Home Sweet Home

Hi, there! Sorry for the delay in posting. The last couple of weeks in Japan became very hectic, but now I'm in the great state of Missouri. We enjoyed a second Thanksgiving meal with some sweet friends before I left and had to say goodbye to some of them, which made the last couple of weeks in Japan bittersweet. It was great to know I'd be heading home shortly, but it was also sad to know things will be much different when we return to Japan. Such is life, I suppose.

My journey home was uneventful, which is certainly a good thing. The flights were easy, and everything was on-time. The flight from Nagoya to Detroit was 11.5 hours. Boy, that's a long time on an airplane. It went by pretty quickly, though. My Mom and Dad were waiting for me when I arrived. I hadn't seen my Dad in nearly a year so it was certainly a joyous moment to be reunited with him. He immediately drove us to Texas Roadhouse because he knew the first thing his daughter would need was a big 'ole serving of red meat. :) It did not disappoint.

After arriving to my parents' house, I was able to meet my sweet and adorable new niece, Jensen. She is such a doll, and I was so grateful that Holli, Jonathan and all four of the kids made the trek down to see me as soon as I got home. It was such a fun and warm welcome back. My grandparents came over shortly after. I am beyond blessed, and I will never forget it.

I spent yesterday attending my childhood church, and I felt like I received a giant bear hug for two hours straight. It felt so nice to be in an American church, and the message was great. We've found a church home in Nagoya, but I still miss church at home so much. It was fun to see so many familiar faces and to see so many faces I have never seen before, too. It seems like everything changes and nothing changes all at the same time.

Yesterday afternoon, I also had lunch with two of my best high school friends, Amanda and Ashley. We stayed at the restaurant for over three hours, and it was so much fun to catch up with each other and to know that no matter where we live or how long it's been since we've gotten together, everything falls right back into place. I am so thankful for their friendship over the years, and we have shared some sweet memories together.

I'm sure you remember me talking about Christy and Tim's new baby, Sawyer. I got to meet him and spend last night cuddling and playing with him. Oh, he's such a doll and such a good baby. I love seeing Christy as a new mom and Tim as a new daddy. I am continually amazed by all things baby, and I can't believe all of the work and care that goes into caring for a new life, but seeing the look in Christy's eyes when she sees her son assures me it's all worth it. She is such an awesome mom and has transitioned into the role perfectly.

Skittle is great. She's fat, but she's happy. We've had a sweet reunion, and it will be so hard to say goodbye to her again. It's comforting to know that my parents love her, too. They have been so gracious to adjust their lives for us. I often give them a hard time because Skittle weighed 9 lbs. when we left and now weighs 12 lbs., but I am so thankful for all that they've done to help us with her. And, Travis' parents have always eagerly watched her for us when my parents travel. So, we're quite fortunate to have such a supportive family.

Travis will be coming home to join the fun next Saturday afternoon. He spent last weekend in Okinawa and ran his third marathon. I've talked to him a little bit via e-mail, and he told me that he finished the marathon in 3 hours, 55 min., and 53 sec. His goal was to finish in under four hours so I am very happy for him! We'll have to celebrate with some Taco Bell. :)

I'm sorry there are no pictures on this post. I left my laptop in Japan with Travis so I haven't had the chance to upload any pictures yet, but I will be sure to do that soon. Well, I should get going. My plan for the day includes a trip to Target with Christy and Sawyer, and I'm hoping to arrange a trip to Panera in there somewhere. May seem mundane to you, but you can't even imagine how much I've missed Target and Panera. I cannot wait!

Thanksgiving

In case you're worried about how Travis and Jessica will fare during the Thanksgiving season, worry not! I promise we're doing okay.

See? We're taking part in the gluttony just as all of you are. :) Allow me to identify some of the foods in the photo:cheesy corn (made my yours truly and always a huge hit), two kinds of stuffing, chicken (turkey is nearly impossible to find in this country and the ovens are tiny so we improvised), salad with BACON, cranberry sauce in the shape of a can just as it should be presented, green bean casserole (pretty sure this cost a fortune to make, please be grateful for things like cream of mushroom soup, green beans and crunchy onion things-they are NOT cheap in Japan), GRAVY, potatoes, bread complete with honey butter. Not pictured: homemade apple pie, pumpkin pie and chocolate chip cookies.

I have a feeling that the construction paper Indian headresses might not be politically correct, but they sure are cute, aren't they? This picture makes me sad. Jessica and her husband, Chris, will be moving back to Tennessee in December. They weren't supposed to move back until next summer, but things change. I am going to miss them so much. Jessica is such a fun and warm person to be around, and I am so happy to have made so many memories with her. And, Travis and Chris get along splendidly. They are such a fun couple. We spent an amazing week with them in Singapore and Malaysia, and I hope we'll be able to travel with them again. I have to stop. I'm seriously becoming bummed. I hate goodbyes!

On a happier note, Happy Thanksgiving from the Hartmans! We hope to see many of you in just a few short weeks! And, boy are we thankful for that. What are you thankful for? Or shall I say, for what are you thankful? Please do tell!

Oh, and I forgot to mention, we'll be hosting another Thanksgiving dinner with some more friends on Saturday. Life's rough.

SpendYourself

Two blogs in one day. Sheesh.

I wanted to write a post about a company called, SpendYourself. A friend of mine from college, along with her boyfriend and some others started the company, and I'm a big fan. The company's focus is to fight for social justice through selling t-shirts specific to various causes. And, the causes the shirts represent are ones that weigh heavy on my heart. For instance, SpendYourself has two t-shirts for sale devoted to stopping human trafficking and to helping men and women trapped in the sex industry. I already bought two of their t-shirts, and I'm planning to buy more. I encourage you to check out their site here to learn more about the company. The site also features a very interesting blog. Additionally, they're offering a contest for two individuals to win free t-shirts for an entire year. The contest ends Nov. 30th so hurry, and check it out. Oh, and if you're reading this, you just might be getting a t-shirt for Christmas.

Asuke and Tea Ceremony

One thing I'm thankful for right now: elastic-waist pajama pants. Whew. We just got back from our first Thanksgiving celebration, and it was fantastic. We'll have another one next weekend. It was a potluck, and we had so much delicious food. I completely overate, and now I'm feeling the pain, but it was worth it. I am so grateful to have good friends in Japan to celebrate with and feel very blessed to be able to have the opportunity to indulge in all things Thanksgiving even while living abroad. I know it's been a tough year for many so I don't want to lose sight of the fact that I am blessed beyond measure in so many tangible and intangible ways.

We've been staying extremely busy lately. We're heading home in just a few short weeks, and it seems like we have so many things to do between now and then! We've been running around like crazy, and we're going to have to say goodbye to many good friends in the next couple of weeks so it's going to be hard! :( We aren't leaving Japan until next summer, but some of our dearest friends will be heading back to the States in December. :,(

For now, I'll share a few recent pictures with you. Last weekend we traveled to the nearby town of Asuke. It is absolutely gorgeous in the fall. They even illuminate the trees at night. I was overwhelmed by the beauty. Japan doesn't get nearly enough credit for being an amazingly beautiful country. Before moving here, I never knew how truly gorgeous this country is.

We had a really hard time capturing good shots because the lighting was strange, but I think this one turned out pretty well. We relaxed next to this river for a while, chatted with our friends and snacked it out.

You can see the trees lit in the background. Such a cool idea. People in Japan seem to appreciate natural beauty a bit more than Americans. I could be wrong, but after experiencing hanami (cherry blossom viewing), and the fall season, Japanese people really know how to make an event out of enjoying the outdoors. Droves of people drive just to view these gorgeous trees, and an entire festival is organized around it. While there we ate some of the most delicious food, too.

The next day, my friend, Miyoko, invited me to a tea ceremony along with some of her friends. I had been to a tea ceremony before, but I had never gone in kimono. There were around 200 people there, but we broke off into small groups and rotated through the different stages of the ceremony. It was certainly a fun and unique experience. I am so happy I've had the opportunity to live in Japan and to experience Japanese culture.

Here I am outside of the entrance. The garden surrounding the tea house is beautiful. Japanese gardens are always so incredible and relaxing. In case you're counting, this was my fourth time to wear a kimono. I think I might be a professional now.

Ibigawa Marathon

My super-human husband ran another marathon last weekend. His self-motivation and determination continue to amaze me on a daily basis. I'm quite grateful for a husband who strives to be healthy. That boy loves a challenge! Perhaps that's why he married me. Wait, I think I just insulted myself.

Travis ran with a few of his co-workers. This picture was taken before the race. Understandably, they weren't quite as enthusiastic after the race.

Travis approaching the finish line. I am so proud of him!

Afterwards, he was desperate for some protein. And, wouldn't you know a massive earthworm was just waiting to be snacked upon.

This was the final shot taken after the race. Travis is planning to run another marathon on December 6th in Okinawa. You may remember that he ran that one last year, too. I won't be able to cheer him on this time because I'll be in the good 'ole U.S.A.! I'm just a little bit excited to be going home! Only 23 days from today!!!!

Oh, and just in case you're still trying to decide whether or not Travis really ate that worm, he didn't. It just made for a funny picture, and it shocked some of the kids nearby.

Halloween

We had a really fun Halloween weekend. We went to a Halloween party at a friend's house and then we enjoyed a Mexican fiesta, complete with delicious 7-layer dip, on Sunday. Such a fun weekend.

Here are some pictures from Halloween night. Hope you enjoy.

Travis and I dressed up as peace & quiet. I had a lot of fun doing his makeup, but I thought he looked super creepy. Especially without the red-eye taken out.

A couple of our friends, Zac and Emily, dressed up as a cormorant fisherman and cormorant. I thought it was extremely clever.

This picture is of some of the girls at the party.

And, here are the boys.

Brian and Lorie dressed up as Dog the Bounty Hunter and his wife, Beth.

Megan and Frank were Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf.

Ryan and Ayako (Ryako) are the cutest couple. Ryan's costume won the prize for the best. He wired the rabbit's eyes to light up, and he even installed a voice changer inside. He could stand against the white wall and blend in, but when he turned on his red eyes, it was terrifying! Ha!

This picture of Travis and Chris cracks me up. Chris and Jessica dressed as the Snuggie folks on the informercial. They looked hilarious, but I somehow managed to miss getting a shot of the two of them together. Jessica walked around carrying a ball of yarn with her knitting needles, and Chris had his duster and cleaning solution. Pretty funny stuff.

This last picture cracks me up, and it freaks me out at the same time.

See what I mean?

Thornsberrys do Japan

Hi, all! I know some of you are waiting to hear an update on my family's recent visit to Japan. So, here goes!

My mom, brother and oldest niece all made the long trek to Japan to visit us. We had a really fun time, and it was so great to see my family and to show them a little bit of our life here in Japan.

They arrived on a Saturday evening, and we left early the next morning to spend a few days in Tokyo. While there, we did a lot of sightseeing and went to Tokyo Disney Sea. After that, we spent a few days in Nagoya, made a short trip to Arimatsu and then visited Kyoto. I was so impressed with their willingness to try some funky foods and to walk a million miles. Their karaoke skills weren't too shabby either. My niece is only nine, but she is so mature and well-behaved. She's just a pleasure to be around, and I must say, my brother is a great dad, too. It was cool to see what an amazing father/daughter relationship they share. My mom was such a trooper and rode all the rides with us at Disney, climbed about 800 stairs and even tried some raw fish! Oh, and she arrived bearing gifts, which included a freshly baked batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Wish I had some more right now.

Here are several pictures from our adventure.

Here we are early in the morning waiting for the shinkansen (bullet train) to arrive. While in Tokyo, we walked and walked and walked. We explored the areas of Shinagawa, Asakasa, Akihabara, Harajuku and Ginza.

Here's a pic of Jonathan in Ginza. He really liked this area. Mom, Jordan and I skipped this little jaunt and opted to relax for a while instead.

The next morning, Jonathan and Travis woke up around 4:30 and headed to Tsukiji fish market.

They enjoyed some of the market's famous sashimi for breakfast before heading back to meet us.

From there, we went to Tokyo Disney Sea. I had been wanting to go there for a long time so I was so excited! I hadn't visited a Disney park since I was four.

Here's a cute picture of Jonathan and Jordan with some characters. Is it bad that I don't know who these characters are? Somebody help me out.

Me and Jordan at Tokyo Disney Sea. I love this girl so much!

Disney Sea was pretty crowded, but the weather was amazing, and we managed to ride three rides, enjoy a couple of shows, do a little shopping and eat some tasty treats. After a LONG day at Tokyo Disney Sea, we headed to the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel where the five of us shared a room. :)

This picture was taken in the hotel lobby. It was a really nice place to stay.

After the concierge showed us to our room, she showed us some pajamas that were left for our use. We said we'd brought our own and wouldn't be needing them. But then, we saw this:

That's when we knew we ALL had to put them on immediately.

Prison camp photo. Priceless in my opinion.

After our Disney getaway, we headed back to the city to explore Tokyo a little more.

We had some ramen for lunch, explored Asakasa and did some shopping, checked out some electronics in Akihabara and then made our way back to Nagoya via shinkansen.

After our exhausting Tokyo adventure, we spent the next few days in Nagoya. One morning we headed to Arimatsu and met up with my friend, Miyako, to make some shibori, Japanese tie dye.

Here we are with our finished products.

The night before my family left, we had dinner with what I now consider my Japanese family. You've heard me mention Miyoko in several other posts, too, but she has become a great friend to me and has helped me to enjoy Japan in so many ways. Once she heard my family was coming, she insisted on arranging a dinner for them. It was one of the best parts of their trip. We met up with Miyoko and her family and enjoyed a great and very traditional Japanese meal. We even ended it with some karaoke! Jordan sang some Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, and it was pretty much the cutest thing in the entire world. My mom busted out some Carpenters and did an awesome job with that one. My brother is now known to Miyoko and her family as a "great rapper" since he successfully performed "Gold Digger." They also requested he sing Michael Jackson a few times. Not sure he ever intended for that to happen, but we all enjoyed hearing his version of "Thriller" and "Billie Jean."

Here we are at dinner. Miyoko and her family have plans to visit us in Missouri after we return next summer, and I'm really looking forward to it. Her dream is to experience "country life" in America. I'm pretty sure I know how to help her with that one. :)

Early the following morning we headed to Kyoto. We did some more sightseeing and shopping there.

And, we bumped into some geishas on the way out. How cute is this picture?!

I think that pretty much sums up their visit. I am so so so happy they came, and I can't wait to see them again in December. We made some fun memories, and I love that I have pictures WITH my family in Japan. Thank you for coming to see us!

Typhoon, Travis gets older, Reese's and visitors! Wow, what a random title.

Has it really been two weeks since my last post?! Eek. So sorry about that. Anyway, here's a little update on what's been going on in Japan.

We experienced our first typhoon. When I first heard we were expecting a typhoon, I really wasn't too worried because it seems like most things are blown out of proportion here. But, then I began thinking about it and the catastrophic results from the typhoons that recently struck American Somoa and the Philippines. I still didn't take much action, and I didn't even get it after I went to the grocery store and noticed it was much more crowded than normal, and people everywhere were stocking up on supplies. Anyway, late on the night before the typhoon was set to arrive, I decided I should start doing a little research. Bad. Idea. I started reading articles about how the typhoon would be the biggest in ten years, and read that the last typhoon of the same size killed 95 people. Ahhh! We didn't even have a flashlight in our house. So, I did what any smart person would do, I put our passports in Ziploc bags, found a couple of head lamps we used for climbing Mt. Fuji, filled the bath tub with water and went to bed.

Travis woke up around 5 a.m., and told me it was looking pretty crazy outside. The wind was nuts, and there was lots and lots of rain. So, I had to check it out.

This picture is of a girls' school near our house. I believe our area received around 10 inches of rain in a very short amount of time. Strangely, after only about two hours all the water on the softball field and tennis courts was gone. The public transportation system in Nagoya was shut down for several hours but overall, very little damage occurred, and life went on as usual.

We also celebrated Travis' birthday last weekend. We had so much fun! I organized a birthday dinner, and 21 people showed up! Wow. He is a pretty popular guy, I guess. We went to an Okinawan restaurant near our house, and we had a really good time. We took lots of fun pictures, but this is the only one I have of the entire group. We were making funny poses. This picture was supposed to be "blue steel" from the movie, Zoolander, but someone made a funny right as the picture was taken so some people couldn't hold their pose. ;)

The following day, Travis and I headed to some mountains not far from our house to go camping. We had a really fun time, but it was much different than what we're used to. We paid a pretty penny to sleep in a glorified parking lot, and the biggest draw of the place was that you could see cows grazing. Anyone who knows my upbringing knows that seeing cows grazing isn't exactly a phenomenon for me. It's a funny memory, though, and we got to roast marshmallows so it was worth it!

Lastly, I received a fun surprise last week! My friends, Maya and Andrea, both of whom came to Japan to visit me sent me a really fun package. It was so nice and unexpected. It was full of all kinds of goodies, but I must say the photo below captures the highlight of the package.

If only you could see this bowl now. Travis and I just couldn't believe how many Reese's we had and thought we would never even be able to make a dent in the huge pile. Well, let's just say you can almost see the bottom of the bowl already. ;)

I know I said "lastly" in the last paragraph, but I can't leave this out! My mom, brother and oldest niece are currently en route to Japan at this very moment. I am beside myself with excitement, and I just can't wait to show them my Japanese life. We're heading to Tokyo early Sunday morning, and we'll be there for two nights and three days. Then, we'll spend some time in Nagoya before heading to to do some sightseeing in Kyoto. I am so happy they're coming, and I'm extremely grateful that my brother's wife, Holli, is so supportive of this adventure. She's a mom to four so I know these next ten days without her oldest daughter and husband will be a challenge. Thanks, Holli!

Black Eyed Peas

We recently went to a Black Eyed Peas concert! Oh, man, it was a blast, too. We hadn't been to a concert in ages so it was great to finally see a show again. I really enjoy listening to Black Eyed Peas' music because it typically puts me in a great mood. And, it makes me want to dance or push myself a little harder on the stairmaster. Or, sometimes it makes me dance ON the stairstepper, which I think Travis finds embarrassing. Anyway, most of the lyrics are rather ridiculous, and I'm sure I've lost a few brain cells in the process, but how can you not like rocking out to them?! Anyway, here are a few pictures of the fun we enjoyed.

Here's our group hanging out at the subway station before the show. I felt like a kid on Christmas Eve. It really was sad how excited I was, but man, it felt great. Oh, and I stole this picture from Ayako's facebook pictures. I feel like I should say that for some reason.

Here's a pic of me with my pretty friends, Ayako and Jessica. I'm pretty sure we danced for two hours straight.
The show was only the second of their E.N.D (new album) tour. I'm pretty sure they took their show to Japan first to work out all the kinks before going worldwide, but it was a really fun concert. It was extremely high energy, and Fergie was awesome, and super hot. But, I will say she looked like she recently had some work done. Her cheeks were really tight and puffy. I still like her, though. Even if she has an accident every now and again.

Here's another shot of the set during their show. This was during their song, "Generation Now," which isn't my favorite. But, they played a lot of patriotic video footage during the song. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy. Oh how I miss home these days...

I know what you're thinking! They bought shirts?! Yes. Yes, we did. I know. I know. But, they say all of the Japan cities on the back, and you're seriously looking at two Americans who miss their motherland. Little things like concert t-shirts make all the difference. Don't ask me how much they cost. The memories they represent are priceless. 

Chicago vs. Nagoya

Recently, my good friend, Heather, and her mom, Mary, made the trek from Chicago to Japan just to see us. Ok, well, maybe not just to see us. ;) 

Heather and I were randomly placed together as roommates our freshman year at Mizzou. And, we've been great friends ever since then. We lived together three out of our four years of college. The only year we missed was due to Heather joining a sorority. She had to put her time in at the sorority house. We had so much fun together during those four years, and I really can't imagine what it would have been like without her. We laughed so much, and cried some, too. She's a great friend, and I don't really believe our meeting was random at all. We were definitely put together for a reason. Oh, and I just have to mention that you should have seen the filthy apartment we shared in downtown Columbia our senior year of college. Domestic disputes, nasty carpet, homeless folks in the stairway, paper-thin walls, a rusty tub, mini-stove, irritable garbage disposal and wood paneled walls were among the luxuries we enjoyed. 

I derailed. Back to the trip highlights.

Travis graciously picked Heather and Mary up from the airport after work while I anxiously waited for their arrival. After they arrived, we went to a delicious sushi restaurant so we could win them over right away. The next morning, we headed to my favorite place in Japan, Kyoto. I think this trip marked my fifth trip there, and I have plans of returning next month. Just can't get enough of the place.

This trip was the most unique, though, because we stayed overnight in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. It was such a fun experience. Upon arrival, we were greeted with authentic green tea and some Japanese desserts. After that, we left the inn and explored the city a bit. After returning to the hotel, we put on our yukatas.

Here's Travis and me posing in our traditional Japanese room complete with paper screens, wood carvings and tatami floor. 

Shortly thereafter, Heather and Mary joined us for dinner. We ate dinner in our room in our pajamas! The food was a bit difficult to handle as it was very traditional. Much of it was raw, and some of it was unidentifiable. It was all presented beautifully, though, and I think I at least tried it all. It was certainly a very unique and authentic Japanese experience. We had a great time laughing through dinner. The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast in our rooms in our pajamas again! Breakfast proved to be no less challenging, but it was still a ton of fun.

From Kyoto, we headed to Nara. We walked around Nara Park and enjoyed lunch at a quaint little French cafe. Heather and Mary checked out the world famous Todaiji Temple, and then we headed back to Nagoya.

We managed to relax a little bit after returning to Nagoya because the next day we headed to Shirakawago, Takayama and Gero with my friend, Miyoko, and her husband.

We took this picture at one of the rest stops in Japan. The view was really beautiful. I love the rest stops in Japan. They always have very clean restrooms and lots of good snacks to enjoy. They also include a gas station, so they're quite convenient.

Our first stop was Shirakawago, a village famous for its thatched roof buildings and homes.

We took a little jaunt up a mountain and enjoyed this view. The photographer suggested we make triangles with our hands to resemble the shape of the thatched roof houses. We also enjoyed some really yummy snacks atop the mountain.

After Shirakawago, we headed to Takayama for lunch and sightseeing. It was my first time to Takayama, which is often described as a little Kyoto. The town was calm and beautiful. I definitely would like to return there sometime soon. After leaving Takayama, we headed to Gero, a town famous for hot springs. We didn't have time to fully enjoy the hot springs, but we did stop off to enjoy a free foot spa with a nice view of the mountainous region.

We returned to Nagoya and decided to spend the next day relaxing a little bit and did a bit of shopping. The following day, we visited my friend Miyoko at her home and dressed in kimonos for the day. I feel like I'm almost Japanese now that I've worn a kimono three times. As always, the day didn't disappoint, and we shared some good laughs together. 

My Japanese friends tried to teach us how to pose properly. This was our attempt. After taking a few pictures, we headed to a nice lunch and then to sing karaoke. Singing karaoke in the middle of the afternoon feels a little strange, but we enjoyed it nonetheless.

The following day, we headed to Gifu to watch cormorant fishing on the Nagara River. It was my second time, and I enjoyed it once again. The weather was perfect, and we had a really fun time.

We also got to see this beautiful sunset. 

The next day was the last day of Heather and Mary's visit. I was so sad they had to leave, but we had a great last dinner at a Brazilian restaurant downtown despite the fact that the owner was quite interested in Mary. That was a bit annoying, but she was a good sport. Afterall, it's not easy being beautiful. ;)

Here we are enjoying our final dinner. Several of our friends in Nagoya joined in on the fun, too, and we were able to enjoy dancing to some Latin tunes as well. I'm so glad they came to visit us. 

Malaysia

After spending a couple of days in Singapore, we hopped on a short flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We quickly settled, enjoyed some awesome Turkish food and began the Malaysian leg of our vacation. Here are a few of the highlights.

We went to Batu Caves, a Hindu shrine, near the city.

Travis and I posing before climbing the stairs. 

We climbed 272 stairs to get to the top, and it was oh so hot!

The inside was pretty neat, but it was really dirty. I was a bit shocked considering it's a revered religious site, but there were heaps of trash laying around and wild monkeys and chickens wandering. Oh, and there was a guy with a python. EWWWwww...

Here is one of the many monkeys we saw while visiting Batu Caves. We saw a ton of monkeys throughout the trip.

After visiting Batu Caves, we made friends with a taxi driver who agreed to take us to our next destination, a nature park with several waterfalls. We spent a couple of hours hiking around and playing in some natural waterfalls. Not a rough way to spend a day.

The waterfalls were quite impressive. 

We played in this one for quite a while. The water was freezing, though.

On the way back down, we stopped to feed a crowd of monkeys.

After returning to Kuala Lumpur, we managed to find one of my favorite stores, Forever 21. There are no Forever 21 stores in Nagoya yet, so I was absolutely thrilled! It was the biggest one I've ever seen, too. 

I could have been there for hours.

We stumbled upon a great Raggae Bar in Chinatown. The music was great, and it brought back sweet Jamaica memories for me. Bob Marley will always have a special place in my heart. I heard about three of his most famous songs twenty times per day for a week during our honeymoon. :)

And finally, here are our vacation buddies, Chris and Jessica! We had such an amazing time together. I'm so grateful for the memories we made on this trip. Definitely the beginning of a lifelong friendship.

Malaysia and Singapore are well-known for durian, also known as the stinky fruit. Chris and Jessica ate it the night before we arrived in Singapore so Travis and I were anxious to try it. Chris described it as having a "spiral-perm-kind-of taste." And, I must say, he was pretty much right on.

I actually kind of liked it. It reminded me of an extremely sweet cantaloupe. The texture reminded me a little bit of a mango, but it was more slimy and stringy.

We really enjoyed the tea in Malaysia. It was super sweet  and delicious. This picture of Chris and Jessica was taken at a little hawker stall. We told a taxi driver we wanted to eat the best satay, and he dropped us off here. We were a little nervous since there were absolutely no tourists there, which is actually usually a good sign, and lots of cats were roaming around. But, I'd have to say his recommendation was perfect. We enjoyed some amazing satay. The funniest part, though, was when we asked what kinds of satay we were eating. The waiter knew a little English and told us, "Chicken and meat." So, we asked him what kind of meat we were eating to which he responded, "Meat." Oh, right... We tried a couple of more times to figure it out, and then we just gave up. Perhaps it was cat? 

The Petronas  Towers in Kuala Lumpur are awesome. Really beautiful buildings that certainly make Kuala Lumpur's skyline spectacular. Another sidenote to add, Al Jazeera has an office inside, which brings me to another topic.

We were told by a few locals that Malaysia is 70 percent Muslim. By the way, I have not verified that statistic, but I know it was around 60 percent in 2000, so it seems about right to me. I had never been to a predominantly Muslim country before so it was certainly eye opening. We saw many women wearing burqas, and many of them only had their eyes exposed. Even the bridges of their noses were sometimes covered. The most interesting scene was around the pool where the women would sit quietly near the pool in full burqa while their husbands enjoyed the water. Let's remember that it was 100+ degrees outside. Not. Fair.

Also, I think Kuala Lumpur has been experiencing a rise in fundamentalism  as well. As a result, we had to walk through metal detectors every time we entered our hotel. Additionally, all vehicles had to be searched for explosives. I didn't feel uncomfortable or unsafe for some reason, but the experience was a first for me.

We spent another night traveling to a neighboring town called, Kuala Selangor. We took a van taxi there, and wow, the ride was interesting. It was extremely curvy and the setup of the van required two of us to sit backwards. I don't struggle with motion sickness, but even I was beginning to turn a little green. 

Alas, we survived. We went to a seafood restaurant on the river for dinner. The food was okay, but not the best we enjoyed and unfortunately the most expensive. By the way, by expensive, I mean around $12/person. Not exactly expensive, but for Malaysia it was a little pricey. 

After we left the restaurant, Travis decided to inform us that we dined with an enormous rat the entire time. I guess I was kind of glad I didn't know beforehand because I would have been freaking out, but still! 

Our main motive in traveling to Kuala Selangor was a nighttime firefly cruise, and it was certainly worth the long and treacherous van ride. We boarded a nice wooden boat and enjoyed an hour-long cruise along a river lined with trees filled with fireflies. It was amazing. Felt like Christmas, but it was much greener if you know what I mean. No electric lights here. Just trees lit by thousands of fireflies. Awesome.

When booking our hotel, we found a really great deal. And, I thought I would just ask for a room with a great view of the Petronas Towers for kicks. It never hurts to ask.

This is the view we awakened to each morning from our corner room on the 22nd floor. We also had a corner window and could see the KL Tower as well. I was impressed. And just think, all I had to do was ask.

And, my favorite part of Kuala Lumpur might have been our hotel's pool. It was amazing. In Japan pools are rare, and if you find them they are packed full of rugrats. So, we spent several hours enjoying the amazing pool, which included a swim-up bar. 

Well, that does it for our Malaysia re-cap. If you're traveling to Kuala Lumpur soon, let me know. I'd love to give you some recommendations.