November 27-28, 2024: First time in Korea!

When we left Malaysia, we were supposed to fly from to Korea to San Francisco for our connecting flight to Albuquerque. But the weather in Korea was very wet and cold, and a snow storm hit the area while we were in the airport. Our flight got delayed a few times and then cancelled, so we ended up staying in a hotel overnight and taking a new flight the next day. I would have loved to stay in Korea longer! It's another beautiful country. The photos are not in perfect order.

Inside the Korean airport

Real Orchids

Winter snow storm brewing outside the airport

Tropical plants

Lots of smokers--gross!

StrEAT had the best shabu shabu meals!

Waiting for the weather to clear up

Ice on our airplane windows

We had a Korean meal in this busy airport restaurant

Freezing weather outside while trying to catch a ride to our hotel

Inside our fancy hotel

Our hotel room was amazing

Views from our window

Thursday, November 28th: There were some fun amenities at the hotel. Wish we could have stayed longer and seen more of the city!

Back at the airport for our flight to the U.S.

Korea is so green and mountainous

November 23-27, 2024: Trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malasia!

Mike and Dan talked a few times about us meeting him and Tammy in Malaysia before or after Mike's Japan conference. We flew from Tokyo to Malaysia at the end of our Japan trip. We were able to spend some quality time with Dan and Tam mainly on Saturday and Monday. They were very busy as medical missionaries the whole time we were there, but we saw some sites, ate some great food, and had some wonderful conversations together. The weather was very different from Tokyo. It was HOT and MUGGY, and it rained a lot.

Saturday, November 23rd: Boarding Malaysia Air

We loved the pretty dresses and clean hairdo's on the flight attendants

Inside the airport

Mike with his brother, Elder Dan Hobbs

The airport has a mall inside

The pasta restaurant where Dan took us to eat dinner

Cool produce market inside the airport mall

The hospital where the missionaries go for medical emergencies

Outside the apartment where Dan and Tam live

Their apartment even has an infinity pool with awesome views!

Lovely entrance to the apartment building

Inside Dan and Tam's roomy apartment


Sunday, November 24th: This sweet senior missionary couple who are good friends and neighbors with Dan and Tam gave us a ride to the church


This Sunday was a District Conference for the missionaries!

Lots of music and wonderful talks! Mike and I sang in the branch choir too since Dan and Tam couldn't be there. They were attending to a sick missionary at the hospital.

Tammy made this yummy lunch for all of us after church

Taking a fun stroll with Dan and Tam

Riding the subway together

It was a drizzly but warm day out with lots of clouds

Cool view of the Petronas Twin Towers
The world's tallest twin skyscrapers: 14,083 ft tall and 88 floors

Other buildings in the area in Kuala Lumpur

Inside a famous mall in KL

Rain would pour and then stop and then drizzle

Pretty Christmas displays inside the mall

Fun photo ops for the four of us!

Walking back to the apartment through the city

We passed a graduating class of high school seniors

View seen from Dan and Tam's apartment window

Monday, November 25: Mike and I had a whole day to ourselves to explore the city while Dan and Tam was busy being missionaries. We went sight-seeing, tried new foods, and I got a great haircut and even had my nails done. Dan and Tam met up with us at a mall, and we had a nice dinner together at one of their favorite restaurants. It would be our last meal together during this trip. The photos are not in the right order, but you get the gist!

Entrance to the Sri Durgai Amman Temple, Batu Caves in KL

The Sri Durgai Amman Sleeping Goddess statue

A scrawny chicken, like all the chickens in KL

Getting a much needed haircut in the mall

The malls are huge and multi storied

Delicious dinner with our favorite missionaries

Tuesday, November 26th: Fresh squeezed mandarin juice

Look at the size of this grape!

On our way to the Central Market for some souvenir shopping

The Merdeka means "Independence" in Malay

Heading to China Town in KL

We had an interesting lunch here

Old meets new: the Merdeka 118 building in the background

The Pavilion Mall was beautifully decorated for Christmas inside

Gorgeous shimmery strands of light 

The Merdeka 118 building seen from the train station on our way back to Dan and Tam's apartment

Our last meal with Dan and Tam in KL at their favorite restaurant

Muslim girls in the background

Kuala Lumpur looks beautiful and intricate from the sky!