Catching Up: In the beginning...

The first task is of course to answer your "Why..." questions and hopefully the title gives some sort of a clue. Well, this is borne out of my big trip to the homeland, increasingly scattered friends & family, a wider scope of friends and to generally save myself time in emailing and/or calling. And I think I communicate better in writing anyway (you tell me).

So off to Malaysia I went back in mid April, with nothing resembling a plan (and packed just the night before) but did I have fun. I had no expectations, having been gone for 13 years and too caught up with work since the start of 2007. The family, except Susan (sucked that she couldn't!), all flew back for granny's 80th. birthday bash in KL. Schedules were difficult to coordinate as we are now an East coast/West coast, USA/Canada family ;-P

Julie, Danny, Tyler and Ryan flew in a few days after I got to KL (mom & dad as usual caught the tail end of my vacation), so I was left to wander on my own. Unc. was living conveniently in Setapak and off I went shopping at Lot 10, Sungei Wang (literally in and out in 7 mins), Times Square and KLCC the first full day in KL. I only went in stores that I can't find in NY, so I was done by 3 pm. It was a bit disappointing but I managed to get lots work skirts (too bad pants are unlined) and some shoes. Vincci and Nose are summer shoes heaven but can't really find work ones - closed-toe shoes are too low-heeled and few to choose from.

Good thing my uncle called then, so we could get my national IC fixed/renewed, I was bored already. I was embarassed to say my Malay was so rusty, I needed much more time to process the Q & A. And I couldn't believe they asked what my religion was! I nearly spat out "What kind of a question is that? It's none of your business!" but then, I remembered where I was...

So for two weeks, I was mostly in KL (with mom's clan, Meng, Alex L. etc.), a few days in Penang catching up with Woon Hong & Bobin, another couple of days driving down memory lane in my hometown, Ipoh. This vacation was awesome while I was there but it made me very reflective (and depressed) when I got back to NY. Seeing where my peers are gave me an inkling of how my life could have possibly turned out if I never left. Sometimes I stick out like a sore thumb, neither here nor there; different in NY with no (childhood) history and different in Malaysia having become an adult elsewhere. Perhaps we're spoiled in that we've too many options, therefore wanting too much? I am entertaining the thought of going back, who knows?

Oh well, I'm tired of words and writing. Hope the pictures' titles suffice in describing my journey, if not I'm sure you'll let me know ;-)