I “Heart”…

After yesterday’s post, I thought I would fill you in on some of the things that I “heart” about living in Malaysia.  Although, I’m missing the States tremendously and just like Dorothy says “there’s no place like home,” there’s definitely advantages to living in Malaysia and being on the other side of the world.

Fresh Fruit and Juices, Especially Watermelon Juice – Malaysia is known for its fresh juices – watermelon, mango, pineapple, apple, orange, carrot, papaya, guava…you name it.  Now since I was a kid, my favorite fruit has been watermelon and to this day I remain a devoted fan.  So when we first arrived and I peered at one of my first Malaysian drink menus, I jumped at the chance to try a “watermelon juice”.  Let me just say, I was not disappointed.  It’s literally like biting into a cold, juicy watermelon on a hot, summer day!  Now, I know you are thinking, okay, so I don’t live in Malaysia, how can I try this juice?  Well, it’s very easy to make!  Here’s a recipe I found that is perfect for you to enjoy in the summer weather.  Try it out with your favorite summer dish!

– 2 cups of chopped watermelon (in about 1 inch sized pieces)
– 1 cup crushed ice
– 2 tablespoons sugar (preferrably in liquid form – the Malaysian way)

Put all the ingredients in a blender and BLEND.  Grab a lime to squeeze in your glass for a bit of added zest!

In Malaysia, there are many interesting fruits that I have not seen anywhere else.  And I love fruit!  One such fruit is called the Rambutan.  They remind me of pears a bit by their look on the inside and taste just as sweet.  They are covered in a very peculiar skin that is covered with soft, flexible, hairy bristles that are responsible for its name, which is derived from the Malay word “rambut”, meaning “hair”.  It looks like a baby sea urchin!  Even though they have a very weird looking appearance, we must not judge a book by its cover.  These fruits are very rich in Vitamin C and calcium, provide niacin, iron, protein, potassium, phosphorous and even fiber!  A recent study revealed that Rambutans even have an antiseptic quality which is useful in fighting infections.  So when people (and by people, I mean my husband) start to feel a bit under the weather, they pound about a handful and a half of these little gems!  I wonder if they ship these to America?!

The Sun – having sunshine all year round in Malaysia is definitely a PLUS!  After all, what’s better than soaking up some Vitamin D?  But fair skin, BEWARE!  So I practice safe sun exposure by using these SPF lotions all year round:

DML – Dermatological Moisturizing Lotion – I have been using this lotion on my face for about 15 years now…ever since a dermatologist recommended it to my mom as a great day lotion.  It’s fantastic!
Clinique – Repairwear Day SPF 15 Intensive Cream
Olay – Complete All Day UV Mositurizer

Here’s a couple more SPF day lotions with rave reviews:

Neutrogena – Age Shield + Repair Sunblock Lotion SPF 55
L’Oreal – Paris RevitaLift Complete Day Lotion SPF 30
CHANEL – Precision Beaute Initiale Energizing Multi-Protection Cream SPF 15

(In the next month or so, stay tuned for a great post detailing how to better protect your skin from the summer sun!)

Friendly, smiling faces – coming from Washington, D.C., it was rare to receive one smile from a stranger in a week.  But here in Malaysia, it’s rare not to receive about 10 smiles a day!  The people are generally very friendly and warm.  The city of KL sometimes reminds me of a small town in America with the way that you are treated.  There’s even a lady at Starbucks that gives me a hug every time I walk in the door…talk about friendly!  So why don’t you try giving a smile to a stranger today.  It definitely makes you feel good inside, even if you don’t receive one back.  Pass it on!

The Time Difference – as noted in this post, Southeast Asia is 12 hours ahead of the East Coast in the U.S. during Daylights Saving Time.  This of course is very hard some days, especially when trying to communicate with my family. Just as I am waking up, my parents are going to sleep and if I sleep late on the weekends, sometimes I miss that chance to talk.  It’s hard on certain days especially when something really good happens or maybe I’ve had a bad day and I just want to talk to my mom…but whoops, it’s 5 PM and it’s 5 AM her time…I guess it will have to wait.  But the time difference can be a good thing, especially on holidays and birthdays.  I have two days to prepare and actually think about the birthday and believe me, I never forget anyone’s special day!  This is a definite advantage!   Plus we get to have New Years Eve first, Christmas first, Thanksgiving first and even Wesak Day first…and that’s about it…ha!  Having to constantly be mindful of the time difference between here and home, I have become obsessed with fun and unique clocks.   Check some of these out…

Aspiral Clock

Uhrzahl – a Cool Modern Wall Clock

Amazing Wooden Clock

Cuckoo Clock

The Weather – In Malaysia it is a constant “Summer” Degrees, at about 27 degrees Celsius, which is 81 degrees Fahrenheit, but that’s without the humidity factor!  We are definitely in the tropics!  Okay, so I know some of my friends are thinking, “What…you can’t stand the heat!”  But I have to admit as much as I am missing the change of seasons back home, especially Fall and Winter, it has been nice waking up to dress in short sleeves, flip flops or a sundress.  Which brings me to my favorite song right now…I’m just a “Summer Girl”.  I’ve been blasting it all over the house!  Have a great Tuesday and enjoy the beginning of summer!

P.S.  I apologize for the late post today…our internet was down all evening and I ran to the local restaurant to post from there.  Better late than never!  Thanks for reading!