Just so you know, you didn't miss anything Tuesday. I didn't go anywhere or do anything (this means there was no possibility of a monkey sighting...day ten was a flop).
Yesterday, however, was full of plans. And as I have previously stated, I am fully aware of what plans are. They are really my HP's inside jokes in disguise. Well, rest assured that I gave him plenty of opportunity to laugh yesterday!!
My ultimate goal and main plan of the day was to go to 1 Mont Kiara. This is the closest mall to us - the one we walked to on our first day here. In this mall is a grocery store that is a little bit bigger and sells different items than Cold Storage. Last time we were there we noticed they had whole, fully cooked chickens for sale...like you can find at stores at home. They weren't flavored - just regular, cooked chickens. But since we are having such a hard time finding a regular meat and veggie meal a regular cooked chicken and frozen veggies would be a great dinner.
I figured a nice walk there would be good especially since there is a Coffee Bean on the way and very close to the mall. It had been a few days since I'd had a chai latte and I'm really not used to that. So I got ready to head out and I looked out my back door...it was raining...hard. The rainy season here starts in September but from what I was told it has started late. It wasn't very rainy when we got here. I believe it is making up for that. Over the last several days it has rained a good three quarters of the day and most of it has been pretty steady. So I settled into some TV.
I watched a tear jerker of a movie called For Hope. Very eye-opening about a disease I had never heard of but very sad. And still it rained...and time ticked by...and HP laughed.
Finally, at the suggestion of Patric, I bit the bullet and took a taxi. I need to interject something here. I did something really cool Tuesday. I had three Skype sessions with people back home - two of them planned and one of them spontaneous. Amazing things...Skype sessions! It's like sitting in the same room with the person you are talking to...it's great! Anyway, in one of the conversations I was told that I needed to get out and go somewhere everyday and while I was out make sure I see something different even if I was in the same places I have already been (I'm not quoting, only paraphrasing). Well, as I've already stated, I didn't take that advise Tuesday but I did FINALLY get out yesterday. It was much later than I planned and it was by different means than I planned. Two plans down...
I refused to have all plans fail right out of the gate! I had the taxi driver drop me off at Coffee Bean. I ordered my chai and I even splurged and got a chocolate chip muffin. I sat outside under these really big square umbrellas that have fans attached to them and drank my chai and ate my muffin. I couldn't see anything different but just as good I felt something different. I felt calm. I just sat there and soaked up this entirely different culture and lifestyle going on around me and I felt calm in the middle of it. When I realized that was what was happening I smiled. I was the only one sitting at a table outside by myself but I was ok with that. There were several other tables being used and I could here the conversations in different languages...some were serious and some were friendly. I just took it all in. There was laughter behind me every now and then from two men. People walked by on the sidewalk below. There was a constant stream of cars on the street. The rain was steadily tapping the top of the umbrella that I was safely tucked under. And I was calm and at peace with where I was at that very moment and smiling. I was very happy that my HP let me have this plan!
When I finished my chai I got up and walked to 1 Mont Kiara. It took me all of two minutes to get there and the rain had let up so it was barely misting. On my walk I decided to check on nail salons while I was here. Anyone that knows me knows that I will need to have my nails done...soon. Lucky for me, there are two nail salons in this mall. The first one seemed a little iffy as to whether they could do my nails but were willing to quote me a price of RM 250 (roughly $80). I said thank you and left quickly. The second salon seemed a little more familiar with my style of nails - they called them gels - and quoted me RM 180 (roughly $60). I asked if there would be a price break since I have all of my own product (my nail lady back home is awesome!). I'm waiting to hear from them on that. I know that this bit of information has you all on the edge of your seats so I'll be sure to keep you posted! =)
After this I went down to Village Grocers (think they are related to the one in College Station?...Hmmm). I made a beeline to where the chickens are kept...only to find no chickens!!! Third plan down! Ok, not to worry...I can improvise. I start to look around for ideas. I headed over to the meat section. As I'm looking at these really good looking pre
So I went home where Patric was waiting for me and the chicken. I explained my adventures to him. When I finished he looked at me and said, "We have a skillet." Then walked over, opened a cabinet door and showed me a skillet. I could have died. He even showed me a pot - one of my thoughts was spaghetti. The items here are minimal but they are here nonetheless. What a funny sense of humor my HP has!!! It turned out to be a sandwich night.
One other plan my HP did allow me yesterday...we got the house!!! Patric signed the paperwork yesterday morning. Hopefully this means we will be in it within 10 days. It all depends on how quickly the owner gets paid...keep your fingers crossed. From what I understand, there is a dog park very close to that house that has monkeys in it!!! =)
In other news - I contacted the American Association of Malaysia, which is the expat organization, yesterday. This Friday they have a newcomer lunch and I'm signed up to attend. I'm very excited and nervous! Wish me luck and send me good thoughts!
See you next post!
Monkey update: day eleven...you guessed it, nothing new...
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