The trip's disaster (a bit dramatic but it is what it is) started the day before we were due to fly - I sprained my ankle by stepping into a pot hole when we went out for a little jog. The blessing in all that is we get VIP treatment at the airports throughout the trip. Wheelchair (see picture) can get you a very long way at airports in any country. We never had to queue for checking in, boarding etc. It was slightly embarrassing but by the time we got to Doha (half was on our journey), I got over the embarrassment...got used to the stares as part of the privileges that I receive.We arrived in Singapore first. Dylan got to meet a few of my cousins (mum's side of the family) that night who have immigrated to Singapore years ago. We were treated to a wonderful Japanese meal! Yummy. The next day, we attended the Wong's church. We became friends with the Wongs in Pittsburgh. Jon attended the same seminary as Dylan. We used to go out for Chinese food in Pittsburgh as treats. We also celebrated Chinese New Year over "hot pot" in Pittsburgh in the winter with the Wongs....good times! Anyway, we feasted over lunch after church. That night, Dylan got really sick!! :-( Initial diagnosis is food poisoning but later we realise it might have been some sort of stomach flu since the entire Wong household got sick after we left!
We arrived in KL (Kuala Lumpur) on day 3/4. There, Dylan got to meet more cousins - dad's side of the family. And guess what...I got sick. Dylan got to go around with "our" (notice it's ours not just mine anymore) cousins and had a jolly good time while I stayed back to nurse my out-of-body illness. As you can tell from the photos, there's Dylan having a great time, and JQ was nowhere to be seen not because she was behind the camera but because she was not there! But honestly, I am quite happy he got to experience Kuala Lumpur even though I was not able to accompany him. :-) Some of the sights that Dylan got to witness are Batu Cave (literally means Rock Cave), where the Indian gods reside; the Petronas Twin Towers; and Selangor Pewter factory. And he made me a "begging bowl" (insider's joke) with our names carved on it. How sweet.
Next we arrived at Penang. There, I got to whine to my mummy about my illness and as always, mum the walking pharmacy was equipped with any and every possible medication I needed to help me get better.
In Penang, besides getting fed fervently by my mum and "mama" (my auntie, who is also my god-mother), we got to visit some Buddhist temple, including a snake temple, wet market, dad's grave, as well as some Malaysian "historic" sites. See pictures.
Four and half days later, we took off to Pulau Langkawi (Langkawi Island) which is about an hour and a half to two hours away by ferry. By the time we got to Langkawi, I was thoroughly exhausted from sight-seeing, the heat, not to mention the limping around (yes, still limping by then) made the entire trip doubly exhausting. We decided to remain in the hotel and soaked up the sun by the pool the entire 3/4 days we were in Langkawi. Living in Scotland has taught us to be content with very little. We were more than content.
After Langkawi, it was back to Penang for a day or so, then back to Singapore and then off to London from Singapore, and London to Edinburgh. Phew! A world wind trip indeed! Unfortunately for me, it was back to work the following day. It' only been 3/4 weeks (by now) and I am badly in need of another holiday!!!!
