Off to Langkawi

We have spent the last few days lounging around in Penang. Today we have had a look around Georgetown, and tomorrow morning we will catch a ferry to Langkawi. We aren't staying on the beach as all the accommodation is booked out. So we will stay near the airport and hire a motorbike for the 3 nights we are there. I hope everyone had a great Xmas, and will have a fun filled New Year.
Kelly
xxx
PS - By the way.... I am the new uno champion!!!!! I just needed to put that in writing :)

In Kota Kinubalu

Hi everyone,
I am emailing from Kota Kinubalu today. We have been in Malaysia since Sunday morning now. On day was spent in Kuala Lumpur, and he have had 2 1/2 days in KK so far. Yesterday we went island hopping off the coast of KK, today we went to a wildlife zoo and park and tomorrow we will go to Mt Kinubalu Park to walk, swim in hot spring and walk 150m above the rain forest in a canopy walk. On Friday morning we will fly to Penang and spend 2 days on an island resort. After that we are going to try to catch a ferry to LangKawi and use a voucher (a gift for a delayed flight) from Air Asia to fly back to KL.
Take care,
Luv Kelly

UPDATE!!

WE
ARE
COMING
HOME
IN
JULY
2009!!!!

We are really excited to be coming home, but disappointed also.
See you all soon, the year will fly.

Shopping!

Poor Kane is so tuckered out from shopping yesterday. It was a big day. We left home at 8.30 and got back at 9.00 last night. Here are some of the purchases.

Guess Sunny's

Abercrombie Fluffy Jacket

My Snow Jacket/Wind Breaker

My Ugg Boots

Kane's Backpack

Kane's Jocks

Kane's Shirts

Bree's Shoes

I had heapsa fun. It was a big day. We also opened an ANZ China account to transfer some funds back home. Lunch was great. We ate at a really good quality restraunt called Element Fresh. Great food and smoothies. We went with another couple that were buying presents for Xmas in Canada so it was good to know what prices to pay for things. Our leave was denied again this week, so we are making one last effort to be able to stay, otherwise, as the count down says... today : 6 months, 2 weeks, 6 days.

We fly to Malaysia on Saturday next week. We will be staying in Kuala Lumpur for 2 nights and then we fly to Kota Kinabalu on the Borneo Island. We will stay there for 5 nights and then we will fly to Penang Island on Malaysia's Peninsula. We are booked in for 2 nights on an Island spa there. After that we have 5 days to get back down to KL and to fly back to China on the 2nd of January. We will be in Kota Kinubalu for Xmas and probably between Penang and KL for New Years. I am not sure if I will be able to post while away, but I will try to do another just before we leave next week.

Cheerio.

PS - Maybe I will go without Kane, he is being really mean today.

Xmas Party

Last night we had a Christmas Party at a staff members apartment in our complex. I wasn't sure how many people were going to come, but it sure was packed! Take a look at some of these pictures...

The shoes...

The cloak room...

the dining room...

the living room...

Kane!!!! (and his dead tooth!:)

I had so much trouble sleeping last night. My muscles are screaming today from yesterday's workout and I am in a world of pain. I woke up around 3ish freezing cold, pain in my legs and hips and not being able to sleep. I was cold despite the doona, woolen blanket, polar fleece blanket, 2 pair of socks, PJ's and long sleeve under-top. So I must be getting a cold, there is no other explanation for being so cold in bed. Kane definitely said I felt warm. We'll see how the week progresses.

I bought a Buddhism head at the antique market today. It's only small, maybe 12cm tall. I'm not sure if it is old, or new to look old. It does look at thought it was once part of a bigger object.

I think it's so cute and it only cost 25RMB after a bit of haggling. The incense burner that I wanted was too expensive, I will try again next time I go for a cheaper price, I'm willing to pay between 200-250 for it but I would only haggle to 150 today. The man's lowest offer was 800RMB and then he just told me to go away. I want that metal/antique burner, it's really cool.

How time flies

It's nearly Christmas and that means holidays!!!!!
Yay! We are finally outta China for a bit and not too soon as the temperature here is plummeting, down, down, down. Twas a mere 2 degrees yesterday, today it was 5.

We are heading out for a Chrissy party tonight, but not before we have pumpkin soup and a very high density loaf of bread, it looks good though.

I have been to the gym today... a whopping 715cals burnt!!!! 1 hour of incline walking and 40 mins of weights. I could hardly walk down the stairs on my way out. Don't go jumping to any conclusions though. I am not a regular and while I try, (or maybe want to try), I am no where near in any kind of routine with getting to the gym or working out at school. I have to say though, that I have eaten very well today - Pleased with me :)

We will finally, if everything goes to plan, know if we are coming home next year or staying for another month after Tuesday this week. We have reapplied for wedding leave after the wonderful Pam has extended my leave from WPS. What a relief it will be to know what we are doing, and I am sure other family and friends also want to know where we'll be.

Bye,
Kelly

Shopping!

Yesterday was the annual Suzhou Expats Christmas Charity Bazaar. There were heaps of stall where you can buy various items. I came away with

a chess set,

a wall hanging and some Christmas cards and some wall pictures to have framed. They're rolled up so I can't take a picture. I went to Mei Mei's which is a silk shop with my friend Erin. She had ordered some cashmere blankets and needed to pick them up. So I went along as I wanted to talk to her about the silk I am going to use in my wedding dress. I found some light weight raw silk/sateen material in a white/ivory to use. It's 75RMB per meter so all up the material will cost around $330 AU, is that a good price? Now I all I need to do is find someone to make it. I also bought a cashmere/silk blanket for a lounge room throw/spare room back home.


It is the picture above. I want to get some made for our queen sized bed for back home also.

This morning my fish Sue is doing some funny side sleeping! Yes she does this occasionally. I will have to keep a special eye on her as she may be on the way out. The temperature has dropped here in the last few days and so the different temperature may be the cause. I have had to move my fighting fish Jo to the lounge room yesterday to be next to the heater as I try to get here through the winter, Sue may need to move from the study to the lounge also.

This is Kane holding our friends newborn Jemima Grace. She is around 8 days old in the picture. She is the daughter of our friend's Gerard and Felicity who come from Benella/Myrtleford in the NE of Victoria, only a hand-throws drive from us in Wodonga. And they also used to work a Catholic College in Wodonga. They work at our school in Suzhou! Coincidence some? She was born via cesarean and was over 4.2kg born, a big girl. She is just gorgeous!

Kane is out playing soccer, I might have brekkie, head over to get fruit and veg and see if Kane wants to go for a walk, it beautiful and sunny outside... I can see blue sky, a rarity. Take advantage while I can, but it still is chilly :)

Bye, and have a great week. Maybe this will be the week when we find out what we are doing next year, fingers crossed for us.

Kelly