malaysia: animals

When travelling with kids, you almost have no choice but to go to all those places you wouldn't think of going as a single, or as a couple. But we had fun at these animal parks, and admission was cheap. Through your kids you somehow, in some ways, get to be a kid again.

Finally a sign that says what they really mean!

A bird in Dana's favourite colour.

Forgotten already what this is, strange creature...Looks like a cross between a bear and a sloth.

Eli asked me how one would kill an ostrich. Any ideas? Besides shooting, I mean. Could we be strong and quick enough to wring its neck I wonder?... Nothing like having a son that makes you ponder these sorts of things.

And can't forget the crocodiles. Nobody is sure why they rest with their mouths open like that. One theory is that the sun helps kill bacteria in their mouths and therefore promotes better oral hygiene...

Scott is 30 now too!

For Scott's birthday, I tried my hand at making Scott's favourite cakes: angel food cake and pineapple-upside down cake. These were his Grandma B's specialties. Let's just say I have a long ways to go to get to her level! Maybe by Scott's 60th I'll have them down.

Scott let Eli blow out the candles. He still hasn't quite figured out how to do that, he would blow and then try to keep blowing even after he had run out of air. His face would redden from the effort, but the candles would stay lit.


I took Scott to an Aircraft Carrier Theme Park on his birthday. We took a taxi, a light-rail, then a bus to get there (about 2 hours) and toured the circa 1970 Soviet Aircraft Carrier. It was in use for some time, retired and sold to China in 1999.

This was on the top level, the bridge of the aircraft carrier, the "cockpit" so to speak.

Scott posing in front of one of the fighters.

I'm posing with a Russian sailor holding some kind of artillery shell. At first I thought we were in the wine cellar!

Some of the best advice I've heard in a long time...could also serve as inspiration for developing New Year's Resolutions.

On one of the lower decks, one of the many control rooms, with a poster of V. I. Lenin. I figured my dad would enjoy this one. I also wished my brother Albert could have come with us, with his knowledge of Russian and military stuff, I'm sure I'd have learned a lot more. When he comes, we will have to go again.

Here's Scott posing in front of the Aircraft Carrier itself. It is not the biggest as far as Aircraft Carriers go, but still formidable.

I think this sign was made by the same people who made the sign by a park near us "Civilization walk the dog" it says, (meant to tell you to keep your dog on a leash).

Civilization Happy New Year!

the school trip to Huang Shan (Yellow Mountain)

Had to take the opportunity to travel again with our school. And now we know why! We always have so much stuff that we really need the other people going to help us carry our stuff!
These pictures are not in order, but probably nobody cares about that except me so I'll just comment on each as usual.

Here's Eli driving the boat we took on the last day. The boat stopped at two tourist attractions but we (our family) did not get off the boat to see the first one because it was raining too hard.

We thought we would just wait it out and enjoy the peace and quiet under the roof of the second floor of the boat. It wasn't long when Eli informed us that he had to pee. Since we were on the second floor we weren't willing to go downstairs (where the squattie was) because then we would have to get wet by the rain, so I just led Eli to the edge of the boat and told him to pee off the edge into the water below. Just as he was almost done, however, a man on the first floor stuck his head out directly below us and was emptying a bucket of something into the water. Eli quite accidentally peed on the man's head and back! I yelled "Xiao xin! (watch out!)" but it was too late and I just whisked Eli out of sight and pulled up his pants. I did not find out if the man realized what had happened or not! And I was thankful for the rain!

Some beautiful misty views as we cruised along the river.

We were very happy to have two other kids along for the school trip. This made it all the more enjoyable for Eli and Dana. Here Dana is getting picked up by her friend James. She didn't mind at all.

On the third day we went to a place with beautiful trees, streams, waterfalls and many suspension bridges. I think this may have been my favourite place because of its natural beauty. It was a good reminder that not all of China is concrete, crowded or polluted.

Scott couldn't resist taking off his socks and shoes and wading in the stream. Well, the stream used to not be polluted!

I thought my dad would enjoy this sign, there are so many signs like this: not quite right, but the meaning is clear.

This one was taken on the top of Yellow Mountain on the second day of our travels. We were so blessed to have good weather because 200 days of the year it is raining on Yellow Mountain. So we were able to have good views and not get too cold.

We borrowed another backpack so we could safely stash both kids while on the mountain. Some spots were just plain too dangerous to let little slugs run around.

Sometimes on our hike atop Yellow Mountain we would find ourselves in a cloud. It really gave a "crouching tiger, hidden dragon" kind of feel to our time. Definitely needed my brother Albert around to do some bamboo grove ninja-leaping moves to complete the effect.

Dana wasn't always impressed that she had to stay in the backpack, but she coped by eventuallly napping.

Where we were (Anhui Province), is known for its strange pine trees. Here's a picture of one.

Esther, Eli and James climbed their own little mountain in a park on our first day of travels. These three loved to chase each other and race around. Scott and I owe it to them the fact that Eli went to bed quickly and slept soundly each night.

These big signs were each dedicated to a different person for specific virtues. The highlight here for Eli? Eating fresh sugar cane. So much lore and history was lost on me because when travelling with young kids my attention span and interests by necessity just end up matching theirs. So I wish I could tell you more about this place, but I was probably busy talking to Eli, or changing Dana when the guide was talking.

At this village, there were old-style houses of the wealthy that we could tour. Quite intricate and well-preserved carvings!

All the people on the edge of the lake are artists, mostly doing watercolour paintings. Seems like an ideal place to practice.

Check out this man's artwork! It's too good to call it a "sketch" I think!

We really enjoyed our trip and afterwards got to go to Nanjing to visit our friends there for three days and two nights. I was really excited to use the serviced apartment's washer (and dryer!) because Eli was in serious need of clean clothes!

Unfortunately our camera's batteries were all used up so we don't have any pictures of our time there but Eli really enjoyed playing with our friend: "Let's play ball Mr. David!" he would say, over and over again!

And of course, it's always good to come home isn't it? We feel pretty satisfied with ourselves, having survived 3 overnight trips on the train with 2 kids under 4, not too shabby!

conversations with eli

For this next story, you need some background:

Every week or so, Scott meets with a professor at a local university to talk philosophy. It is mutually beneficial: language practice for Scott and editing help for the professor (he wants to do some post-doctoral studies abroad). Anyways, the professor's area of expertise is Confucius and one day as I was putting Eli and Dana to bed Eli asked me for the third or fourth time where daddy was...I was getting tired of answering him and I knew that he already knew the answer so I asked him: "You tell me where daddy went, Eli." I said.

Eli thought for a moment and then said with certainty, "He went to go meet with Confucius."

A week or so later, Eli, Dana and I were playing at the park and Eli wanted me to sit next to him on the steps of the slide. "Mommy, sit down, I made room for you, " he said.

"Okay," I replied and sat down, keeping an eye on Dana and extending my hand for her to hold as she toddled up to join us.



"It's like we are on a date," Eli said. (He has by this time gotten used to Scott and I going out once a week, just the two of us).

"Yes it is Eli, kind-of...do you know what people usually do on dates?" I asked him.

Eli, without much pause said, "Talk about Confucius." Then he sprung up from his seat and catapulted himself down the slide looking about as pleased with himself as I was of him. How is it that not one, but TWO cartoon characters live with Scott and I?! God I love those kids!

Alan, Donna and Jill come visit! Part 4: tired

Just in case you didn't believe me about our time together being fun-filled yet tiring, here are some photos that ought to convince you.

Sleeping on the couch:

Sleeping on the bus:

Sleeping at the train station:

Too tired to smile for the camera:

Sleeping at the park (I know I already have one of Alan, but I couldn't resist):

I must say that just because I am not in these pictures doesn't mean I was not also a victim to exhaustion and therefore sleep in public places. I just don't have one picture of sleeping me on my camera. Honest! I would post it if I did!

the BONKS

here's a new one:

the good news is: i'm not a battered woman...the bad news is: i might look like one.

i'd better explain:
i had been feeling sick for most of this week, kind of a flu, kind of a cold and was starting to feel better. i was preparing fruit salad like i do every morning for breakfast and i started to feel dizzy/woozy/lightheaded/and maybe a little bit like i might throw up, so i thought i would do the sensible thing and sit down. i sat in a kitchen chair right by eli and called softly "scott..."

the next thing i knew i was on the floor with a terrible aching sensation on my cheek, my forehead and my head. i had blacked out and fallen on my head! scott was standing over me looking concerned and reassuring me, and eli (bless him!) was saying "sorry mommy" like it was his fault or something!

ouch! what the hell happened? were some phrases that came to mind. i had broken my 500$ glasses in the process, and the frame had cut a little bit into my cheek. but scott took my glasses to get fixed which they did (for free!) and although i'm sore, i don't have really nasty noticeable bruises on my face, so i'm thankful for that.

eli (he's so funny) talks about how "mommy fell RIGHT OFF her chair!" and asks me if i'm going to do that again sometime! i tell him that i sure hope not, because it hurt and i only have one head!

p.s. so if you ever feel dizzy like that, sitting down in a chair is not enough, just lay down on the floor right away and save yourself the BONKS!

p.p.s. the bright side of having something like this happen to you is, at the very least you get a good story out of it.