Malaysia for Days: Swordfighting in the South China Sea.

there are some who may think that my mind and my body and my soul may have an inability to relax, an irresistible urge to hang on to the unforeseeable anxieties that pace the world. sooner or later, though, they learn that every once in a while, I let go.

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and so it was this past weekend we reveled in the clear waters of Pulau Tioman, an island thought to be shaped like a sleeping dragon. and although the road long and arduous and rocky, we all agreed that it was in fact the destination, and not the journey, that made this weekend special.

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when we finally arrived at Tunayama, we slowly took in the realization that we were in absolute paradise for three days.

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with the sun hot and the water clear, the kids took no time to hit the beach, and then cool off in the pool that seemed to stretch out for eternity.

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we wasted little precious minutes getting head to toe treatments at the spa, languishing in salt scrubs and body massages, allowing our faces to feel fresh and clean and minty with newness. we were so relaxed we lost all definitions of time and only knew this place.

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the next morning we watched as storms rolled past, appreciating the tides and how they synergize with life beneath the water.

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later we boated to a different jetty, where we trekked up the mountains to the famed Asda waterfalls; while stories of South East Asian pythons in the trees above skipped through our heads, we pushed onward until we found the fresh springs.

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drenched in sweat and crying from the burning heat, we dipped our feet and cooled our bodies with the clear water.

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we returned to the dock to await our ride back, and sword fights ensued in front of the Tioman sleeping dragon.

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as our boat drew nearer the resort, we decided to drink up the flora of the sea with our eyes, and for almost all on our trip, go snorkeling for the first time. the sights weren’t as grand in front of the resort as would have been seen elsewhere, however still beautiful and vibrant for coral passed over and swam over and envied by guests over time.

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that night, we feasted on the bounty of the ocean over an open flame, stuffing ourselves with deliciousness and allowing ourselves the fruit of the vine in our veins.

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we slept hard and rested through the night, only to awake to the sad realization that we would be leaving our paradise soon. we frolicked on the beach and in the water, enjoying every moment until our departure.

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against the yearnings and the wills and the pleas of our souls, we said our goodbyes to the lovely staff and rode into the vast waters of the ocean, promising to never forget our jaunt in the South China Sea.

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keamanan, friends.

next up: Georgetown, Penang.

Malaysia for Days: Kuala Lumpur.

after spending a few days in Johor Bahru, the sommelier and I jetted off to Kuala Lumpur for a short rendezvous. the sunset rivaled any we’ve seen, and that says a lot coming from this Native Texan girl.

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as our iron bird perched its wings and stretched its legs to land, we could view palm plantations rolling out before us, the mountains providing a sunlit backdrop of orange dreamsicle.

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we climbed into a taxi and headed east into city center, and even though the journey was long and winding and somewhat maddening, what waited for us when we finally arrived was infinitely worth the internal chaos.

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venturing out for a quick bite to eat and maybe some late night fun, the sommelier and I soon found ourselves full and sitting in familiar wine surroundings.

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the uber ride home showed fantastical sights, even for a smaller city of 1.6 million.

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in the early morning we awoke in gracious awe of our surroundings, thankful for our late night internet searches for hotels with views of cityscapes and nightscapes and magnificent skylines.

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imagesoon the taxi cab driver was meandering through the crowded morning street to Pudu Market, where even the most fresh and crisp and breathable air was nullified in an instant.

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after hearing the lyrical stall calls from the sellers and seeing the rainbow of vegetables and smelling all the morning caught fish the market had to offer, we sat for some local tea.

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we then skipped across town to Chow Kit, passing through downtown neighborhoods whose decay ranked similar to even the largest global cities.

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at times, it seemed the streets of Kuala Lumpur were swarmed with motorbikes, they filled the air with loud bangs and puffs of smoke.

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finally arrived at the National Gallery of the Visual Arts, we slowly breathed in the transcendence of Malaysian art history from early stencils… (my personal favorite)

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to art movement paintings…

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and finally to modern sculptures…

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each era displayed the deep history of the building of a nation, from colonial rule, to Japanese occupation, to the Malaysian Independence.

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having filled our eyes with local sights and sounds for the morning, we took to a British Commonwealth favorite for lunch and beers.

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we meandered around KLCC Park for an hour or so before heading back to the hotel, setting our eyes on some of the most interesting trees, those whose branches reach deep into the earth to take root, so that over time, each tree gains in circumference the work that tree puts in, a symbol of individualism in a historically colonially ruled country.

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napping before our plane ride home, we felt refreshed for the reunion of our family, ready to take on the next adventure: Tioman Island.

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Selamat Malam, friends.