Settling In

 

As we've settled we've started to explore both our little area and then farther afield. We've found the fruit truck next to the Jaya Grocer (pictured are rambutan, mangos, mangosteen, lychee, and dragon fruit) and are pushing ourselves and the kids to try different things (many of them have the texture of peeled grapes once the skin is off but the flavor varies wildly). That said, we are also able to find in our little grocer things like apples...good to have the exploration as well as the staples.

North has been the champion shopper in this period without a car: biking to Jaya with paniers and a backpack to stock up on whatever we need for a few days. The ride isn't far, just past the school (which is a 4 minute ride from our house) but the heat and humidity is real. He comes home and wrings out his clothes as he unpacks💦

In the little block with the grocer there is the pharmacy (good for band aids, mosquito repellent, and a host of medicine and then on the other side there is the non halal part of the grocery store where you can find things like pork and alcohol (and Lucky Charms).

On Saturday we celebrated our 16th anniversary, we went on an early morning walk around the community and then out to breakfast at Ra-Ft Cafe where we had some more western style food-chocolate chip pancakes, avocado toast and egg, eggs benedict. The kids pronounced it a place to return to and we enjoyed seeing all of the other families that were out with kids; it felt kind of fancy but there were small children roaming around.

The weekend and the last few days found us exploring more: North got out for his 2nd long run in the jungle, we went to a rugby game and then a Turkish restaurant, we went to Batu Caves a large Hindu Temple full of small, grabby monkeys, and figured out how to use the metro in order to go to downtown KL to the aquarium and the Petronas Towers. We also went to a birthday part for one of the new teachers which was a delight. The family invited all of the other new teachers and we all brought food and drinks and they opened their home. The kids had a water fight, the food was delicious, and we had an opportunity to learn more about many of the people we are entering the school with. We headed home (on bikes!) after 10 (Ella is really working on her socializing) feeling more connected and at home in this new place.

Many people have asked about the food...and it is delicious and we are also not going full on into street food at this point in our journey. What we've discovered is that you can find really tasty food in random spots in the mall or the convention center-places that we might normally associate with unappetizing fast food but here it's the best Indian food or delicious Thai Ginger chicken (you can find the fast food as well). The food exploration will come but we're taking it little by slow...

Rugby Scrum

monkeys (check out the baby attached to the chest of the one on the post! cute and gross at the same time)

Batu Caves

Batu Caves

Petronas Towers from below