly speaks all languages, love doesn't discriminate between cultures or races and that we all need to cherish it when we find it. Someone once said to me that you don't choose love, that love chooses you.

Ridley and I at my first Asian wedding.

Next on the agenda...Christmas in Asia...

First solo adventure. Check.

I returned to Miri from Kota Kinabalu (referred to as KK by the locals) unscathed. Well, nearly expect for a wee bit of a sunburn. Who knew that I could still get some colour sitting on the shaded side of the pool. But at least this time I wasn't nearly as bad as my last visit. Thank God.

My last day in KK was great. I lounged by the pool for the morning, had some lunch then went shopping to the near by mall. All-in-all it was a great three days to myself minus or plus, depending on how you look at it, my misadventures.

So now that I am back in Miri life is returning to 'normal.' You know, sleeping-in, doing laundry, blogging, oh dear is this what my life has come to since I have started my one-year leave from work. Sigh. I think I better get some more hobbies aside from randomly searching on the internet researching blogs.

Well for the record I am now planning our Christmas. Since it is this Saturday I figured I should think about what we are going to eat and do for the big day. Since Malaysia is mostly a Muslim country Christmas isn't celebrated nearly as much as it is in Canada. However, this year we put up the tree and I plan to have a special meal. Well, special as in we have decided that we are having a Mexican Christmas! Yes, that's right...Feliz Navidad! I asked Ridley what he missed about being in Canada, since he has been back here for a year and a half and he said tacos, and nachos of course. So, I am going to attempt to make my Mom's home-made corn tortillas, guacamole, corn salad, nachos, and Spanish rice.

As I have said many times before, wish me luck.

The beginning of my solo misadventures...

View from Horizon Hotel 12th Floor.

It was about 11 p.m. when I decided that I was hungry during my first night in Kota Kinabalu. I thought it would be fitting to order room service. After being on hold three different times, for approximately 15 minutes, and one call back from the front desk staff, I discovered that 24 hour room service didn't exist, or at least in Horizon Hotel standards 24 hour room service means you can call the front desk 24 hours a day, but food is only served until 11 p.m. Drat, I had missed it. So, I thought there has to be some place close to the hotel that I could grab something to drink...maybe a 7-11 perhaps, which I was told earlier was close to the hotel. I headed downstairs determined to be brave. As I went outside the hotel there I stood, in a trance. I stared up the street. I stared down the street. I couldn't see a supposed 7-11 as the front desk staff had earlier relayed to me. Sigh. Back inside the hotel I go to burden the staff, again. This time a kind doorman says, "Come with me Ma'am I will show you." Uhm...show me? I walk again out the front doors of the hotel and this kind doorman says, "The 7-11 is just down the street Ma'am," as he points down the street from the hotel. I say, "down the street, how far down the street?" As there was no bright red, white and green sign that I was so familiar with. He went on to give me directions, "Ma'am just walk down this street, see that hotel (which was about a couple blocks away) it is just past that hotel on the other side." I reply, "on the OTHER side of the hotel?" "Yes, Ma'am, just on the other side." Uhm...I wasn't that brave. So, I decided that my thirst and hunger wasn't that bad and retreated back to my cozy room. I did not want to walk down a street which appeared to be lacking sidewalks past a hotel around the corner, which knowing my luck would be some dark alley, only to find the 7-11 closed. Ok, well we know the 7-11 probably wouldn't be closed but I wasn't willing to risk it.

Onto day 2 and the misadventures started early, well at least it wasn't till after breakfast. I awoke to blue sky with a bit of cloud, phew. It had been raining almost every day prior to my arrival so I thought I better take advantage of the sun and headed downstairs for my 'free' breakfast. I should not stay at hotels that have 'free' buffet breakfast unless I want to gain another 10 lbs. But, this was my vacation and damnit I was going to eat and be merry. There I sat eating my breakfast in my own little world and I look up to see what was on the television screen. Skating. An ice skating competition that was being held in Quebec of all places. I suddenly felt at home, even though I have never been to Quebec. I have been to the Toronto airport and Ottawa if that counts for anything.

After breakfast I decided that it would be appropriate for me to walk the few blocks to the shopping centre. A very kind staff member directed me out of the hotel and gave me the best instructions on how to get to the two different shopping centres. He also told me about the Filipino market which was also just a few blocks from the hotel. I went to two different shopping centres and wandered around checking out the bargains. I found one store that was selling flip-flops which I desperately needed since I brought two pairs with me to Malaysia and both have succumb to their demise. The sign said 15 RM, which is about 5 CDN, with any purchase, or 29 RM without a purchase. When I got to the till, the clerk said "these are 15 RM with any purchase." I handed him the 2.50 RM bracelet I found next to the till. He just smiled at me and rang through my purchase. I didn't think I needed to tell him I was cheap, or am for that matter, I think he figured it out all on his own.

I try to pride myself in the fact that I may be a big scaredy cat I try my best to be safe. So when I am in the elevator and there are others with me, I wait till everyone is off to push my floor number. Well...this did not work in my favour on this particular day. As I stood in the elevator with two other visitors and a cleaning staff I waited till everyone got off to press my floor. A creepy hotel cleaning staff however didn't press a floor number. I was forced to reveal my floor number unless I want to ride the elevator with him all day.

After everyone got off the lift he said: "Where you from?"
me: "Canada"
him: "You here alone?"
me: "Uhm...NO...I am just waiting for someone to arrive."

Maybe I was just paranoid. Yeah, that's it. I talked to my Momma after all my misadventures and told her about the elevator incident. She told me, "Shelley, I am sure he was just trying to be nice." I think she was just trying to make me feel better. At any rate, I am positive she is right and I am just being a wee, ok maybe a lot, bit paranoid.

So my first day of solo misadventures were tolerable and entertaining, even if it did result in me staying in my room for most of the night once the sunset. However, I did manage to venture out to the Christmas market again, but this time was able to actually watch the concert. The one thing that amazes me about Malaysia is its diversity. During the live concert they had not one but three different emcee's speaking English, Malay and Chinese. Not sure how much more diverse you can get.

Oh, and it was my intention to lay by the pool in the afternoon, maybe get a little sun. But it rained. Thank goodness it was after I was done my big shopping excursion. Besides I probably would have just turned into a lobster anyway. Sun and a pool...pfft.

The pool I wanted to lay by but then the rain came.

View from the 6th Floor pool.

Feels a lot like Christmas...

I arrived in Kota Kinabalu and was greeted by Ruben, who drove Ridley and I around last time we made the trek to the city in Sabah. We chatted about the weather and the upcoming busy tourist season in KK as he drove me to Horizon Hotel. It was reassuring to know someone who is familiar with the city and can tell me where...and well where not to go. As we drove by one particular street Ruben clearly pointed out that it wouldn't be an area that I would want to travel down, alone, at night. After that, I knew I was in good hands. 

We pulled up to the hotel and was greeted by the door staff who helped me with my luggage. As I checked into the hotel I noticed the decor which reminded me of a home. A big horse lamp. Yes, that's right, a life size horse with a lamp shade on top of it's head. Now I wish I took a picture. 

I made my way to my room and of course was having some second thoughts about coming to a place I had only been once, alone. Sounds silly since Ridley had just dropped me off only two hours ago but already I was feeling a wee bit lonely for home. However, once I got settled in a bit I received a text message from Ruben. He wanted to let me know there was a Christmas market right outside my hotel! So brushing off the loneliness I grabbed my purse, camera and off I went to the market. As I walked up the street to see people everywhere and what looked to be like a Christmas concert that had just ended. Rats. But then I looked to my left and all I could see was a large nativity scene with blowing snow. Yes, that's right. Snow. I couldn't help but smile and stand underneath the falling snowflakes with all the other giggling kids. I felt like it was meant for me. Have you ever experienced that? Where you end up somewhere and you aren't sure why but one small thing happens and you realize that you are exactly where you are meant to be at that exact moment in time. That is how I felt. I wasn't in the Christmas spirit this year because I missed the snow. Well, the snow and a lot more, but I couldn't get into the spirit without seeing some snow. Today I got my wish.

Click here to watch: Snow in KK

The nativity scene with falling snow.

And of course what Christmas market would it be without durian, the
king of fruits.

My return to KK...

Three days and my solo adventure begins. Three days and I will arrive at Kota Kinabalu (KK) for my own mini vacation.

The view from our poolside seats at Sutera Harbour last visit.

In January, Ridley and I visited this tropical location for a few days and stayed at the Sutera Harbour. It was a beautiful hotel that faced the South China Sea. We loved the few days we were there and had a lot of misadventures. First when we arrived I had arranged a surprise for Ridley thanks to the help from his sister Bel. He thought we were staying at a hotel in the middle of town, when in actuality I had booked us a room at the Sutera Harbour months before and informed our driver of our location. Ridley had no idea about the surprise and as we got into our prebooked cab he took over and started to tell the driver where our hotel was. The driver, even though he knew it was a surprise, became confused and said. "I thought you were staying at Sutera Harbour?" Which Ridley replied. "No, no we are staying at (whichever hotel I told him I had booked)." The driver persisted, Ridley became a bit irritated and finally I stepped in and said, "NO! We are staying at Sutera Harbour, surprise!" So, after a few laughs and an explanation on how I was trying to surprise him we were on our way to our hotel.

Me in Kota Kinabalu last January expressing my surprise after finding
a post card featuring our hotel.

Once we arrived at the hotel, Ridley and I went to the front counter to check in. Since he was in charge of booking flights and I was in charge of booking hotels I began to speak with the frontdesk staff and get the keys to our room. I had booked the hotel on-line from Canada and was given a confirmation number, which I apparently forgot to print out. However, I thought to myself, I've never been asked for a confirmation number I am sure it will be ok. So, I went to the counter, gave the staff my name and asked for a room. She asked for the confirmation number. Uhm. Great. I told her, "I'm sorry I don't have it." She then proceeded to tell me she couldn't give me a room until I gave her the confirmation number. So, I told her, I don't have the confirmation number , so either we can get a room or we leave and we find another hotel. At which point Ridley looked a bit shocked and I was proud of myself for standing my ground. I explained that I wasn't sure what she wanted me to do, if I didn't have the confirmation number, I didn't have the conformation number, there wasn't anything I could do. As this was all unfolding, Ridley was patiently standing beside me, letting me handle it on my own, which I was thankful. In the end, she gave us a room, even upgraded us free of charge and our min-vacation began. Sigh. After all of that we began to enjoy our few days in KK.

We had even more misadventures during our time in KK, including me having such a bad sunburn we went to the mall, straight to the pharmacy to get some aloe gel and right outside the store we stood applying the cooling lotion to my lobster skin. By the end of this particular day I was beat, my skin was burnt and I was done for the day. It was maybe 6 p.m. and I was ready for bed. And of course it was our last night so we had planned a nice dinner out at a seafood restaurant.  Ridley being understanding, took me to a seafood market to get take-out instead. Thank-goodness. So, as we stood staring at the tanks of fresh, live seafood, Ridley began to speak with the restaurant staff, picking out what we wanted. I had no idea what was going on. All I knew is we were getting food and going back to the hotel so I could eat and go to bed. Some exciting travel partner I had cracked up to be. As we waited for our food we stared at the unique types of seafood making every attempt to figure out what they all were, the largest tiger prawn I have ever seen in my life jumped, okay maybe flopped, out of the tank and landed inches, okay maybe a foot but it felt like inches, from my feet. I screamed. I ran and grabbed Ridley by the arm. People stared. Sigh. Now, not only were people staring at me because I was some lobster faced white girl, I was the lobster faced white girl who screamed in the middle of the outdoor restaurant because some measly shrimp flopped on the floor. But we laughed. We laughed a lot after the shrimp was safely put back into it's tank. I will remember that story forever.

So in three days I will head back to KK where we had some of our best misadventures. 

Wish. Me. Luck.

The infamous shrimp.

The reenactment of my reaction to the big shrimp flop.