Chiang Mai in December

Chiang Mai is known as the handicraft center for Thailand. We are spending three days here before we head to Yangon, Myanmar.

First stop on the handicraft tour was an umbrella making industry.

The furniture and wood carving factory was huge. After visiting silver making, silk weaving and jewelry making we headed back to town for the night market.


On Sunday we located a church and experienced a beautiful Christmas service of carols, scripture reading and sermon. After church we explored the local market found many thing for your Christmas dinner, especially pork! - Nancy

Night Tour in Brunei

We wanted to see a little more of Brunei than just the hotel so we went on a night tour. We saw the white mosque at night, the main mosque which was quite impressive, and went to a night market. Part of the tour included a stop at a mall where Ron found a DQ and had a blizzard. Ah-the comforts of home. - Nancy

Brunei - Good Accommodations

Since I had a 3 day weekend in December for the Malaysian Holiday of the Sultan's birthday Ron and I decided to fly to Brunei and stay at the Empire Hotel. It was fun to enjoy a round of golf on a Jack Nicklaus designed course, swim laps in the pool and enjoy the beauty of the hotel. - Nancy

KL Family Christmas

We realized that we needed to celebrate our KL Christmas early so we had our family gathering on Dec. 6. The family got in a nice swim prior to Christmas dinner. We had a traditional Christmas dinner.

Gabi said she wanted a dog and stuffed animal so I figured I had the perfect present. Gabi told me she meant a real dog. -Nancy

Rania likes Strawberry Shortcake.

And Reeve likes games, reading and collecting soccer player cards.

2nd Sunday of Advent

As I was preparing to go the church Sunday morning it was such a blessing to think about how only God could arrange for my husband to preach and my son to be service leader on the same Sunday at the church we attend in Kuala Lumpur. - Nancy

Gabi turns 6

One of the joys of living close to grandchildren is to be able to be at some of their special occasions. Gabi had a party at their house and Doug and Tracy did a great job of organizing games. Gabi does the limbo.
Rania took the ping-pong ball relay seriously. - Nancy

Painting and Safety

We've been watching the condo building where we live get painted. This picture was from our window and the I know I wouldn't want to be on the riggings. - Nancy

1st Sunday of Advent

Doug's family gave the advent reading on the first Sunday of Advent. Reeve and Gabi both did a great job of reading scripture. - Nancy

After church we went to a large shopping center called the Pavilion. There were plenty of Christmas decorations.

Thanksgving

I got a picture of the table without food or guests but yes we had both. After dinner a game of dominos was enjoyed by some. -- Nancy

A view from our balcony

Tonight there were young girls swimming in the pool. I guess they liked having there feet out of the water. Modest swimwear reflects one aspect of the culture. - Nancy

A two night sleepover

Reeve had a two night sleepover the weekend of Nov. 13 & 14. He kept his grandparents busy. He had his last basketball game of the season, a birthday party, time for domino games with Grandpa and Grandma, dinner out at the California Pizza Kitchen and then church where Grandpa gave the children's sermon. -Nancy

From the kitchen window ...

Here's the view from our kitchen window on a sunny morning in KL (using a zoom lens, of course). As I got up on a Sunday morning and began to get ready to go to church, I decided that the view might be worth a picture! The Petronas twin-towers obviously dominate the KL skyline, but the Menara Tower to the left is equally impressive.



Also impressive -- at least to us -- was a batik we bought in Langkawi this fall and finally got framed and mounted a week ago. The picture also displays our Malacca Furniture bedstead that we've had for a little over a year. - rw

Strange Halloween Treats ...

Since Reeve, Gabi and Rania were soon headed-out trick-or-treating (our place was their 1st stop), and since Rania needs gluten-free treats, G'ma decided that a box of cold cereal for each of them would be an ideal "treat" for Halloween! So, that's what happened.

Reeve dressed as a soccer player, Gabi as a gymnast and Rania as Barbie, the Island Princess. (G'pa didn't quite figure out the black and white striped top, but that's okay; he's not really too into what Barbie wears anyway!) - rw

Fiji - and a week without swimming

I might be the only person to spend a week in Fiji and never wear a swimsuit. I was in Suva for a week working as a library consultant at the International School Suva. It was a working trip. My hostess did take me to the closest beach which was an hour from Suva the Sunday I was there.

It was overcast and chilly so I didn't go swimming.























I worked with the librarian of the school and enjoyed several special events at the school. One was the elementary literature parade where the students dressed up as their favorite character in a book.

I thought the Cat in the Hat was so cute. I was at the school for the Dewali, The Hindu Festival of Lights, assembly. The students did wonderful dances.










I enjoyed my time at the school and was kept busy. If I ever make it back to Fiji I hope to have time to be a tourist and enjoy some of the beaches and snorkeling. - Nancy

Sydney - Only from the Air

On my way to Fiji I had hoped to have enough time to leave the airport to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. But time didn't allow for this so the best I could do was views from the plane - landing from Kuala Lumpur and then arriving from Nadi,Fiji. I took these pictures for Daniel and Eli. -Nancy

Take a Pick of Boats

I realized as I was looking at photos of recent travels that boats were a common theme. So take your pick of the boats - a Langkawi basic one, a Perth water taxi, a sailboat in Perth, an adventure "eco" boat that was promised not to sink (This only made me think of the Titanic.) when we took an ocean tour that resembled a roller coast ride, or a lovely yacht in Fiji. - Nancy