Hello! It seems like forever since I last posted... and that's probably because it has been a pretty long time! Oh well. I recently had to write an article for my school newspaper and got inspired to update my blog again, so here goes!
Well, for those of you who are friends with me on Facebook or any other social media may know, I have been busy doing quite a bit of traveling (and writing college applications) (mostly procrastinating doing college applications though.) So far, I have been in Malaysia for about three and a half months and I can already say that I have been to every Malaysian state except Perlis and Sarawak. I can already tell that my exchange has been one of the most life changing and rewarding experiences of my life. My family took me on an amazing tour up the Eastern coast of peninsular Malaysia (I live on the South-Western side) and to Georgetown, which is on the island Penang (or Pulau Pinang if you are Malaysian or simply want another way to Google the awesome places I went). I've also been on vacation to Kuantan, Langkawi and Sabah and went on a short trip with other exchange students to Malacca. I am so incredibly grateful to my amazing host family for taking me to all of these wonderful places.
Before any of the trips that I took with my family, I along with about 20 other AFS exchange students from around the world, went to the historical town Malacca to learn how to dance Joget, a traditional Malay dance, and be a part of a nationally televised performance. We had three days to learn the dance and practice before the real-deal on Friday. Thankfully, the dance was not complicated and we learned the steps quickly allowing plenty of free time to explore the wonderful town of Malacca. Malacca has a rich history and was once controlled by the Portuguese during the spice trade. The town has beautiful ruins of Portuguese forts, as well as stunning churches and temples and a floating mosque. You can take a tour aboard a colorful, over the top rickshaw or walk until your feet get sore and you break down and hail a cab (I did all of the above in the three days of free time we had). Even after touring around Malaysia, Malacca is still one of my favorite places.
During one holiday, my host family took me on a roadtrip around Malaysia! We drove from Negeri Sembilan all the way across the country to Kuantan. On our way there, we stopped at an elephant conservation because seeing elephants was one of the things on my bucket list. Once we got to Kuantan we ate Nasi Kukus and stayed the night. The next day, we traveled to Terengganu where we stayed on a beach resort for two days. I saw my first monkeys, swam in the South China Sea and woke up early to see the sun rise. Then, we traveled up to Kota Bahru. There, we visited the border of Thailand and all of the different Thai temples. The next day, we drove across to Georgetown, Penang. Penang was beautiful and one of my favorite place in Malaysia. We ate great food, shopped, went up Penang Hill, visited the Kek Lok Si temple, and went to a jetty town (a town on stilts.) The next day we had to drive home but made sure to stop in Ipoh to visit the Perak Cave Temple.
Just this past holiday my family took me to Langkawi. Langkawi was hands down the most beautiful place I had ever been. We took a boat around the Kilim Geoforest Park and fed bald eagles, visited a bat cave and saw monkeys in the Mangrove trees. The next day we walked around Pantai Cenang, shopped and had amazing sea food. We stopped at an agricultural center and took a tour of the fruit trees and ate plates of fresh fruit. Malaysian fruit is the best! (Except Durian, sorry.)
The last place that I’ve visited was Sabah. We stayed in Kota Kinabalu. I know I just said that Langkawi was the most beautiful place I have ever been but Sabah is equally as gorgeous. The first day we were there we went to the zoo and saw the Orangutans (a malay word, actually) tigers and sun-bears. The next day we went Island hopping to Sapi Island and Manukan. The islands were so amazing an unbelievably beautiful. We snorkeled in the uber clear water and I saw plenty of coral and colorful fish. My host siblings tried Parasailing and my host parents tried Seafloor Walking (I wasn’t aloud to because of my program.) The next day we visited Mt. Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in Malaysia. It was pretty cloudy so I couldn’t see the whole mountain, but the surrounding view was breathtaking and it was nice to be up in the mountains where the temperature is cool. On the way home, we got a tad bit detoured because the road was closed due to a landslide, but that led us to a roadside stand where I had the opportunity to try the infamous fruit Durian. I did not like it to say the least, but I had to try it anyhow.
On another note, one of the best parts about Malaysia is the diversity. I have been so lucky to have been able to experience not only the Chinese and Buddhist culture from my host family, but Malay and Indian culture as well. This last month was Hari Raya Haji also known as Eid Mubarak. At school I witnessed the Qurbani of a goat (the sacrifice) and helped cut up the cow meat from a cow that was previously sacrificed. As for Indian culture, during Deepavali I had the opportunity to stay with my classmate Sobanna and her family. Deepavali is "the festival of lights" and is a traditional Hindu holiday. Sobanna's family was incredibly generous and welcoming to both myself and Beth, another American exchange student in Seremban. We got our own Punjabi suits, sponsored by the shopkeeper, jewelry, bindi and shoes. They even got us both our own little Ganesh statues. I ate with my hands off of a banana leaf (which does make it taste better I think) and ate plenty of muruku from all of the relatives we visited. Everything about Deepavali was so colorful and fun and I had an amazing time.
As you can see, I have been incredibly fortunate in my exchange. I would not be able to do any of this if it weren’t for my amazing host family, the other families that have hosted me temporarily, my school, YES Abroad, AFS Malaysia, and all the sponsors and people who have helped me out along the way. I have had an amazing time so far in Malaysia and I know I will have many more wonderful experiences throughout the rest of my exchange (and I promise I'll try harder to write about them.)
Well, for those of you who are friends with me on Facebook or any other social media may know, I have been busy doing quite a bit of traveling (and writing college applications) (mostly procrastinating doing college applications though.) So far, I have been in Malaysia for about three and a half months and I can already say that I have been to every Malaysian state except Perlis and Sarawak. I can already tell that my exchange has been one of the most life changing and rewarding experiences of my life. My family took me on an amazing tour up the Eastern coast of peninsular Malaysia (I live on the South-Western side) and to Georgetown, which is on the island Penang (or Pulau Pinang if you are Malaysian or simply want another way to Google the awesome places I went). I've also been on vacation to Kuantan, Langkawi and Sabah and went on a short trip with other exchange students to Malacca. I am so incredibly grateful to my amazing host family for taking me to all of these wonderful places.
Before any of the trips that I took with my family, I along with about 20 other AFS exchange students from around the world, went to the historical town Malacca to learn how to dance Joget, a traditional Malay dance, and be a part of a nationally televised performance. We had three days to learn the dance and practice before the real-deal on Friday. Thankfully, the dance was not complicated and we learned the steps quickly allowing plenty of free time to explore the wonderful town of Malacca. Malacca has a rich history and was once controlled by the Portuguese during the spice trade. The town has beautiful ruins of Portuguese forts, as well as stunning churches and temples and a floating mosque. You can take a tour aboard a colorful, over the top rickshaw or walk until your feet get sore and you break down and hail a cab (I did all of the above in the three days of free time we had). Even after touring around Malaysia, Malacca is still one of my favorite places.
During one holiday, my host family took me on a roadtrip around Malaysia! We drove from Negeri Sembilan all the way across the country to Kuantan. On our way there, we stopped at an elephant conservation because seeing elephants was one of the things on my bucket list. Once we got to Kuantan we ate Nasi Kukus and stayed the night. The next day, we traveled to Terengganu where we stayed on a beach resort for two days. I saw my first monkeys, swam in the South China Sea and woke up early to see the sun rise. Then, we traveled up to Kota Bahru. There, we visited the border of Thailand and all of the different Thai temples. The next day, we drove across to Georgetown, Penang. Penang was beautiful and one of my favorite place in Malaysia. We ate great food, shopped, went up Penang Hill, visited the Kek Lok Si temple, and went to a jetty town (a town on stilts.) The next day we had to drive home but made sure to stop in Ipoh to visit the Perak Cave Temple.
Just this past holiday my family took me to Langkawi. Langkawi was hands down the most beautiful place I had ever been. We took a boat around the Kilim Geoforest Park and fed bald eagles, visited a bat cave and saw monkeys in the Mangrove trees. The next day we walked around Pantai Cenang, shopped and had amazing sea food. We stopped at an agricultural center and took a tour of the fruit trees and ate plates of fresh fruit. Malaysian fruit is the best! (Except Durian, sorry.)
The last place that I’ve visited was Sabah. We stayed in Kota Kinabalu. I know I just said that Langkawi was the most beautiful place I have ever been but Sabah is equally as gorgeous. The first day we were there we went to the zoo and saw the Orangutans (a malay word, actually) tigers and sun-bears. The next day we went Island hopping to Sapi Island and Manukan. The islands were so amazing an unbelievably beautiful. We snorkeled in the uber clear water and I saw plenty of coral and colorful fish. My host siblings tried Parasailing and my host parents tried Seafloor Walking (I wasn’t aloud to because of my program.) The next day we visited Mt. Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in Malaysia. It was pretty cloudy so I couldn’t see the whole mountain, but the surrounding view was breathtaking and it was nice to be up in the mountains where the temperature is cool. On the way home, we got a tad bit detoured because the road was closed due to a landslide, but that led us to a roadside stand where I had the opportunity to try the infamous fruit Durian. I did not like it to say the least, but I had to try it anyhow.
On another note, one of the best parts about Malaysia is the diversity. I have been so lucky to have been able to experience not only the Chinese and Buddhist culture from my host family, but Malay and Indian culture as well. This last month was Hari Raya Haji also known as Eid Mubarak. At school I witnessed the Qurbani of a goat (the sacrifice) and helped cut up the cow meat from a cow that was previously sacrificed. As for Indian culture, during Deepavali I had the opportunity to stay with my classmate Sobanna and her family. Deepavali is "the festival of lights" and is a traditional Hindu holiday. Sobanna's family was incredibly generous and welcoming to both myself and Beth, another American exchange student in Seremban. We got our own Punjabi suits, sponsored by the shopkeeper, jewelry, bindi and shoes. They even got us both our own little Ganesh statues. I ate with my hands off of a banana leaf (which does make it taste better I think) and ate plenty of muruku from all of the relatives we visited. Everything about Deepavali was so colorful and fun and I had an amazing time.
As you can see, I have been incredibly fortunate in my exchange. I would not be able to do any of this if it weren’t for my amazing host family, the other families that have hosted me temporarily, my school, YES Abroad, AFS Malaysia, and all the sponsors and people who have helped me out along the way. I have had an amazing time so far in Malaysia and I know I will have many more wonderful experiences throughout the rest of my exchange (and I promise I'll try harder to write about them.)
Floating Mosque in Malacca
Joget Festival in Malacca
At Elephant Sanctuary in the jungle
Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang
"Sitting Buddha" at Thai Temple in Kota Bahru
Love Locks on Penang Hill
Beautiful love notes in English, Chinese, Arabic, Malay and Tamil on the locks (Satu Malaysia)
Kilim Geoforest Park in Langkawi
Satay Everyday in Langkawi
Deepavali
Sapi Island, Sabah