Taipei Taiwan

Ben and I were able to go back to Taiwan, but this time were lucky enough to visit my cousins, Erin and Jason Hale, and there 4 kids. We had been traveling a lot so really enjoyed just hanging out. We spend almost the whole week occupying our time with card games, movies, football in the backyard and shooter rides up and down the mountain.

We did spend one day in the city visiting Taipei city, Chiang Kai Shek monument, and Peace Park. I can’t say this enough, but I really love the architecture in Asia. Ben can’t understand how I can walk around a city and take pictures for hours. The colors on the buildings are so bright and vibrant.

We were able to attend church with my cousins, as you can see the church is on the LDS temple grounds.

One day we went on a breathtaking hike through the hills of Taipei, we then took the scooters to an absolutely beautiful Lily field. I always wondered how flowers like this were “mass produced”. We bought some freshly picked lilies and made Ben carry them on the scooterJ

Malaysia...Truly Asia:)

...you will only get the Post Title if you live in Asia and have seen the annoyingly repetitive commercial.

Even though Kuala Lumpur is only a 45 minute plane ride from Singapore, Ben and I rarely make it up there. We have told ourselves we should just rent a car and drive up there (a 6 hour drive), but haven’t seemed to make it happen.

Here are a few pictures of our last trip there:

Petronas Twin Towers

It amazes me how magnificent buildings like this are, yet how unorganized and chaotic the space around them. You look at these buildings and imagine an efficient infrastructure throughout the city with paved sidewalks, ramps for wheelchairs, etc….well I hate to break it to you, but that is not at all how it is. The city planners must all be occupied building masterpieces like this that they fail to organize the area around them. Kyle, I never understood what city planners really did or why their jobs were so important until I moved to Asia.

After spending a few days in the city we headed out to the jungle. Thankfully it was after our return from 4-wheeling that our guide told us of the many life-threatening animals in the area: jaguar, pythons, thousands of poisonous spiders, deadly snakes just to mention a few.

The monkey’s here were crazy! The literally chased us down for food. One even kept trying to get the gum in my pocket.

Ben’s favorite Malaysian Drink, “Dirty Boot”: ice cream, pancakes, chocolate syrup, ice and whip cream all blended up and served in a….you guessed it…boot.

Dubai

I know, I know, I have been neglecting my blog like a bad new year’s resolution. Last year, I went to Dubai for work. I was only there for a few days, but tried to see as much of the Arabian metropolis between meetings as possible.

I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive traveling to an Arabic country alone, or at least partially alone-I met a colleague there who flew from the US. After spending just a few short days there I can assure you it is completely safe! It was just as clean, well maintained, and as crime free as Singapore.

It is funny how traveling changes my perspective on different issues like safety. I use to think that Utah and Colorado were very safe and was hesitant to move to Singapore because I didn’t know much about it, and wondered if it would be safe. Now whenever I talk to people in Singapore they always ask about the safety in the US. Example, my last taxi driver, “You must love Singapore because it is so safe, unlike the US where people can take guns to the grocery store, or where children are in gangs and where drugs are everywhere…I was in the police force for 22 years and never once had to pull out my revolver”.

I have to admit that I actually agree with the taxi driver (not necessarily about the second amendment part) and not that the US isn’t great, but that there are a lot of really safe places, like Singapore and Dubai, that may actually be safer than many cities in the US.

 

This is the view outside of my hotel window. Check out all of those yachts. Perhaps the economic downturn isn’t global…or maybe I should give them the benefit of the doubt in that they have recently downsized.

Warning! below you will find a ridiculous number of architectural photographs.  You will have to forgive me as I was scarred as a child by having my Interior Designer mother and Artichetural artist father who would plan our family vacations around Frank Lloyd Wright tours. As a result, I have developed an appreciation for beautiful buildings and structures. See mom, you thought you thought I was winning all the way through Falling Water when I was 10 because I was bored…when really I just didn’t know how to express myselfJ

I absolutely loved the architecture in Dubai. It is a fascinating blend of old world meets new. I couldn’t have asked for a better day than this; the vibrant blue sky was the perfect backdrop for miles of ornately crafted stone and stucco mosques, shops and markets.

 The Burj al Arab is a massive luxury hotel that was literally built on a manmade island.

One of my highlights was a trip to the spice market. After living in Asia for almost two years I have learned a lot about bargaining and was able to test my haggling tactics and this time, I had a bit of an advantage. As a chef, I can at least pretend to know a little about the thousands of spices available at these well stocked stalls. My saffron loving father would have been proud when I scolded a shop owner for trying to sell me dyed corn silk in place for Iranian Saffron. I walked out of his shop, bringing other customers with me because, unfortunately for him, he took me for a uneducated tourist.

 Indoor skiing anyone?

I have a habit of loading my suitcase with any foodie’s favorite souvenir- local spices, unique grains, or rare condiments…..basically anything semi shelf stable-and sometimes I even push that envelop. This time my loot included: cardamom seeds, fenugreek seeds,  nijella seeds, black cardamom, long pepper (peppercorns), preserved lemons, Moroccan Nutmeg, Saffron, smoked sumac, and Indian Cumin Seeds.

Down Under

Ben and I were able to spend a few days in Australia in January/ What a perfect time to enjoy the beautiful sunny weather. While "down under" we cruised around the Sydney Harbor, visited the Opera House, walked around Manley Bay, went to Brisbane, and, of course, ate lots of yummy food.