Thursday, December 27, 2007

4 straight days of Christmas Shopping

I can't believe we're back home again. The past few days in Kuala Lumpur went by so quickly because we had an AMAZING time. The bad news was that it rained for most of our time there so we didn't go anywhere outdoors and I have no photos of the real Kuala Lumpur to share. (Bilbo, you'll have to keep imagining it for now.)

Instead, we spent almost the whole trip in the malls, shopping, shopping shopping. There was so much to see and so many play areas that even Aaron didn't complain. The Christmas decorations were more elaborate this year than in previous years. I did feel they were a little too 'Western' but I guess thats what happens when all the movies, cards and other images of Christmas comes from the west. Still, they were wonderful to look at and Aaron hardly blinked when he first saw the displays.



We did make a trip to Klang (30mins from Kuala Lumpur) to visit our old neighbors. Our 2.5yrs there are filled with memories of these good friends. So far, this is the only place where I have lived and gotten to know the neighbors so well. Seeing them makes me realize how much I miss living there. Here are the two girls that I taught piano to and played with almost every day. They were so little when I first met them!

Here we are having dinner with all of them at a local restaurant. Kids are on the table in the foreground and adults in the background. I wish I could have spent some time with the kids, they've always made me laugh!


So its back to the routine life for now until our next trip at the end of January for the Chinese New Year celebrations.

8 comments:

Bilbo said...

Welcome home, Amanda! I'm glad you had such a good trip, but I have to admit to being a bit saddened by the pictures of the malls in Kuala Lumpur...it looks just like any shopping center here in America. I guess one of the drawbacks of "globalization" is that places eventually get homogenized and turned into clones of each other, without the distinctiveness that makes travel so much fun. I was heartsick the first time I went to Germany and shopped at a Wal-Mart. But the pictures of your former piano students, and of the big dinner, are great, and I'm glad you had such a good time. Hope you have a safe and happy new year's celebration!

Kellan said...

Welcome home, Amanda! It sounds like you had a wonderful time and the pictures are really great! I'm sorry it rained, but I'm sure it was still very nice to spend time with those you love. See you later. Kellan

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful time! It did go by quickly didn't it?

Hydes

egan said...

The end of the holiday season is always a bit tough on me. It's fun to hang with the family and do nothing. Great pictures.

Jean-Luc Picard said...

Good pictures, Amanda. It all looks very Christmassy!

Serina Hope said...

It sounds like you had a great trip despite the rain. I can't believe thatmall!! Huge.
I know you are already looking forward to the next trip.

Amanda said...

Yes. Its been hard being back. I've been thinking of how nice it has been to just walk back and forth from the hotel room to the mall whenever I felt like it. The malls in KL are all 'globalized' but they are all huge and full of great shopping, especially at this time of the year.

I do regret not spending more time with my little friends though...maybe next trip.

Unknown said...

oh my goodness...li shuang (is that right) and siew yee! so grown up..siew yee has tanned abit and knows how to pose for the photos even!
i recognize her brother in the resto photo...and nicholas...are the B brothers (benjamin and brandon) anywhere? i see the moms as well!
how time goes by....!