PP 4353/05/2013 (033269)
August 2014
KL
american
A Publication of the American Association of Malaysia
Contents AAM August 2014 Advertisers Index Advertisers
(A-Z)
2
President’s Message
3
Page
7
4
Editorial
Membership
Asian Tigers Transpo
Back Cover
Aidea Art
p.26
City Motors
p.26
Crown Relocations
Inside Front Cover
Eastern Carpets
Inside Back Cover
7
Inter-society Charity Golf Tournament
Eva Airways
p.18
8
Weekly Activities / Help Wanted!
The Expat
p.5
RSDHC
p.28
Tropicana Medical Centre
p.20
5 6
9
14
Community Service
What’s On at the AAM
14 16 17
Digital Shoebox: The Harbour Trip
Perspectives: Taking a Summer Break
Diversions: Out of KL and into Malaysia - Taiping
19
16
AAM Messages
20
Diversions: Maldives Heaven on Earth
Health Care in Malaysia
21 27 28
Memories
AAPP Directory AAM Calendar
17 Cover Photo: Maxwell Hill (Bukit Larut) Tortoise, Malaysia; Photo by Rissa Larsen
19 KL American August 2014
1
President’s Message Hi Everyone! Well, I have some good news and bad news. I can’t ask which you want first, so I will start with the good news; it makes me happy to share with you all that Heather Weber is our new Corporate Relations Director, and Peggy Uptigrove is our new Membership Director. We appreciate these ladies stepping up to help our club, and I know they will propel us upward and onward. On that note, the Relocation Committee has found some nice properties in our price range, and I can’t give away the details until all the dotted lines are signed, but I can tell you that we are KLCC-bound with an address and view to match all our expectations. Look for more information in the months to come. This has come after much hard work from many people and repeated efforts with realtors, so to see it paying off so well is really gratifying and makes my job totally worthwhile. Then there is some news that turns my smile upside down, which is that I am moving to Kuala Belait, Brunei, in August. I am working to finish all my open action items with the AAM so as to at least leave the club the same or better than when I took on this role. You will still see a lot of me since I will return to KL in October to chair our Pink October High Tea and attend a few Balls, and with any luck you will see my husband and me at the AAM’s 2015 Ball this Spring—as some of you may recall, while I lived in Balikpapan, Indonesia, we returned to KL for the AAM Balls in 2012 and 2013. We did that because we still felt connected to the AAM community even though we had relocated, and I suppose that is the best note for me to end on as we head out from KL for a second time. I already know from experience how true it is that an expat “goodbye” is “see you later” in the most real sense. We might cross paths at the airport in Moscow or San Francisco or happen to visit Paris at the same time, or find ourselves stationed in the same compound in the Middle East. With expats, you never know. But with expat clubs I have always maintained that no one person is unexpendable, and it is no different with myself, so to that end I have good news. Stephanie Emilo, our 2nd Vice President, has volunteered to assume the President role, and I am sure she will do an amazing job. As 2nd Vice President she has made tremendous strides to bring us new activities with new instructors, create new partnerships with local businesses, improve our digital communication, and participate with the Relocation Committee. I am excited to see how the club benefits from her leadership, and it is a huge relief to me knowing that I do leave the AAM in capable hands. Please keep in touch with me, and I hope to see you all at the Pink October High Tea.
Cindy Childress President
Corporate Partners For 2014 Presidential
Board of Directors President Cindy Childress President.aam@gmail.com 1st Vice President Nicole Fitch FirstVP.aam@gmail.com 2nd Vice President Stephanie Emilo SecondVP.aam@gmail.com Secretary Ann Blacklock Secretary1.aam@gmail.com Treasurer Donna Sawyer Treasurer.aam@gmail.com Publications Director Kim Starr Editor.KLAmerican@gmail.com Major Events Director Sherlyn Bourne Majoreventsdir.aam@gmail.com Membership Director Peggy Uptigrove Membershipdirector.aam@gmail.com Community Service Director Marilyn Kindy Communityservice.aam@gmail.com Corporate Relations Director Heather Weber Corprelations.aam@gmail.com Bazaar Directors Lovie Alptunaer and Mary Mantei Bazaardirector.aam@gmail.com
Liaison Directors American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce Samantha Elfmont ISKL Hilda Alposilva
Liberty Eagle AMCHAM 2
Coca-Cola Malaysia
KL American August 2014
Halliburton Santa Fe Relocation Services
US Embassy Jessica Schnepple Samantha Elfmont General Manager Ann Tan
Editorial
KL
Where’ve you been?
American
I’m just back from a whirlwind trip to the States and fighting jetlag as I assemble this month’s issue. I’ve only been an expat for two and a half years, and I’m struggling with what is a relatively new phenomenon to me, but what must be a familiar feeling to those more seasoned at living abroad. Trips “home” are certainly bitter sweet, aren’t they? For months I fantasized about indulging in a juicy bacon cheeseburger at my favorite watering hole or passing away a lazy afternoon watching minor league ball with a beer and a dog. But when the time came, and I was there trying to juggle all my obligations to see family and friends, not to mention shopping trips to Target, with all my fantasies about eating at my favorite restaurants or pursuing my old favorite pastimes, I was exhausted and longed for a lazy day eating satays on the beach! Soon enough, I’ll be all rested up and fantasizing about my next trip back “home.” C’est la vie!
Magazine Team
Editor Kim Starr Photo Editors Judy Pescio Kim Starr Contributors Lovie Alptunaer Sherlyn Bourne Cecilia Brown Cindy Childress Randee Duncan Ngosong Fonkem Marilyn Kindy Rissa Larsen Stephanie Nguyen Kim Starr Peggy Uptiglove Arden Wight Proofreaders Randee Duncan Marilyn Kindy Helen Mastache Ann Tan
The AAM is back in action. After taking it easy in June and July, we have a full slate of activities this month. We start August with First Fridays on the 1st and Bingo with the Little Sisters of the Poor on the 9th. Our monthly coffee morning goes on the road again this month on the 15th. Saturday Night Out takes on a Latin flair on the 16th while Lunch Bunch revisits an old favorite on the 20th. We end the month with a writer’s workshop on the 25th and a walking tour on the 26th. The mahjong players, quilters and book club will all meet again this month but the roadrunners are on hiatus. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Before you know it, it’ll be September so be sure to mark your calendars for upcoming activities like the beginners’ Bahasa class and the Shrimp boil.
Editorial Support Ann Tan Designer Yap Wai Kuan Advertising Sales Ann Tan Tel: (03) 4021-4367/8 Printer Seng Hoe Printing Process 33, Jalan Hang Tuah 2 Taman Salak Selatan 57100 Kuala Lumpur Tel/Fax: (03) 8941-7603 Publisher American Association of Malaysia The KLAmerican is published 10 times per year. The deadline for inclusion is at least six weeks prior to publication which is the 1st of the month. Advertising for non-profit organizations is free-of-charge on a spaceavailable basis. The magazine staff reserves the right to edit copy for clarity, brevity, and accuracy. Information on AAM members is not to be used commercially. Reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission, is strictly prohibited.
Unit G-3A, Villa Seavoy 7, Lorong Titiwangsa 8 Taman Titiwangsa 53200 Kuala Lumpur GPS Coordinates: N3° 11.035’, E101° 42.278’
In this spirit of summer, and of course, summer vacations, this month I have asked the KLAmerican contributors to tell me about their summer adventures, so sit back, relax and read about their travels – near and far! Stephanie takes us to Sydney and Maldives, Ngsong ventures off to Turkey, and Rissa stays closer to home with a serendipitous road trip to Taiping. Enjoy!
Kim Starr
Publications Director
Editor’s note: The Ball photos in last month’s issue were incorrectly credited. The official Ball photographer is DigiPhoto.
Tel: (03) 4021-4367/8 Fax: (03) 4021-4371 E-mail: klamerican.info@gmail.com website: www.klamerican.com
Mon, Wed, & Thu. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tue & Fri 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Closed from 1– 2 p.m. every work day for lunch Closed Sat, Sun and public holidays
KL American August 2014
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Membership Welcome to Malaysia! These are among some of the first words I heard upon arriving in the country last October. My name is Peggy Uptigrove and I have been living in Kuala Lumpur for nine months. I was born and raised in Calgary, Canada. I met my husband there who was also born and raised in Calgary. After being married for eight years, we were transferred to the US and made our home just north of Houston, Texas. One could say that is not much of a foreign assignment…at least nothing compared to moving to SE Asia. We lived in Texas for 14 years and proudly became US citizens. When an opportunity came up for us to accept a foreign assignment, we jumped at the chance to move to Kuala Lumpur. Having never travelled to SE Asia I was doing all the research I could, not only on Malaysia, but on all the wonderful places we could travel to from here. I already had the experience of moving away from family and familiar surroundings when we left to go the US, but that experience didn’t fully prepare me for the reality of moving to a much more foreign country, and 8,000 miles away from our two daughters. After our shipment arrived and we set up house, I decided it was time for me to get “out there” and start meeting new people and making new friends. We joined the American Association of Malaysia at the start of 2014 and my first event was the Ladies’ Shopping Trip to Jakarta. I did not know one person who was going on this trip but thought it would be a good way to meet some other ladies and hopefully get to know at least one person! Well, I came away at the end of the trip meeting 12 awesome women and becoming really good friends with half a dozen of them. I would say that trip was the start of a turning point in my experience living in KL….now we get together as much as we can with husbands in tow to create new memories and deeper friendships. Our two daughters, now 20 and 19, are still in Texas. Our oldest is a pastry chef and works at Morton’s Steakhouse. Our youngest is just about to enter her sophomore year at Sam Houston State University. Both have travelled here to be with us and it has been great to show them around our new city and travel further with them. Recently, I joined the AAM Board of Directors in the capacity of Membership Director and look forward to meeting many more people on this journey. So if you are new here, I say to you - Welcome to Malaysia!
Peggy Uptigrove Membership Director
School Supply Drive As summer winds down, why not drop off any papers, pencils, backpacks, or other school supplies at the AAM for a back-to-school-drive for our charities? There is a basket at the AAM where you can donate supplies to help meet the needs of our kids. 4
KL American August 2014
“Selamat Datang ke AAM!” to our new members for May & June: Morgan & Anang Mehta Hiroko Seno
Selamat Datang 12th edition
price per set (2 volumes):
members
RM85, non-members RM100
Now on sale at the AAM Tel: (03) 4021-4367 /
4021-4368
Ambiance Coffee Morning Our monthly coffee morning steps out of the Villa to visit Ambiance in Ampang! Join your old and new AAM friends for a morning of browsing Ambiance’s unique treasures and enjoying light refreshments. See page 9 for details.
AAM Messages Membership Renewal
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 line 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.
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! Our Yahoo! Group remains active as a useful forum for members to consult with other members on queries and recommendations for anything from best family hotels to dentists to household help. Members who have not received an email invitation to join can contact editor.klamerican@ gmail.com. Enter “Need AAM Yahoo Invitation” in the subject line, and include full name and AAM membership number in the body of the email. An invitation will be sent via email and you must respond to complete the registration process. For more information, go to http://www.klamerican. com/online-communities.
Reservation & Payment Policy
Event and Activities reservations can be made via email (klamerican.info@gmail. com), in person or via fax. t 5IF "". PóDF TUBò XJMM TFOE B DPOöSNBUJPO SFDFJQU BOE XIFUIFS PS OPU UIF BDUJWJUZ is still available if the reservation is made via email or fax. t 3FTFSWBUJPOT MUST be cancelled before the individual deadline OR FIVE DAYS prior to the activity in order to receive a refund. t 'PS &WFOUT "DUJWJUJFT UIBU IBWF B NJOJNVN BUUFOEBODF SFRVJSFE JG JU JT OPU BDIJFWFE it may be cancelled or rescheduled Please remember that while some times this policy can be amended (if the instructor is more flexible) you should not expect that to be the case when trying to book yourself into an event/activity late. While the office staff strives to include all interested members in these activities some times it is just not possible due to constraints either on space or instructor requirements. Fees for activities must be paid at the time of reservation. You may pay by cash in person at the Villa or online through IPay88. If you wish to deposit CASH payments to the AAM’s account directly, please contact the AAM for account information and instructions. Personal checks will no longer be accepted. AAM Contact: Tel- (03) 4021-4367/4368 Fax- (03) 4032-3055 e-mail: klamerican.info@gmail.com
IPAY88
Please respond within 48 hours of receiving the IPAY invoice. AAM hopes you are enjoying the convenience of our online payment service. With this secure portal you can pay for events, classes, workshops. Payments can be made from your home. Simply contact the AAM office to make your reservation and request an online invoice. Then check your email inbox for further instructions – it’s that easy! Note: A 5% service charge will be added to all transactions. Please also be aware that the official payment gateway name that will show up on your credit card statement is Mobile88. For additional details, contact the AAM office or visit http://www.klamerican.com/ home/reservations-payments-online.
EXPAT THE
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 two months before expiration. Dues can be paid at the office by cash or check or via IPAY.
KL American August 2014
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Community Service
Hello! Summertime and the livin’ is easy that’s how the song goes. Whether it’s vacations, barbeques or just relaxing with family and friends, I hope you’re enjoying yourselves. Here are two wonderful organizations that you support through the AAM. ITLC - Independent Living and Training Centre (Rawang, Selangor) Karen Beham and I made the road trip to visit the great folks at ILTC in Rawang. ILTC is an advocacy group for non-abled adults. Greeted by the entire board, all whom are non-abled, we were told of the difficulties that the non-abled face daily; whether it’s public transportation, access to buildings, health care, etc. The ILTC was founded in 2001 by Mr. Francis Silva to provide non-abled persons with all the necessary tools to develop their abilities, maximize their level of independence and take control of their lives - no matter what their disability. It offers counseling, training and motivation. With support from AAM and other organizations, the ITLC is building a facility where non-abled persons will come to exercise, exchange ideas and gather information. For more information visit ILTCmalaysia.org.my. If you’d like to do more please contact Ms. Rina at 03 6091 2531.
Christmas is Coming! The Christmas Bazaar is slowly approaching! Our thoughts of securing vendors, white elephant items and baked goods are here. We would like to make this 2014 Bazaar bigger and better for all, especially for our charities! Last year, we contributed over RM60,000 to over 20 charities in KL. We need your support and time to make this year’s bazaar a success. For more information on ways you can
help please email Bazaardirector.
aam@gmail.com. Thank you for wanting to help!
Lovie Alptunaer & Mary Mantei Bazaar Directors
ILTC Wish List: t 1FUSPM WPVDIFST GPS UIF IBOEJDBQQFE WBO t (ZN QIZTJDBM UIFSBQZ FRVJQNFOU t .BUUSFTTFT GPS UIF OFX DFOUFS SJK (T) St. Joseph School (Sentul, KL) Some of the best and the brightest (and sweetest) girls between the ages of 7 -12 attend this Tamil school that is consistently ranked among the best. Not only do the students work hard to achieve the ranking, but the dedicated teachers and staff do too. The student-toteacher ratio is impressive also. Besides academics, the school offers a music lab, computer lab, sports and thanks to the AAM’s support, a fully-stocked library that is well used. The AAM also helps to support the breakfast program. According to AAM members, improvements and changes from last year are significant. This school is right on target! There are approximately 10 girls whose parents can neither pay the full tuition nor for transportation to school. For only RM80 a month you can cover the cost of a child’s transportation. And if you’re interested in sponsoring a girl’s tuition, the school is ready to discuss an easy plan. Please call Ms. Pn. B. Valarmathi at 012-305 9615 for further information. Finally, but certainly not least, the AAM says goodbye to Karen Beham as Community Service Director. Karen’s extensive experience and knowledge in this field is a loss to our organization. The good news is that as a continuing AAM member, Karen has kindly offered her skills and that great smile whenever possible. Thanks Karen!
Marilyn Kindy
Community Service Director
6
KL American August 2014
Your junk...is someone else’s treasure!!! Please drop off your once-loved items and put a smile on someone’s face. Take your preloved items to the AAM office any time between now and 5 November to join our “White Elephant” table. All proceeds go to charity.
Used Books Dust off those bookshelves! Clean out those closets! Donate your old books to the AAM. All proceeds go to charity.
Community Service AAM Golfers at the Inter-society Charity Golf Tournament June 2014
“Thank You” The AAM fielded a team for the Inter-society Golf Tournament in June. The tournament was a huge success, exceeding the organizer’s expectations, and raising more than RM20,000 for charities. And Our enthusiastic American team didn’t do so badly either in their inaugural outing (we did not come in last). A special thanks goes out to Ann Blacklock for organizing the team and to all the golfers and the crowd of supporters who came out to cheer them on.
KL American August 2014
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HELP WANTED
Weekly Activities All activities are at the AAM Villa unless otherwise noted.
MONDAY
Mahjong 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Members: free. Non-members: RM30 (Non-members are welcome. The first two visits are complimentary.) Get rid of those Monday blues by playing a lively game of mahjong. We’ll shuffle the tiles, make ‘pungs’ and ‘kongs’ and enjoy the afternoon. Please email Randee, Mahjong Coordinator, at brduncn@gmail.com, to confirm.
WEDNESDAY
Quilting 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Members: free. Non-members: RM30 (Non-members are welcome. The first two visits are complimentary.) New quilters and seasoned quilters work together to share their love of quilting. We meet at the AAM Villa. Please contact coordinator Diane Tenney at dianequilts@sbcglobal.net for details. Please be sure to put “Quilting Group” in the subject line.
SATURDAY
KL Roadrunners Are you a runner? Are you looking for running friends? Come join the KL Roadrunners. We run on all different levels and newbies are welcome. This activity is suspended for the month of August as we look for a new coordinator. If you are interested please contact Stephanie at secondvp.aam@gmail.com.
It’s never too late!
AAM is looking for a few good people! This section will be dedicated to the open Board positions that need to be filled. Not sure you want a Board position but still want to help out? We will also list any help that will be needed for upcoming events. Keep checking for your opportunity to make a difference! t
Roadrunners Coordinator – Love running with friends? Step up and be the coordinator for the AAM’s weekly running club! The coordinator sends an email to everyone who has asked to be on the mailing list on Friday morning asking who is coming for Saturday morning. The coordinator has to have a route or have another volunteer who will lead the group on a route. The group runs seven miles each Saturday at 7 a.m. from the bridge in KLCC Park. Put your best foot foward and contact Stephanie at secondvp.aam@gmail.com to volunteer.
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Activities Coordinators – Have you been on a great tour that you want to share with the rest of the AAM community or heard about a fun thing to do that you are dying to try but need more people? Well, the AAM has a monthly Activities Meeting and we are in search of people who would like to coordinate activities for our membership. You can assist with just one specific activity, or you can come to the meeting and coordinate one of the many activity ideas brought by other members. For more information, please contact Stephanie at secondvp. aam@gmail.com.
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Webmaster – This position keeps our members informed of all important information including fun events by updating our Google-based website. Responsibilities include attending the monthly Activities Meeting to receive information for the website and updating information on the website in a timely manner. If you have the skills and can volunteer your time, please contact the AAM office at klamerican.info@gmail.com.
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Reporter at Large – Do you enjoy writing short stories or articles and sharing them with others? Are you an avid photographer? This position is designed for you! The KL American is always looking for submissions from our members. Please feel free to send us your poems, experiences in local adventures, family trip pictures, recipes and anything else you think would be interesting to our community. Contact editor.klamerican@gmail.com.
UPCOMING - STARTING IN SEPTEMBER
Beginners Bahasa Malaysia – Level 1 (NEW CLASSES) Tuesdays, starting 2 September - 25 November 2014 (12 sessions) 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Members – RM540, Non-Members – RM640. Materials RM50. Min: 8 / Max: 10 Now is the time to start learning the language of your “adopted” country. This series of classes is led by Puan Mas from Applied Language Systems who will not only teach you the language but also share knowledge that will make your time in KL richer. RSVP by Friday, 22 August 2014, to the AAM office to start this learning experience.
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KL American August 2014
What’s On in . . . August First Fridays
Friday, 1 August 9:30 a.m – 11:30 a.m. Starbucks, Avenue K, Ground Floor Cost: Individual Parking is available at Avenue K and Suria KLCC. LRT to KLCC station.
Arriving in KL can be overwhelming in the beginning, but the AAM is here to help! First Friday is a social gathering designed especially for expats newly arrived to KL to provide an opportunity to ask questions, gather information, and take a second to relax with new friends. All members are encouraged to come enjoy the view facing the Twin Towers and help us welcome newcomers. Self-parking is available at Avenue K via Jalan Mayang, or drivers may park and walk from Suria KLCC. Please join us and pass on the invitation to new neighbors and friends. Feel free to drop by and say hello! RSVP: Appreciated but not necessary. E-mail klamerican.info@gmail.com.
Bingo with Little Sisters of the Poor Join our monthly bingo game to help spread the joy at this home for the elderly! We will bring prizes for the winners. The bingo morning is one of the highlights of the month for the residents. Tuesday, 12 August 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. St. Francis Xavier Home for the Elderly Taman Sri Bahtera, Batu Lima Cheras Tel: (03) 9131-1464
Please email klamerican.info@gmail.com if you can join us.
Coffee Morning: Ambiance Ampang Showroom Visit Friday, 15 August 10:00 a.m. – Noon Ambiance Ampang 379A 4 Jalan Ampang, First Floor (behind Ampang Grocers) Cost: None Sponsored by:
Ambiance is a home decor shop with a twist. This shop feature a broad collection of furniture and smaller items that make great gifts, both traditional and modern, most with an Asian flair, and all quite funky and collectable. Owner Jim Moore will talk about his unique collections as we shop and enjoy light refreshments. Come and join us to browse and mingle among friends. RSVP: E-mail klamerican.info@gmail.com by Thursday 14 August.
Saturday Night Out: La Boca Latino Bar
Saturday, 16 August 7:00 p.m. onwards La Boca Latino Bar Pavilion, KL Cost: Individual Carpark and valet parking is available. By monorail, exit at the Raja Chulan Station.
The slightly rundown barrio of La Boca in Buenos Aries is featured in travel guidebooks as a must-see destination for visitors because of its history, its brightly colored buildings and one particular street that is closed to vehicles. The old tenement houses are now home to bars, restaurants and shops selling souvenirs. For some, the primary attraction is to watch couples of varying skill levels performing the tango anywhere there is an open space. KL now has its own La Boca with the primary difference being that the neighboring shops and eateries here are more upscale. We will have a reservation in the name of AAM from 7pm onwards at La Boca Latino Bar in Pavilion KL. You do not have to be a member of AAM to attend this Saturday Night Out; however, as a courtesy to the La Boca management, we must limit our group reservation to those who have registered with the office before 10am on Saturday, 16 August. RSVP: E-mail klamerican.info@gmail.com 10am on Saturday, 16 August. KL American August 2014
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What’s On in . . . August AAM Book Club’s August book: Orphan Train by Christina Baker (304 pages) Available for purchase locally at Kinokuniya.
Tuesday,19 August 11:00 a.m. Starbucks, Great Eastern Mall, Ground Floor Cost: Individual
✓ Book Club AAM Please join us for the AAM’s newest monthly activity – AAM Book Club! We will meet the third Tuesday of every month at the Starbuck’s at Great Eastern Mall. This month’s book is Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline (304 pages). Start reading and plan to join us for a stimulating conversation. Book Synopsis (reprinted from Amazon): Orphan Train is a gripping story of friendship and second chances. Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer is close to “aging out” of the foster care system. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvie and worse... As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance. Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life – answers that will ultimately free them both. Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are. RSVP: Appreciated but not necessary. E-mail klamerican.info@gmail.com.
Kueh pie tee is a Nonya-style appetizer eaten with the fingers and usually made with finely shredded vegetables tucked into a crispy fried case with sweet and sour sauce spooned over the top. The shape of the case gives it its English nickname: Top Hat. Wednesday, 20 August Noon Top Hat Restaurant 3 Jalan Stonor (corner of Jalan Kia Peng) Cost: Individual Some parking is available on their property, or walk along Jalan Kia Peng from the Aquaria/KL Convention Centre.
There is a long established restaurant in a restored bungalow sitting comfortably among the high rises in the KLCC area that has keuh pie tee as its signature dish. The restaurant’s name is Top Hat. Although famous for its Nonya and Malaysian dishes, Top Hat’s western selection also garners rave reviews. If you would like to have lunch with us in the relaxed and homey atmosphere of Top Hat Restaurant, please register with the office by Monday, 18 August. RSVP: E-mail klamerican.info@gmail.com no later than Monday, 18 August.
Writer’s Workshop – Finding the Flow with Sharon Bakar So you think you can write the next great American novel but don’t know how to get started? Or perhaps you want to pen your memoirs but are intimidated by the thought of putting pen to paper? Then this fun workshop is for you!
Monday, 25 August 10:00 a.m. – Noon AAM Villa Cost: Members RM20/Non-Members RM50 Maximum 20 participants 10
KL American August 2014
Professional creative writing instructor Sharon Bakar has been unlocking the potential of budding writers in KL since 2005. During this informal workshop you will try your hand at writing exercises designed to get you writing! Remember to bring something to bring a pen and paper. RSVP: E-mail klamerican.info@gmail.com no later than Friday, 22 August.
What’s On in . . . August / September Walking Tour: Pudu Market Pudu Market is the biggest market in KL and a must-see for all inquisitive explorers. On this two hour walking tour you will visit the outdoor and indoor sections which have the real character of a noisy and colorful Malaysian market. The tour continues with visit to more shops selling kitchen and household goods and the muchsought-after Chinese buttons and ribbon shop! The tour ends with a simple Chinese noodle lunch (non halal) and a drink. Tuesday, 26 August 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Meet at entrance of WWKL Hotel (formerly known as Wenworth Hotel), Jalan Yew, off Jalan Tun Razak, close to the Smart Tunnel. Parking is available next to the hotel. Cost: Members RM65/Non-Members RM95 Min. 10/Max. 12 participants
Be sure to wear comfortable, modest clothing and old closed-up shoes. Do not wear too much jewelry or bring too much cash. Bring a camera, drinking water and shopping bags. RSVP: E-mail klamerican.info@gmail.com no later than Monday, 18 August.
Beginners Bahasa Malaysia, Level 1 Now is the time to start learning the language of your “adopted” country. This series of classes is led by Puan Mas from Applied Language Systems who will not only teach you the language but also share knowledge that will make your time in KL richer. RSVP by Friday, 22 August 2014, to the AAM office to start this learning experience. Tuesdays, starting 2 September through 25 November 2014 (12 sessions) 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. AAM Villa Cost: Members RM540/Non-Members RM640 plus Materials RM50 Min. 10 participants/Max. 12 participants
Cooking Class: Chicken ....Cluck,Cluck Are you tired of the same old boring ways of preparing chicken at home? Having enjoyed the myriad tasty ways that chicken is prepared in Malaysia, would you like to learn how to prepare new, flavorful and simple Malaysian-style dishes in your own kitchen? Join Chef Judy Loh as she demonstrates a variety of ways to prepare this staple protein with a Malaysian flair. She will teach you how to make these popular dishes: Hainanese Chicken Rice (poached), Ayam Percik (grilled), Claypot Chicken with Mushrooms and Nyonya Chicken Kerabu (a type of salad). Thursday, 18 September 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. AAM Villa Cost: Members RM85/Non-Members RM115; Minimum 10 participants
Wouldn’t it be lovely to bring these recipes back to your homeland? Best of all, you will sample each dish when lunch is served at the conclusion of the demonstration. RSVP: email klamerican.info@gmail.com no later than Wednesday, 10 September.
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What’s On in . . . September and beyond...
CRAWFISH & Join us for our annual AAM Welcome Back Feast. Includes all the fixings, Crawfish and shrimp you can eat! Cash Bar! Saturday, September 20 7pm til Midnight at the AAM Villa! RM 150 members / RM195 non-members Event sponsors:
Limit 100 RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by 12 September
Looking Ahead... Mark your calendars now for these activities: 5 September – First Fridays 9 September – Bingo! 10 September – “Colorful Scenes” Lunch Bunch 11 September – Orientation, get to know KL 20 September – Crawfish & Shrimp Boil 26 September – Fall Rug Auction 15 October – Pink October 12
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new get d n a d l o ers, All memb a feast of yum! r together fo
AAM/CAM and Eastern Carpets present
The Fall Rug Auction Friday, 26 September 2014
6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. to Midnight
klamerican.info@gmail.com
Photos from the 2014 Spring Rug Auction.
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Digital Shoebox The Harbour Trip Text and photos by Stephanie Nguyen Last summer we visited Sydney, a popular city in the down under continent/country, Australia. Although it was summer holiday for my kids, it was winter in Australia. My children were so excited for a “new chilly summer experience” in Sydney. We arrived at Sydney’s airport at night, and were welcomed to the city on a rainy and freezing evening. However, the Friday night in downtown Sydney was exciting and lively. Surprisingly, the next day was a sun-kissed and cool, beautiful winter day. We awoke early Saturday morning to the sounds of the urban atmosphere and the smell of inviting fresh breads from bakeries along George Street, and I couldn’t wait to try out the Aussie hamburgers and sausages at the flea market at The Rocks. There is a lovely flea market just behind the Art Museum, not far away from the Opera House’s fantastic view. Every weekend, people from around the town meet up there for shopping, gathering and enjoying different choices of local foods, drinks and homemade products. My kids loved the fresh steamed corn on the cob. It was really a good choice for breakfast in the winter in Sydney. A juicy beef Aussie style hamburger was the best bite for my husband, and a cup of organic chamomile tea with local honey kept me warm and happy in the chilly early morning. I walked around and enjoyed looking at or touching all the colorful handmade Australian items, such as uniquely designed dresses, handbags and jewelry. They all looked beautiful and tempting.
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Digital Shoebox
The cool weather made us feel hungry all the time. Luckily, It is easy to find a variety of food choices in Sydney, from Vietnamese food to Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Korean or even fusion food restaurants. And there are many of nice cafés along the streets or shopping centers in downtown. My favorite food venue in Sydney was the Seafood Market where you can choose the freshest seafood and the chefs will cook it right in front of you with Italian, British, French or Chinese recipes. You only need to decide what kind of taste you prefer to eat on that day. Our next favorite spot was Bondi beach. After a quick look at the Circular Quay, we jumped on the Hop-On-Hop-Off tour bus and spent half of the day at Bondi Beach and its surrounding neighborhood. It is said that Bondi Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Pacific Ocean and that is really true. You should not miss a visit to Bondi when you go to Sydney. I loved the beautiful honey sunset, the white sand and the way people enjoyed the beach with families or pets. The vibrant scene created a peaceful and wonderful picture of this beach town’s lifestyle that attracts many tourists to come and adore it everyday. Spending a whole day in Blue Mountains was my kids’ favorite excursion. Walking down and down to different layers of the valley, we experienced many spectacular views of the nature in this area. My kids did not feel tired at all while they were trekking, learning the different types of trees, and taking pictures with many changes of the sunlight. The most interesting feeling to them was the ride on the scenic railway with its 52-degree incline back up to the place where we started our trekking trip from deep down of the valley. They said that the train seemed flying up quickly like a big bird. It was scary at first, but it was really interesting! I loved the maple trees on Sydney streets, the beautiful and sophisticated modern architecture, the interesting museums, the open spaces such as the Botanical Garden, the well-organized zoo and parks which naturally form a healthy lifestyle. Residents who live in this exciting city enjoy a life style of multiculturalism and abundant choices of good food. It seems to me that there are always surprising things that you can explore in Sydney which is considered one of the top ten cities to live in the world. My family fell in love with this diverse city and surely would be back to visit the Harbour City again soon... KL American August 2014
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Perspectives Taking a Summer Break Story and photos by Ngosong Fonkem Summertime is upon us and in full bloom here in Malaysia. For most expats, our summers in the states are a time to recharge our batteries, explore and discover; a time to deepen our friendships and have long extended time outdoors, in our yards, at the park, or if we were lucky, deeper into nature or to some of the touristic sites in the USA. We Americans look forward to these times yearly. However, unlike in the States where our daily work routine dissolved during the summer months, for most of us expats living here in Malaysia where the yearly work calendar is not organized to take advantage of the sunlight and warmth of the summer months, finding extended time off from our busy schedules to relax and enjoy the summer is difficult. However, finding some time off is not only needed to reflect and relax, but also to stay connected to our previous lives back in the States. Why the need to take a break? It’s easy. Taking a break from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives is important to leading a fruitful and balanced life. This premise is clearly illustrated in the Christian creation story that holds that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. A literal reading of this creation story thus gives rise to the conclusion that in addition to the many virtues found in the Bible, the Bible also recognized the need to take a step back from the routine of work to reflect and enjoy life. In our case as expats, it is taking a break from the experiences of living and working abroad. Similarly, many experts and researcher agree that taking breaks is important and that even a few minutes from our workload can help recharge our battery, and actually increase productivity. In keeping with the spirit of the summer breaks and staying connected to life at home, this past summer I was fortunate to visit Turkey. One of main the reasons why I chose to visit Turkey as opposed to visiting places here in Malaysia or any of the neighboring ASEAN countries like Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia is because of Turkey’s very interesting history. Furthermore, I have always been fascinated with Turkey. It is typically described as a colorful blend of Eastern and Western influences. It is a country of contrasts, where ancient sights collide with the modern ones, and religious and secular life come together. This juxtaposition of East and West, old and new, religious and secular is vividly illustrated in Istanbul, the quintessential city of contrasts in Turkey. Istanbul also is the only city in the world that straddles two continents - Asia and Europe. After exploring the various historical sites in Istanbul, I took a short ferry ride along the Bosphorus River from the European side to the Asian side of the city. After spending a few days in Istanbul, I took a twelve-hour overnight bus to the Anatolian region of Turkey to a collection of cities known as Cappadocia. Cappadocia is a region known for its unique geological, historical, and cultural features. In ancient times, people of the villages there carved out houses, churches and monasteries from the soft rocks of volcanic deposits. In addition to the many activities that I was fortunate to experience, I also rented a motorcycle and used it to trek through the amazing rock formations and historical sights, as well as to some of the neighboring villages. After exploring Cappadocia, I took another ten-hour overnight bus to Pumukale, a city known for its natural hot springs and calcium deposits. The hot spring water at Pumukale is believed to have curative powers. After exploring Pumukale, I took another ten-hour bus trip back to Istanbul and flew back to Malaysia the next day. Although my Turkish trip was rather short, lasting less than a week, it was nevertheless a transformative experience. This short trip not only gave me a chance to take a break and recharge my battery, but also gave me the opportunity to keep up the tradition of taking a summer vacation, and thus stay connected to the life I use to lead in the States. 16
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Outside the Blue Mosque in Istanbul
Cappadocia
Cappadocia landscape
Pumukale Hot springs & Calcium deposits
Ancient Greek theater in Pumukale
Diversions Out of KL and into Malaysia - Taiping Story and photos by Rissa Larsen Our weekend outings have been a quick and easy way to explore “the other Malaysia,” its people, customs and of course, since we are in Malaysia, the food. Once out of KL’s glass and steel metropolis and incessant traffic jams, the buildings are replaced by rolling hills of palm plantations and the mountains rising in the distant east of the NorthSouth highway give us a soothing landscape of contrast to our city life and pace. Experiencing the natural world of Asia, vastly different from our home territory of New England, is always our goal. Our destination was the city of Taiping in Perak, about an hour north of Ipoh. Stop in Ipoh for lunch and enjoy a bowl of Ipoh laksa and check out the colonial district of white Victorian buildings and active shop houses. Continue north a bit further to see the lovely city of Kuala Kangsar, famous for the beautiful Istana Iskandaria, famed as the most beautiful sultan’s palace in Malaysia and Ubudiah Mosque, another historical wonder. You can only drive or stroll past these two sites because the Sultan is still in residence and the mosque is for Muslim prayer only. Check your guidebooks for a few other lovely buildings that are open to tourists. What a treat to exit the highway for a brief pit stop and find such a lovely town. On to Taiping, where we planned to get up early Saturday morning to ramble and take photos on Maxwell Hill, the first British hill station in Malaysia. There are many hotels of every price and style in Taiping; within the town, near the famous Lake Gardens and zoo, and on the road to Bukit Larut, Maxwell Hill’s name in Bahasa Malaysia. Our hotel, The Sentosa Villa is a lovely property designed to look and feel like a kampong with wandering chickens and turkeys included. Lush flowering trees, meandering streams that crisscross the property and birds flying through the pink sunset are a few of my sensory memories. We made our ascent to Bukit Larut in a Land Rover lorry that made the ride more of an amusement park dare than anything I’ve experienced. Steep cliffs and gorgeous views around the hairpin turns plus the squeals of our fellow passengers, (three friends in headscarfs taking selfies all the way up) made for a crazy but fun hour. We saw many intrepid hikers and a few bikers on the trail, which must take at least three hours. Once at the drop off point, we were greeted by cooling breezes and a view that took in Taiping, and all the way to The Straits, shining bright blue in the distance. We continued walking up the hill on a gently winding road, with birdsong and the wind for our soundtrack. What a healing antidote to the noise pollution of our adopted city! This being May in Malaysia, the orange and pink flowering trees and orchid-type flowers attracted many butterflies. A large turtle crossed our path as we stopped to take photos of a woodpecker. Old bungalows are tucked in here and there along the road, some abandoned but others still operating as hostels. One was a nature study center, devoted to the survival of indigenous plant species. Now here’s where our magical mystery tour turned truly magical. A druggist we met while exploring the town gave us an insider tip and an invitation. We were in luck because this year all the Chinese
Wesek day celebrations
Candle balloon in Taiping
associations joined together for the town’s Wesak celebration during this weekend, so more people could attend the festivities. Wesak is the holiday when Buddhists celebrate Buddha’s birthday, death and enlightenment. At the meeting place, in an enormous Chinese cemetery and under a full moon, we were once again trundled into the back of another truck by a jolly team of volunteers to travel up yet another mountain road. Approaching the summit, we saw intriguing, meandering paths of candlelit. We made our way through the bookstalls and T-shirt vendors whose wares all had Buddhist sayings about being mindful and staying conscious. Then we ate our way through free delicious buffets of vegetarian foods and treats. Duly refreshed, we walked among the happy celebrants, along the candlelit paths to Buddha alters alters bedecked with candles, incense and flowers. Soft chanting and music enhanced the night. One path led to a glass platform alive with candles while another led to a launching spot where we saw families sending candle balloons into the star-filled night. How lucky we were to add Wesak 2014 to our travel experience. Many times, the unplanned stops along the road can be the most memorable. Late the next day we drove a half-hour west, to the Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary on the Straits of Malacca coast. We travelled through miles of mangroves on a hired longboat. Our captain and guide, Tan Chong is a prawn fisherman and naturalist. He explained that the best time to see the most species is November when the northern migrators are most plentiful in Malaysia. Still we got to see a multitude of silvery prawns jumping out of the river, funny mudskippers, gorgeous kingfishers, herons, giant egrets, white headed Brahminy kites and lesser Adjunct Storks from Siberia. A busy troop of swimming macaques did not have time to look up from their dinner of horseshoe crabs as we passed by. With its history as a tin mining capital plus many lovely attractions, consider Taiping for a kid friendly getaway weekend or as part your itinerary to either Cameron Highlands or Penang. Great food, friendly people, and maybe an unexpected adventure or two will certainly enrich your stay in Malaysia.
Tortoise at Maxwell Hill (Bukit Larut)
Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary KL American August 2014
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For further information, please visit www.evaair.com or contact your nearest travel agency.
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Diversions Maldives - Heaven on Earth Story and photos by Stephanie Nguyen There are a few things I don’t like when traveling: night flights and jetlag. The flight from KL to Maldives, although at night, is not really a big deal. It took us six hours to fly to Malé International airport and 15 minutes to travel by speed boat to our resort on Furanafushi Island, north of Malé Atoll. Most of the resorts in Maldives are on their own private island. There are a sufficient number of resorts (over 100) for anyone’s choice and taste of vacation in the Maldives, including world famous and exclusive hotel brands. The Maldives are three hours behind Kuala Lumpur time, so jet lag should not be an issue. However, I could not believe that my eyes still opened widely the night we arrived. I could not wait to have some carefree days after the night flight – days that I don’t have to drive here and there in busy KL city then find myself stuck in rush hour traffic, or don’t have to reply to any texts or emails, or don’t need to think of what to cook for dinner. I could not wait to walk on the beach and let my bare feet be pampered by the silky smooth sand, let the sunlight kiss my skin, and let the ocean winds comb my frizzy hair. I could not wait to lie on the beach, let my imagination travel through time and space with my books, to have some “leave me alone” time when the sun rises up or goes down and to observe the color change on the blue ocean as the sun sets. I’ll enjoy my “sex on the beach” (in the glass) with my loved one. I’ll try some experiences like diving and sailing with my kids. What else could I wish for more than a safe and sound trip? Then I had to force myself to sleep so that I could wake up early the next day to see the sun rise over the Indian Ocean. We had many activities each and every day that we stayed at the resort - snorkeling and scuba diving in the morning, wild dolphin watching, sting ray hunting and shark feeding in the afternoon, sailing, Malé city tour and spa. We enjoyed every morning there to see the sun rise, to play soccer, to practice yoga and to walk along the beach with our kids. In the late afternoon, after the activity at the sea, we loved lying on the bed sofa at the Sand Coast Bar by the beach to watch the colorful sky at sunset and at the same time the changing of the blue colors of the ocean water with my husband while the kids ran around. Those were the best parts of our days on the island. We took a city tour from our resort to Malé on Saturday. Malé is a small, busy island city. I was surprised after walking hours in the city that I didn’t see any girls or women around. I was a little bit nervous to find myself in a city full of men. They are everywhere
The Indian Ocean
Street scene in Malé
The Nguyens excape the bustle of KL and falls in love with Maldives. - on the boat, on the streets, in the shops, in the restaurants, even in the market where they sell and buy food or groceries. They looked busy, tired and not cheerful. There was no sight of women. It seems the life of Maldivians in the capital is different from the lifestyle in the surrounding islands. We had a quick look at the President’s House, the Friday Mosque, the ancient Dome and the Sultan Park, and the fish and fruit market, all within a five-minute walk from each other. We stopped at the Gourmet Restaurant to try the local iconic fish soup called garudhia as recommended by our tour guide. The soup delivers a delicious and unforgettable flavor although the recipe is quite simple: fresh tuna fillet cut in cubes boiled with fresh curry leaf, lemongrass, onion, garlic, chili, a squeeze of lemon juice and some salt. The soup is served with steamed rice and side dishes such as preserved, salted lemon and chili paste. Its taste is similar to the clear tom yam soup from Thailand, but it is slightly different because of the flavor of curry leaves and the sweetness of the fresh tuna. I was happy that I had learned a new dish from Maldives for my family’s menu. It was sad to say goodbye to Maldives after five days there. Our kids will miss the marvelous show of the cute wild dolphin family who jumped out of the water and spun in the air several times to respond to our claps and whistles on the dolphins watching tour. They will miss the flying fox bats as large as eagles flying among trees at the sunset. We will miss all the water sports, the snorkeling and scuba diving in the underwater world of Maldives with its many brightly colored tropical fishes, friendly sharks and turtles living in the warm water coral reef. I will really miss the whiter-than-white powder sand and luminous cyan-blue water that I had not seen before. And most of all, I will miss the friendly images of the Maldivians and the staff who worked at our resort. They made us feel welcome and we really enjoyed our time there. With such memorable moments in mind, we will come back to Maldives one day.
Our resort
I hated to leave! KL American August 2014
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Wo m e n ’s H e a lt h Vag inal Disc har ge: Wha t’s Abn orm al? Vaginal discharge is a very common complaint. About a quarter of women in reproductive age group report this symptom and half of these women are treated for reproductive tract infection. Vaginal discharge is associated with considerable disability, medical consultation and associated costs. What is vaginal discharge? Vaginal discharge is the clear fluid or mucous that comes out from vagina. The cervix and vagina contains glands that produce small amount of fluid that carries away dead cells and bacteria. It serves an important housekeeping function in female genital tract. This normal fluid is usually thin and clear or milky white and does not have unpleasant smell. Is vaginal discharge normal? Yes. Most women have vaginal discharge but not all discharge is normal.
Dr. Wai Kok Yau MBBS (UM), MRCOG (UK) Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Fertility Specialist Tropicana Medical Centre
Certain time of the month especially during fertile period (at the time ovulation), vaginal discharge will become thicken and increased in amount. This temporary phenomenon is normal and is not associated with vagina infection or abnormal cellular growth. On the other hand, an unusually increase in the amount of vaginal discharge, an abnormal odor or consistency of the fluid, or pain, itching, or burning that accompanies vaginal discharge can all be symptoms or signs of infection or other more serious disorders. What are the different types of discharge? White – Thick and white discharge is common at the beginning and end of the cycle. Usually does not associate with any unpleasant symptoms. Clumpy white/Cheesy – If itchiness present, the discharge highly indicate yeast infection. Clear and watery – This can occur at different times in your cycle and it is normal. Thick yellow or green – Together with foul odor or burning pain may indicate infection. Brown – May happen right after period. Usually looks like old blood. Blood stain/spotting – Can be due to infection, contraceptive pills or even early pregnancy. Need to rule out other serious disorder such as cervical growth or endometrial growth. What causes vaginal discharge?
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
Infective
Non-infective
Bacterial Vaginosis – Imbalance of the naturally occurring bacterial flora in vagina. This could be due to antibiotic ingestion, cytotoxic drug or chemotherapy.
Physiological – ovulation, pregnancy, sexual arousal
Yeast infection – Candida sp. Occur frequently in diabetes patient.
Vaginitis – inflammation of the vagina
Parasitic infection – Trichomonas vaginalis
Vaginal douching – Change of vaginal pH and removal of normal flora
Sexually transmitted infection (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea) Pelvic inflammatory disease – infection of the female upper reproductive organs
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Foreign body – retained tampon Contraceptive pills
Vaginal atrophy
Genital tract malignancy – cancer of cervix, cancer of endometrium
Can abnormal discharge caused by having sex with an infected person? Many infections that cause vaginal discharge can be contracted through sexual intercourse with someone who has the infection. Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Trichomonas can transmit through sex, while yeast infection and Bacterial Vaginosis are usually not sexually transmitted. When to contact a doctor? t 'FWFS PS QBJO JO ZPVS QFMWJT PS CFMMZ BSFB t )BWF B TVEEFO DIBOHF JO UIF BNPVOU DPMPS PEPS PS consistency of discharge t )BWF JUDIJOH SFEOFTT BOE TXFMMJOH JO UIF HFOJUBM area t *G ZPV BSF DPODFSOFE UIBU ZPV NBZ IBWF 45% PS ZPV are unsure if you have been exposed t )BWF TZNQUPNT UIBU HFU XPSTF PS MBTU MPOHFS UIBO week despite home care measures t )BWF CMJTUFST PS PUIFS TPSFT PO ZPVS WBHJOB PS WVMWB t )BWF CVSOJOH XJUI VSJOBUJPO PS PUIFS VSJOBSZ TZNQtoms. This may mean that you have a urinary tract infection. What to expect at the doctor’s office? Your doctor needs to take a detailed medical history (including sexual history) and perform physical examination including a pelvic examination. Pelvic ultrasound examination maybe needed depends on the symptoms. Your doctor then will perform tests include direct microscopy examination of discharge, endo-cervical swab and culture, vaginal pH testing, Pap test or biopsy. How is abnormal discharge treated? Treatment depends on what is causing the problem. Yeast infection is usually treated with anti-fungal medications inserted into vagina in tablet, cream or gel form. Bacterial Vaginosis is treated with antibiotics and cream, and re-introduction of pro-biotic into the vagina to replenish normal vaginal flora. Trichomonas, Chalmydia and Gonorrhea infections are STD’s. Both the women and her partner should be treated with oral antibiotic. Pelvic inflammatory disease is more difficult to cure. Sometimes women may need admission for intravenous antibiotic, followed by longer period of oral antibiotic. Incomplete treatment may results in pelvic abscess formation, permanent damage to the Fallopian tube, chronic pelvic pain and infertility. If there is a suspicious cervical problem, doctor may perform Pap test to collect cells from the cervix for examination. How to prevent vaginal infection/abnormal discharge? t 6TF CBSSJFS NFUIPE EVSJOH TFYVBM JOUFSDPVSTF t 4UBZ IFBMUIZ FBU XFMM HFU FOPVHI TMFFQ ESJOL enough fluids. t ,FFQ WBHJOBM BSFB DMFBO BOE ESZ t 8FBS DPUUPO VOEFSXFBS t 8JQF GSPN GSPOU UP CBDL BGUFS VSJOBUJPO PS CPXFM movement to avoid bacteria from getting into the vagina. t "WPJE VTJOH EFPEPSBOU QBET PS UBNQPOT t %PO U EPVDIF t 6TF NFEJDBUJPO BT MPOH BT EJSFDUFE t "WPJE TFYVBM JOUFSDPVSTF VOUJM USFBUNFOU JT DPNQMFUed and you are symptom free. t %PO U TDSBUDI JOGFDUFE PS JOøBNFE BSFBT BT JU DBO cause further irritation. t %VSJOH BO JOGFDUJPO VTF QBET SBUIFS UIBO UBNQPOT JG menstruation occurs. t "WPJE WVMWP WBHJOBM JSSJUBOUT JODMVEJOH QFSGVNFE PS deodorant soaps/body washes
Memories All Souls’ Day (Ching Ming) Tour, 8 April Photos by Cecilia Brown and Arden Wight AAM members traveled to Sungai Besi and Nilai Memorial Park during the Chinese festival of Ching Ming, or All Souls’ Day on this informative cultural tour.
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Memories Healthy Cooking Coffee Morning, 17 April Photos by Randee Duncan We all know that living, and eating, in KL can wreak havoc on your waistline! April’s coffee morning featured a nutritionist speaking about healthy eating tips, including home cooking, meals at local restaurants, and of course, sampling KL’s renowned street food!
Healing Coffee Morning, 15 May Photos by Randee Duncan The power of positive thinking can work wonders on your health and state of mind. May’s coffee morning featured a talk by a Reiki healer and attendees learned how this healing method can provide enlightenment and peace in life. 22
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Memories Ladies’ Shopping Trip to Jakarta 23 - 27 April Photos by Lovie Alptunaer, Cindy Childress and Rissa Larsen Thirteen adventurous shoppers indulged in the AAM’s trip to Jakarta this past April, and we all agreed that “What happens in Jakarta stays in Jakarta!” But we will share that we ate and drank well while getting to know each other and made great finds at the Inacraft Fair and made fun discoveries about Indonesia. We returned to KL with our suitcases bursting at the seams and our hearts full of new and deepened friendships.
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Memories Little India Spices & Food Tour with Simply Enak, 8 May Photos and text by Randee Duncan A recent food tour with Simply Enak had extra international flavor when two Malaysians led our members originating from America, Australia, Canada, Chile, Italy, Turkey and the U.K. on a visit to the Little India district of Kuala Lumpur. After a short talk about the geography and history of the area surrounding Masjid Jamek, the guides took the group for a traditional Indian breakfast of chapati, thosai and roti canai served with coconut chutney, dahl and fish curry, washed down with teh tarik. The group was shown myriad shopping opportunities and historical landmarks, one of which was a very old mosque where the Friday prayers are conducted in Tamil. The tour ended with a hot lunch in a small Indian restaurant served by good-humored staff.
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Memories Cooking Class: Something’s Fishy, 22 May Photos by Randee Duncan AAM members gathered at the Villa to learn all about the varieties of fish available to buy in Malaysia. In addition to some safety tips, five delicious dishes were demonstrated and served for lunch!
Beginner’s Watercolor , 22 April - 20 May Photos by AAM Office Staff Creativity flowed at this short introductory watercolor course. Attendees learned a new skill from a professional painter, formed friendships and perhaps ignited a new passion!
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Memories Lunch Bunch: Strato, 21 May Photos by Randee Duncan Our lively monthly lunch outing celebrated Mother’s Day in style with a special dining experience created just for the AAM at this parkside hotspot.
First Fridays, 4 July Photos by Sherlyn Bourne Our monthly First Fridays gettogether took a patriotic turn in July as it happened to fall on the fourth! There were no fireworks, but Starbuck’s surprised our group with red, white and blue treats!
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American Association Privilege Program Directory BEAUTY Toni & Guy Troika Lot G-03A, The Troika, 19 Persiaran KLCC Tel: (03) 2168-8802 Website: www.toniandguy.com.my Discount/benefit: 10% discount on cut - blowdry, 15% discount if having cut – blowdry and color service. (Discount not applicable with other promotions.) Face Factors Clinic D3-G4-2, No. 1 Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas, Sri Hartamas , 50480 Kuala Lumpur Tel: (03) 6205 3508 Email: syj888@gmail.com Website: http://facefactorsclinic.com Discount/benefit: 50% off all cellulite manages, seaweed body wraps and lymphatic drainage treatments. IPL Skin Care Clinique S2, Pamper Floor, Starhill Gallery Tel: (03) 2141-4277 or (03) 2141-4280 Website: www.iplskincare.com RM99 for first trial: 90-minute Intensive Rejuvenation Facial Therapy and Hot Stone Shoulder massage (Normal price: RM190) OR 60-minute Full Relaxation Ginger Body Massage (Normal price: RM150). The London Orchid 67M Plaza Damansara, Bukit Damansara Tel: (03) 2095-6009 Website: www.thelondonorchid.com AAM Discount: 15% discount on treatments to all members of the AAM, including the only spray tan service in KL!
HOUSEHOLD/GIFTS EuroChef Malaysia Unit P-1-21, Block P, Plaza Damas Tel: (03) 6201-8863 Website: www.eurochefasia.com AAM Discount: 15% (Excludes machinery, Frilich items, Flavor Shaker, cookbooks, and promotional items) Royal Selangor Website: www.royalselangor.com AAM Discount: 10%
DINING Restaurant Passage Thru’ India 235, Jalan Tun Razak 55100 Kuala Lumpur Tel: (03) 2145-0366 / 012-782 4648 Email: info@passagethruindia.com Website: www.passagethruindia.com AAM Discount: One complimentary dessert/person for Ala carte dine in only (choose from our Gulab Jamun/Rasmalai/Gajjar Halwa/Kulfi)
Fresca Mexican Kitchen & Bar Lot G242A, The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley Tel: (03) 2201-2893 Email: info@fresca.com.my Website: facebook.com/frescabar AAM Discount: Receive a free “Flan de Casa,” traditional Mexican crème caramel, with a minimum spending of RM100 on a single receipt. Not valid in conjunction with other ongoing promotions, set menu and public holidays. House GTower G02 & LG02-04, GTower 199 Jalan Tun Razak Tel: (03) 2164-4424 AAM Discount: 10% discount on all a la carte food and beverages (excluding alcohol). Discount is applicable everyday including public holidays. Not valid in conjunction with other ongoing promotions.
MASSAGE Footloose At Home Spa Jalan Nagasari, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 017-655 3139 Email: booking@footlosseathome.com Website: www.footlooseathome.com Discount/benefit: 10% off all service treatments inclusive of our service packages. Coupon code: AAMFOOTLOOSE. Not applicable on current/ongoing promotions.
SERVICES Crown Relocations Tel: (03) 5636-9166 Website: www.crownrelo.com AAM Discount: 15% off local moves within Malaysia. Complimentary 2-hour handyman services for moves more than RM5,000. 15% discount for one-day orientation service and 10% discount ony immigration services. Complimentary Home Search for rentals above RM5,000. Three Sixty Computer Services Tel: 012-377-3522 (Clement Tan) Email: cletan10@yahoo.com AAM Discount: 10% off service charges Pet Playground J-G-6, Jalan PJU1A/20B Dataran Ara Damansara 47301 Petaling Jaya Tel: 017-363 8228 / 017-364 8117 Email: petplayground@gmail.com Website: www.petplaygroundonline.com Discount/benefit: 10% off grooming, boarding for 6 nights FOC 1 night in the cageless pet hotel and 10% off on all pets products.
The American Association Privilege Program (AAPP) offers special discounts and privileges to AAM members. Just flash your AAM membership card! If you are a business interested in joining the AAPP, contact the AAM office at klamerican. info@gmail.com. KL American August 2014
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american association of malaysia KL
August 2014
Sun
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thu
31
Fri 1
“Merdeka” National Day (public holiday on Sept.1)
VENUE KEY
2
9:30 - 11:30 a.m. First Fridays @ Starbucks, Avenue K
Tel : (03) 4021 4368 email: klamerican.info@gmail.com
AAM Off Site
AAM closed
Sat
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
10 a.m. Coffee Morning @ Ambiance
7 p.m. SNO @ La Boca Latino Bar
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22
23
28
29
30
17
24
1 - 3 p.m. Mahjong
1 - 3 p.m. Mahjong
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1 - 3 p.m. Mahjong
10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 10 - 11 a.m. Quilting Bingo @ Little Sisters of the Poor
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11 a.m. Book Club @ Starbucks, Great Eastern Mall
20
10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Quilting 12 p.m. Lunch Bunch Top Hat Restaurant
25
26
27
1 - 3 p.m. Mahjong
9:30 a.m. - 1 p,m. Walking tour of Pudu market
10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Quilting
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Writer’s Workshop
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10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Quilting
KL American August 2014
(60-3) 5565 2200