Spring break '13: Malaysia and Singapore

For spring break 2013, our school had two weeks off.  We spent the first week here in Abu Dhabi - swimming, playing with friends and just generally relaxing (Jake worked).  For the second week, we headed east - mainly to Malaysia with a quick stop in Singapore.  This is the first time in 10 years we haven't traveled with someone 3 or younger (or sometimes up to three of them that age or younger at a time!) so having our kids getting older just makes traveling that much easier.  We've found that it has been getting easier over the past couple of years but we really saw a difference on this one with Anna being a four year old.  She was marching through the airport pulling a suitcase, keeping up with subway tokens and doling them out as needed and even pushing herself through the subway turnstiles.  She's getting this travel thing down!

First we flew to Singapore on a very reasonably timed flight (since this is such a big connecting hub, there are *many* flights that leave at awful times like 2  a.m. (like we did last year)) so we were thrilled to have a 10:30 a.m. flight!  We arrived in time that night to only check in our hotel, clean out the rest of our snacks from our backpacks (we ended up missing dinner due to the long flight/ time change) and head to bed.  We really only had two nights and one day in Singapore so we stayed busy and tried to make the most of it. We went to the amazing zoo there (I think they billed it as the largest "careless" zoo in the world - I'm not exactly sure what a cageless zoo is but these animals sure seemed to have a lot of room and they did let some animals just roam around (like kangaroos and a giant lizard looking thing we came across!).  We then did that most tourist of touristy things and did the double decked big bus tour - which was a great way to get the lay of the land in a short time period.

The second morning we caught an early flight to Langkawi - a Malaysian island to the northeast of the Malaysian mainland near the Thai border.  It's a great small island with rainforest, animals, beaches and mountains - they pack a lot in a small space.  We explored the tallest mountain, visited an animal/ bird park, experienced a fish spa, enjoyed the pools and the beach and ate some good food (the girls would probably rate the Mickey Mouse pancakes as a highlight!).

After four days there, we hopped another quick flight to Kuala Lumpur (formerly the home of the tallest building in the world (Petronas Towers) but they were beat out a few years ago by several buildings - including the UAE's own Burj Khalifa down the highway from us).  They still have the record for the tallest twin towers.  We had a great time in Kuala Lumpor - what a clean, vibrant city.  We used public transportation and also took a day trip out of the city and were amazed at the infrastructure there.  There was nothing "gritty" about anything we saw in Malaysia.  Continuing our theme of animals we made it to the amazing bird park in Kuala Lumpor, fed some monkeys and tried to see the famous fireflies (but got rained out on that adventure).

At the Singapore Zoo

The scary guy was easily the largest crocodile I could imagine
seeing - we're still having nightmares about him!

Watching the white tigers

This large, friendly looking guy was in the middle of the sidewalk -
we weren't sure if he had escaped or was supposed to be wondering around.
We gave hime a wide berth!

Taking a break on the zoo tram

Monkeys up above!

City tour on a double decker bus

We had it all to ourselves!

At the historic Raffles Hotel (love the valet guy's uniform!)

I just had to order a Singapore Sling in Singapore, right?

Beautiful view from our hotel room in Singapore.  It was so pretty
that we slept with the curtains open our last night just to soak it all in.

Daytime view from our room.

Cute pancakes at breakfast in Langkawi

Smoothies at the swim up cafe!

This was a fun pool with high jumping off rocks.  Look at Jane fly!

Beautiful green mountains in the distance

So hard to get - here are all four of the girls smiling and in one photo!

Brave Jane just stuck her hand right out to feed the birds.

Regan did it but was a little more reluctant about it.

To be truthful, I was the most reluctant of us and squealed like a baby!

Jane was in heaven getting to feed all the animals

We headed to the other side of the island for a little
dinner adventure.

We had such an amazing meal - I think we lingered for almost 3 hours!

I woke feeling awful with a cold one morning.  The girls happily
played tea party and royal family for a few hours while I
tried to nap away my aches and sore throat.

Cable car up to the top of the highest Langkawi mountain.  It was
high and very steep!

Jane and I try to gear ourselves up for the fish spa where the fish
nibble off the dead skin on your feet.

Still "dipping our toes in."  The fish would swim
towards you when you got close to the water.  They
must really love feet!

Jake makes it look easy but take a look at all
those fish swarming his feet - eek!

Jane goes for it

And says, "See, I can do it, too!"

"AHHHH!"

I'm so impressed that Jane did this - I can concur
that it was not easy!

Moving on to feeding soft, sweet bunnies!

Ok, this is a big deal.  Anna is afraid of all animals.
She let these bunnies get really close to her, jump on
her and she fed them (at first she was throwing their food on the ground).  Yay, Anna!  Look at that smile!

One for you.  

Wobbly, swinging bridge.

Hiking out to the little sand outcropping

We all made it!

But Meredith got scared of the crabs on the walk back.

The big draw of our hotel in Kuala Lumpur?
A water slide!

Getting ready to hike up a zillion steep stairs
to see Batu Caves.

102, 103, 104.  I think there were 282 or so stairs.  We lost count but
Anna made it up every one without being carried.

Stalagtite?  Stalagmite?  My middle school
science is mostly failing me but I think a stalagTite
hangs on "Tight" to the top.

Jane can almost touch it if she jumps

Time to head back DOWN all those stairs - they were
steep which was actually worse.

See the monkey on the left - they were all up and
down these stairs.  Anna preferred to keep her distance.

A cold, refreshing reward at the bottom.

Fresh coconut juice right from the coconut.

Feeding the monkeys.  They were so cute
(and somewhat naughty - they would sneak up and
grab whatever you had).  There were two baby ones, too.

Lovely setting on a river for dinner a couple of hours outside of Kuala Lumpur

Fresh squeezed lemonade

Very fresh fish - I think we liked it!  It was the most amazing meal
and I think to feed all of us cost something like $20

Kuala Lumpur Bird Park

Watch out for that peacock!

Anna pulls up her feet anytime any 2 or 4 footed creature gets near!

A fun shot - they kept piling birds on top of us.  Check out the size of
that beak of the bird on my lap!  I'm amazed that Jane could relax
with him checking her out.

Public transport experts - heading back to pick up
our luggage and take the train to the airport to head home.

Good-bye Kuala Lumpur - it's been a great vacation!