The Malaysia Trip: Part 1
We are one week and a half into our three week trip to Malaysia and it has been excellent so far! Amid many new experiences, we have also been among family - it’s been a unique blend of exploration and homey comfort that I don’t expect we’ll be able to replicate. I’ll try my best to relay the highlights from Toby’s whirlwind tour so far.
How’d the flights go?
These were probably the least stressful of our long-hauls, but I’d chalk that up to the standard of service on Japanese airline ANA, plus the extra breathing room everybody gets when the flight isn’t full. Toby was able to sleep in her car seat for a little bit, but it wasn’t the complete success we had hoped for. (Also, it seemed like few of the airline staff had seen somebody set up a car seat on the plane.) It did score us a bulkhead row all to ourselves, at least. On the way back, we are planning to hold Toby in one of our laps during takeoff and landing, then spread out into her ticketed seat for as long as the seatbelt sign is off.
Kuala Lumpur
We arrived at KLIA just around midnight, and were welcomed by “the consummate graciousness of Malaysianness...” as friends of Toby’s Goong-goong (grandpa) picked us up after we collected our bags. It was nearly 2am, but our just-met Auntie and Uncle could not be dissuaded (a trend that would continue). It was almost exactly 24 hours of travel for our body clocks, and Toby had logged about 5 hours of sleep during that time. But we were in good hands, and she was able to catch some quick Zs on the drive.
Our trip involves multiple stays at apartment rentals, friend’s houses, and hotels. I’m writing this from the third stop, but I’ll cut this issue short before we catch up to today.
Downtown KL
Our first Airbnb was centrally located in Kuala Lumpur. We could walk to Toby’s Lao Ma’s house (great-grandma), which was also by a cool strip of restaurants and shops in a block of former row houses. Szuyin’s mom grew up in one of these houses, in fact!
At Lao Ma’s house, Toby appointed herself redecorator and pushed all the chairs around for like 30 minutes straight. We had a hard time pulling her away from that task.
As for other Toby things, it became very clear how much we take advantage of being able to walk out our front door and find enjoyable weather. Big T was feeling a bit cooped up on floor 29, although the area was pretty walkable once we got down to ground level.
We got caught in the rain one afternoon, trying to hustle back for a nap. Tob seemed to enjoy the whole event, but more than a few passersby were unimpressed with our caretaking. Our girl loves the water, though, and we warmed up quick.
Some new foods came to Toby’s palate, with fish balls jumping to a top spot in her list. She really is game to try anything, meaning we have to remember to balance the diet with veggies and freeze-dried jackfruit. And keep spicy stuff out of reach.
She (and I) absolutely loved her great-aunt’s char kuey teow! I couldn’t load up the chopsticks fast enough.
Bukit Jalil
Next up, we were treated to a few nights at the home of the same Auntie and Uncle who shuttled us from the airport that first night. They have a beautiful house in Bukit Jalil, which I guess would be a suburb of KL, where Toby made some solid inroads on her sleep debt thanks to getting her own room!
Also present at this house were two cats, a fish pond, and some toys preserved from the now-20-something children. Our two cats at home have been slowly warming up to Tob, but our host cats in Bukit Jalil showed no hesitation around her and graced her with some good cuddles and playful batting.
We caught a bit of a rest at this stay, which was much needed and appreciated. Still, our hosts showed us around their neck of the woods with deserved pride. One quick highlight was our Sunday morning at the local park, where it seemed everybody was out working up a sweat. Toby had fun on the hilly trails, where we pretended she was on a strollercoaster.
If I’m running short in this section, it’s because I’m keeping myself up late to write and can’t summon up all the highlights. I suppose the only repayment I can try to make is to be as consummately gracious in hosting others.
I hope that Toby will learn to appreciate the adoration she receives from so many, and to accept it with humble gratitude. Toby toddles under the love of so many - at home, across the US, and now here in Malaysia - and I can’t thank her “village” enough for the blessing of their care.
Thanks for reading!