Malaysian Tiffin

Malaysians love food. They love food so much that they don't only enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, but they will also enjoy tiffin (a snack) maybe once or twice (or three times) a day.  So while in Kuala Lumpur I had to try out one of the best "tiffin" restaurants in the city.

Restoran Yusoof, serving up tiffin all day and all night.

Restoran Yusoof is famous for their roti canai, thin bread like crepe that is served with curry sauce, and their teh tarek, hot tea with condensed milk.  I ordered both and enjoyed washing down the spicy curry soaked roti with the sugary sweet tea.  The only problem was I got so full I had to skip dinner!

It might not look fancy, by my roti canai and teh tarek were delicious.

There are lots of other tiffin you can try when you are in Malaysia.  What are some of the tiffin (snacks) you like to have at school?

The tandoor oven (big red clay pot) where some of the bread and meats are cooked.

Kid's Guide To Kuala Lumpur

Here are some of the things you think I should get up to while in Kuala Lumpur.  I have already seen the Petronas Towers in the distance.  I can't wait to walk across the 41st story glass bridge!

Happy Halloween From Malaysia

I have really been enjoying my time in Kuala Lumpur.  There is so much to do, and so much to see. 

Today I spent the day at Suria KLCC.  No ordinary shopping mall, Suria KLCC has several different shops and activities spread over its five floors.  There is a science centre, several food courts and restaurants, a movie theatre, an art gallery, a medical centre, a stage for performances and an aquarium (take a breath) just to list a few of the things you might see.

Suria KLCC makes the shopping malls in Toronto look tiny.

As you can imagine, exploring Suria KLCC got me hungry for a morning snack, so I decided to stop at Boost Juice Bar for a smoothie.  The girls who work there were very friendly.  They asked me where I was from, and I told them Canada and they then asked me for some help.  They were in the middle of carving jack-o'-lanterns (for the very first time) and needed some help drawing scary faces.  I did my best sketching one that had a jagged mouth and slanted eyebrows.  I handed them my drawing and told them I would be back to see their finished pumpkins.  When I returned both pumpkins were carved, and I have to admit both look quite scary.

I think they should be proud of their scary jack-o'-lanterns.

Halloween isn't a big holiday in Malaysia.  Children don't dress up and go door to door in search for candy, but they might dress up and go to a Halloween party, or head to Suria KLCC in their costume.  If they show up wearing a costume on Halloween at Boost Juice Bar, not only will they get to see two scary jack-o'-lanterns, but they will also get a free juice!  Now that is a treat.

A store in the mall selling Halloween decorations and cards.

Instead of celebrating Halloween, some of the children in Malaysia will be celebrating Deepavali.  Do you remember what happens during Deepavali?  Is it anything like Halloween?

I look forward to hearing all about your Halloween adventures.

I Am Here - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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Wat Pho Is Special Because...

Wat Pho is a temple in Bangkok that is special for many different reasons.  It is special because it is the oldest temple in Bangkok.  It is special because it is the largest temple in the city (it is made up of over 20 acres of land). 

It is special because it is the temple with the most images of Buddha in all of Bangkok (there are over 1000 images of Buddha here). 

This wall paintings cover the temple walls and are meant to teach us stories about Buddha's life.

It is special because it is where Thai massage was started and is still taught today.  Finally, what makes Wat Pho so very special is the statue of The Reclining Buddha that can be found here. 

It is the largest reclining statue of Buddha in all of Thailand measuring 46 metres long and 15 metres high, this gold plated statue is massive.  Get a metre stick and measure how long 46 metres is in the hallway or in the playground (use chalk to keep track of your measurements).  Have you ever seen a statue this long before?

What Is It?

While staying in Thailand I came across this.

Have you ever seen something like it before?  Do you know what it is?  I'll give you a clue: you can eat it.

Meet Mr. Thompson

While in Thailand you might see the name Jim Thompson gracing shops, restaurants, hotels and even museums.  He seems to be everywhere!  So who is this man?

A sign outside one of Mr. Thompson's restaurants in Bangkok.

Jim Thompson, born James Harrison Wilson Thompson, was a U.S. citizen who travelled the world because of his work with the C.I.A.  Spending time in Bangkok, Mr. Thompson fell in love with the city and the potential that he saw around him.

Mr. Thompson's garden in Bangkok.  Look at all that beauty.

Around this time Thai Silk was a dying art.  Not many people wanted silk.  It was hand-woven, which made it more expensive than machine-made fabrics.  Jim Thompson was a risk taker and he knew that the natural beauty and brilliance of Thai Silk would attract buyers around the world if he got the colours and patterns right.  People went crazy for his brightly coloured silks and his weaving company took off.

Colourful silk banners hanging all around Jim Thompson's garden.

A closer look at one of the silk banners.

Photo: Laura Muir

Living in Thailand, Jim Thompson, who was also an architect, built many homes across the country.  One of these homes is the famous Jim Thompson House in Bangkok.  This residence is made up of five different houses that were brought in from around the country and put together like a giant puzzle to make up one large home.  Jim Thompson only lived in this house for a few years, but the building remains furnished with all its original pieces.  It is now considered a museum and people from all over the world come to see the house and the art collection inside.

Admiring Jim Thompson's House in Bangkok.  Can you see the different houses stuck together?

Photo: Laura Muir

A great deal of mystery surrounds Jim Thompson and how he spent his final years.  When he was 61 he went to Malaysia to visit some friends, and one day decided to go on a hike in the jungle on his own.  He was never seen again.  Even with him gone, his company lives on and continues to bring Thai Silk to people around the world.

Have you ever felt silk?  Take a look around your house and see if you can find anything that is made out of silk.  Run your hand over it.  What does it feel like?

Making Friends on Monkey Hill

One afternoon I decided to hike up Toh Sae Hill in Phuket Town.  The hill is home to many interesting sights.  The first is a beautifully coloured temple built right into the rock along the side of the hill.  Locals will climb up here to worship and pray, far away from the noise of the city below.




A quiet place to come and meditate high up away from the bustling city below.

Another reason people climb Toh Sae Hill is to enjoy the amazing views of the sea and all of Phuket Island.

It is hard not to marvel at the views from Toh Sae Hill.

Toh Sae Hill is also well known for its exercise park.  Locals will climb up the steep hill (which is a workout in itself) in order to do the exercises shown in the signs along the side of the road.

Working up a sweat, I stop for an exercise break.

Photo: Laura Muir

Once you approach the top of the hill you start to see furry little creatures in the distance.  At first I thought they were stray dogs (which can be found all over Thailand), but as I got closer I realized they weren't dogs, they were monkeys!

Monkeys scampering all around me.

All around you macaques play games, rest in the shade, groom each other and munch on fruit that locals bring them to eat.  The monkeys are shy, and do not approach you unless you have a piece of fruit to give them.  Even then, they will grab the fruit from your hand and run off.  Of course you have to be careful when around animals in the wild.  You don't want to frighten or threaten them as they might lash out and react in a violent way to protect themselves or their families.  I made sure I was very quiet and slow in my movements so I didn't upset them or make them scared.

A macaque wondering if my camera is food.

Having a conversation with my new buddy.

Photo: Laura Muir

So as I sat on the ground with monkeys all around me I finally understood why Toh Sae Hill is nicknamed Monkey Hill.  It is a place I think you should all visit one day!

Sharing Ideas Around the Globe

Dear Boys and Girls,

In all my travelling around I have had a chance to see what happens when people from different cultures come together with open minds and share ideas with each other in a positive and friendly way.  The result is beautiful!

 

A European mansion in Phuket Town.

In Old Town Phuket, a good example of this sharing can be seen in historical houses that line the streets.  Built in a Sino-Portuguese style, these houses are a mix of Chinese (the Sino part) and Portuguese architecture.  A long time ago, Chinese citizens worked in Phuket in the tin mining industry and the Portuguese came as visitors interested in the work that they were doing.  During these visits, ideas were exchanged and one of the things the Portuguese showed the Chinese workers was how they liked to build their homes back in Portugal.  The Chinese liked what they were shown and they started to build their houses in Phuket just like them, but still with a Chinese touch.

The buildings along Thalang, Krabi and Debouk Road are all excellent examples of the
sharing that happened between the Chinese and the Portuguese.

These Sino-Portuguese buildings were built so that residents could both work and live in the same structure.  Your shop would be downstairs, and the rest of the building would be your home. 

You can find this kind of fusion (when two cultures come together and share ideas) in cooking, language, music, and just about anything else you can think of.  Can you remember a time when you shared an idea with a friend and worked together to produce some "fusion" of your own?

Can't wait to hear all about your sharing,
Mr. P

I Am Here - Phuket, Thailand

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A School Like Mine

While hiking through the jungle, I came across a little village tucked up away from the fast flowing River Kwai.  This village is home to several Mon families who live between the border of Burma and Thailand.  The Mon people have their own language, their own cuisine, their own culture and of course, their own tiny village in the jungle.



What is that village building hiding behind the bushes?

One of the buildings in their community is the village school.  It was neat to explore how this school is the same as our schools, and how it is different.

The classroom where boys and girls from the Mon Village come to learn.

The open air design, with no walls, means that the weather can really affect daily classroom routines.  Wind and rain can interfere with learning, and during rainy season sometimes classes are cancelled (also because the teacher, who uses the river to get to work everyday, can't make the journey).  Even though the building might not look like our school, the desks, the chalkboard, and the posters hanging are all clues that this is a classroom.

The play structures are all made of metal, but look very similar to the playgrounds we see around our neighbourhoods.  If you were a student at this school what play structure would you want to use at recess?

I bet this see-saw is a favourite with the children of the village.

These monkey bars and slide are some of the play structures the children use.

The biggest difference are the bathrooms.  There aren't separate indoor boys and girls bathrooms, instead there is one little outhouse that all the students use when they have to go to the bathroom.  There is no running water at the school, so a bucket of water is brought in everyday so hands can be washed, and the toilet can be flushed.

In need of some repair, this is the school's outhouse.

After looking at these pictures can you make a list of all the similarities and differences between your school and this village school.

Art Project: Let's Use Primary Colours

While visiting the Grand Palace in Bangkok last week I got a chance to see the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.  Built in 1782, this temple is covered in tiny pieces of coloured mirror that, on a sunny day, reflect the sun's rays and make the building light up.  It is also the home to a very special statue of Buddha, the Emerald Buddha, that is actually carved out of a block of jade (not emerald). 

When you get closer you notice something quite interesting about the colours that were used to decorate the temple: they are primary colours (blue, yellow and red).

Blue, red and yellow pieces of glass (as well as clear ones) are used to decorate the pillars of the temple.

Photo: Laura Muir

You can use primary colours to create a piece of art too.  Get a piece of paper, divide it up into many small different shapes by drawing random lines on the page, and then colour in all the shapes you've created using only primary colours (blue, yellow and red).  You can keep some of the shapes white too.  There you have it, your very own Mondrian (do you remember him?)  For another art project you can use graphing paper and create a pattern with primary colours just like the one in the picture above.  Can't wait to see how your art turns out.

What Floats on the River Kwai?

Made out of bamboo, these river rafts keep afloat on the river.

1) Bamboo floats, so it is a great material to use if you want to make a floating raft.  Not only is bamboo fast growing (it can grow over 60 cm in one day) it is also very strong.  Bamboo can be used in so many different ways.  You can use it to build houses, to make flooring or even make instruments.

Bamboo growing tall in the jungle.

2) Elephant poop.  When the elephants came to have their morning bath, breakfast and potty break I was quite surprised to see their poop float along the river.  I thought it would have sunk for sure!

3) Mr. P (while wearing a life jacket of course).  Yes, even after seeing the poop float along the river, I just had to experience the feeling of being carried away by the river's current.  It is a lot of fun being whisked downstream by the rushing water (and maybe just a little bit scary too).

My life jacket keeps me safe and floating as I speed along the River Kwai.

Photo: Laura Muir

Can you think of some other things I might have seen floating by on the river?

Special Breakfast Guests

While enjoying my breakfast in the jungle I heard a loud trumpet sound in the distance.  "Hmmm...could it be?" I thought to myself.  "No, it couldn't"...Oh, but it was...two elephants had joined me for breakfast.

These two elephants are no ordinary elephants, they live in a village in the jungle.  Almost like farm animals, they have been trained by their owners and are used to do work around the village, just like an ox would be used on a farm.

Taking a bath in the river.

Every morning the elephants come down to the river for a bath, some breakfast (pineapple and watermelon peels are their favourite) and a potty break.  Getting to feed them, stroke their trunks and see them up close was special.  It isn't everyday that you get to have breakfast with elephants.

The elephants are always eager to start eating their breakfast.

Photo: Laura Muir

Elephants are important animals in Thailand where they are a symbol of royal power (it is believed that kings would ride elephants in battle).  As you explore the country you will see elephant sculptures around temples, palaces and government buildings.

A statue of an elephant outside a cave in the jungle where a Buddhist monk lives.

If you could have breakfast with any animal, what animal would you choose?

These elephants stand strong and proud at the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Train to the Jungle

Gettting to the jungle was quite an adventure in itself!  The first part of the trip is taking a 5 hour train ride.


Mr. P trying to get comfortable on his wooden seat.  Not the best place to take a nap.

Photo: Laura Muir

Taking the train in Thailand is different than taking a train back home.  The seats aren't always as comfortable, the train ride can be pretty bumpy and there are times when you think the train might come flying off the tracks (but don't worry, it never does!) 

The train floating up high above the trees.  Maybe not a good way
to travel if you are afraid of heights.

The great part about taking the train is all the delicious food that is served by vendors that walk up and down the cars.  You can get full meals, fresh fruit, meat skewers with sticky rice and even sweet treats too.  A long train ride can sure make you hungry, so it is nice having all that food available to buy.

My lunch on the train of rice with spicy pork and egg cost only $1.



A sugar covered "sala pao" these little timbits are sweet until you hit the middle where you
will find some BBQ pork.  If you like maple syrup on your bacon, then this treat is for you.

 Taking the train was a lot of fun.  It was the beginning of a magical adventure I will never forget.  I can't wait to tell you all about my time in the jungle.

I Am Here - Kanchanaburi, Thailand

I am in the middle of the Thai jungle sleeping on a river raft, so I don't have any electricity and won't be able to use my computer to keep you posted on my adventures.  I promise to tell you all about the River Kwai and Kanchanaburi once I get back into the city.


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Getting Around Bangkok

Even if the traffic in Bangkok is terrible, getting around the city is a breeze.  There are many different forms of public transportation that you can use to quickly get to all the different neighbourhoods.  You can hop on the Skytrain and literally zoom across the sky (it is a train that moves along a raised track way up high overlooking the city).  You can instead go underground and take the Metro (a train that moves along a track below ground).  Or you can get around Bangkok by speeding along the Chao Phraya River on a express river boat. 



After stopping at the pier, the express boat continues along the river.

 This form of public transportation is a great way to quickly see all the homes, hotels and temples that line the river.  It is also a lot of fun to feel the wind rush into your face as the boat speeds up and down the murky water of the river.  The best part of the trip is that it will just cost you 14 baht, or 50 cents.  Now that is a deal!

Good thing the plastic guard is in place, or else all us passengers would
 be getting splashed by that brown river water.

All the passengers on the riverboat waiting for their stop.

What's Wat?

When you visit Bangkok you will see wats all over the place.  Now a good question to ask is "what is a wat?" 

The beautiful (and famous) Wat Arun Ratcha Wararam.

Like so many structures that I have visited on my journey around the world, a wat is a special religious building.  Wats are Buddhist temples and they are very important in Thai culture.  Not only do Buddhists come and worship in wats, but these temples are used as schools, monasteries and even as community centers.  On special days you can see entire communities gathered in the garden of the temple sharing a meal together.

Doors and windows decorated with gold at Wat Chana Songkram.

Just take a look at a map of Bangkok and you will see wats scattered all over the city.  There is Wat Noi Nang Hong, Wat Mongkrut Krasat Thiyaram and Wat Sam Praya just to name three...but there are over 50 wats that you can visit while you are in Bangkok. 

Can you think of some of the other religious buildings that I have visited already on my journey?  How are they different and the same from the wats in Bangkok?

Offerings of flowers, incense and food are made to Buddha in temples across Bangkok.

Monsoon Season Continues

Another grey day in Bangkok.

Unlike our four Canadian seasons, there are really just two seasons in Bangkok, dry season and rainy season.  You see, from November to June Bangkok is a pretty dry place.  The sun shines brightly, the breezes are warm and the people are out and about enjoying the beautiful weather.  As the sun is out so much during this time it warms the land and the air above it, so this air rises.  When this air goes up colder air from over the sea comes in and replaces it, this creates a wind called a ‘monsoon’.  The word monsoon is an Arabic word, mausim, which means season.  So it is really the ‘monsoon’ that brings about the change in season.



Shoppers trying to stay dry at Chatucuk Weekend Market.

This wind brings with it moisture from the sea, and when the moisture collects over the land, you’ve guessed it, you get rain (do you remember how the water cycle works?)...and a lot of it.  Usually it will rain heavily for 30 minutes and then stop, but the sky will be grey all day, and you never know when it might start raining again.  Luckily, this rainy season doesn’t last long and things start to change around the middle of October with less rain falling each day.   I just hope that the dry season starts real soon because exploring the beaches of Thailand in the rain will be no fun.

Travellers trying to find somewhere dry to wait out the rain.  Most shops have large awnings in front of their stores to help keep their customers dry.