Malaysia - Taiping

From Penang to Taiping via a hair-raising 120kmh journey in a banged up old Merc taxi with no seatbelts in the back and no child seats down a busy freeway competing with big trucks.  YES.  But at the end was 3 kor's house, an oasis of calm and I think Luca's favourite place of the whole trip.  He always was happy to go "back to aunty's house", where there were toys and quiet and cool and snacks.  Thank you 3 kor!

Many aunties on this trip - we visit ku ma at her lottery ticket table in town.

Jason and Annick pay respect to mama's paternal grandparents before a yummy Siamese lunch (with lemak laksa 'snack' after') at Uncle Heng and Aunty Sutien's house.

Yet more durians - Annick liked how they were pointy.  She also liked eating them.

4 kor gave Annick two dollies who Luca has named Clara (pink) and Sesame (green).  Annick knows all babies need feeding, so this is what she generally helps them out with.

And Aunty Sally, of course!

You need mangosteens to counteract the durian, although Luca only realised he liked them on our second-last day in Singapore.

Possibly the best thing about Malaysia to Luca (after aunty's house) was the ridiculous number of diggers.  They were EVERYWHERE.

Annick takes a warm weather snooze.

We went to Sepetang for a seafood dinner, but Luca spent most of the evening checking out the fishing boats coming in and out of the marina.

Annick preferred cuddles.

Luca REALLY liked the fishing boats.

And he missed out on this!

We went to visit mama's maternal grandparents too, and Luca and Annick helped keep everything clean with some big big leaves.

At Tua koo and Tua kim's house in the swing - there is a photo of mama probably at the same age in this swing.

Annick drinks freshly squeezed orange juice in the 'rat restaurant' and survives!

Jason takes Annick's leg for a walk around Lake Gardens.

Birthday roti for the birthday boy at his favourite roti joint.

And then birthday dinner thanks to Aunty Sally, plus cake!

Aunty Sally opens up the glory of her jewellery box to the kids.

Annick gets started early.

Malaysia - Penang

Here is Luca with what he called the 'parate'.  He may have meant parrot, he may have meant pirate, we're not sure, but in both cases he was right, so maybe that's what he meant.

In the gardens at Rasa Sayang.  Leafy!

Taking a refreshing cocktail in the lobby of the Traders Hotel.

ALL YOU CAN EAT DURIAN.  MANY DIFFERENT KINDS.

Annick begins a holiday of stuffing her face.

Perfect little holiday lady.

5...4...3...2...1... blast off!

No need to fear, the Incredibles are here.

Happy 80th birthday 2 koo!  The reason we finally booked the holiday in the first place, so thank you!

Annick is all about making the sexy eyes, just like Luca at the same age.

Ah kong teaches Annick another important eye skill - the eye roll.  She is still working on this one.

Coconut time.

Give Annick a bucket, a spade and a goodly supply of water and she is pretty much ready for anything.

Somehow characteristic of their entire personalities.

Petite princesse.

Penang Butterfly Farm!  Just like when mama and Ah Koo were little.

Luca discovers the touch-sensitive joy that is the mimosa plant.

Luca learns how to take photos.

Bee Kuan and Bee Ching Ee learn that touchphone technology is nectar to babies.

A final day in the pool before we leave for Taiping.

June 2013 - Malaysia

Check out the eyebrow action!

Holy moley what a month.

Annick:
- sprouted all sorts of teeth, mostly molars
- standing on her own, particularly when she doesn't realise she's doing it
- could probably walk if she wanted to, but doesn't want to
- trying SO HARD to talk - she picks up random words then repeats them over and over - the other day the word was 'money' because a pirate on the Polly Woodside had given Luca a handful of gold coins. So Annick wanders around now going "money! money! money money money!" It's not a good look on the tram.
- does the sexy eyes, just like Luca!
- feeds herself competently but is not fussed about neatness
- claps, dances, loves music

Luca:
- can have a coherent telephone conversation, albeit peppered with "ok, bye bye, see you later!"
- lovely manners, 'tat oo sir', 'more rice peese'
- is horrifically cheeky when tired and hungry
- is very good at helping mama with all kinds of things around the house
- occasionally puts Annick in time out - "no little Pai Pai!  Stay here!  Two minutes!"

- for some reason we don't know calls Annick "little Pai Pai"
- travels like a champion!

Of course, this month we went to Malaysia.  Here are some photos from days 1 & 2:

We have two little plane spotters on ours hands.

Mmm, inflight cuisine!  The universal code for 'children's menu' - checken nuggets and mac and cheese.  EVEN ON SINGAPORE AIRLINES.

Mr Jetsetter.  He wouldn't let anyone else wheel along the carry on luggage.

Finally, in Malaysia!  A hotel buffet breakfast to celebrate, Annick is pleased.

Lazing on the banana lounges, under the coconut palms, looking over the beach.

Having a massage on the banana lounges, under the coconut palms, looking over the beach.

Toddler pool for the win!  Although Luca went down the waterslide one time, probably the last ever.

We head out looking for durian and strike it lucky straight away - pointy!

Annick tasted it, made a face, spat it out, thought about it for two minutes, asked for more.

Luca offers a monkey spectator a banana.  As we found out, it is ALL LIES that all monkeys like bananas.

We taught Luca how to say 'good morning' in Malay, which is 'selamat pagi'.  We also showed him this awesome hotel buggy!  Something got mixed up in his brain and by the end of the evening he was asking us for rides in the 'selamat bagi', and so selamat bagi is what we shall call it always.

We finish up our first full day in Malaysia with a cheese rickshaw ride through the night market!  Yay!

Luca music

Luca's most requested songs at the moment are:

"Luca's song!"
"Which song is that?"
"I live on the second floor!"



'Mokita'



"Hallelujah"



The whole family favourite is this one.  Luca said, "what is this song?  I like this song!"