KL American November 2016 Publication by klamerican

PP 4353/05/2013 (033269)

November 2016

american

A Publication of the American Association of Malaysia KL American November 2016

How to pack everything in The more you know about your destination, the sooner you can enjoy all it has to offer

Go knowing

www.crownrelo.com.my 2

KL American November 2016

Crown’s service offerings include: • • • • • •

International & Domestic Shipments Transit Protection Immigration & Legalization School Search Settling-in Services Intercultural Support

Tel: +60 3 5636 9166 kualalumpur@crownrelo.com

Contents

AAM November 2016 Advertisers Index Advertisers

(A-Z)

President’s Message

Page

Asian Tigers Transpo

Back Cover

Crown Relocations

Inside Front Cover

Eastern Carpets

p.18

Hop On / Hop Off

p.12

Tan & Tan

Inside Back Cover

EVA Air

p.13

The Expat

p.24

RSDHC

p.26

Tropicana Medical Centre

p.15

Membership

Weekly/Monthly Activities

7–8 10 – 11

October Activities Community Services

Sponsored by:

This will be our last coffee morning hosted at the AAM office so come on out. For our morning, we are featuring a local author, Mohana Gill. Ms. Gill writes cookbooks with a twist and has made it her mission to share information and knowledge while encouraging readers to eat healthy for wellness and longevity. All of her books have won Gourmand World Cookbook awards. Her focus is now on children and providing them with a nutritious diet and shows them how easy it is to eat healthy while having fun. Her books, especially those with young children or grandchildren, would make perfect Christmas gifts. Coffee will be served starting at 10:00 a.m. and our guest speaker will have samples of “healthy and delicious” items for us to try. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Monday, 7 November (for food prep purposes)

Please join us as we host our second MEMBERS ONLY event of the year, a Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner. We will provide the turkey and gravy and you bring all the trimmings. See page 8 for all the details. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Thursday, 17 November and please indicate what dish you will be bringing (see list on page 8).

Monday, 21 November 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ZenZero Restaurant & Bar St. Mary’s Place / Ground Floor/ No 1 Jalan Tengeh Cost: Individual Zenzero Restaurant & Wine Bar opened in December 2013 to delight the gourmet palate with its sophisticated and contemporary culinary creations. The name Zenzero, which means ginger in Italian was selected by the founders as a tribute to the versatile spice. The modern yet cozy atmosphere at Zenzero is enhanced by the aroma of their authentic and refined Italian cuisine, all carefully prepared and presented by their very own Italian chef. The menu varies according to the season with the desire of always offering both the freshest possible ingredients and a variety of culinary creations to delight and inspire guests. Please make plans to join us. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Wednesday, 16 November for reservation purposes KL American November 2016

November Activities

Looking Ahead… Be sure to mark these dates for activities in December: 02 December – First Friday Coffee 06 December – BINGO at Little Sisters 07 December – Gentlemen’s Night Out 11 December – Family Christmas Party with Canadian Association 13 December – Lunch Bunch 8

KL American November 2016

Ladies Trip to Bali, Indonesia! LAST CHANCE Calling all you ladies that are up for a whole lot of fun and adventure. This year we are putting together a fun filled trip to Bali! What could be better than Bali, beaches, and best girlfriends getting togther for a few days to share a lot of laughs and making some really great memories along the way. Trip Dates: Sunday 13 November – Thursday 17 November (Air fare is NOT included in the price listed below and you are responsible to make your own flight arrangements. Flights are currently running about $80USD return). Staying at our own private villa located on the southeast coast of Indonesia (near Ubud, Indonesia). Ubud offers Balinese massages galore, the Art Market, gorgeous white sand beaches, outdoor activities (rafting, tubing, treks through rice fields) to name a few. The Villa is located in the exclusive neighborhood of Anapuri Villas which is on Pabean Beach. Our villa has 6 bedrooms which allows for 12 guests, 6 bathrooms, private plunge pool, media room, fully equipped gym, indoor and outdoor dining areas, turn down and make up services, on-site security, manager, housekeeper, satellite T.V. in each room as well as Wifi throughout. We will also have our own private chef that will shop for and prepare our meals for us – the chef is included with the rental. Groceries will be an additional charge once we work out menus for each meal. We will also have our own driver and vehicle for our stay who can pick us up from the airport, shuttle us around to town for shopping and dining out and then take us back to the airport at the end of our trip. Price: $400.00 U.S. per person and includes everything mentioned above except for your flights and groceries and wine! If you are interested in going on this trip you must act fast – 11 of the 12 spots have already been sold so we only have room for 1 more. Get ready Ladies – Bali will never be the same. Please email Mona Reaves at monareaves@gmail.com to get more information and to sign up. Don’t wait – if you hesitate someone else may take your spot! To view more details about our villa, go to: www.vrbo.com/3952344ha#or simply type in Bayu Gita Beach Front KL American November 2016

Community Service

To order tickets email:

klamerican.info@gmail.com or call (03)2161 9008/9009 10

KL American November 2016

Community Service Your junk…is someone else’s treasure!!! Please drop off your once loved items and put a smile on someone’s face as they shop our huge White Elephant Sale. Take your gently used items to the AAM office (The Troika, Tower B, 19th Floor) any time during business hours between now and 19 October. All proceeds raised will go to our charities.

Christmas is Coming! Used Books Dust off those bookshelves and bring your used books, games and puzzles to the AAM. All proceeds raised will go to our charities.

The AAM Christmas Charity Bazaar is approaching and 2016 will be the 30th Anniversary of hosting this highly anticipated Bazaar. We have already started to secure our vendors, white elephant items and will soon be gathering baked goods, which all come together for charity. We would like to make this year’s Bazaar the BIGGEST and BEST ever as we raise funds for the charities the AAM supports. If you are interested in getting involved or want more information, please email: Leslie Sjurseth at bazaardirector.aam@gmail.com.

Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen Mark your calendars, it’s that time of year, Our Charity Bazaar is nearly here! And one tradition so dear to my heart Is providing the goodies that I love to impart. But I, Mrs. Claus can’t do it alone Since I need lots of goodies for our Friends to take home. So I need some help to fill all my shelves And I’m desperately in need of A few helpful elves! Baking your treats as you are able Will definitely help me to fill up my table. The instructions you need are all right below Thank you to all and a Merry ho-ho!

If you have a favorite recipe for any baked goods, i.e. cookies, brownies, scones, cakes, pies, breads or muffins, that say “tradition” in your family, please consider baking it and sharing with our community.

Help decorate the AAM’s Christmas Charity

Giving Tree. Buy a beautiful Christmas ornament for only RM50 and make a donation at the same time. You may purchase an ornament at the Bazaar, at the Villa, or at an AAM event through December. You may also send donations to the Villa by mail or electronically by contacting klamerican.info@gmail.com.

For shoppers to enjoy right away, please package cookies three to four a bag and brownies two to a bag. Please include a description of the baked goods. Mrs. Clause would prefer items arrive at the bake sale table BEFORE 10:00 a.m. at the Renaissance Hotel OR can be dropped off at the AAM office by 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 2 November. Mrs. Claus can’t wait to see what everyone is donating! The funds we raise will mean so much to our charities. Questions? Leslie @ bazaardirector.aam@gmail.com.

KL American November 2016

Pokémon GO By Debz Rafferty

I have a sneaky feeling that the Pokémon GO craze is near its end, with Star Wars about to Jedi its way in, but better late than never I say. So what is Pokémon GO? Pokémon GO is a free-to-play game that is futuristic enough that it would not be out of place in an episode of Star Trek. The smartphone game allows the player to interact with a virtual world that overlaps the real world. Pokémon are fighting monsters. Niantic, a Google start up company that became independent in 2015, invented Pokémon GO and run it under license from Nintendo. The predecessor was a game called Ingress and Pokémon GO has used the core game mechanic. Ingress was created by a Japanese inventor who used to love collecting insects when he was a child. Using the GPS on your smart device, the Pokéworld and the real world overlap. You can walk through the world, pick up supplies from Pokéstops and catch monsters, from Charmander to Pikachu, the monsters pop up in nest areas and can be caught by swiping a finger across the screen of your phone and sending a Pokéball at them. When caught,they are ready to fight. Poké-gyms are usually found near to Poké-stops. The more monsters you catch, the more points you get, and the more points you get, the high the level you become. From level 5, you can start to enter gyms and fight other Pokémon. If you win in a Poké-gym, you can leave a Pokémon inside, which means you can get Poké-tokens from iTunes, to buy extra fighting balls or a larger storage bag. As you may have heard, people have got into trouble playing Pokémon GO. Each time the game switches on it says “do not trespass when playing.” More alarming is when you spot someone crawling though the KL traffic jams head down looking at their phone in hope that they may bag a rare Pokémon on the drive home! Friends have banned their kids from playing because of the dangers, deciding that the opportunity to teach our kids boundaries and self-control, is just not worth the risk. Having screeched to stop more than once as a teen just walks out in traffic I can see why! On a positive note,I believe the safety of KLCC Park has improved ten-fold since the launch of Pokémon GO. There are so many more people in the park, and more people means more security and more security means less opportunity for snatch theft! Pavilion has quite rightly posted warnings about “taking care of your belongings when catching them all,” as being

KL American November 2016

distracted in closed spaces is just “meals on wheels” for a pickpocket or snatch thief! The positives are that it is getting people out and about, and walking is more popular than it has been in years (you have to walk a certain distance to hatch eggs and get more Pokémon). The conspiracy theorists amongst us will say that this game is all just a ploy by “The Government” to spy on our movements. The careless and less disciplined amongst us will no doubt fall down a ditch or two, or walk into someone else’s home - and I have to admit I have chuckled at some social media posts involving people walking into the sea or off jetties - their bemused faces as they are fished from the drink! I have dabbled in a bit of Pokémon catching myself, and as there is a gym right next to my martial arts school I can’t help dropping in my Poké-avatar once in a while, but I do know my limits and do not Poké-drive, and I leave my phone face down when having lunch with friends and family, and securely in my pocket when I walk down the road! Although I have paused to sit on a bench or two and slid my finger repeatedly over the screen of my phone. Recently while in Marina Bay Sands in Singapore I was in awe at the sheer number of Poké-tourists sitting in Tower One sliding their screen like a “flash mob”. (Flash mob is a synchronised dance done in public places by a group of people, usually more than 50). I have fist pumped when I caught a particularly good Pokémon GO and I have also connected with my older kids and their friends, going out to hunt as a team. Gyms are much easier to take if there are a few of you. So I guess Pokémon is not all bad. In summary, if you have the kind of personality that sinks their attention into one thing and you lose track of our surroundings easily then my advice would be DON’T DOWNLOAD POKÉMON GO. However, if you can remain aware of your surroundings while engaged in a task, if you have the self-control to only play when appropriate, then why not try it? You could enjoy yourself while increasing your activity levels and maybe even connecting with the younger generation… Meanwhile stay safe, stay savvy!

Dr. Hisham Kunhimon MBBS (UM), MS Ortho (UKM), CMIA (NIOSH) Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Tropicana Medical Centre

TROPICANA MEDICAL CENTRE 11, Jalan Teknologi, PJU 5, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. T: +603-6287 1111 W: www.tropicanamedicalcentre.com FB: www.facebook.com/TropicanaMedicalCentre E: enquiries@tropicanamedicalcentre.com

“Bone Health: Why Osteoporosis is More Common in Women?” AT LEAST ONE THIRD OF WOMEN AND ONE FIFTH OF MEN ABOVE 50 YEARS OF AGE IS LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM OSTEOPOROSIS RELATED FRACTURES IN THEIR LIFE TIME What is osteoporosis? Who gets it? Why is early detection important? How do I know if I have it and if so, what can I do about it? These are among the questions that lingers the mind of someone who wants to know more about osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition that affects mainly the aging population and more common among the women than men. As the country develops with better healthcare and increasing elderly population, this condition is becoming ever more important to identify and treat. Prevention, early detection and treatment can help prevent fractures, some of which may have devastating effect on lifestyle, and even lifespan. What is Osteoporosis? Osteoporosis literally means porous bone. It is thus a condition characterised by low bone mass due to the deterioration of the micro-architecture of the bone itself. This means, that although the bones may not physically get smaller, but the beams and columns that make bones architecture becomes thinner and weaker. In the end, an osteoporotic bone is more prone to fracture or breakage. Osteoporosis is a systemic disease, which means that the condition effects all bones in the body, although some bones are more prone to give away and fracture than the others. Osteoporosis is also a silent disease, often only recognised when it presents itself as a fracture. The common sites of fractures are the wrist, spine and hip. Typically these bones fracture with relatively trivial falls or trauma due to their weak architecture.These fractures pose a major health problem among the elderly. The most debilitating among these is the hip fracture, which carries higher morbidity and mortality. The key to understand osteoporosis is to understand how calcium is metabolised and stored in the body. Dietary calcium is absorbed in the intestines and stored mainly in the bones. This process of absorption and storage is facilitated by Vitamin D. Vitamin D is obtained from diet as well as from the skin when exposed to adequate sunlight. The bone formation and resorption is a delicate process maintained by hormones and the usage of the bones such as weight bearing, exercises and the above-mentioned calcium and Vitamin D. How it Presents? The incidence of hip fracture in Malaysia among individuals above 50 years of age is 90 for every 100,000 people as shown in a study in 1997. The incidence increases markedly among the older age group. Among these, the Chinese had the highest incidence of hip fractures compared to the Malays and Indians, where Chinese women accounted for 44.8% of hip fractures Osteoporosis is more common among ladies. This is because after menopause, the deficiency of oestrogen accelerates bone loss and is thus known as postmenopausal osteoporosis. However, this condition is not exclusively of the fairer sex, as men too suffer from it.Age-related osteoporosis, which comes into play at a slightly older age affects men and women equally. Os-

teoporosis can be secondary to other conditions; steroid, hormone related diseases to name but a few are relatively uncommon. Early Detection Being a silent disease, many a times the condition is only recognised after a fracture by which time the osteoporosis is considered to have entered into a severe stage. These are some signs to look out for that can help to recognise this condition relatively early. The spine that carries our bodyweight is among the first to show the signs of stress. As bones get more porous, minute fractures repeatedly occur and heals with gradual compression of individual bone even without obvious trauma. These subtle changes present as gradual loss of height of the affected person. These changes also bring about in a forward bending of the spine or a hunched posture also known as dowager’s hump. Sometimes, these repetitive fractures also cause recurrent back pain; yet another sign to lookout for. When obvious fractures actually happens, it is usually due to a relatively low energy trauma, which otherwise should not cause a fracture. Bone density is an important parameter used to measure and to diagnose the severity of osteoporosis, although it does not measure the improvement of micro architecture of the bone. Bone density assessment gives an objective method to assess severity and effectiveness of treatment. There are modalities of treatment however that reduces fracture risks with minimal improvement of bone density. The gold standard of bone density measurement is using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. It is found to be more accurate and reproducible than other method of measurement. Dexa scan used to measure bone density at vertebra and hips, the common site of fractures although the measurement can be taken at other specific bones as well. Dexa scan gives results as T score, a score comparing the patient density with a young adult mean and a Z score which compares with an age-matched person’s average value. Plain x-ray is not an accurate screening for osteoporosis and the changes will only be seen in X-ray beyond 30% of bone density loss. The presence of an osteoporotic fracture however is suggestive of severe osteoporosis regardless of the bone density reading. How to Prevent? 1) Supplements As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Decrease in bone mass starts in the 3rd decade of life although the process is accelerated during post-menopausal. Adequate dietary calcium can help to delay the process of bone mass reduction.The current calcium intake in the Malaysian diet is between 300-400 mg daily. However, the recommended calcium intake for post menopausal women and men above 65 is 1300 mg per day. Hence, calcium supplement is recommended as a prevention of osteoporosis. In established

osteoporosis, calcium supplement plays a supportive role for other medication to help bone formation.Even at a younger age, a sustained high calcium intake in children and adolescents is associated with higher peak bone mass and hence, reducing the risk of osteoporosis occurring in later life. Adequate Vitamin D is important for bone formation. Active individuals who are exposed to sufficient sunlight of at least 15 minutes a day should have adequate Vitamin D levels. Elderly who are institutionalised, immobile, lack outdoor activities and have a poor diet will benefit from Vitamin D supplements. 2) Diet A balanced diet is important to provide adequate nutrients that are required for skeletal health. Excessively low body weight and extreme dieting is associated with low bone mineral status and increased fracture risk. Maintenance of a body mass index of not less than 19 kg/m2 is recommended for prevention of osteoporosis. Body mass index is calculated based on the following formula Body mass index =

(mass in kg) (Height in metre) 2

3) Exercise Regular physical activity particularly weight-bearing exercises in all age groups help to maximise peak bone mass. It also decreases age-related bone loss other than helping to maintain muscle strength and balance. Muscle strength and coordination also helps to prevent falls, which is another key point to avoid in elderly. Other preventive methods are to discontinue smoking and to reduce alcohol consumption. 4) Medications There are many types of medication that help to reduce osteoporosis. Each medication has its own merits and place in treating osteoporosis. These medications should be taken with doctors’ prescription, as monitoring is necessary to prevent complication. Post menopausal Hormone replacement therapy may be started not only to prevent osteoporosis but to maintain other benefits provided by oestrogen. On the other hand, serum oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) mimic the action of oestrogen when taken orally. Bisphosphonates can be taken orally in weekly or monthly basis. It can also be taken at longer interval in injectable forms and has been shown to reduce fracture risks. Calcitonin is an antiresorptive agent, which can be taken intranasal to increase bone density and reduce osteoporotic spine fracture pain. Last but not least, injectable medication such as Teriperatide has shown strong anabolic effect in bone formation. Hence, osteoporosis is a potentially preventable and treatable condition. Osteoporosis affects elderly women more than men. Early detection and initiation of treatment can help to prevent fractures, some of it which has devastating effect in term of prognosis and lifestyle. KL American November 2016 15

Nepal By Peggy Uptigrove As an expat here in S.E. Asia, we all have the opportunity to travel to lots of different, interesting and exciting places. When we arrived in Kuala Lumpur, my husband and I decided that we would try and go someplace new once a month. We have our major ‘bucket list’ of places that we want to see, but we also take mini breaks to other places that are close by. Recently we took a mini break to Nepal, Kathmandu specifically. This was not one of those places that was on our bucket list but after having traveled there, I recommend everyone add it to their list of must see places.

It is situated high atop a hill and has fantastic views of the city and surrounding mountains – no you cannot see Mount Everest from here. There are two entrances to the Temple – one is climbing the 365 steps to the top or you can go by car around the mountain and be dropped off at the top. We had already hired the driver so we went the easy route. There is an enormous Stupa on top of the hill with the ever present ‘Budda eyes’ painted on all four sides. This is representative of God and that He sees everything. There are shops and restaurants and hotels in the area. Well worth a visit.

It is a quick and easy 4 hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kathmandu (we used Air Asia so cheap, too!). Kathmandu is truly a “trekkers paradise” so the town is filled with cheap hostels and outlets to buy hiking equipment and supplies. We didn’t go to Nepal for that – we went for the sights, the sounds and to experience the culture, and what an experience we had. Kathmandu is located in a beautiful and lush valley nestled between India to the south and Tibet (China) to the north. Through no planning on our part, we arrived in Kathmandu during their biggest and largest annual festival, Dashain. Will talk about that more later. We booked in at the Hotel Shanker which was completed in 1894. It was originally one of the palaces for the Royal family until 1964 when it was converted into a luxury hotel. The hotel is set on 4.4 acres with a beautiful lawn, an inviting pool and spacious guest rooms. This hotel is not located right in the middle of town but a quick 10 minute walk will take you to where all the restaurants, bars and shops are located. This hotel and their staff were all about customer service and satisfaction so we felt well pampered during our stay. We booked a guided tour the day after our arrival and this was well worth the money. Our guide spoke perfect English and was extremely knowledgeable about the area, the people and their traditions. Our tour started in the oldest part of the city, referred to as the medieval side of Durbar square. This area consists of 50 temples, one which was built in the 16th century and is believed to be the oldest wooden building in the world. This pagoda style temple is three levels high and enshrines the deity, Goraknath (the Lord who protects cows). There are no restrictions on foreigners to enter this temple, however photographs were not allowed. As we moved through the square, the sights and sounds were quite overwhelming. 16

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The people of Nepal were preparing for their festival, Dashain, which is a 15 day Nepalese celebration for all people, regardless of class or religion. Thorough out the kingdom of Nepal the goddess Durga is worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices for the ritual holy bathing, thus drenching the goddess for days in blood. We were told by our guide that starting the next night and until dawn the following day the sacrifice of 108 buffalo, 108 chickens and 108 goats would begin in the square and surrounding temples. This would be a time in which foreigners would not be allowed in the temples, which was good with me because that is not something I would want to witness. As our tour continued our next stop was up to the Swayambhunath Temple (commonly called ‘Monkey Temple’).

Next stop, back down the hill and on to Shree Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest in the world. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Budda. Beside the Stupa is one very massive mandala which makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal. This stupa is located along the trade route from ancient time. For those coming out of Tibet it was a stopping point where many offerings were made.

Our last stop on our day tour was to the Pashupatinath (Crematorium). In the Hindu religion, this is considered one of the most sacred temples and is located on the banks of the Bagmati River. Virtually all Hindu’s living in Nepal are cremated (except children) and this is the location where those cremations take place. Located on the banks of the river, the deceased are brought down to the river by their families and laid to rest on a concrete platform which overhangs the water.

pal festival, a lot of shops were closed but not so much that we didn’t get to experience the people and food of the area. A lot of restaurants do serve Western food but the majority of the cuisine had an Indian influence consisting of various curries, rice, and vegetarian dishes. Cheap food was abundant and every place we had eaten in was clean and delicious. There is a wide selection of eateries (mostly roof top) so we never ate at the same restaurant twice. Cheap is also the word for drinks. They have two local beers, Everest being their best seller and Gorhka and each sell for about US$3.50 for a very large, chilled bottle. Mixed drinks are around the same price but we did find that if you ordered something they weren’t familiar with you would see the bartender on his phone, likely google searching how to make a Tequilla Sunrise! Everybody speaks English there as well so there were no communication barriers.

est. For those that know me, voluntarily getting in to a 17 seater, 2 prop engine airplane is totally out of the question, but I figured I had come all this way and this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity. It may have been my last, but I was going to go for it! What an unbelievable experience. There are no words I could use that could adequately describe what we saw after making the 4 mile climb up in that small airplane to rise far above the clouds and come up close to Mount Everest. As you can only imagine, this was the ‘peak’ of our trip there and I would do it all again to be able to see that view. Once up above the clouds, the fact that I was in this small plane vanished from my thoughts as one by one we were invited up to the cockpit to get a very clear and unobstructed view of this mighty mountain.

Nepal had suffered an earthquake in April 2015 and there are reminders of the damage all over the city. The earthquake registered 7.8, 600,000 homes were destroyed and 9,000 people died. Over the course of the next nine to ten months, Kathmandu experienced over 30,000 after shocks.

Here they are burned, using wood and dried grasses, and their ashes are then pushed in to the river. Hindu beliefs are such that one comes from the five elements, water, air, fire, earth and, and are therefore returned to these elements in death. It was all very interesting and on our visit, one cremation was taking place. There are more than 20 concrete slabs that line this particular section of the river we were at and every-one looked very well used. There is one slab that has not been used and that is being saved for the death of the Head of State. This was the only official historic tour that we took but there were many more that travelers could do with many more temples and corners to be explored. Since we were in the heart of the largest Ne-

There are still hundreds of displaced families living in tents making for several ‘shanty towns’. Nepal is a very, very poor country but despite this recent disaster, they remain humble and very friendly. Never once walking around the city, the temples or back to our hotel late at night did we feel unsafe or threatened. On the last full day we were there we decided to take the small plane tour over the Himalayan mountains and right beside Mount Ever-

It is still hard for me to wrap my head around, that I have had that experience and if you do travel to Kathmandu or Nepal this is a ‘must do’. Our friend that was traveling with us was speaking to a woman on our flight back to KL and she was telling him how disappointing the ‘trek’ up to Everest base camp was because it was 10 days of looking down and marching in line, following in the footsteps of the person in front of you. When they arrived at base camp, which was for one day before they started their descent back down, they couldn’t even really see the grandeur of the mountain because of the cloud cover. Albeit frightening for me to get in that small plane, I think we chose the best way to see Mount Everest and I will always remember that day. So, if you think Nepal is too out of the way, or too foreign, or too remote – think again. There is plenty to see and do, the people are very pleasant, good food, cheap drinks – what are you waiting for? Go to Nepal – you won’t be sorry you did. KL American November 2016

KL American November 2016

Hollywood meets Bollywood A night out on the red carpet Saturday November 19th Ballroom Impiana Hotel KLCC 7.30 pm Bring out your inner Hollywood/Bollywood and glam it up to mingle in the spotlight like a true star. Who knows, you could be nominated for a Best Dressed Award. RM 250 Buffet Dinner RM 325 Buffet Dinner with Free Flow wine/beer We promise you an exciting evening of nonstop entertainment, music from East and West, a live band and lots of prizes to be won.

Be a Star for the evening IWAKL Annual Gala 2016

Proceeds from the evening will be donated to local charitable causes Reserve your seat now! Fitri 0172839955/Debbie 0172841164 Email : galadinner.iwakl@gmail.com RSVP by 10th November 2016

KL American November 2016

Memories Lunch Bunch at ABC 20, September

A small group of ladies gathered at one of our local favorite spots to share lunch and conversation. The food at ABC is outstanding and we all enjoyed our time together.

Photos by Peggy Uptigrove

Annual Welcome Back Shrimp Boil 24, September Photos by Peggy Uptigrove

KL American November 2016

People came out to enjoy an evening of Shrimp, Crawfish and good times. Our hard working cooks, Jon Blacklock, Jeff Sjurseth and Stan Uptigrove served up buckets and buckets of the best crawfish and shrimp in the city. We had raffle prizes to be won and people really enjoyed the night. Thank you to our event sponsor, Asian Tigers for their continued support.

Memories Annual Welcome Back Shrimp Boil 24, September Photos by Peggy Uptigrove

Putrajaya Tour 27, September

Photos by Leslie Sjurseth and Vicki Palmer

This tour was originally scheduled for late August but was rescheduled for September due to a terrific rainstorm. Members had a great time touring this beautiful city which is just located a short 30 minute drive out of Kuala Lumpur. A fun fact about Putrajaya: There are no taxi cabs in the entire city!

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Special Event PINK October This yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Pink October event, held on Friday 7 October at the Sheraton Imperial KL was an even biggerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; success than last year. This year the AAM partnered with the Latin Ladies Association of Malaysia (LLAM) and the Association of British Women in Malaysia (ABWM). These three associations brought together a group of ladies (and one man) that came out to support a great cause and raise funds for the National Cancer Society of Malaysia and The Breast Cancer Welfare Association.

the Grand Prize was Danna Stensgaard. She was very excited.

We had over 265 ladies (and one man) attend a delicious luncheon and also had 18 vendors available for our shopping pleasure. We had plenty of door prizes and raffle items which included a GRAND PRIZE from Etihad Airways, who donated to the cause 2 Economy Tickets to anywhere they fly in Europe or The United States. The lucky winner of

We hope for all of those that were in attendance, you too had a beautiful afternoon and we Thank You for supporting us while we support our community. We raised over RM38,000 which will be divided between the two organizations we were supporting with our event. We look forward to an even bigger and better event next year.

KL American November 2016

The AAM, LLAM and ABWM would like to thank our valued sponsors, KPJ Healthcare, Asian Tigers and of course Etihad Airways for their generosity. Once again, the staff at the Sheraton Imperial KL went over and above what was expected for the day and made our job of bringing this event all together so much easier.

Special Event

KL American November 2016

AAM Messages AAM Online Communities The AAM is on Facebook! “Like” the AAM Facebook fan page by logging on, typing ‘American Association of Malaysia’ in the Search bar at the top of the page and clicking ‘Like.’ You’ll get the latest information on all of AAM’s exciting events and activities!

Introducing the AAM Google Group - a forum for members to consult with other members on queries and recommendations for anything from best family hotels to dentists to household help. Members can join in two ways. First, you can send an email to secondvp.aam@gmail.com with the email addresses you would like to add to the Google Group. Please put “Need AAM Google Group Invite” in the header of the email. The second way to join is you can go to Google Groups, search for American Association of Malaysia and then ask to be invited and the Administrator can add you. When you receive the invite via email, you must respond to complete the registration process. For more information, go to http:// www.klamerican.com/online-communities.

Membership Renewal

To avoid missing any issues of the magazine and to continue receiving discounted prices for AAM events, please make sure your membership is up to date. Renewal notices will be emailed to you one month before expiration. Dues can be paid by cash or check in person at the AAM Villa @ The Troika by or cash deposit to the AAM’s bank account directly.

Your $0.02 Do you have any ideas or suggestions for new activities, events or workshops that may be of interest to our members? Can you think of ways we can improve our current line-up? Any concerns about the AAM’s building facilities? Your feedback, whether positive or negative, is always welcome. Kindly drop us a note in the Suggestion Box located in the villa or email klamerican.info@gmail.com.

Solicitation Policy Solicitation of business by any member or guest is not allowed at any AAM function without prior board approval. Members are requested to respectfully observe the policy that membership information is to be used solely for AAM business and is not to be used for personal or business solicitation purposes. If you are interested in sharing your talents/services with the AAM, please contact the AAM office.

Holidays in November There are no Holidays in November that affect the office closure.

Reservation & Payment Policy

Event and Activity reservations can be made via email to klamerican.info@gmail.com, in person or via fax. • If the reservation is made via email or fax, the AAM office will send you an acknowledgment receipt and advise whether or not the activity is still available. • Fees MUST be paid within 48 hours of signing up for an event or activity. You will not be “confirmed” for the event/activity until payment in full has been received by the office. • You may pay by cash or check in person at the AAM Villa @ The Troika or cash deposit to the AAM’s bank account directly. If you wish to deposit cash payments to the AAM’s bank account, please contact the AAM office for account information and instructions (your bank may charge you a minimal fee for this service). • We cannot accept credit card payments at the office. We are currently working on details to secure an on-line payment system for your convenience. Further information to come.

Cancellation Policy

• Reservations MUST be cancelled FIVE BUSINESS DAYS prior to the activity in order to received a refund. If you do not cancel your reservation within this time period or you are a no-show the day of the Event/Activity, a refund will not be issued. • For Events/Activities that have a required minimum attendance, AAM reserves the right to cancel or reschedule when circumstances warrant. • Each Event/Activity will have a sign up deadline date and we must adhere to those dates. This allows instructors of classes to gather all required materials or tour companies to arrange the proper transportation for our group. • If you still have not made payment by the reservation deadline for an Event/Activity, your name will be automatically removed from the sign-up sheet and there will be no further correspondence from the AAM office. To avoid disappointment, please make your payment within 48 hours of making your reservation.

KL American November 2016

US EMBASSY We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Malaysia enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at http://www. travel.state.gov/. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the embassy or nearest consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Calling Willing Leaders We, like the United States, are preparing for our own Presidential Election! That’s right, we are looking for new leaders of the American Association. Starting in December, we will have a nomination committee together that will be looking for members to fill several key Board of Director positions at our Annual General Meeting (date to be determined). It doesn’t matter if we have a full board with every other position filled, if no one steps up to take on the position of President, the entire Association will be shut down. Our constitution states that there has to be a President on board to ensure the continuation of the AAM. The positions that need to be filled are listed below but first and foremost, we will need someone to considerthe job of President. President: This position over sees and is responsible for the entire operation of the American Association of Malaysia. The President is the representive of the AAM within the community, with our Corporate Sponsors, and charities. Serve as chair for all meetings. Responsible, along with the entire Board of Directors, to make appropriate changes to serve the Association in the best interest of the members and the community. Vice President: Steps in on behalf of the President when necessary. Events Director: This position is responsible for coordinating and overseeing all events hosted by the AAM. This includes but not limited to monthly events such as tours, talks and demonstrations for the members (and non-members). This position is also in charge of any major events such as our annual ball and shrimp boil. Publications Director: This position gathers information for our monthly publication and is the liaison with our graphic designer to approve the layout of the magazine. This position also secures advertising for our publication and sends out contracts to those that are interested in placing ads.This position is vital to help contribute to our annual income through advertising contracts.

The U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is located at 376 Jalan Tun Razak 50400, Kuala Lumpur and is open 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. If you are a U.S. citizen and have any questions or concerns, please call the U.S. Embassy at (03) 2168-5000 or visit the U.S. Citizens Service website at http:// malaysia.usembassy.gov/. We will post the most updated information on the website. USEFUL LINKS: CountyOffice.org is the most accurate internet database of county government offices in the United States. Use our site to locate your county assessor, board of elections, chamber of commerce, child support offices, colleges, coroner, courts, and much more, with all relevant details.

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS EMERGENCY POLICE......................................................................999 FIRE & RESCUE.........................................................999 CIVIL DEFENSE.........................................................999 ANY EMERGENCIES FROM MOBILE PHONE............112 UTILITIES... ELECTRICITY/POWER FAILURE............................ 15454 WATER DISRUPTION................................1800 88 5252 SEWAGE SYSTEM.....................................03 2780 1100 OPERATOR DIRECTORY ENQUIRIES............................................100 ANIMALS MISSING PETS..........................................03 4021 1682 SNAKES & PESTS......................................03 4042 6742 ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER. (24 HRS.).....03 4041 6742

KL American November 2016

american association of malaysia KL

November 2016

Sun

Mon

Tues 1

10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Bingo @ Little Sisters of the Poor

VENUE KEY AAM Villa @ The Troika

Wed 2

10:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Stitching Friends

Thu 3

6:00 p.m. Gentlemen’s Night Out TAPAS Beer Bar

Fri

Sat

10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Christmas Charity Bazaar Renaissance Hotel

Ladies Trip to Bali

Ladies Trip to Bali Ladies Trip to Bali Ladies Trip to Bali

1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Mahjong

4:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Thanksgiving Dinner Members Only

12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Lunch Bunch ZenZero

10:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Coffee Morning

10:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Stitching Friends

10:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Friday Coffee Harrod’s KLCC

Ladies Trip to Bali

AAM Office Tel: (03) 2161-9008 / 9009 email: klamerican.info@gmail.com

KL American November 2016

(60-3) 5565 2200 KL American November 2016