Chinatown was fun! I even found a great vegetarian Chinese restaurant there. Yum! I went into Central Market, but didn't buy anything because I am too intimidated to haggle. I saw a lot of things I might be interested in buying, so I think I might take a local with me next time. Elsewhere in Chinatown, I found a really beautiful shop called the Purple Cane Tea Art Centre. The sales lady offered me a small cup of tea while I looked around. It was delicious. They had zillions of beautiful tea cups ranging in price from the very cheap to the very expensive. They also had a large selection of tea to purchase as well. Unfortunately, I left with nothing.
That evening we watched Turkey lose to Brasil. Good game.
Yesterday it poured rain. I spent most of the day alone in the apartment. My friend was in Brunei meeting with a prince for her work. She really, truly was meeting with a prince. She said he was very nice (and handsome). She brought his business card home. It was kind of funny because it looks so normal, but says: HRH (his name) According to my friend, he has quite a showroom of cars. She said he could go out in a new car every time he drives. When she returned we went out to Devi's for some Indian food. I had dosai masala (which I actually eat quite often in the States) and she had the roti chanai (sp?).
Today I might try to get out of KL and see a little more of Malaysia. I hope it doesn't rain again. I keep hearing thunder... posted by kristar 9:00 PM
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
So little time and so much to tell... The night market I mentioned in my last post was really quite amazing. The street was filled with vendors and tables and lights. The lights were strung from umbrella to umbrella and they made the street look so beautiful. There were vendors selling everything: wallets, clothing, bags, toys, illegally copied CDs and DVDs, fruit, vegetables, fish, and all sorts of cooked foods. We bought some fruit (rambutan and mangosteens) and some other items to eat. It was almost too much for me to handle. I was still a bit jet lagged and so it was diffcult to take it all in. I nearly started crying at one point because I was so overwhelmed by it all and I was also so tired and everyone kept asking me what I wanted and I just didn't know since I hadn't experienced most of it before. We finally had to find a place to sit down and get a cool drink. I felt a little better after we had some dinner. I slept very well that night and I even slept late into the morning. I think I am finally over my jet lag.
Today I went into KL to see the Petronas Towers. They are quite magnificent although they don't seem so tall when you see them in person. While I was taking some photographs a man from Mauritius Islands approached me to find out where I was from. We ended up talking for a while and the two of us set out to the KL Tower. I took the elevator to the top of the tower and was impressed with the spectacular view. I later returned to the Petronas for some shopping and some food. It was a good day. I finally called for a taxi (teksi) on my own and I also rode the LRT (train system). I also learned a new word: keluar (exit).
Tonight we will be going out to watch some football. This time should be more fun since I (hopefully) will not be so tired. posted by kristar 4:57 AM
Sunday, June 23, 2002
I'm in Malaysia! It's so beautiful and interesting. And I feel like I've experienced so much since I arrived yesterday morning. Yesterday I saw (on the television) the Prime Minister attempt to resign, but then retract the resignation just a short time later. The news was quite shocking to everyone here. Last night we also went out to watch Turkey and Senegal battle it out. This place has World Cup fever! It's so much fun. My friend here is Turkish, so it was very exciting to be with her when Turkey won. She was also the only person in the bar cheering for Turkey. Today I enjoyed more of the local scene at a lovely restaurant named La Bodega. I also went to the grocery and I tried durian! If you know anything about this fruit, but have never tried it, you will find out it's very much how people explain it to be. Though some say you will either love it or you will hate it, I found that I was a bit indifferent to it. It has a very stong odour and it tastes pretty much the same way. But what I found to be more unappealing was the appearance and texture of it. I still wouldn't say I hated it. And I have even decided to try it again before I leave. It's so unique. This evening we will be meeting up with some others for coffee and then we will head off to the "night market" for fruit and who knows what else.
Oh! I nearly forgot to mention that I had my eyebrows threaded. This young girl used a thread to remove the stray hairs. It's so wild! She holds the thread in her mouth while she rubs the other end over my brows in order to shape them. I can't describe it well since I really couldn't see exactly what she was doing, but my brows really look good!
Okay, well, I need to write a bit in my paper journal/scrapbook. Talk to you later! posted by kristar 4:05 AM
Tuesday, June 18, 2002
I have so much to do to prepare for my trip and what do I do instead? I read about knitting. I have been reading all of the knitting blogs and looking at free patterns and perusing yarn sales.
The drive from Texas to Michigan to Chicago was kind of long, but it went by quickly with the company of my friend Juli. I couldn't have done it without her. I dropped my belongings off in Michigan and then made my way back to Chicago. I need to organize all of the things I brought with me and select only the basic essentials for travel. Of course, I discovered that I forgot some important items. Like my camera and my Lonely Planet guide book. Argh! How could I forget them. In the middle of all that I had to get done over the weekend I got a little disorganized. So, now I am going to rent a car and drive myself to Michigan and back again tomorrow. It's not like it's very far, but it will probably be about 8 hours roundtrip. A bit of a waste of a day just for a camera. But, I love my camera. So, I will trek a few hundred miles to get it.
No knitting news to report. posted by kristar 4:35 PM
Friday, June 14, 2002
Yesterday was my last day at the office and I felt pretty good walking out of that place. I'll be sad to leave Austin, but I know I can always visit. Right now I am sitting in my corporate apartment, dreading the fact that I still have so much to pack up and clean. I guess it's good that I took the day off. This evening my friend Juli is flying in from Michigan just to make the long drive (that we should have made a couple of weeks ago, but didn't because I was sick) back to Michigan. My plan is to leave early tomorrow morning and hopefully make it to Grand Rapids by Sunday afternoon.
This Microspun yarn doesn't like the little plastic needles I am using. The yarn was just sitting on the couch next to me and the needles were just sitting there too. So, I picked them up and just started knitting without a final something-or-other in mind. Well, I can't deal with the way the yarn is sticking to the needles. So I'm going to frog the *thing*. I'm just so bored with this guernsey sweater. I have only about 2 inches left to knit on the back and I just don't feel like doing it. Of course, I still have to knit the front and the sleeves. There's really so much more to do. And I am quite sure it's not going to be completed before I leave for Malaysia.
Speaking of Malaysia, my friend called me from Kuala Lumpur two nights ago to confirm the details of my trip and answer any questions I might still have. Talking to her got me really excited about the trip. She really loves it over there. She asked me what I want to do, though. I am up for anything! Beaches, hiking, Singapore... The only thing I am dreading about this vacation is the the long flight. I get bored on my 2-1/2 hour flights between Chicago and Austin. How am I going to survive 20 hours of flying?! When I've flown to Europe, I traveled with a friend or two, so the time we spent on the plane didn't seem quite so long. I actually hope that I sit next to someone who wants to talk. I usually dread sitting next to those people, but this trip I don't think I will mind at all.
Okay, I really need to get this packing done. posted by kristar 9:41 AM
Wednesday, June 12, 2002
I am going to take Wendy's advice and pick up my knitting again. Maybe the fact that I haven't been knitting is actually the cause of my somberness. I know I need to finish packing, but tonight I am just going to knit and watch TV. I think I may even skip going to the office on Friday so I can get my things together. There's really nothing left for me to do there anyway. I am so ready to be done with this job. One more day! posted by kristar 7:03 PM
Tuesday, June 11, 2002
I am down in the dumps and I don't know why. Seems like I've just been a big bummer lately. I guess I have nothing much to write about. Not sure why I am even blogging right now. posted by kristar 10:46 PM
Monday, June 10, 2002
Check out the latest Haypenny update. It's fresh and exciting! Go there now and read some stories. posted by kristar 10:30 AM
Sunday, June 09, 2002
I'm back in Austin. It was a pretty nice weekend. The weather couldn't have been more perfect for an outdoor wedding. Now I just hope the photos turn out.
No knitting for me. I am still trying to recover from whatever it is that I've got. And I've got about zero energy right now. My mom, however, knitted a baby bonnet and I watched. I really need her to teach me how to knit the way she does. She knits like her grandmother and I knit like my grandmother (my mom's mom).
Let's see...where to begin...I guess I might as well start where I left off. I am still sick, but I can say that today is the first day that I've actually felt better than the day before. I guess this means I am getting better. I hope!
My apartment is looking like a huge dump. I haven't done any cleaning in over a week. I actually did one load of laundry last night because I was running out of clean clothes for work. My wastebaskets are full of wadded up tissues, there are clothes everywhere, and I have boxes of stuff stacked all over the place.
Okay, well, this leads me to the reason there are boxes stacked all over the place. On Monday I gave my two weeks' notice. I don't have another job lined up, but I decided I really need some time to figure out where this life of mine is headed. I've put tons of thought into my decision and I have spent many months preparing to leave. I have some money saved up and my friends have offered me a place to stay (in exchange for helping to care for their children). It's a little bit scary, but I have absolutely no regrets about it. One of these days I will explain more about my reasons for leaving. My family knows about my decision. I haven't spoken to my dad since I quit. I know he's disappointed. My mom hasn't really talked about it too much, but at least she hasn't made me feel bad about it. For the most part, everyone in my life has been very supportive (even if deep-down they really think I am a fool).
Needless to say, I haven't done much knitting. I've been pretty doped up and just kind of zombie-like. And I still have to pack for the coming weekend. A college friend is getting married in Michigan on Saturday and I am the photographer. Tomorrow evening I fly out of Austin and I arrive in Michigan quite late. Then I have an hour drive to my parents' house. Yucko. On Friday I have to find something to wear to the wedding and I also need to buy the film for the photos. I will also be seeing Erik for the last time before he heads off to Côte d'Ivoire next week. I am so happy that he is doing what he wanted to do despite what he thought other people thought he should do.
I am excited about my trip to Malaysia. I bought this journal for the trip:
posted by kristar 10:35 PM
Sunday, June 02, 2002
Booked my flight on Singapore Airlines yesterday. It's a much better schedule than the one I posted on Friday. It has only two stops and doesn't require I spend the night in Bangkok.
Chicago to Amsterdam to Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. 20+ hours. 10,000+ miles.
It's been a no-knitting weekend. Today is about the worst I've felt since I came down with this virus. I am hoping it's finally peaked. I am ready for it to be over already!
