Dear McPhee Travel Blog Readers...
Where have we been?!
We apologize for the long intermission but admit we don't regret spending less face time with the computer while journeying through exotic and exciting places.
After the four of us spent almost three lovely weeks in beautiful, lush Malaysia, Rob and Matthew returned home on February 6 so Matthew could get back to "regular" school and life. The travels were great experience for him and we proved to ourselves the education was valuable and enriching. We also found out that it's not easy to return to your same educational system having learned different things than your piers but a little challenge once in a while can only help expand our abilities!
Here is the hotel we spent most of our relaxing time at in Penang. Flamingo by the Beach. Ahhhh. Spoiled!
City Hall.
Where have we been?!
We apologize for the long intermission but admit we don't regret spending less face time with the computer while journeying through exotic and exciting places.
After the four of us spent almost three lovely weeks in beautiful, lush Malaysia, Rob and Matthew returned home on February 6 so Matthew could get back to "regular" school and life. The travels were great experience for him and we proved to ourselves the education was valuable and enriching. We also found out that it's not easy to return to your same educational system having learned different things than your piers but a little challenge once in a while can only help expand our abilities!
Here is the hotel we spent most of our relaxing time at in Penang. Flamingo by the Beach. Ahhhh. Spoiled!Malyasia was a great place to visit. I had the impression from talking to so many experienced travellers that it's the place to skip and is kind of boring compared to it's beachful and more exciting neighbors. The two big cities we visited, Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown (Penang) have three very obvious cultures. Malaysian, Indian, and Chinese. There are festivals going on all the time! The people are great, the food is diverse and very tasty and the land is full of lush green oil palm plantations. Our first taxi driver enjoyed telling Matthew that the plantation owners like to have big pythons on their land to eat the rats that eat the fruit. A nice big snake means a good harvest! We even saw our share of rats in the cities but glad that cars just run them over instead of snakes having them for lunch. Then there was the story in the paper about the eight meter cobra trying to eat the four meter python. The two were captured while fighting IN A PLAYGROUND. I had to stop reading the paper.
Here are the boys trying out new types of roti.
Georgetown tour day was fun.
City Hall.
Town Hall right next door...
The toilets were much more 'western' at our hotel than this one.
We visited Tropical Spice Garden where they emphasize how important and significant the spice trade has been in the history of Europe and Asia.
The Butterfly Farm was definitely the hightlight! The stick bug and moving leaf bug were almost as spectacular as the orchid mantis. But the thorny branch bug that can curl it's tail like a scorpion just in case the branch disguise doesn't work was cool too.
So, after a one month Asian Adventure as the Girl Power Three, we hugged Chi-Mene and said goodbye as we went onto Paris, France. That is where we are today. Lazily sitting in our room completely satisfied from the coffee, tea, and pastries from across the street followed by facial mud masks! Ah, life, c'est bon.
Fort Cornwallis was interesting too.
The toilets were much more 'western' at our hotel than this one.
We visited Tropical Spice Garden where they emphasize how important and significant the spice trade has been in the history of Europe and Asia.
The Butterfly Farm was definitely the hightlight! The stick bug and moving leaf bug were almost as spectacular as the orchid mantis. But the thorny branch bug that can curl it's tail like a scorpion just in case the branch disguise doesn't work was cool too.
Continuing on....
Sarah and Diane continue on the journey around the world. Since the boys went home we have had many adventures through Northern Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. All this was gladly shared with Chi-Mene whom we are very grateful to for tolerating us and making our travel "group" a really fun one!! The three of us fed, rode, and bathed beautiful asian elephants. We went to a Thai cooking sc
hool and learned how our favorite Thai dishes are made.
hool and learned how our favorite Thai dishes are made. Check out Feb 14 in the gallery: http://www.thaiorchidcooking.com/galley.php
We unexpectedy had an extreme adventure taking the slow boat down the Mekong River...This turned into the second biggest scam on the trip when we found out the river is too low for the slow boat! I learned that I am not very experienced at riding in speed boats and made a mental note to practice this before any more adventures on rivers.
A favorite was Luang Prabang, Laos. This town is relaxed and fun at the same time! And the coffee and cinnamon ginger tea are excellent! Oops, they need to improve their culinary hygenic practices a little...unless it was the bit of Mekong "whiskey" we tried. Hmm. We tried the one with the turtle in it, not the scorpion, worms, or snake.
The Kamu Eco Lodge was fun too - a lodge up the river in a little village of Khmu people - we stayed in safari tent thingy's, visited the village, learned to shoot crossbow, fish Lao style, plant rice, and pan for Mekong gold in a big teak "gold pan."
Planting rice!
Fishing...or just throwing a net. Why is he running away?
Vietnam was my personal favorite overall. See the picture of Halong Bay where we spent two nights on board a junk called The Margerite. The other picture is our kayaking trip through a floating village. Very tranquil. Something really mysterious, serious, and beautiful about Vietnam and her people. Oh yes and Sarah is the first 13 year old I've known to get custom-made and fit SHOES and JEANS! I think we need to go back every year to Hoi An.
So, after a one month Asian Adventure as the Girl Power Three, we hugged Chi-Mene and said goodbye as we went onto Paris, France. That is where we are today. Lazily sitting in our room completely satisfied from the coffee, tea, and pastries from across the street followed by facial mud masks! Ah, life, c'est bon.
From here (post Louvre, Eiffel Tower, etc.) we will find our way to London, then fly to Seattle with a five day stopover in Iceland! Whew. Anyone been to Iceland and have experiences to share? Suggestions?
We look forward to personally sharing our stories and photos with our friends and family with no promise that we won't put you to sleep!
Thank you so much to all the friends and family who have shared back and encouraged us along our journey. We appreciate you very very much!
Life is such an adventure!
Looking forward to SEEING everyone soon. Like Matthew says, "There's no place like home!"
