Fish Stories

Some of our very best KL friends are moving and we're doing our darndest to pack in the adventures before bidding adieu. The boys have long talked about a weekend in Kuala Rompin, one of the few sailfish capitals of the world, so they loaded up ice chests and headed out for some 'catch and release' debauchery. Using everyone's photographs JJ made a video to make the rest of us jealous, and to prove the accuracy of their fish stories. The Louisiana girl in me is dying to head out there myself!

White Boy Can Jump

For those who know my husband and his mad jumping skills, you'll appreciate this commercial as much as we did. Long gone are J's professional athlete days, but perhaps he can be inspired to put his talent to use elsewhere.

Driving Miss Courtney

There's a first for everything.

Though I've lived in KL for over a year, today was my first experience with a drive-thru. Someone should have warned me that much like driving on the left side of the road, I also need to enter one-way drives from the opposite direction. I'll let your imagination take over on how the situation unfolded.

Let's just say I did a lot of smiling, waving...and reversing. I also chalked up the entire showdown experience to karma for eating fast food junk. I know better.

Exercise Your Right

When a friend spread word about the KL Photo Awards, my excitement for a good competition took over. I'm a firm believer in giving anything a shot, so I pulled favored images from my amateur 'portfolio' and hit Send.

Lo and behold out of 1,650 portrait submissions from 38 countries, one of my Indian photographs was selected as a Top 40 Individual Finalist, and I couldn't be more ecstatic!

Technicolor DreamcoatEntry No. 3
The judges will award 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, but all entries are subjected to a public vote for the People's Choice Portrait. Please help support the artists by voting for your favorite entry [once per computer, but smart phones give you double the ammo]. This is such an exciting category, so hurry and judge for yourself before Sunday, May 16th. The polls are steadily neck and neck — it really is anyone's shot!

Scootin' Along

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Is this thing on?

I know the crickets have been chirping on this site since February, but I figure there's no better way to make a comeback than with this photo. JJ is currently in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and decided to catch a ride with a local renting out the back seat of his moped. Priceless!

Take Off

Tuesday I embark on the trip of my dreams: 3 weeks romping through the colorful countries of India and Nepal. The camera battery is charged, lens cleaned, and my anticipation is chomping at the bit for it to finally all take place. For months I've been planning, making sure to cross all t's and dot each and every i.

Today I received an email from Expedia.

On March 2nd we are flying from Udaipur to Delhi, then onto Kathmandu. As most everyone knows, here in the East dates are written 'day - month - year' rather than the US format of 'month - day - year.' Somewhere between booking the ticket at 2AM and being sleep deprived from a darn cold, I giddily confirmed a flight for 02/03/2010.

Expedia is a US site.

My supposed March flight to Delhi actually took off 8 days ago because I don't know how to write dates anymore. I've nearly sabatoged my trip [flights and hotels are all overbooked for high season] or caused a major road trip because I transposed 02/03/2010 and 03/02/2010. Let's hope the rest is smooth sailing!

Son of a Gun

Never in my wildest dreams would I have envisioned driving through rush hour traffic, in Kuala Lumpur, dodging motorists, and cranking the radio because this song was playing loud and proud. Brenda Lee, did you ever imagine 45 years later you'd make one little Cajun the happiest girl in all of Malaysia?

Another Knee Slapper

My friend asked the hotel receptionist in Penang, "I was wondering if there is a prayer service tonight for Christmas?"

Receptionist responded, "You mean like the buffet?"

Margaritaville

My friend dined in one of the nicer KL restaurants and returned howling over her margarita story. This is positively priceless:

Rachael: This margarita doesn't taste right, and there is no salt on the glass. What is in it?
Bartender: Ma'am, the tequila is finish already so I use the Hennessey.
Rachael: Hennessey?! You used brandy instead of tequila?
Barman: Yes ma'am. Is OK?
Rachael: I'll have a Tiger Beer please.

Even better are the series of candid photos that happen to document the revelation.

It's a New Dawn

2009 is a year many want to erase altogether, but for us it was a time that will forever be etched into our hearts. We packed our bags and made Malaysia home—with no more than a month's notice. In nine short months my eyes have opened wider, heart is more understanding, the travel bug bit harder, and my soul has been vastly enriched. I pray 2010 brings nothing but the best to everyone near and far, and we're sending out one heck of a virtual HAPPY NEW YEAR from our neck of the woods!

[photo via Getty Images.]