We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Great and Adventurous New Year in 2010!!
“Ahh.. Another Day in the Tropics.” We’ve been living here in Jakarta Indonesia for three years now and this phrase is actually a lighthearted comment on the sometimes frustrating but fascinating day-to-day life here. Our year was filled with new experiences and new places. It was also filled with family, old and new friends. We have had a wonderful 2009 and look forward to a fantastic 2010.
The year started off with us spending a week in Bangkok Thailand. The girls had a great time visiting cultural sites such as the Reclining Buda, Royal Palace, and various Wats. We took the MRT and river boat ferries all over Bangkok. Our favorite thing to do was eating the local cuisine on a floating restaurant.
We enjoyed several weekend trips to the ocean at our favorite beaches, Sambolo, and Tanjung Lesung. While in town we’ve succeeded in spending less weekends “going to the mall” and played in the pool more. One Saturday we were invited on a special trip to the orangutan house at the local Ragunan Zoo. Tia and Sara were allowed to climb in an outdoor jungle gym and play with the adolescent orangutans!
One of our best trips in Asia this year was to Sabah Borneo in the city of Kota Kinabalu, where we snorkeled in the crystal clear waters of the TAR islands under the bluest skies. Tia and Sara were thrilled when the fish literally “ate out of their hands”. We may have eaten some of the same fish later that evening at the fresh seafood market.J Near Mt. Kinabalu we took a “canopy walk” on a boardwalk rope bridge through the treetops, 200ft. above the forest floor. We also rafted down the Klias River of Sabah. What fun to raft in a warm river.
Tia and Sara continue to thrive at the Jakarta International School. They both have enthusiastically embraced their new favorite sport, gymnastics, and do cartwheels all over the house. The new highlight of the girls’ life is their kitty, Loui, who joined us in October. She snuggles with alternating girls every night, meows to wake them in the morning, and runs to be picked up and held as soon as they’re home from school. Loui is uncommonly vocal and has become an unwelcome alarm clock as of late.
As we do every year, this summer we “went home” to Washington to spend special time with family and friends. We went crabbing and boating with Grandma Barbara and Grandpa Del in Silverdale, and fishing and inner tubing at the cabin with Grandaddy and Hazel in Idaho. We even roasted marshmallows and played in the tree house with cousins, and went on a special nature walk with Great-Grandaddy.
An extra big summer treat was participating in the Giang family reunion. Over 75 Kay and Chi family members gathered at Fort Worden, WA. We all had a wonderful time reconnecting with family members, eating, visiting, and playing by the sea together. The talent show was an extra special treat for Quyen’s father.
Sadly, Quyen’s father passed away only 2 months later. The family gathered again in Washington to honor him in a traditional Chinese Buddhist funeral. A truly beautiful and moving experience to pay respect to Quyen’s father.
Quyen and Paula took a trip up to Alaska where they fished from their place on the Kenai River. They were thrilled to catch a 65 pound King Salmon, a new family record. It makes for an excellent fish story- until pictures are revealed.
We wish you a Great and Adventurous New Year in 2010!
Love, Quyen, Paula, Tia, and Sara
“Ahh.. Another Day in the Tropics.” We’ve been living here in Jakarta Indonesia for three years now and this phrase is actually a lighthearted comment on the sometimes frustrating but fascinating day-to-day life here. Our year was filled with new experiences and new places. It was also filled with family, old and new friends. We have had a wonderful 2009 and look forward to a fantastic 2010.
The year started off with us spending a week in Bangkok Thailand. The girls had a great time visiting cultural sites such as the Reclining Buda, Royal Palace, and various Wats. We took the MRT and river boat ferries all over Bangkok. Our favorite thing to do was eating the local cuisine on a floating restaurant.
We enjoyed several weekend trips to the ocean at our favorite beaches, Sambolo, and Tanjung Lesung. While in town we’ve succeeded in spending less weekends “going to the mall” and played in the pool more. One Saturday we were invited on a special trip to the orangutan house at the local Ragunan Zoo. Tia and Sara were allowed to climb in an outdoor jungle gym and play with the adolescent orangutans!
One of our best trips in Asia this year was to Sabah Borneo in the city of Kota Kinabalu, where we snorkeled in the crystal clear waters of the TAR islands under the bluest skies. Tia and Sara were thrilled when the fish literally “ate out of their hands”. We may have eaten some of the same fish later that evening at the fresh seafood market.J Near Mt. Kinabalu we took a “canopy walk” on a boardwalk rope bridge through the treetops, 200ft. above the forest floor. We also rafted down the Klias River of Sabah. What fun to raft in a warm river.
Tia and Sara continue to thrive at the Jakarta International School. They both have enthusiastically embraced their new favorite sport, gymnastics, and do cartwheels all over the house. The new highlight of the girls’ life is their kitty, Loui, who joined us in October. She snuggles with alternating girls every night, meows to wake them in the morning, and runs to be picked up and held as soon as they’re home from school. Loui is uncommonly vocal and has become an unwelcome alarm clock as of late.
As we do every year, this summer we “went home” to Washington to spend special time with family and friends. We went crabbing and boating with Grandma Barbara and Grandpa Del in Silverdale, and fishing and inner tubing at the cabin with Grandaddy and Hazel in Idaho. We even roasted marshmallows and played in the tree house with cousins, and went on a special nature walk with Great-Grandaddy.
An extra big summer treat was participating in the Giang family reunion. Over 75 Kay and Chi family members gathered at Fort Worden, WA. We all had a wonderful time reconnecting with family members, eating, visiting, and playing by the sea together. The talent show was an extra special treat for Quyen’s father.
Sadly, Quyen’s father passed away only 2 months later. The family gathered again in Washington to honor him in a traditional Chinese Buddhist funeral. A truly beautiful and moving experience to pay respect to Quyen’s father.
Quyen and Paula took a trip up to Alaska where they fished from their place on the Kenai River. They were thrilled to catch a 65 pound King Salmon, a new family record. It makes for an excellent fish story- until pictures are revealed.
We wish you a Great and Adventurous New Year in 2010!
Love, Quyen, Paula, Tia, and Sara
