Germany (3): Munich

Our final three days were spent in the beer capital of Bavaria--Munich! All the miles we walked around exploring the city allowed us to burn off at least most of the beer we drank--"prost"!!

After checking in to our hotel, we rented wheels from Mike's Bikes and rode around the city centre and the English Gardens. We loved how the city is so organized and bike-friendly! We stopped to watch the surfers practice their skills at the river and admired the Chinese tower with its beer garden below. (I nicknamed it the "beer pagoda"!)

The next day we took a tour to visit Schloss Neuschwanstein, the most famous of King Ludwig II's castles and the model for Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle. Transported by bus, we arrived at the castle late morning and were given 45 minutes to explore the small town and eat lunch. Then, following our tour guides, we walked up the steep hill, which was more challenging than I'd anticipated, but nothing the Dewhirsts couldn't handle! Almost at the top, we stopped to view the castle from Mary's bridge, which afforded spectacular views of the schloss and the valley below.

Upon arrival at the castle, we only had to wait a short time for our reserved time slot. We wandered through the fairy tale castle on our tour, learning about the life of eccentric King Ludwig II and his obsession with Mozart. The views from all balconies and windows more than made up for the dark interior rooms. Sitting pretty at the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, this castle was truly magical!

We spent the last day exploring Munich central. We first visited the Marienplatz, location of the city hall (called the "Rathaus") and watched the glockenspeil display. We also took a peek inside the gothic style churches of Peterskirche and Frauenkirche. Unfortunately, the steps leading up to the top of the twin steeples was closed for maintenance, but the stained glass and ornate detailing were quite stunning.

After, we bought tickets to view the extensive treasury collection at the Residenz Munich. Checking all our bags, we stepped inside the vault with our audio guides to view costly treasures from centuries past. We left quite famished, and so enjoyed lunch at the shady beer garden at the Viktualienmarkt, followed by girl-shopping for dirndls. (We'll look super authentic at Oktoberfest in Texas!) After, we hopped back to the Residenz to view the palace rooms themselves. Stunning and elaborate, this was sensory overload at its finest!

 

To end our vacation as proper tourists, we ate dinner that night at the famous Hofbrauhaus. While the live band played tunes and the barmaids hoisted pretzels and beer, we ate our fill of traditional fare and I drank a "mas" (big one!) just to see if I could. =) "Prost" to our holiday in Germany!

Germany (1): Stuttgart

Our recent holiday in Germany (in transit from Malaysia) was exciting and fun, a wonderful first taste of Europe for the Dewhirsts! It charmed us with its beautiful landscapes, filled us with its amazing foods, and enlightened us with its rich history and culture.

Arriving in Stuttgart after flying red-eye, my sister-in-law Rebekah greeted us at the airport. She led us by train to her charming 4th-floor apartment, graciously hosted us for three nights, and became our tour guide for food and fun. Danke!!

We first visited the Württemberg Mausoleum, built as a memorial to Catherine Pavlovna of Russia (1788-1819) and formerly used as a Russian Orthodox church. It sits majestically on the top of a hill surrounded by vineyards and overlooking the Neckar River. From there we wandered down a country lane and enjoyed a traditional German lunch (complete with beer and prosecco . . . "prost!") at an outdoor cafe. My son discovered his love for tarte flambée ("flamkuchen"), an South German dish composed of thin bread dough covered with crème fraîche, thinly sliced onions, and lardons! Later, we enjoyed Turkish food while catching up with my brother-in-law Keith.

After enjoying pastries (and pretzels!) from a local bakery in the morning, we took trains to visit Burg Hohenzollern, ancestral seat of the Prussian Royal House and the Hohenzollern princes. Standing with pride at the top of a hill, this beautiful castle welcomed us with its stone turrets, its truffle garden, and its winding entry up cobblestone paths. The tour allowed us to view the many lovely rooms as well as the treasury, including the king's dazzling crown. After the tour, we enjoyed lite snacks in the summer beer garden. To complete the fairy tale (think Cinderella!), we literally had to run down the hill to catch our bus. Thankfully, we made the last bus of the day to the train station, whew!!

We spent the next few hours strolling thru the charming town of Tubingen. Straight out of a storybook, this delightful town was full of colorful houses and shops selling everything imaginable. We enjoyed fresh cherries and listened to music in the marketplace, my son found a coin shop, and I bought some gifts. Our day ended with a quiet train ride back home (as we dozed) and yummy Italian.

On our last day in Stuttgart, we visited the Porsche Museum. We learned about the history of the company, marveled at the beautiful cars, and posed beside "Sally", the blue Porsche from Cars. We then lingered over lunch and beer at Carls Brauhaus, overlooking the town square ("Schlossplatz"). After, we walked around exploring (and digesting), found a super fun city park with a tall view tower and zipline playground, then enjoyed a leisurely Greek meal while our kids played at an adjacent park: perfect!

Germany (2): The Black Forest

From Stuttgart, we traveled by train to the small town of Triberg in the Black Forest. Unfortunately upon arrival at the tiny station, we found ourselves stranded. Walking to the hotel I'd booked wasn't feasible (due to steep terrain, drizzle, and lots of luggage!), and without wifi, we couldn't look up the bus schedule. We called a number for a taxi, but they hung up on us after realizing we didn't speak German. Finally, we "asked" (using lots of gestures) a kind woman to help us call our hotel and send a taxi to get us. Thankful to arrive, we checked in to our 2-bdrm suite at Best Western Plus and enjoyed a lovely German dinner in the hotel's restaurant.

Excited to explore this charming village, we welcomed the first day with a lovely morning hike at Triberg's famous waterfall. Our kids played at the base playground, and we bought nuts to feed the chipmunks, though sadly there were none. We ate pizza for lunch then browsed thru shops along main street. Our favorite was the Haus der 1000 Uhren, famous for its hundreds of cuckoo clocks in every style imaginable!

The next day was a bit rainy, but we didn't let that stop our fun! We sailed through the trees on a high ropes course, then warmed up inside while exploring a bit of history at the Black Forest Museum. My kids had fun seeing the clockmaker's workshop, feeding euro to the model train, exploring the mining tunnel, and making their own music on a barrel organ. After, we hopped down the street to enjoy a slice of the original, world-famous Black Forest Gateau at Cafe Shaffer--delicious!! (Our kids were asked to enjoy chocolate instead, as the cake is infused with large amounts of cherry brandy.)

Our late afternoon snack left us feeling full and sleepy, so we headed back to our room to enjoy some downtime. The view from our balcony was enchanting, and while kids stayed inside, Adam and I enjoyed the cool evening with wine and a good book. Later, we walked down the steep hill in search of dinner. Traditional favorite dishes included spätzle, schnitzel, and goulash, and the fresh river trout was truly amazing!

Final Island Escape: Redang

A week before we left Malaysia, we drove across the peninsula one last time to spend a long weekend on the east coast tropical island of Redang. Leaving early in the morning, we were well prepared for the 6.5 hour drive (with loaded ipads and packed breakfast and lunch). Upon arrival, we were greeted at Merang jetty by the Taaras representative, who helped us board the correct speedboat. A fast, 40-minute ride later, we arrived on the island and were then transferred by van to the secluded and lovely Taaras Beach and Spa Resort.

Occupying its own private bay on the back side of the island, we couldn't see another resort or property anywhere! Swaying palm trees, pristine clear waters, and silky fine, white sand greeted us, and our two Cliff Sea View rooms offered ample space to enjoy the beautiful surroundings in luxurious style. Each room was equipted with modern amenities, a private patio, and even a spa bathtub overlooking the ocean!

We enjoyed three relaxing days in this secluded island paradise. Other than sipping cocktails, building sand castles, and soaking up the sun with a good book, we rented snorkeling gear each day and took a short swim to the house coral reef to watch the colorful fish and marvel at the technicolor corals. We also had fun diving off the floating platform near the reef. =) We rented kayaks for a trip around the bay and played on the rocks near the shore, and my son enjoyed playing on a body board despite there being little to no surf.

When it was time to eat, the resort had some yummy options available. Each morning we enjoyed the breakfast buffet, for lunches we ate at the poolside beach bar/cafe, and for dinners, we tried the dinner buffet, the fine dining restaurant, and the comforts of room service. We didn't take advantage of the onsite gym or spa facilities, but I'm sure they were amazing. Other resort activities offered include PADI diving courses, snorkeling and/or diving excursions, a glass-bottom boat to view the sea turtles, additional water sports, jungle treking, and sunset cruises. For the safety of all guests, life vests are provided free of charge.

I would definitely recommend this resort for anyone looking for a splurge. The Taaras was a true paradise, a wonderful way to bid "selamat tinggal" to our four years in cantik Malaysia!

Warrior Bootcamp Penang: Promoting Fitness for Life!

I would like to thank Warrior Bootcamp and all of its coaches for encouraging me over the past two years and helping me meet my fitness goals. I am definitely “fitter, faster, tougher, stronger” than when I started, and I plan to continue pursuing a healthy lifestyle back in Texas!

Warrior Bootcamp can proudly boast many satisfied customers, largely due to the wonderful coaches that lead the sessions. Each coach is very fit themselves, shows up prepared and on time, and is a skilled motivator, encouraging participants to work hard and never give up. (I always run a little faster when I pass one of them!) All have had training in injury prevention and CPR, and some specialize in sports medicine and nutrition. Safety is top priority: participants are encouraged to use proper form when doing exercises, and rest/recovery periods are built in to each workout. Coaches also regularly share advice on topics related to overall health, such as sleep, proper diet, and mental resilience. Additionally, they offer regular fitness assessments to record each individual's progress. It’s fun to challenge myself to do a little better each time!

Being a Warrior, I’ve accomplished things I never thought I’d do. I ran my first 10km (and a 12km a month later!), fought hard and had fun in the Warrior Games, participated in the Round Island relay, carried 5kg in a rucksack up Pearl Hill, and even achieved Warrior of the Month! My fitness has drastically improved over the past two years; I’ve lost 4-5 kg, significantly reduced my body fat %, and am as fit as I’ve ever been as an adult. I sleep well at night, feel energetic and healthy, am more mentally tough and resilient, and am motivated to continue a lifestyle of proper diet, sleep, and exercise.

Of course, I’ve had a lot of fun as well! I've met people from all over the world, and there’s nothing that unites like sweating along with someone else in the hot sun! Whatever fitness level, members encourage others in their progress and receive encouragement to keep going and never give up. We enjoy a variety of games, are playfully competitive, work as a team to win relays, and sometimes get dirty. One of my favorite sessions involved rolling through the mud in the rain!

Bootcamp Penang is united as a team by the spirit of fitness and fun, and the color red. I am always proud to stretch out my hand at the end of each session, declaring and believing I really am a "Warrior!"

Transitions

After four amazing years on a tropical island, the Dewhirsts are pulling up roots once more and planting our family back in Texas. Moving across the world for the second time is a whirlwind, but an exciting one!

Recaping our last weeks in Penang, we spent as much time as possible getting together with friends. We will certainly miss everyone we have gotten to know and love! In the midst of wrapping up work and school, sorting thru an entire house, and getting rid of piles of unwanted items, we also enjoyed a last weekend away on the east coast island of Redang. Following that was a very chaotic week full of sorting, moving out, cleaning, two nights at the G Hotel, and more goodbyes. We left Penang (and a bit of our hearts) on July 14th.

Over the next 9 days, we enjoyed an interim "retreat" in Germany (blog to come), finally arriving in the USA two weeks ago. From there, we hit the ground running, leaving two days later (without the kids) for a 3-night trip to Austin. In that short time, we looked at 18 houses, made an offer on the best one, and got it accepted!! (The kids were excited to learn that it has a salt-water pool. =) ) Then, back to Dallas for more family time over the July 4th holidays. (We also bought two cars that week!)

We returned to Austin as a family on July 6th, settled in to our service apartment, and Adam returned to work the next day. I quickly conquered mountains of laundry, stocked my pantry, and cooked my first meal in an entire month! Now we're just enjoying the summer with not much to do until we close on our house at the end of July. =)

I am looking forward to things slowing down as soon as we get settled in our new home. We can then take full advantage of the things we've missed here in Texas, such as the cool fall weather, bike rides and hiking in the greenbelt, and holidays spent with family. I'm already excited about hosting Thanksgiving!

Greetings and best wishes to all my friends, near and far away. I will stay in touch!

Jump Street Penang: Active, Affordable Fun for All Ages!

Always on the lookout for fun things to do around the island, I was excited when I heard that Jump Street Trampoline Park was opening a branch in Penang! My kids were anxious to jump around and get their energy out, but I couldn't let them have all the fun. It was exciting to test out my own skills too, and Jump Street welcomes jumpers of all ages (3 and above)!

Since its opening in May 2014, I have already visited three times, selecting it as the venue for my daughter's birthday party, and again recently for my son's goodbye party. Each time I used the online booking feature to ensure space availability and handle payment. After two hours of jumping fun, everyone left feeling happy and tired!

A good place to start your adventure is on the Main Court, a large area of interconnected trampolines. Here you can test your skills and figure out your balance, or even run along the vertical walls, before moving on to the many other fun activities offered. My son's favorite area was the Battle Beam, where he loved the challenge of trying to knock his friends down into the foam pit! Our guests also enjoyed the Dodge Ball court, trying their luck with Slam Dunk, leaping off Tower Jump, reaching new heights on the High Performance trampolines, and landing on top of the two giant air bags.

When time to refresh, water fountains are available for those with their own water bottles. There is also a Jump Cafe, serving up tasty treats, custom beverages, and a variety of meals. For a small additional fee, party hosts can choose to bring in their own halal food.

Other facilities onsite include three private party rooms, community tables for parents to sit (when they're not jumping!), and a first aid station ready to respond immediately to injuries. Staff are friendly and encourage fun, as well as monitoring that guests are following the posted rules. They will happily give you technique hints when asked, and even show off their favorite tricks!

I would highly recommend a visit to Jump Street whenever you (or your kids) need to get out some energy! Its indoor venue ensures fun rain or shine, and special grip socks (required) are available for purchase at check-in. Jump Street is a great venue for parties, school outings, and corporate team building, and even offers a selection of jump classes.

Jump Street Penang is located in the atrium of D'Piazza mall in Bayan Lepas. For more information, directions, and to make a booking, visit their website at www.jumpstreetasia.com

 "Keep calm, and jump on"!