Tsunami Reminders of Christmas Past

This is a modest sampling of some of the really pretty hand-painted ornaments I collected while on "vacay" in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia the week the Tsunami hit, Christmas time 2004. I remember being in the hotel room and looking down at my cell phone and feeling horribly, horribly dizzy. We found out 4 1/2 hours later what happened.We lived on the water front of the strait of Malacca in Georgetown, Penang Malaysia (top center of the map), and that day we drove up Gurney Drive and saw a huge wave of water coming toward us. At the time I would guess it was 1/2 a mile out at sea. We mentioned how weird it was to see a wave coming so close to us ( this photo is a North ward view, Indian Ocean in the distance)We said nothing more and continued into the underground parking garage of our condo.
We rode the elevator up and complained of the extreme heat, and Tiny and Dave ran into the apartment and changed right into their bathing suits with the intention of going down for a swim at the pool. When they reached the pool their was an extreme scent of dirty sewer water, they went out to the guard house to check on the smell. The guards began pointing them toward the street where they noticed over turned cars, dead fish and loads of mud on the promanade and into all the property nearby. Dave and Christina ran up to tell us to look out the balcony and see the meyhem, that's when we heard dozens of sirens. The emergency vehicles where heading to the north end of the island just past the view you see above. Over 100 people were killed while sunbathing at the popular beaches on the north part of the island facing the Indian Ocean.

Please, please watch the facinating video I have posted below this post. It must have been taken from the condo just a floor or two above ours. The scars of the poisoned out grass were visible on the property next to ours for the remainder of our time there. The water was filthy as you can see. The Penang govenors were not concerned with the ecology of the island (once known as the Pearl of the Orient) but only with the money they could make from rich people in the big fancy condo's, so the once beautiful beach was distroyed by raw sewage. So anyway, this is also a cool audio of the Hokkien Chinese and the wonderful sound of the expressions they make.



So when I see these ornanments I think about the Tsunami. It was so sad. But the Lord was surely looking out for us. We were almost caught in that muck, by just moments. See the video posted below this one.

Way to Go Mom and Dad!

Kudo's to my MOM and DAD for offering to allow my dear Malaysian friend's daughter to move in with them.

Here's what happened: My friend Angela has come to the USA from Penang to enroll her daughter Mei Ying in college in Salt Lake City. (Her son is at BYU) Mei Ying was all set to commute into downtown from a distant suburb where their other good friends live. I could tell Angela was unhappy with the arrangement, because of the great distance from town, not because of the living situation. There is very limited public transport into metro Salt Lake City from the Cottonwood Heights neighborhood her friends live in.

When we met for lunch yesterday, never in a million years did I think that my parents would be the answer to Angela's prayers. I took Angela up to Bountiful to meet my folks. A quick 10 minute drive from downtown Salt Lake. My mother mentioned to Angela that the bus stop that goes to Mei Ying's school, is literally at their front curb side. I am talking DOOR TO DOOR! Maybe a scant 3o feet away. She said they had 5 bedrooms, and why doesn't Mei Ying move in with them? She continued to say that the singles ward is only 2 blocks away! My jaw dropped...How did this idea form in my mother's mind? Truly it is the answer to Angela's prayer's! Angela will not have to worry about Mei Ying too much. My parents live within walking distance to the library, Target, Walmart, Pier One, Dairy Queen, the Bountiful Bubble, you get the picture.

This is a big deal for my parents. They are retired and my mother is really not in the best of health. She has severe Chronic Fatigue, and I know this will be challenging for her. I really think this is a valiant thing they are doing for a family they didn't even know! I only hope 18 year old Mei Ying is up to the challenge of living with them!

Mei Ying, Angela and Tian Ming in Hong Kong

Edelweiss Cafe Salad

The Pomelo is one of my favorite fruits! The ones in America usually come from Florida. They have a really thick rind and large thick membrane'd sections, just like a grapefruit. Except these are SWEET. We used to stop along the North South Express way leading from Thailand to Penang to buy these beauty's; 3 of them for 10 RM (Ringgit Malaysian) or about 2 USD. In a typical Malaysian wet market this is how you find them displayed. How cool is that! Followed below is a masterful salad that comes from Theresa Carpol, owner of the renowned Edelweiss Cafe in Historic Penang. She says this is the best seller on her menu. It is phenomenal and so dang easy.Everyone should try this mix of flavors. This is a great salad for your summer table.
4 sections of a large pomelo
1 very ripe mango chopped, (I like the yellow ones, found in Mexican markets and also sometimes called Elephant Tusk mango.)
1/2 of a red capsicum (bell pepper) julienned
1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes

That's all. Don't mix it. Place it all on top of
a platter of very fresh salad greens and pass
your best vinaigrette.

Have you seen a prettier salad?

The pretty platter is from a Palestinian shop. We bought it in Nazareth, on our way to the Sea of Galilee.