We arrived at the KL airport at 11:45 and were 1 minute late and had to pay the premium for a cab because it was after midnight. To top it off, there was a lineup for cabs that was about 200 people long. An hour and a half later we are in a cab, headed for home. We arrive shortly after 2 am and are in bed by 2:30 am.
The alarm goes off 3 hours and 15 minutes later at 5:45 and that is way to early with not enough sleep. However, we stumble out of bed, shower, peanut butter toast and coffee, van to school, Starbucks and muffin, lose my glasses, find my glasses (Starbucks), and get to class.
We really have to stop travelling so much and take a break :-)
TTYL,
Jim
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Last Day in Phuket
Shelley and I waved goodbye to Brent and jeanine at 11 am and we are lounging around the resort until 6 pm when we will take a cab to the airport to catch our 9 pm flight back to KL. The resort (Marriott Beach Club) was fantastic. Multiple pools, restaurants, etc. You really did not have to leave the resort to have a good time. The beach was pretty well deserted and we walked to one end of it and back, about 6 kms total.
The second day we were there we decided to catch a cab into Patong which proved not to be such a good idea for a number of reasons. First reason was it was an hour each way. Second reason it was kind of a den of inequity (prostitutes, hookers, etc.). Third reason, it was gay pride week. Roll that all together and you simply just could not walk around without being accosted by one type or another.
We did have a decent meal at an outdoor restaurant specializing in seafood. We decided we much prefer Krabi to Potang and we decided to not to visit the town of Phuket.
However, as mentioned, the resort was fantastic with lots of activities. Shelley attended a wind chimes building workshop and came back with a nice one that she cobbled together.
Lots of pictures to post when I get back to KL.
TTYL,
Jim
The second day we were there we decided to catch a cab into Patong which proved not to be such a good idea for a number of reasons. First reason was it was an hour each way. Second reason it was kind of a den of inequity (prostitutes, hookers, etc.). Third reason, it was gay pride week. Roll that all together and you simply just could not walk around without being accosted by one type or another.
We did have a decent meal at an outdoor restaurant specializing in seafood. We decided we much prefer Krabi to Potang and we decided to not to visit the town of Phuket.
However, as mentioned, the resort was fantastic with lots of activities. Shelley attended a wind chimes building workshop and came back with a nice one that she cobbled together.
Lots of pictures to post when I get back to KL.
TTYL,
Jim
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Junior Team Canada
It's Thursday and we had a school assembly this morning and a presentation from 'Junior Team Canada' who were sponsored by the Canadian Embassy here in KL. They were here to sing the praises of studying in Canada generally, and 5 specific universities. They brought along recent graduates form those universities to speak to the students. Carleton was one of the universities and the young lady spoke about Carleton but unfortunately did not break out into "On the Steps of Carleton" which would have brought a tear to my eyes. However, she did mention the Raven's basketball team but did not mention their terrific accomplishments so she was probably not a fan.
I passed on the van this morning and packed my luggage for our trip to Puket. I also did a wash and hope it will be dry by the time I walk home as I need a couple of extra shirts for the trip. Our taxi picks us up at 4:45 and we are on our way via Air Asia.
Apparently the Canadian Olympic hockey team is up 7-3 over Russia in the 3rd period so that should be good for a win which helps after the loss to team USA. It appears that team USA has taken over from Russia as the team that Canada has to beat in the world.
Shelley and I have our snorkel gear packed for the weekend trip and are looking forward toswimming in search of Nemo.
TTYL,
Jim
I passed on the van this morning and packed my luggage for our trip to Puket. I also did a wash and hope it will be dry by the time I walk home as I need a couple of extra shirts for the trip. Our taxi picks us up at 4:45 and we are on our way via Air Asia.
Apparently the Canadian Olympic hockey team is up 7-3 over Russia in the 3rd period so that should be good for a win which helps after the loss to team USA. It appears that team USA has taken over from Russia as the team that Canada has to beat in the world.
Shelley and I have our snorkel gear packed for the weekend trip and are looking forward toswimming in search of Nemo.
TTYL,
Jim
Wednesday Already
It seems like we juste started the week and tomorrow is Thursday and we fly out to Puket. Brent and Jeanine say the resort is gorgeous and we are looking forward to some snorkeling, eating, and drinking. Should be lots of fun.
Classes went well this week as we worked a bit on the game project and then started to program a calculator. The calculator project takes 3 days and teaches some useful concepts such as passing parameters to functions and the select-case control flow.
I have been doing quite a bit of research on the web on Computer Science stuff and I quite enjoy it. I think I am committed to life-long learning. Not a bad place to be.
Tonight Shelley is working late and I will be heading home by myself. I guess I will cook up a stir fry and surprise her when she gets home.
Logan and Colin arrive in about 2 weeks and we will have visitors once again. Shelley is busy planning our march break vacation to yet another tropical paradise. It seems like we just got back from Cambodia.
TTYL,
Jim
Classes went well this week as we worked a bit on the game project and then started to program a calculator. The calculator project takes 3 days and teaches some useful concepts such as passing parameters to functions and the select-case control flow.
I have been doing quite a bit of research on the web on Computer Science stuff and I quite enjoy it. I think I am committed to life-long learning. Not a bad place to be.
Tonight Shelley is working late and I will be heading home by myself. I guess I will cook up a stir fry and surprise her when she gets home.
Logan and Colin arrive in about 2 weeks and we will have visitors once again. Shelley is busy planning our march break vacation to yet another tropical paradise. It seems like we just got back from Cambodia.
TTYL,
Jim
Sunday, February 21, 2010
A Weekend of Nothing!
Shelley and I spent the weekend in the condo do nothing but reading and surfing the net. It was wonderful after a week of travel. bad news, I finished my book and have to start looking for another. I read mostly computer nerd books, basketball books, and science fantasy. I must admit I have not read much basketball after leaving Canada. I noticed that Queen's lost its quarter final game and bowed out early despite finishing 3rd in the league. I can only surmise the shooting faeries were not kind. However, U of T does seem to have their number come playoff time.
Jaime is still without a job and she has yet to hear back from the faculties of education although I expect that happens in March and April. Jordan is still working the Olympic games as a Coca Cola representative and seems to be enjoying the experience.
This coming week is a short week and we fly out to rejoin Brent and Jeanine in Phuket late Thursday night. I hear it is a busy place but Chinese New Year will be done, so perhaps not too busy.
My classes are goind well and I start my lessons on collison detection on Monday. The students usually find this challenging but by now they are looking for something a little better than an IF statement and x,y coordinate checking.
TTYL,
Jim
Jaime is still without a job and she has yet to hear back from the faculties of education although I expect that happens in March and April. Jordan is still working the Olympic games as a Coca Cola representative and seems to be enjoying the experience.
This coming week is a short week and we fly out to rejoin Brent and Jeanine in Phuket late Thursday night. I hear it is a busy place but Chinese New Year will be done, so perhaps not too busy.
My classes are goind well and I start my lessons on collison detection on Monday. The students usually find this challenging but by now they are looking for something a little better than an IF statement and x,y coordinate checking.
TTYL,
Jim
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Back Home in Subang Jaya
Air Asia did it's Air Asia thing and got us home safe and sound. It was a great trip and one more item checked off on our bucket list. Next up may be Vietnam unless we save it for next Fall. We also have to do Laos, Burma, Brunei, and the Philippines to complete a clean sweep of South East Asia.
Tomorrow is a teaching day and we are looking forward to the weekend. Next week is also a short week and we fly to Phuket to meet up with John and jeanine in their resort. We will be there for 3 nights and then fly back on Sunday.
Brent and Jeanine are now in Bangkok and will be shown around by John McGrath. John seemed really happy to have some good old Canadian company.
I am tired and I think I will hit the sack early (after some peanut butter toast). I plan to put together some thoughts on Cambodia when my brain is fresh.
TTYL,
Jim
Tomorrow is a teaching day and we are looking forward to the weekend. Next week is also a short week and we fly to Phuket to meet up with John and jeanine in their resort. We will be there for 3 nights and then fly back on Sunday.
Brent and Jeanine are now in Bangkok and will be shown around by John McGrath. John seemed really happy to have some good old Canadian company.
I am tired and I think I will hit the sack early (after some peanut butter toast). I plan to put together some thoughts on Cambodia when my brain is fresh.
TTYL,
Jim
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Last Night in Cambodia
We fly back to Phnom Pehn tomorrow at 11 am and connect back to KL at 4:30 pm. We managed to see sunrise and sunset at various Wats (temples) today. We had a wonderful Tuk Tuk driver who drove us all around. In the middle of the day we used the hotel pool to refresh before heading back out.
Angkor Wat is huge. It really is a wonder but was built around the 12th century so it is hard to compare to the Roman Coliseum and some of the architecture built in Europe before or around the same time.
So one more country down. Next up are probably Vietnam and Laos.
I have lots of pics put will not put them up for a day or two.
TTYL,
Jim
Angkor Wat is huge. It really is a wonder but was built around the 12th century so it is hard to compare to the Roman Coliseum and some of the architecture built in Europe before or around the same time.
So one more country down. Next up are probably Vietnam and Laos.
I have lots of pics put will not put them up for a day or two.
TTYL,
Jim
Monday, February 15, 2010
More Pics from the Floating Village and School
Here are some more pics from our excursion to the floating village, flooded forest, and village school.
Dinner dancer at Toulen 2
Kids by the side of the road selling orchids
Family boat trip
Kids without boat
The floating village
ibid
The flooded forest
12 metre floods
The intrepid travellers.
The remote village
The village school
The children
Photogenic or what?
Shelley handing out supplies we brought
ibid
Shelley scaring a kid!
The village street
All of us relaxing shipboard
Shelley lounging
Our guide for the day.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sunday Night
We are heading to Kulen 2 ( a theater restaurant) for dinner tonight. The restaurant features authentic Cambodian dancers and hopefully good food. The ladies booked the restaurant without consulting the men who were lounging poolside. The weather today was awesome, with about 30 degrees but little to no humidity which is a pleasant change from Subang Jaya which is always humid.
We were going to head for sunset at Anchor Wat but decided it would be foolish to fight the crowds on Chinese new Year long weekend when we could go Tuesday afternoon when most folks would be heading home. I will let you know Tuesday night how successful that process was.
I suppose I should get ready to head out so,
TTYL,
Jim
We were going to head for sunset at Anchor Wat but decided it would be foolish to fight the crowds on Chinese new Year long weekend when we could go Tuesday afternoon when most folks would be heading home. I will let you know Tuesday night how successful that process was.
I suppose I should get ready to head out so,
TTYL,
Jim
Saturday, February 13, 2010
More Pics
Here are some more pics.
Three pretty girls on a bike.
A family of 6 on a bike.
Really, 6 humans on a 125 cc motor bike.
Shelley and Jeanine on a tuk tuk.
A real bath tub for tonight!
Hot and cold taps!
A real shower stall!
Room is Awesome
I promised you some pics so here they are:
Our hotel room in Siem Reap
A tuk tuk!
Who is this guy?
Friends of the guy above!
The palace.
Brent and Jeanine and lunch.
Our hotel in Phnom Penh.
It was a sun rise flight!
De plane :-)
Awesome room!
Good night eh.
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