We drove overnight to London from Llandudno and caught our flight to Malaysia. We had plenty of time to catch up on sleep because the flight was 13 hours long! We flew Air Asia, which has some killer deals on tickets but they cut out the extras... The Southwest airlines of Asia except without the denim and kahki outfits.
Kuala Lumpur is a huge city and it's not the cleanest. If we had smell-o-vision you would be able to experience this place better. We first got to the hotel (at 8am) and asked the front desk girl where a there was a good place to eat. She said there was a McDonalds, KFC, and Starbucks close. But we decided to get started on our real experience. "Where would you go to eat and what would you have?" She directed us to a little food court at a nearby office building.
"Food court?" you may ask.
Yes. But we didn't see Hot Dog on a Stick, Sbarro, or Mongolian Barbecue. It was a bunch of stalls offering all sorts of dishes. When unsure of what to eat, go where all the locals are. I got some rice and some stuff that looked like chicken and beef in sauce. I was eating along and enjoying my selection when I came upon something that made me think, "vegetable, mineral, or animal?" Since I couldn't figure it out, and it looked like something alien, I pushed it to the side and continued on my delicious journey. I haven't seen anything like it since or I would ask. Oh, and sorry there's not a photo of it.
Malaysia has a strong Muslim influence and there were mosques everywhere. We were able to go tour one but we were wearing shorts and T-shirts so we had to cover up to their standards. I felt like it was graduation. And Celia had to cover her head.
Kuala Lumpur is the home of the Patronas towers. Two twin towers that have a skybridge between them. I think it was featured in a Mission Impossible or something. We weren't able to go up because the tickets were out for the day we were there and we were leaving the next day. But the outside was pretty cool and the chandelier inside was just as beautiful.
Friday, June 26, 2009
UK - Wales - Llandudno and Conwy
We went back to visit Celia's ol' stompin grounds and stayed with her friends Karen and Keith. We had another beautiful day and went to see Conwy. The entire town is built within the walls of a castle. It has lots of character and beautiful sights. It's also home of the smallest house in the UK.
Llandudno is nestled between two hills, the Great Orme and the Small Orme. We drove to the top of the Great Orme and took some photos. Here's what I got.
Llandudno is nestled between two hills, the Great Orme and the Small Orme. We drove to the top of the Great Orme and took some photos. Here's what I got.
UK - England - Liverpool
Celia and I went to Liverpool to have a night out in the home of the Beatles. There is a street where they used to play and guess what it's called!! Mathew Street! Spelled the same as my name. I'm famous.
UK - England - Nottingham and Sherwood Forest
So I made it to Nottingham and Sherwood forest. Home of the fabled Robin Hood. I stayed with my friend Ceri and she showed me all around this beautiful place.
Sherwood forest is an ancient oak forest that is now a reserve. Its main attraction is the Major Oak (which was just as exciting as it sounds). It's the biggest tree in the forest. But they're afraid that it would follow the natural order of things and die and fall over so they've propped it up for all to see. It's like going to see the Tour de France and everyone has training wheels. Or a Marathon where everyone is shuffling along in walkers.
We did some exploring through the forest. Ceri loves to sit in a tree because it feels closer to nature. After Celia was done laughing at her, Celia decided to do it too. but her tree had to be higher. After a comical time getting her into and out of the tree I thought I'd have a go too... But I had to use my expert tree-climbing skills to go bigger and better.
Sherwood forest is an ancient oak forest that is now a reserve. Its main attraction is the Major Oak (which was just as exciting as it sounds). It's the biggest tree in the forest. But they're afraid that it would follow the natural order of things and die and fall over so they've propped it up for all to see. It's like going to see the Tour de France and everyone has training wheels. Or a Marathon where everyone is shuffling along in walkers.
We did some exploring through the forest. Ceri loves to sit in a tree because it feels closer to nature. After Celia was done laughing at her, Celia decided to do it too. but her tree had to be higher. After a comical time getting her into and out of the tree I thought I'd have a go too... But I had to use my expert tree-climbing skills to go bigger and better.
UK - England - Paignton and Torquay
Ok so internet is readily available all over but the time to use it is not. I finally got a bunch of pics uploaded so here are some slideshows of my time in Devon.
We had a BEAUTIFUL day so Yvonne and her friend Nell took me to Dartmouth on the double decker bus. There are small country lanes between Paignton and Dartmouth and the bus just barely fits width-wise, but you can tell that tourist season has just started so they brought out the double decker to accommodate the increased ridership. The bus company was more on the ball than the street tree trimmers so there are plenty of low-hanging branches to add to the excitement on the trip. Plus the roads are uneven and the sway can be felt even more at 10 feet above the pavement. I took a video of the trip and tried to keep it as still as possible... but this is what I got.
Here are some still-photos once we made it.
The next day wasn't quite as beautiful but Ray and Yvonne took me to Dawlish to see the black swans. One of the many claims to fame in Devon is the Clotted Cream (mmmm sound delicious? the word 'clotted' doesn't exactly start the mouth a-waterin'). It's almost like butter but I guess it's more of a delicacy because it's all cream? Anyway. Some enterprising baker in Dawlish decided to make it part of the ice cream selection in their shop. You could have a vanilla ice cream with a stick of flake chocolate in it and/or with a big ol' dollop of clotted cream. Yeah. Butter on ice cream. That's what I thought. It was an experience that my arteries will remember.
After that I stayed with Krystle and Dave and they showed me around Cockington and other parts of Torquay. I also got to see the rest of Krystle's family (Kathy, Danny and Kelly) and it was fun to see them all grown up. Unfortunately my camera was charging that day.
I got to go to church in Paignton on Sunday. For a very long time the members there didn't have a building but a few years ago the church bought and refurbished a beautiful building that used to be a boarding house or something like that. It was fun to see old friends. It was like everyone was the same but the kids were taller. I've missed these people.
We had a BEAUTIFUL day so Yvonne and her friend Nell took me to Dartmouth on the double decker bus. There are small country lanes between Paignton and Dartmouth and the bus just barely fits width-wise, but you can tell that tourist season has just started so they brought out the double decker to accommodate the increased ridership. The bus company was more on the ball than the street tree trimmers so there are plenty of low-hanging branches to add to the excitement on the trip. Plus the roads are uneven and the sway can be felt even more at 10 feet above the pavement. I took a video of the trip and tried to keep it as still as possible... but this is what I got.
Here are some still-photos once we made it.
The next day wasn't quite as beautiful but Ray and Yvonne took me to Dawlish to see the black swans. One of the many claims to fame in Devon is the Clotted Cream (mmmm sound delicious? the word 'clotted' doesn't exactly start the mouth a-waterin'). It's almost like butter but I guess it's more of a delicacy because it's all cream? Anyway. Some enterprising baker in Dawlish decided to make it part of the ice cream selection in their shop. You could have a vanilla ice cream with a stick of flake chocolate in it and/or with a big ol' dollop of clotted cream. Yeah. Butter on ice cream. That's what I thought. It was an experience that my arteries will remember.
After that I stayed with Krystle and Dave and they showed me around Cockington and other parts of Torquay. I also got to see the rest of Krystle's family (Kathy, Danny and Kelly) and it was fun to see them all grown up. Unfortunately my camera was charging that day.
I got to go to church in Paignton on Sunday. For a very long time the members there didn't have a building but a few years ago the church bought and refurbished a beautiful building that used to be a boarding house or something like that. It was fun to see old friends. It was like everyone was the same but the kids were taller. I've missed these people.
Monday, June 8, 2009
UK - Wales - Llandyfriog - Mair
Mair is another friend of mine from when I lived in Newcastle Emlyn. She lives in an ancient farmhouse with loads of character. I remember coming down her path and knocking at her door. Her mail-slot was at eye level so when we would knock, she would flip open the slot to see who was there.
Once inside we would plop down in her low-seated over-stuffed chairs and thaw out from the damp Welsh air in front of her large coal burning stove. I love the low ceilings and even lower doors, the "natural-style" garden, the view across the Teifi River Valley out of her kitchen and back bedroom. What a cozy place!
I have some ancestors that come from this area of Wales and every time I come to visit Mair I feel like I might be visiting one of their homes. Mair keeps telling me that I'll be moving back to this area after my travels. Today when we drove by her house she said, "There is an old lady that lives there who used to be on her own but now has an American lodger living with her." I guessed that's what the neighbors will be saying in the future.
Mair has introduced me to a few of her friends. Most of whom are painters and poets. We've taken some beautiful walks and driven to some amazing sights. There used to be several railways going through the area. The rails and ties have been removed but the railbeds are perfect walking paths through the forest which is reclaiming it's rightful place as the years go by. This country is so serene... it's probably because of all of the green.
Once inside we would plop down in her low-seated over-stuffed chairs and thaw out from the damp Welsh air in front of her large coal burning stove. I love the low ceilings and even lower doors, the "natural-style" garden, the view across the Teifi River Valley out of her kitchen and back bedroom. What a cozy place!
I have some ancestors that come from this area of Wales and every time I come to visit Mair I feel like I might be visiting one of their homes. Mair keeps telling me that I'll be moving back to this area after my travels. Today when we drove by her house she said, "There is an old lady that lives there who used to be on her own but now has an American lodger living with her." I guessed that's what the neighbors will be saying in the future.
Mair has introduced me to a few of her friends. Most of whom are painters and poets. We've taken some beautiful walks and driven to some amazing sights. There used to be several railways going through the area. The rails and ties have been removed but the railbeds are perfect walking paths through the forest which is reclaiming it's rightful place as the years go by. This country is so serene... it's probably because of all of the green.
UK - Wales - Newcastle Emlyn - Mary
This is my friend Mary Lloyd Lewis. I met her 10 years ago while serving my mission in West Wales. She lived around the corner from us and was always fun to chat with. She's a sprightly 84 years old and could put many 50 year-olds to shame with her vigor and stamina.
She has led quite an amazing life. She lives in the house in which she was raised (the picture is her sitting in a tree she used to climb when she was a little girl) but has traveled all around the world. She lived in London for a while and also went to America for a while, finding odd jobs (at a restaurant, dentist's office, and insurance firm) to support herself. She went back to school as a mature student and is now retired from teaching primary school.
One of my favorite stories that she has told me was when she was teaching. She was getting ready to retire and had told the children (always children and never "kids." She hates when they're called kids) that it was because she was getting old. One day she told the children about Methuselah.
Mary: Methuselah lived to be ninety-nine years old!
Child: Is he older than you Miss?
While I was visiting we went on several walks. I was impressed that she would always keep up with me (especially since I'm a fast walker). We went along some difficult terrain and up some steep hills but she always kept up.
The first day I was there we went on a walk in Cenarth (ken-arth) and had great weather for it. Here are some pics:
The next day wasn't as nice but we still saw quite a bit. We went to Ceibwr (kay-boor) trying to find the Witch's Cauldron, which is a narrow canyon where the sea crashes in and sprays and churns like a cauldron. We didn't make it there but had a good adventure. Then we made our way down to Nevern and stopped in at the old church. We also made it up to Newport (there are several Newports but this one is in Pembrokeshire). We drove up to a castle and half of it was falling down and the other half was being lived in. That would be a cool place to live!
After we went home and relaxed we decided to take a walk around the block... Newcastle Emlyn is divided by a river. Mary's side is called Adpar and walking around the block involves walking down the river to the next village, then taking the country road across the top of Adpar. There were some great views. Mary used to play in this area when she was a little girl and she found a tree that she used to climb. I boosted her up to take a photo for old time's sake.
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