Looking after yourself healthwise in Malaysia - Expat Diaries

The climate in the tropics of Malaysia is an entirely different challenge to the one in England. England rarely gets hot and is mostly a cold country. Looking after one's general health presents various problems in each climate.

I lived in England from birth for around 20 years and suffered with asthma and eczema amongst others. The cold and dry winters cracked my lips and was terrible for my lungs and breathing. 

I didn't drink much water in England - soft drinks, hot chocolate and fruit juice was the norm, even though drinking water came straight out the tap!

Influenza and tonsillitis were common illnesses which required nothing more than a routine trip to the doctor and a prescription.

Living as an expat in Malaysia is a completely different kettle of fish! For starters, my asthma and eczema problems completely and rather magically disappeared the moment I set foot in South-east Asia. It was remarkable how these ailments I had had since birth just vanished as soon as I got to the equator.

But other health issues soon arose. The heat in Malaysia is intense, and coupled with 90% humidity, it can be pretty unbearable at times. Such a climate makes dehydration a common illness.

I learned through a hospital bed that if I don't drink enough water and electrolytes, bad things will happen to me. Drinking water has now become a conscious part of my life. It's always on my mind. I also keep regularly filled with 100plus, Revive and Gatorade. At least once a month I will take a rehydration salts sachet which can be picked up from the local pharmacy.

If the worst comes to the worst and the stomach discomfort, dry tongue and nausea associated with dehydration set in, get to the nearest hospital, preferably private, and get yourself hooked-up to a saline drip - that stuff is magic and will get you feeling great in no time!

You'll also have to be careful what food you eat. While expats love to try out all sorts of local food, some of it may not be very healthy or clean, and some food stalls may operate in tardy conditions. Stomach bugs are all the more easy to catch if you don't quickly learn what your stomach can and cannot tolerate, and which places are clean and safe to dine at.

Finally, I know that most Western expats crave the sun, the beach, and getting a tan, but when temperatures are approaching 40 celsius, it's better to stay in the shade than risk getting severe sunstroke!

Celebrating 8th wedding anniversary at Swiss Garden Resort & Spa

Family photo by the pool at Swiss Garden Resort & Spa

We never get bored of this place. Swiss Garden Resort & Spa Kuantan is like a little piece of heaven on earth. This occasion was to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. And we keep coming back here because the rooms are nice, the pool is great, and the beach is right there.

Never get bored of this view at Swiss Garden Resort & Spa Kuantan

This time we decided to push the boat out a little farther and go to Samsara Spa, just beside the pool, for a massage. There are a number of options to go for; we opted for the Samsara Touch package including a one-hour full-body massage at RM180++

The two masseuse gave some short instructions and left us in the room until we were ready. For a few moments I began to feel like I was Karl Pilkington from the British TV travel show "An Idiot Abroad." It was my first time having a professional massage and I was worried about having my face in the hole of the bed for an hour. Then we were given these disposable blue . . . knickers (the most suitable word that comes to mind) to wear. They were baggy and I looked stupid. I shall not be sharing the photo of me wearing them! Anyway, the massage was great and very satisfying. It was worth taking the time out to do it.

It was my turn to go swimming with the girls

Our girls made friends with these 2 waitresses during our buffet dinner. RM60++/person, the children, free

Enjoyed a night stroll around the resort before getting the children off to sleep...

Went for our customary morning stroll on the beach the following day, but it was so strikingly hot, we soon went back inside.

Poolside scene at Swiss Garden Resort & Spa Kuantan

Thank you, Swiss Garden, for another great stay. We'll be seeing you soon!

Keep Calm and Have a . . .

I don't know about elsewhere in the world, but here in Malaysia it is awfully hot and humid. On such an afternoon, a power nap is to relax and re-energise. I'm not a fan of sleeping during daylight hours, but the odd occasion I have done has been great! It's very common amongst Malaysians.

Keep Calm and HAVE a power nap!

Do you power nap?

It is so hot!

Kuantan was so hot today. Really hot. The house was full of warm air, and even with the air-conditioning on in the English room, the rest of the house was still so warm. It's hard to be comfortable when the weather is like this, but I'll take it over the monsoon rains any day!

Hope you're having a pleasant day wherever you are.

Do you like free things?

"Do you like free things?"

That's what my neighbour, Doctor Goh asked me yesterday evening. I wondered where this was going to go. I replied,

"Yeah, if they're good"

That's when he showed me this:

Centrum multi-mineral multi-vitamin formula. For a long time I've been mulling over taking dietary supplements. Living in the desperate heat and humidity of Malaysia really does sap my energy at times, so a boost like this is much welcome!

And yes, I checked the expiry date, which is December 2012. (I know free things usually come with catches!) That gives me over 100 days to take the 100 tablets. I started today.

Do you take any dietary supplements?

Have they helped?

Fluctuating weather

Human beings love talking about the weather, and I'm no different. The weather acts as a convenient topic to begin a conversation with either friends or new acquaintances. Do you realise how often you mention the weather in your conversations with others?

In Kuantan, as indeed in all Malaysia, the weather is a 'hot' topic. But during the months of November and December, we have witnessed severely fluctuating weather patterns.

Check out the first example, from November 2011:

I started off cycling from home in clear blue skies. But after just a couple of minutes, the wind really picked up and began blowing in some grey clouds over the convention centre and Putra Zenith . . .

Cycling became suddenly really tough as the gusty winds pushed me back. I looked over my shoulder and saw this:

The beautiful sunny day was quickly turned into a dull, ferociously windy, stormy day. Thankfully I managed to get home before the downpour came!

This picture was taken a couple of days later as the monsoon rains slowly crept their way in to Malaysia - the sound of the rain reverberating on the old tin roofs produces such a heavy din, yet I find it hugely peaceful and calming.

But the rains come and the rains go, and we were about to witness the other end of the weather spectrum . . .

Still in November, we experienced a sudden change to striking heat, as shown on this beautiful day:

Shortly after these gorgeous holiday-weather skies, we sat in the Vistana Hotel gazing out at the pouring rain filling Kuantan with a hazy appearance.

We had four days of continuous monsoon rain last week, and then suddenly on Sunday, the weather changed to this beautiful day with fluffy white clouds against a blue sky. And it was very hot.

How is the weather where you are?

Enjoying the sun

I took Lauren out for a play on the park on Sunday. 

With all the rain we've been having of late, we decided to take advantage of the sunny afternoon which presented itself.

We didn't stay for long as the sun was so pulsating. We live in a country of extremes: it's either tipping it down with rain making going out impossible, or it's burning hot, making any time out very brief!

The Rain Is A Welcome Relief!

After all this awfully draining hot weather we've been having over the last few weeks, it was absolutely beautiful to have a whole night of rain and an overcast, and much cooler, following day. Here's my favourite views of this hiatus from the heat:

A raindrop hangs tentatively off a branch

Watery globules are slowly evaporated into the air

This natural work of art has been formed over years of rainwater downpours

This colourful leaf holds on to some raindrops for a while longer

It was great to see puddles in the streets and roads!

This was the scene on the newly-laid road outside our apartment

Zenith Hotel To Open On 23rd December, 2010

The Zenith Hotel finally appears ready to open in Kuantan. The website for the Zenith Hotel, www.thezenithhotel.com has updated its opening to the 23rd December, 2010. That makes just 5 days until the grand opening, before Christmas, as promised by a certain commenter on my blog who has remained anonymous.

This will be my final Zenith Hotel update and set of pictures before it officially opens as a completed and ready for business hotel. My friend, Jon Liang, who is the interior designer for the hotel, has uploaded a number of pictures of the interior of the Zenith Hotel through its construction phases. I must say that, from a critical approach, I'm left with mixed feelings about Zenith Hotel, from what I've seen. There are some areas that I love, like the distinctive arc design on the exterior, and other parts that I'm disappointed with, like the water feature.

Anyhow, here are the last few pictures I snapped a few days ago, as the Zenith Hotel prepares to open its doors to Kuantan, and the world:

So, the small structure at the entrance turned out to be a water feature, though it's extremely basic and a little disappointing. I really was expecting something amazing with water spraying upwards instead of trickling downwards. However, I have been told that there is some magic to come on the opening!

It was a beautiful hot day when I took this picture of the Zenith Hotel standing amidst azure skies with wispy clouds

Hot Kuantan!

We are still enduring the rainy season in Kuantan, but it was a different type of weather we had to endure on Sunday. The mercury in the thermometer ran up to 42 degrees C during the afternoon! Dealing with the rain and then the sun on alternate days is pretty tough, inducing headaches, nausea and runny noses. On Sunday, Kuantan was seriously hot, possessing the kind of temperatures you'd normally see in the Arabian desert.

Last night, we bought a small barbecue set and had a practise BBQ for Thursday night when we'll be having one with our neighbours. We got the BBQ started with the help of a few firestarters, and in no time we were ready to throw the chicken and sausages on.

Fidelia supervised the cooking of the food; I got the charcoal burning

Lauren was excited about the new BBQ

We did pull a master stroke and strategically placed a fan to blow the smoke away from the balcony into the open night sky. Thus we didn't disturb our neighbours and had no complaints from anyone! Now I'll be looking for some marshmallows to cook on the BBQ next time!