April 17, 2020 - Flashback Friday - Rila Monastery in Bulgaria

I bet it would be kind of fun to be a virtual tour guide right now. You could show off lots of cool places to millions and millions of people, yet you don't even have to see those faces. Think of all of

the mannerisms of folks that you witness in tour groups. I can just envision all those older ladies in that Korean tour group that one Christmas season in Prague with all of their selfie sticks. I will not add any more stories for now.

Some guy at the entrance to Rila Monastery

One of my all time favorite day trips anywhere in the world was one that I took to the Rila Monastery. This monastery is about an hour outside of the capital city of Bulgaria, Sofia. I have had to take taxis from the city center area of Sofia to a tiny bus station that would make most foreign travelers feel like they were in the middle of nowhere. It gets better, though the ride is not comfortable at all. Ever been on a bus that felt less comfortable than the big yella' school bus? Ever have to go up a mountain road and nearly come to complete halt because a donkey was pulling a cart across the road? Yeah, it was like going back in time. 

Beautiful art work

Anyway, the Rila Monastery is located in the Rila mountains. This mountain range is the highest in the Balkan peninsula area. This monastery dates back to the 10th century. It was founded by a hermit, yes, a real hermit. The hermit was St. John of Rila (better known as St. Ivan of Rila), who was later canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb eventually became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic complex which played a huge role in the medieval society of Bulgaria. 

This complex was destroyed by fire near the beginning of the 19th century, but was later rebuilt between 1834-1862. As we all know many, many parts of Eastern Europe have had to be rebuilt over the last few centuries. During  the time of the Ottoman Empire, which lasted nearly 500 years, Rila Monastery played a pivotal role throughout the Christian community. It largely influenced the culture and development of all the Christian nations that were under the Ottoman rule during that time. It is started that this monastery represents a masterpiece of the creative genius of the Bulgarian people. 

One of my favorite angles

Thanks to this site here (Atlas Obscura - Rila), St. John even had his own cave. Apparently this is just a little nook in the mountainside, but folks still guy there today to receive blessing. I don't know about hiking to a dark place in the side of a mountain for a blessing, but if thy will be done, then thy will be done. There are a few hundred monk cells, a huge library, and tons of medieval art that adorn the walls of this place. One can even do an extended stay and experience how the monks live for a few days. I imagine it would be an awesome experience, being in such a historical place and taking in this huge complex.

As you may understand from the reading, this is a huge tourist spot for folks that visit the country of Bulgaria. If you have a few days in the city of Sofia, then it is a must. For older folks, private car would definitely be a wiser choice. I did enjoy the bumpy ride up the mountains on the 1970s era bus. Thankfully I went once during the Spring. I just leave the peace and tranquility of this monastery. It is definitely a beautiful sight from many, many angles. The setting in the mountains makes you feel as if you are far away from civilization. As much as I would love to talk more and more about it, I think I will leave a few pictures here instead. 

Enjoy this little video too!

April 12, 2020 - Keep Rising - A Short Reflection on This Day

                                                 

Good Morning,

Happy Easter Sunday. Or as some of us may prefer to call it, Resurrection Day.  For many of us  our Sunday will be like that first Sunday when the disciples were in isolation, sheltered from the world and fearing for their lives. We may not be fearing for our lives, but we can still relate to their situation. Thankfully we are blessed with some amazing technology these days that allows us to connect and still celebrate this Easter message. It may be through Facebook Live, Zoom, FaceTime, and various other outlets. There is access for almost all of us worldwide to receive a message of some kind. 

We are dealing with a pandemic due to an outbreak of a virus. This virus has changed everyone's life in some way. For those of that are "essential", our work hours might be shortened or extended, our health and safety are more at risk, our patience grows thinner and thinner as you can imagine. You might know that not everyone follows the guidelines set in place and it causes you to do more than just roll your eyes or shake your head in disbelief. For the "very essential" ones, they are realizing their place in the world more than ever. They are earning the love and respect of others that has long been overdue. I have seen pictures of prayer vigils, posters of support, folks everywhere making masks, and more countless gestures of love and support than one has ever witnessed in such a short amount of time since 9/11.

For many though this virus has been a virus of change. This virus has caused havoc and heartache on many families in this world. Many have fought and fought to survive through the effects this virus has on the body. Many have lost lives due to this virus. Loved ones, family members, friends, acquaintances, neighbors and many others left to grieve without a chance to formally say goodbye, without a chance to properly say their respects. Due to this virus, memorials have to come through the form of our technology. Kind words, respects and reflections through Facebook, Instagram Nextdoor, obituary sites, etc. 

This virus has also effected those that have been isolated or in "self-quarantine" (one of our favorite phrases of 2020). This virus has caused loneliness, fear, heartache, longing, anxiety and depression to name a few. It is a virus of epic proportions to say the least. A very talented virus that may cause God's archenemy the Devil to smile and laugh for days on end. This the part where Easter Sunday (Resurrection Day) takes on a greater meaning than every before. This is the day where we keep rising, keep reaching, and remember all of those around us. 

I think Jesus might be looking down and saying "did it really take all of this for us to practice my commandment of Love Thy Neighbor"? . Sure this is still corporate greed, and selfishness being practiced daily in all parts of the world, and in many situations. However, the word unity has taken on a whole new meaning, and our communities will keep growing stronger and stronger by the day. No matter what this virus does, we have the ability to lift our human spirits, to show kindness in ways that they we never thought were possible, to reach out and love neighbors that we may not even know. Rise up and resurrect something inside of you, no matter how hard your situation is, someone is suffering more than you.That is a guarantee.  A man suffered and died on a cross, and today we celebrate that he is risen. Rise with him. Much love to all out there.

P.S. Most importantly, love thy neighbor and still keep your distance on the sidewalk, at the store, at work, and other places as well. 

                                         

April 9, 2020 - Thursday Thoughts - 100 Thoughts (or more) After 100 Days of 2020

Here are a few random observations, thoughts, and memories from the first 100 days of 2020.

1. I really miss those fried dill pickle chips at Memphis Mojo Cafe. 
2. My home is cleaner than it ever has been. 
3. The weather folks can be fun TV watching especially when they start speaking their "weather lingo". 
4. Did the Grizz make the playoffs?
5. Did Ja win Rookie of the Year?
6. NFL free agency was one of the last fun sports events to occur.
7. Did Tom and Bill breakup? 
8. If there is so much fake news out there then maybe Tom and Bill really didn't win all of those Super Bowls?
9. Did Penny and the Tigers make it to the NCAA tourney?
10. I heard the Jayhawks won another title. Sorry Tiger fans.
11. We could really use some classic ESPN commercials with Big Red in them right now. 
12. I jumped a barbed wire fence a few weeks ago down by the river. There was no blood shed in this event. 
13. In regards to #12, I still didn't get those awesome pictures I thought I was going to get. 
14. This too shall pass. 
15. Have some faith. Have a lot of faith. 
16. This social distance thing is hilarious when walking or running through the neighborhood. 
17. Some folks won't even make eye contact with you. 
18. It's not my fault their stuck in quarantine. 
19. I met my neighbors today. They live two doors down. 
20. Ruth was chasing squirrels in their yard and they called the microchip company. 
21. Ruth doesn't understand why the squirrels on those high power lines won't came down and say hello to her. 
22. Ruth gets very emotional about this. 
23. I started writing letters last week. I thought I was gonna get that carpal tunnel thing in my wrists from it.
24. I would love to eat out for one whole day. 
25. Thank you Costco for getting a head start on this social distancing thing. 
26. When was the last time gas prices were this low?
27. I filled my tank up for less than $20 at Costco a few weeks ago.
28. It's a bummer I have not left Shelby County on that gas tank. 
29. I am so thankful that my church has daily devotions via Facebook Live. I have been loving it.
30. I would even love some pizza right now.
31. Maybe even a blueberry cake doughnut. 
32. My Instapot made enough red  beans and rice last week to feed a family of four John Tower-type eaters for two meals. 
33. I made corn bread in the air fryer again last week to go with the above mentioned dish.
34. Honestly, I made corn bread for the first time last year. 
35. I am tired of opening my freezer. 
36. I would love some cobbler or maybe even some apple pie right now. 
37. Banana puddin' in a jar? 
38. I have a birthday in a few weeks. If you find #37, I might hug you, if it is socially acceptable at that time.
39. There are about a 100 people I would love to hug right now, and you might be one of them. 
40. My dog has come to expect me to play fetch with her every night our home. Thankfully the hallway is long enough for it.
41. I went to the Walmart in West Memphis a few weeks ago just so I could feel like I went out of town. 
42. Shutterfly seems to have taken some of my self quarantine funds lately. 
43. Letter writing is fun. Especially when you do it in cursive. 
44. Part of me wishes we would have a few days of rain again. 
45. Maybe more folks will stay indoors as a result of it.
46. My old man is going super stir crazy. 
47. My old man has done everything he possible can in the yard.
48. It is a great time to get a bike out and go for a ride. 
49. Oh yeah, I love running on a sidewalk and seeing someone 50 yards ahead coming the opposite direction. Seconds later that person is already running in the street. 
50. Let's keep this kindness thing going, FOREVER.
51. This is been an interesting experience. 
52. I would not wish for anyone to ever go through this again. 
53. I almost toward the goal off 100.
54. I wish Tropical Smoothie was much closer than it is. 
55. The mosquitoes were happy to see me out tonight. 
56. There was a super moon a few nights ago. Did anyone see how "super" it was?
57. A gentleman came to get a few camera accessories from me at work the other day. He asked me, "what are you shootin' with?'. I guess that is photographer folk lingo. 
58. I sometimes wonder how I used to get stuff done when I actually watched TV.
59. Is Drew Brees still playing football this year?
60. I heard the Saints and Falcons were on Monday Night Football this past Monday. #neverpunt
61. Every time I see a blue jay and a cardinal. . . you guys know where this one is going. 
62. I would love a huge stack of Sunday morning pancakes. I take that back I would love a huge stack of pancakes at any given moment right now. 
63. I am not good at making pancakes, however I have had Waffle Wednesday the last two weeks. 
64. Is it going to snow this weekend?
65. At least we would all be stocked up and ready if it did actually snow. 
66. Check on folks. Yeah, I need to get on that one too. 
67. Tell people you love them. They may or may not think you are weird, and that's cool.
68. I go to a huggin' church. 
69. I can't get Ruth into this whole worship from home thing. 
70. Ruth just wants the Lord to tell the squirrels to be nice to her. 
71. I am thankful for the folks that the Lord has put  in my life over the last few years. 
72. This too shall pass. Just in case you need a reminder. 
73. If you need something, let me know. I'll go to Costco. Or I'll pray with you. Or do both, and anything else you need. 
74. I bought one of those boxes from Costco that has two 5 lb bags of oatmeal in it. That was around the first of March. I am halfway done with the second bag. 
75. I miss eating the baked goods at the Vegan place near work. They have some awesome stuff. 
76. To all those essential folks who are truly essential. THANK. YOU. FOR . EVERYTHING. 
77. What are you going to do when your quarantine time ends? Yeah, there could be some very interesting answers to this one. 
78. What will your first post quarantine meal be? I guarantee it will not be in your own kitchen. 
79. I found some amazing gelato stuff a few weeks ago. Google does not understand the word gelato. That's weird. Use Google and search Talenti Gelato Layers. You are welcome. 
80. I think Summer is almost here. 
81. It always feels like Spring comes to Memphis for maybe 30 days. If it is really interested it will stick around for 45 days. 
82. I would love to be able just give someone a fist bump right now. Without wearing gloves. 
83. Mexican Ice Cream sounds amazing right now. 
84. I have really enjoyed using Nextdoor. If you don't have it, you should check it out. It is kind of fun to interact with your neighbors. 
85. Ruth is getting a little anxious these days. She didn't realize there were this many dogs in her neighborhood.  
86. Her human didn't realize there were this many people that lived in the neighborhood. 
87. I am trying to do this in under 100 minutes. 45 minutes ahead of schedule. 
88. I had an awesome time playing Jenga with Austin a few weeks ago. He beat me every time. It's hard to imagine it was only a few weeks ago. 
89. Is it time going by faster or slower with all of this? 
90. Jesus tells us to Love Thy Neighbor. It is amazing how so many folks out there have just randomly decided to pull that card of their back pocket over the last few weeks. 
91. Let's keep making awesome stories to cover up all the negativity out there. 
92. Sometime at work I just want to yell "SOCIAL DISTANCE" to some of these goofballs. Maybe I should yell " you know COVID-19?", because I do not want to know it either. 
93. My street has been much quieter at night. That has been so nice and pleasant. We still have occasional fools that want to go drag racing though. 
94. Get your paper towels and toilet paper yet? I'll hook you up. 
95. Let's hope some of out there don't suffer from some illness in ten years that results from spraying Lysol so many times in a day. 
96. Lysol has become my BFF at work. 
97. The EPA has this list of chemical products that can kill off Corona. I can definitely hook you up there. One must pay attention to how much contact time you need though. That is very important. 
98. Be grateful for your blessings , no matter how this is affecting your life. We all have some things, and some people to be grateful for. 
99. If you are struggling, keep fighting, and fighting some more. It can't be easy but be sure to reach out. There are plenty of us that will fight with you and for you. 
100. Why did I have to hear someone rolling out their garbage can while I was typing this one. Oops. 
101. KLove reminded me of something earlier this evening. The first Easter was very similar to what this Easter will be like. 
102. The Lord has spoken some things to me through this time. As Brother Phil told me it could come at a cost, but there is a purpose to be accomplished. 
103. I never thought I would have a really keen eye for good photography. Take that and then tell me I would be adding scripture to some of my photography. Thy will be done. 
104. Remember the words of 1 Corinthians 13:13 - "And now abideth faith, hope and charity (love) these three; but the greatest of these is charity." I end with this for a reason. We need all three of these in enormous amounts. But for this to pass the way we need it to pass, we must fully arm ourselves in love. That's how communities band together. Remember 9/11. We are replicating that so much and it so darn awesome to see. 
105. Last one, I promise. If you have to turn on your devices for Easter services then do so, because you should. On Sunday I challenge you and myself to shut off data, WiFi, and Bluetooth for at least two hours during the day. It is Easter. Even if you are needing to be socially distant from family, you can still call and text them. Heckfire, shut off for the whole afternoon. Unless it the weather is just going to be awful, then forget it. Actually, I take that back. Books, puzzles, movies, you guys have probably turned off your technology a little bit as it is lately.    

Goodnight

April 3, 2020 - Flashback Friday - Tiger King? How About the Tiger Suit?

I have been seeing my social media feeds blow up with stuff about some guy they call the Tiger King. Something about Oklahoma and tigers? I thought Oklahoma was home to Boomer Sooner? Anyway, my TV has not been turned on since last Sunday's worship service. Who needs TV when we have books, and the great outdoors. Or a dog that always wants to play fetch indoors instead of outdoors.  That leads me to the reason for this post.

About 6 1/2 years I was in the captivating lake town of Ohrid, Macedonia. While staying in a hostel there I met a few guys from Israel. I was able to learn a  little bit about my heritage during my first two nights there, thanks to these guys. As I was finishing up a Sunday morning long run around the town the, Roi, Adam and their other traveling companion were coming downstairs. Turns out they were leaving for their next destination. I was stretching outside when Adam asked me if I would do him a favor.

When you run for however long I ran that day, you end up being a little sweaty. Little could be a giant understatement. It turns out that Adam had recently started this project during their travels. He had this tiger suit, and he would approach folks and ask them to wear it, while he took a few pictures of them. I gladly accepted since I was from the land of the Memphis Tigers (good enough reasoning, right). The server at the restaurant below the hospital happened to play witness to this occurrence so she even volunteered to be a part of the project with me.

Needless to say, Adam has traveled through various parts of the world with this tiger suit. Many folks around the world have modeled for Adam in the tiger suit.  If I could model one thing in my life wouldn't I want to choose a tiger suit. Heck, I don't really know. I have had to strut down a runway in fashion show once or twice (way back in the day guys), but the tiger suit definitely topped those adventures.

Just having a little fun

Adam has even contributed to the website boredpanda.com a time or two. This website is full of fun articles that can keep you laughing for a little while. Honestly, I have only skimmed through a few but I would assume that they have more awesome stuff as well.  So I leave you with these links here. (Adam's Bored Panda contributions - Tiger Suit 2019, Tiger Suit 2016 ). You can also find him on Facebook if you search "the tiger suit", and he may be on Instagram as well. Enjoy and I hope you get a few laughs from this. Adam would definitely enjoy your visits!

  

April 1, 2020 - Waffle Wednesday

As a kid I used to have a huge love affair for pancakes. As I have gotten a little older, and spend more time cooking, I have fallen for waffle time. As we all know, breakfast is an anytime of the day meal.  I have a habit of throwing together a huge batch of waffles at random times  I even consider the availability of waffles to determine whether or not I will want to eat a hotel breakfast. I remember several trips to Texas in my younger years where some of the waffle irons were even made in the shape of the great state of Texas.

If it wasn't for Texas!

Here are some  interesting waffle facts that you may not know.

 1. August 24th is National Waffle Day. That is the day that the first waffle iron received its patent. The fellow's name was Cornelius Swarthout, and the year was 1869.

 2. Who brought the first waffles to America? The Pilgrims did. Who know? Maybe they had them with their Thanksgiving meal. I can imagine it now. Sweet Potato Waffle Casserole. Yeah, that might be a little over the top.

 3. The guy that holds the world record for most waffles eaten in ten minutes ate 29. That would be a fast carb coma there. This was feat was recorded at the World Waffle Eating Championships in 2007.

I want that waffle iron!

 4.  How many waffles do you think Waffle House has made in its time? Just a little bit under 900 million waffles to date. In fact, Waffle House sells 145 waffles a minute. That's 8700 an hour. That is a lot of waffles.

5. In 1789, a guy named Thomas Jefferson returned back to the United States from a trip to France with a very cool souvenir. That souvenir was a long-handled waffle iron. I would be curious to know if 'ole Tom actually used it himself. Perhaps when he was holding cabinet meetings he would pull out the waffle iron. That would make for a great conversation topic.


6. In 1911, the first commercial waffle iron was created for General Electric. It soon became a staple in many households during the 1930s.

7. There was some guys who created a Mayonnaise empire that even thrived during the Great Depression. Frank, Anthony, and Sam Dorsa decided to move on from Mr. Eggo Mayo and create Eggo brand waffles. How weird is that? Get tired of mayo and start mass producing waffles. Whatever makes you a buck or two! FYI - They were actually named Froffles at that time. Get it? Frozen and waffles combine to make Froffles!!

I could handle that!

8. One time at the World's Fair there was a shortage of cups, so someone decided to create this idea of an ice cream cone by using waffles. It took a little ingenuity and a waffle maker, but you gotta make use of the resources you have handy.

9. Belgium Waffles have not always had that particular name. A gentleman named Maurice Vermersch used his wife's to sell waffles as a vendor at the World's Fair in Seattle. He was worried folks would have no clue where Brussels was located, so he decided he should refer to the waffles as Belgium Waffles which stuck with the US crowds.

Looks tasty and weird at the same time. 

10. In Korea, I used to get these awesome waffles wrapped up in paper towels for maybe a buck or two at most. They were usually folded over with a whipped topping and some kind of fruit filling. Heck, some places even put ice cream on those suckers too. That was one of my favorite snacks to eat for street food when I lived over there.

11. The verb waffle. Some of you may remember a guy named John Kerry who once ran for President. Well, Sen. Kerry who did also happen to serve our country, was best known for waffling on certain issues. Some may refer to it as flip flopping, but a waffle iron does have that same kind of motion as well. Evidently you can type "waffles" on the search bar and pull up John Kerry's web site as well. That might have even been one of the words of the year that year. Do you know anyone who waffles?


Credit to foodbeast.com and justfunfacts.com for the good waffle info!

March 30, 2020 - Motivational Monday - Let's All Be a Light in this Darkness

As it turns out, tomorrow is the last day of the third month of this year. That means that 1/4 of year will be gone after tomorrow. It's amazing to think that all of our worlds have been turned upside down for various reasons. Some of us are probably holding together very well, while others may be feeling very anxious, and others are thankful for the extra time that are able to spend with their families. 

I want you to consider the words that this man once said. This is by a famous basketball coach some of us once knew of back in the 80s and 90s. He fought courageously against cancer and his words still inspire many to this day. Perhaps they might make you pause and reconsider how you live the rest of your year - "To me there are three things everyone should do every day. Number one is laugh. Number two is think -- spend some time in thought. Number three you should have your emotions move you to tears. If you laugh, think and cry, that's a heck of a day." Those words were once expressed by the late great, Jim Valvano. Ponder those words and think about how they can help us in this phase of life that we are all going through.

Over the last few days I have tried to think of ways we can help others. Our city needs it. Our county needs it. Our state needs it. Our country needs it. We all need some light in some way, but we can all give some light as well. It doesn't have to be like Drew Brees, who shelled out five million bucks to take care of his folks down in NOLA, but if we are passionate about helping others, then we MUST and WILL all find a way.

I made a small list (I call it small compared to other lists I have made, wink, wink), and I know that some of you are already doing some amazing things out there.

1.Take time to pray for those affected by this, daily.

2. Love thy neighbor and bake something for them. Just be sure to leave it on their doorstep. I am not really experienced at this one, but I do know where to find some awesome sweets in this town.

3. Write letters to folks. If you a bunch of stationery sitting around, then use it. Tell yourself you are going to send a card to one person a day for the next two weeks. You can entitle them "cards from quarantine". If you need to find addresses, you might be able to use whitepages.com. Sometimes you can locate folks on there. If you need stamps, I might be able to deliver some. I'll trade a baked good for some stamps.

4.  Face Time someone you haven't seen since you were quarantined. If you don't have an Apple product then use Skype, or Facebook Messenger or Zoom.

5. Order donuts, or juice for a clinic, fire department, police department, etc. Heckfire, just drop them off some baked goods if you are uber talented. Maybe even call up a few friends, go in together and order some pizzas for folks working in the line of fire.

6. Check on those you know who are struggling through this. There are folks who can't handle the quarantine as well as others, so call them or text them daily. If you are able to get away from the house for a few minutes deliver them some food with a sweet note.

7. Help those local businesses who are doing everything they can to survive during this hard time, especially the local restaurants. You know you are not going to survive on your own cooking for that long. I have done it for 15 days and I am almost getting tired of it personally. Seriously though, support those local diners that you love so much.

8.Be very kind to everyone. As a guy on the radio said recently, we need to practice maximum grace.

9. Go silent for two hours and interact with those around you face to face. That means wi-fi off, phone face down, Bluetooth off, computer off, and TV off. If you still listen to an old AM/FM radio, then turn it off, too. The idea is to distance ourselves from our gadgets and be in the present with others. Smile, listen, read together, and just share stories.

10. Share your talents with the world. At least through social media that is. If you can sing then host a little Facebook Live session at your piano or with your guitar. If you are a great writer, then share some of your writings. If you are an artist, show everyone what kind of art you are awesome at creating. Photography nerd (that's this guy), then upload one of your favorite shots so folks can see something awesome every day that is yours. You want to do something really awesome: find some pictures and create cool prints with them. Then send them to someone as a surprise. You don't have to be amazing at photography to do that, but it would make their day. Shutterfly can help you with your creations.

11. Donate. Donate. Donate. If you already are donating, then keep up the good work. There are many non-profits that could all benefit from our blessings financially or through other means as well. We may not all have that $5 million like Drew Brees has, but we can at least spare a million, right? Yeah, that was a little bit of sarcasm. Seriously though, most churches have benevolences that can help you find ways to help out and I am sure could even ask Google, Alexa, or Siri how you can be a blessing to those in your community as well.

12. Keep making me excited about logging into social media. There are so many beautiful pictures, funny jokes and memes and even things that stir up my emotions a little bit. Let's do our best to not make any of this political. We need to use social media to encourage, to be a light (credit to brother T.J.), to share our gifts and talents, and most importantly love one another.

I know there are many people out there already doing some amazing things, and it is awesome to see the hearts of so many people pouring out in different ways. The good Lord doesn't expect anything but our best at all times, and this is really a time when he wants us all to unite and be grateful for what we have.

I leave you with this (thanks again to Brother T.J. for reminding me of this last Friday). Let your light shine. Let shine so you can pull others out of the darkness. We as a whole can pull out of this darkness together. It won't be easy, but we can rise up and this too shall pass.  -

March 27, 2020 - Flashback Friday - Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

When I lived abroad in South Korea, I was blessed with a chance to fly south to Australia to visit my aunt and cousins. While planning this trip I decided to spend a few days in the country of Malaysia. I had two goals on this "pit stop". I wanted to snorkel and I wanted to see the amazing towers in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

Kota Kinabalu is on the island of Borneo and is the capital city of Sabah state of Malaysia. I had never heard of this area before my trip. I did a good bit of research and realized that this place has a good bit of everything. If I ever found myself traveling on that side of the world again, I would love to hike to the top of Mt. Kinabalu.

An amazing sunset

I believe I even bought my first pair of Krocs at a mall in this area on my first afternoon in this city. I remember walking around and finding a food stall. That part that really stuck out to me though was sitting down and eating with chopsticks while folks nearby used their hands to throw their meal down. That included rice, veggies and some chicken, I think. Now you are imagining something weird!

Check out the guy on the right 

I thoroughly enjoyed my few days in this area. I got to see the awesome mountains in the background while riding to the local rain forest. At the rain forest we got to participate in the "canopy walk", which is a walk that takes you about eight stories above the floor of the rain forest. The walk is about 150 yards as well. The snorkeling was awesome, and you didn't even have to swim too far away from the shore to see some awesome coral. I did have to help two Korean ladies who could not swim though. They would literally hold onto my back while I swam all the +100 yards or so in order that they may experience the awesome snorkeling at the reef.

A few interesting facts for you about Kota Kinabalu:

• This coastal city is partly surrounded by rain forest. 
• It has the highest mountain in Malaysia at over 13,000, Mt. Kinabalu
• It has some amazing coral reefs. 
• It has a village on stilts
• It has some great markets for shopping
• There is a great wildlife park
• There is a tea garden
• You can kayak in the sea



Mt. Kinabalu

• Yummy fish