Fun with kids in Penang

For those who've been wondering what we've been up to lately, or for those looking for fun things to do with their kids in Penang, here are some things we've done recently to lure our kids away from the iPad and iPhone games.  Be inspired to get outside and explore!

Several months ago, we hopped in the car and drove across the bridge to the Penang Bird Park on the mainland.  We were greeted there by a beautiful scarlet macaw, and the staff there was very friendly.  Rachel loved the flamingos (they're pink!), and Mark had fun feeding grubs to some finches.  Despite the heat, we also enjoyed the bird show.  At one point, birds were flying back and forth just inches above our heads!  They keep an incredible variety of birds here, and we marveled at the rainbow of colors.  We stared face-to-face with a large ostrich, saw Malaysia's national bird, the hornbill, and safely observed a rather large, lethargic crocodile!

Another fun recent outing was the Hard Rock Hotel's Foam Party.  They host this special event on the first Saturday of each month, and we'd been waiting for a good day to try it.  Mark and Abigail enthusiastically ran in and were covered in mere seconds.  Rachel, however, refused to enter, taking her time to build up her courage.  In the end, she conquered her fear and loved it too!

This morning, we visited a new park that a fellow expat told us about.  It is called Taman Lakuintas, also known as the Traffic Garden.  (Pass Loh Guan Lye Hospital on Jalan Macalister, turn right on Anson, then 4th right on Jalan Nirwana. The park will be on your right.)  It's our new favorite park, and is so close to home!  The paved miniature streets complete with traffic signs, road arrows, and even a mini petrol station make this park a great place to ride bikes and scooters.  The park is completely enclosed so kids can't escape, has a small playscape, and there are no monkeys to scare my son.  What could be better for free entertainment?

Langkawi "lagi"!

We welcomed another visitor to our island home last week, my sister-in-law Elizabeth!  I enjoyed being tour guide once again as I showed her my favorite Penang sites.  We spent the week temple hopping, market shopping, mansion browsing, and eating at all our favorite restaurants.  She especially loved the roti baum and even tried dragon fruit!

One special highlight was the Heritage Lunch cooking class at the Tropical Spice Garden, hosted by 4th generation Nyonya Pearly Kee.  We enjoyed an informative tour of the beautiful gardens followed by a hands-on lesson in making curry kapitan, prawn sambal, and papaya kerabu--yummy!!  I can't wait for her cookbook to be released at the end of the year.  =)

We chose to spend the weekend relaxing on a nearby island paradise and hopped a quick flyover to Langkawi for the second time. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the lovely and family-friendly Frangipani Beach Resort, soaking up the sun on the beach and in the pool.  Adam, Elizabeth, and I took turns enjoying spa treatments, Elizabeth tried parasailing, and Adam and I rode a jetski!  I also enjoyed sipping a few "Langkawi Wowees" while looking out over the blue waters.  =)

I really would recommend this resort, which was on a quieter stretch of beach (just south of the main strip) yet still accessible to many attractions and much cheaper than the high-end boutique hotels.  We were even pleasantly surprised to find our two rooms connecting!  This resort received high marks on tripadvisor, and I like its focus on green practices and protecting the environment.  The kids and I took the free "eco tour" one morning, where a friendly staff person showed us around the property and demonstrated the hotel's mastery of the 3 Rs ("reduce, recycle, reuse").  Not only did they have extensive produce gardens, they widely used recycled materials in building construction and for decoration, planted shade trees in strategic locations, collected and reused rainwater, and harvested solar energy for heating water.  They even save leftover rice, bread, and veggies to feed to their organic fish, ducks, and chickens, and to make into compost and fertilizer!

We ventured out of the resort two times, once to visit the Underwater World aquarium, and once for an island hopping tour, which took us to a freshwater lake and to a coral beach.  It was fun to watch the tropical fish swimming amongst the corals and sea anemones clinging to the pier!

We hope Elizabeth left with fond memories of her trip to Southeast Asia.  We certainly enjoyed having her here!

Back to Kuala Lumpur

It's been two months since we've gone anywhere (a long time for a travel addict like me!), so we took advantage of a long weekend and returned to KL.  Our last trip there was fun but spontaneous; this time I'd done my research and had some great ideas in my pocket!

We left in the morning and made the 4-hour drive uneventfully.  Our first stop was at Midi 57, a newly opened Italian restaurant that had been featured in the Expat magazine.  It boasted top quality wood-fired pizzas, lots of pork, and pasta.  Everyone enjoyed this non-halal treat, and the kids got to know the pizza chef!

After lunch, we visited the National Museum of Malaysia.  Here I learned much about the country's long history of colonization (by the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British, the Japanese) and eventual independence (merdeka).  Mark especially enjoyed the steam locomotives out front!

We checked into the Intercontinental KL and then walked through KLCC park to the Trader's Hotel.  On the top floor, we enjoyed drinks and amazing city and Petronas Towers views from the hip and stylish Skybar.  (Kids allowed until 7:00 p.m.)  After, we hopped in a teksi to the Jalan Petaling (Chinatown) and browsed the famous night market: endless rows of yummy street food and knock-off handbags, watches, DVDs, etc.

The next day, we enjoyed our hotel's fabulous buffet breakfast, then headed to the playground where we melted in the morning sun.  Air-con was welcomed by all as we left the park and headed inside to Petrosains, an interactive children's science museum.  We spent hours playing and exploring the world of hydrocarbons, energy, life and physical sciences, and once again, I missed my petroleum geologist dad!

A coffee fix, some shopping, and a brief respite at our hotel, then out "satu lagi" (once more) to Changkat Bukit Bintang, a wonderful street with restaurants from all over the world.  We found our mecca at Loco's as we've been starved for good Mexican food.  The duck chimichangas, fish fajitas, and margaritas were simply amazing!  (See Adam below with a "Diablo" margarita.)

The next morning, we checked out of our hotel and drove to Ampang Grocers, where we proceeded to spend an embarrassing amount of money on things that can't easily be found in Penang.  It had me missing the huge selection of American grocery stores, but then again, my waistline might not like all the highly processed foods we hauled home!

On our way out of town, we stopped at the famous Batu Cave temples.  We climbed a long stairway past the largest statue I've ever seen (dodging Hindu worshipers, tourists, and food-stealing monkeys) up to a temple set within the limestone cliffs.  During Thaipusam, almost 1 million people flock here to present their offerings to the Hindu gods.  I can only imagine the crowds on those slippery steps and am thankful we didn't come then!

While in KL, we also had the opportunity to watch many people jump from the KL Tower during their annual BASE jumping weekend.  The picture below doesn't do it justice; the jumpers look like specks off to the left.)  Still, there's not too much air between there and the ground, and some sure took their time popping their chutes.  What a rush!

Cheers to 12 at 1885

In celebration of our 12th anniversary, we decided to celebrate this special day by sharing traditional English High Tea at the elegant Eastern & Oriental Hotel.  A former British colony, Penang retains many characteristics of English culture, and the lovely 1885 room pays tribute to the founding of this historic hotel.

Transported back in time, we enjoyed a glimpse into the lives of the privileged.  The understated color palette highlighted the rich decor, evident in the swag curtains, ceiling medallions, white linens, and fine china.  Natural light streamed in the windows, which overlooked swaying palm trees and the beautiful Straits of Malacca. So very lovely!

In reading the menu, I learned that the tradition of high tea was started by Anna, Duchess of Bedford, in the early 19th century.  Since the noon meal had become smaller, she began inviting friends to join her in sharing refreshing sandwiches and savories, accompanied by tea, to combat the "sinking feeling" she had been experiencing in the late afternoon.  The tradition grew rapidly in popularity, first amongst high society, later amongst the bourgeois.

Service as expected was impeccable.  Once seated, napkins were laid on our laps, and we perused our tea choices from oversized menus.  I chose a lighter Verbena blend with hints of lemon, and Adam enjoyed Assam, a dark and malty tea originating from its namesake region in India.  I was pleased to be presented with individual strainers and personal carafes, allowing us to enjoy each other's company while our tea brewed.  (Of course, those in the East know that this is the only proper way to make tea.  I had been expecting to be disappointed after reading someone's blog of their high tea experience here; apparently E&O formerly used tea bags but have thankfully reformed their practices since!)
 

Accompanying our tea was a delighful selection of tea sandwiches, scones with cream and homemade strawberry jam, and a plate of enticingly beautiful dessert nibbles almost too pretty to eat!  Good thing I'd had only a light breakfast that morning.  =)

After, we wandered the beautifully landscaped grounds and enjoyed the ocean breezes.  All in all, a perfect way to toast another year with my wonderful husband!

Family visit: Part 3

We flew to Singapore early on Friday morning to spend our last three days together in this vibrant, east-meets-west, well-organized, modern, and fabulously clean city.  Since there's so much to see and explore, I didn't mind going back for a second time!

We got a taxi to the Novotel in Clark Quay, checked in, then realized that one of our bags was left unattended at the airport.  Thankfully Adam was able to track it down, and after lunch, he and his dad went to recover it while Robin and Matthew explored and the kids and I enjoyed some downtime.  Then it was off to the Night Safari!

Despite Singapore's fabulous infrastructure, it still took a long time to get to the zoo, and the rain started falling in buckets while we were on the bus.  We decided to take a chance and hopped off at our destination, hoping that it would stop while we grabbed dinner.  And it did!  We all enjoyed the tram ride past a huge variety of nocturnal animals and afterwards saw an entertaining Creatures of the Night show.  Lots of fun!

The next morning, we headed to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a huge oasis of serene beauty in the heart of the city.  Rachel started complaining about the heat until she discovered the Children's Garden, built especially to foster a love of science and botany in little people.  We played there awhile then had to fashion umbrellas to keep our heads dry as we walked to the Visitor's Center.  On the way out, everyone enjoyed the Evolution Garden and the huge petrified wood samples.

After lunch, we wandered along the riverfront and took in various sights, including the historic Fullerton Hotel.  Later, some of us sat on pews inside the beautiful St. Andrew's Cathedral and enjoyed the organist practicing some hymns.

That night, we headed to the Marina Bay Sands complex and enjoyed the nightly laser show "Wonderful" over the bay, backed by the amazing city skyline.  We also witnessed a parade of uniformed security officers and army troops marching to celebrate Singapore's birthday.

We window-shopped among the high-end stores, but when it was time to makan, it was so crowded that we couldn't find a table anywhere.  Plan B was just fine with me: back to Clark Quay to enjoy tasty Tex-Mex (oh, how I've missed you . . . ) at Cafe Iguana.

We spent our last day on Sentosa Island, at Universal Studios.  Our first ride, Lights, Camera, Action!, reinacted a Cat 5 hurricane right in front of us.  Our kids were all shaking from the loud noises, wind, fire, and water sprays, but they recovered quickly when Robin took them all to Far, Far Away (Shrek).  (Meanwhile, Adam, Tim, Matthew, and I got to ride the dueling roller coasters and Revenge of the Mummy with no wait at all!)

Later, we rejoined our family and had fun in Jurassic Park, flying over treetops on the Canopy Flyer and all getting soaked on the river rapids!  We ended the day with a ride on the super-cool 3D Transformers ride, which was like no other ride I've ever been on.  (Seriously, watch this clip! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FUxZ9edjXA))  All loved it except Rachel, who described it as "stupid!" (she was scared!).

Our busy day ended with Singapore-famous chili crab from Jumbo Seafood--so good!  And then we had to say our goodbyes to fly home in the morning--so sad!  But what a wonderful time these past two weeks have been--so special!