6 Months in and gaining perspective

6 months in Malaysia.  It feels like the the blink of an eye and a lifetime all at once. We are trying to balance the intensity and pace of work with some great family adventure. And lots of love.

I post lots of great travel photos, but realize the overall picture can approach a Facebook-like superficiality; that everything is roses and we're living a dream every day.

Ancient upon ancient - Cambodia

True, we are very fortunate. But there's a day to day that can get hard. My work is intense and stressful. So is raising a kid. We have all battled or are battling various ailments, rashes, etc - nothing horrible, but stuff that wears you down.

There's homesickness (especially for Anya and related to Glasha the cat!:). As I sit here and type this out, I can't help but acknowledge that the world seems to have taken a bloody turn of late - both at home in the US, generally abroad and even on our doorstep here in Kuala Lumpur with a "small" ISIS-attributed attack recently.

We are as safe as anyone living in any global city - maybe even safer as we have guards around the clock. But I think the trials and tribulations underscore the importance of being good to your loved ones and to strangers. It brings important perspective. Back up your actions with a smile and a hug.


Last month, my mom and stepdad, Denis, visited us for 4 weeks. We kicked off in Kuala Lumpur, just as Anya and I celebrated our 10th anniversary. Time flies, doesn't it?

Lev tries the fish spa...loves it, but mostly just wants to try and
catch the fish with his hands.

We managed to take a 4 day trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia to tour the temples and generally explore. We had an excellent time and all of us agreed that Cambodia is worth more exploration. The people were friendly, the prices low and there is a lot of culture and history to soak up.

Making friends at the silk farm in Cambodia

While in Cambodia we befriended a family from Washington state who were traveling the world for a year. Get this - they had 6 kids, all of them 12 years old or younger. How do you even fathom the idea of traveling around the world with that many young kids? And they were having fun!!


Kinda puts things in perspective when I roll my eyes about Lev acting up. The kids were great, as were the parents, and Lev enjoyed touring a silk farm and roaming in a rugrat pack.






After returning for a bit of work (for me) and local exploration (for everyone else), we all loaded into the car for a road trip out to the northeast coast of Malaysia. After a 5 hour trip, we parked the car for the week and boarded a boat out to the Perhentian Islands.

A slice of paradise - Tuna Bay Resort in the Perhentian Islands

There are two islands: Perhentian Besar (big) and Perhentian Kecil (small). Both islands are dotted with little resorts on the coastline, but the limited interior is pure jungle. No roads exist. No cars or motorized transport, save for the water taxis. A couple of paths criss cross the interior, but that's about it.

Snorkel Master

For a week, we hiked the jungle, walked the beaches and caught up on reading.  We listened to the surf from our beach side front porch. We snorkeled in the clear warm water, full of life. Sharks, grouper, rays, clownfish, turtles - there was an abundance of life.

Unfortunately, an ear infection prevented me from SCUBA diving, but I popped in ear plugs and had plenty of fun. Lev, as it turns out, is a snorkeling fanatic. He'd float for what seemed like hours, paddling around and viewing life beneath the water's surface.










All too soon it was time for my mom and Denis to leave. It was sad to see them go after a month. It's easy to fall into a routine of having close family around you. I was made quite aware of the fact that we've moved thousands of miles from friends and family. We don't regret the experience, new friends and adventures, but there's a sacrifice to it.

However, as I write this we are getting ready to go pick up Anya's mom from the airport. She'll be flying in from Ukraine for a month to continue our summer of family visits. Lev's excited about seeing grandma, as we all are. In a couple of weeks we'll be taking another week of holiday (sorry, boss!) and heading up to Phuket.

Our front porch for a week. Those are my feet. They are relaxed. 

Mom and Denis - Tuk Tuk happy. 

Those chickens are alive...and probably not real stoked to be hanging upside down from the back of a scooter. 

Random on - another chance to bust out the Tux at the annual Malaysia Media Awards night. 

The boys, out for a beer tower or two. That's how we roll. 4 guys, 4 nationalities - I do love the way the world comes together in some places. 

A Google/client Durian party to kick off Ramadan. I tried it...not as bad as I feared, but I won't be seeking it out any time soon. 

A pretty sunset from our apartment window

They Honeymoon is over. Long live the honeymoon!

Lev and I on a local hike

In every new country we've lived, Anya and I have found that there is a clear honeymoon period. It's a time of excitement, enthusiasm and tolerance for annoyances. Everything is new and it's a grand adventure.

About 3 or 4 months in, routines are established, realities like finding a dentist or getting your car's oil changed begin to emerge. The things you found quirky before begin to grind on you. You find it hugely cathartic complain with other expats about aspects of local life. It's a difficult time and homesickness sets in. It takes conscious effort to stay positive.

We've been in this dip for a little while now and we're taking steps to keep a bright perspective.  First, we make sure we travel and stay appreciative of what makes this region so special. And importantly on the work front, having several months now under my belt means that I'm beginning to settle into my role and feel more comfortable. I can't say I've achieved full swagger, but I'll get there.


My mom and stepdad, Denis, are coming to visit in just over two weeks and we're excited for that. We have some great trips planned (more on this soon) and we're really looking forward to catching up.

Penang's shabby chic architecture

Since Bali, we've mostly hunkered down locally, though Anya took a girls' weekend to Bangkok and we all went up to Penang for a long weekend.

Penang, and Georgetown specifically, was recently ranked one of Lonely Planet's top global destinations for 2016. The place is a gem. The backpacker culture was a nice change from the jet-set feel of downtown Kuala Lumpur and there is a strong artistic culture, the focal point being some great street art around town on the sides of buildings. Add to that the huge variety of street food, for which Penang is probably best known. We had a great weekend and felt like we'd really escaped. Penang is an easy 1 hour flight from KL.

Quick refuge from the heat in Penang - a Swiss hotel and bar!

Garden in Seoul, during a brief work trip to Korea

Keeping perspective

My last post mentioned the challenge here with work/life balance. That challenge has not diminished and I don't expect it to while I'm here. I've decided my best option is in attitude management and perspective. You know what helps with that? Bali.

At the hotel pool. Life is good.

I was a touch skeptical about Bali, because it's such a known tourist destination. And I'm positive the place was 10 times more magical 10, 20 years ago (where wasn't it better back in the day?). But despite the traffic and bustle and t-shirt shops...I was enchanted. 

Scooter rental: $3.75/day. Lev and I cruised the 'hood.

This is where we bought gas - grab an old vodka bottle
and fill 'er up by the liter!

First, the respite from a Muslim-oriented culture was a welcome one. Maybe it was because I was on vacation, but I felt like there was more freedom of expression, more easy laughter...and of course cheaper alcohol. :) This is likely an unfair view, given my holiday mindset, but there ya have it.

Bali street

Temple time

I want this table. Huge pieces of art made from incredible slabs of tropical hardwood. 

Local temple in Semenyak

Rice fields

Most amazing about Bali, beyond the beckoning surf, bath-warm ocean and lush tropical flora, were the ornate temples and shrines everywhere. The entrance to a typical modest house will be a temple and courtyard. So cruising down any street is an exotic experience. Incense wafts in the air, offerings to the gods are placed on doorsteps each morning...it's something to behold.

We swam at the bottom of this waterfall...

The famous Potato Head Beach Club. Too 'bro' for me though...
love the name, can't say it's my scene. 

The woodwork was amazing. Lev is impressed.

At the same restaurant with our new friend and driver, Mr. Putu.
Note how we lounged on cushions rather than chairs.

This was the middle of a restaurant we were at, believe it or not.
The pavilion on the left was where we ate...they let it grow wild all around so it was jungle-like. 

Tranquility.

Sadly, Anya and Lev both fell ill and we had back to back Dr. visits while we were there...but despite that, we all had a good time. I'd certainly like to go back. I'm pretty sure I could pop on some yoga clothes and have a groovy couple of years of tranquility there. :)

Work Life Balance?

The throne. 

Time flies and I see I haven't posted in a month. I'd love to say this is because we haven't been around, that we've been traipsing about SE Asia riding elephants and wrestling tigers. Alas, I've been glued to my computer screen as I struggle to find my stride in my new role during a very difficult quarter. There's some interesting bits involved with that, of course, such as a recent work event at the old Royal Palace. Interestingly, there are 9 sultans in Malaysia and they rotate for 5 year stints as the king. Who knew?

Lev in front of an old colonial hotel in the highlands. That's our "new" Honda behind him.

View from our room in the highlands

Malacca

Not that it's been all work and no play. Lev is becoming quite the kid-about-town with multiple birthday party invites each weekend. He also seems to be transforming into part fish, as he is at the pool daily. He's shed the life vest long ago and now enjoys dropping things to the bottoms of the pool and diving for them.






We've done a couple of weekend trips as well. For my birthday, Anya booked us some time in Fraser's Hill, which is up in the highlands. The temperature was a very pleasant 70-75F and we actually turned on a heater at night!

We had a hike trip to a waterfall that was longer than expected. Some young guys on motorcycles took pity on us and asked me if I could ride a bike. Before we knew it, he had hopped on the back of his friends bike and Anya, Lev and I piled on his motorcycle for a thrilling ride on a curvy jungle road to the waterfall. You never know what might happen when you are down for whatever.

Another trip we took was too an old colonial port called Malacca. There's some nice old-ish European architecture, great food and some interesting culture.

Just another bike ride in Malacca

Anya and Lev in Malacca

For St. Patrick's Day weekend, Anya and I got all dressed up and joined some of our neighbors for the 92nd annual Irish ball. This is a huge expat event in KL and I'm amused to see that we got written up in the local society wrag, Tattler. "Guests like....Nate Bucholz..." would imply that someone knows who Nate Bucholz is. Pretty amusing.

"Guests like....Nate Bucholz..." Whaa?
Here's the original link: http://my.asiatatler.com/events/st-patricks-society-ball-2016/5 

Before you start to feel too bad about my drudgery at work and brushes with paparazzi, I'm off to Bali on next week for a work event and Anya and Lev will fly out to see me for the following week. Some R&R is highly needed and I'm keen for some wave therapy.

Fraser's Hill - a cooler climate and old colonial retreat

We've invested in some jungle action for the balcony