Asian Vacation - Part 1

I have been delinquent on blog updates recently because we have been on vacation in Asia. During the trip we hit three countries so I will break up the blogs by country. This blog, part 1, begins in the first stop, Malaysia.

We flew to Malaysia to meet up with the Gorging Dragons who were racing in the Dragon Boat Club Crew World Championships (please hold your applause). Shawn was racing with the team (again, please hold your applause) and I was there to watch and cheer. Because we were there for a purpose, we didn’t have much time to tour around and see the sights. The races were held in Penang at the Teluk Dam.

The first couple of days in the hotel were happy and a bit strange as we spent the time hugging and reconnection with friends that we haven’t seen since leaving for Japan (really weird to be reconnecting with them in Malaysia of all places). The food in Malaysia is incredible. Every meal we ate there was something unique and delicious and incredibly cheap by Canadian (and Japanese) standards. The Malaysian people were equally enjoyable. They were warm and welcoming and everywhere we went the people were smiling and happy and seemed truly glad to share their culture with foreigners.
Dragon fruit juice, indian cooking and famous Penang Laksa - delish Malay Food.

One night the team got together and went to a foot spa called Happy Feet. It was one massive fish tank with seats along the edge. The “spa treatment” meant first washing your feet at a tap outside then hanging your tootsies into the fish tank and allowing the fish to nibble away at your feet. The sensation is tickly and feels a bit like pins and needles when your foot falls asleep, once you get over the initial apprehension about allowing fish to chew on your feet, it feels really nice. The fish use their hard lips to scrape bits of loose skin off your feet, so it leaves your feet exfoliated and the fish happily fed.

Fish eating my toes.

The dragon boat racing started on the Thursday after our arrival. The weather was hot and humid and the race site offered very little in the way of spectator amenities, but we (the fans) hunkered down on a dusty hill overlooking the finish line to cheer the team on. The team facilities were better and the Gorging Dragons seemed happy things. The first race was the 2000 m, no heats or finals, just one big race to decide the winners. The Gorging Dragons won their race easily but were edged out of top placement by two other Canadian teams who raced in a different draw than them. Their result in this distance was Bronze!!!! Yeah! Hardware on day 1 (commence applause).

The second day of racing was the 200 m (these races are the shortest dragon boat distance and take about 45 seconds so they are really exciting to watch). Another day in the scorching heat for the fans on the finish line and another inspirational performance by the Gorging Dragons who again placed third behind the same two other Canadian teams (continue applause). The team raced incredibly well all day and saved their best race for the final.

Superfans - we had the biggest cheering section there.

The last day of racing for the mixed crew was on Saturday and this was the crown event, the 500 m races. The team built to a perfect crescendo in the premier mixed final and this time edged out one of the Canadian teams and paddled to a comfortable second place finish! (wild applause) They had an incredible race and came off the water spent and elated. These results mean that the team has yet to attend and compete in a world championship event without medalling – quite a feat! Way to go GD’s!!

Racing.
Celebrating!!

We enjoyed some fun and well-earned partying with the team that night and attended the paddler’s party for more celebrating the next night. The next day we departed for our next destination alongside most of the rest of the team. Next stop: Thailand.