Kuala Lumpur Family

Judy. When our son Stefan was in college in Savannah studying animation, his best friend was a Malaysian guy named Adi, who was also in animation. We met Adi several times, and really liked him. He and his wife are both animators, and very talented. Nine years ago, when we started our pilgrimage journey, we visited him and his family in Kuala Lumpur. They immediately made us feel welcome. Over the years we’ve texted and emailed and WhatsApped, so when we decided to come to Asia, we knew we needed to visit them again. 

And what a visit! When we walked into Adi and Rina’s apartment, their boys, Bayu and Bumi, immediately called us Grandpa Ted and Grandma Judy, then grabbed Ted to tell him all about their video games while I caught up with their parents. 

Just like his American cousins, Bayu wants us to watch him play video games!

Hard not to jump across the table and hug Bumi and Bayu

The next day we all met Adi’s parents, Dani and Zamin, by the seaside for snacks, then for a fresh fish dinner at an open air restaurant. If we ever stopped talking, it was because we were eating. We so enjoyed being together and hearing about each others’ lives. We kept finding comparisons between their kids and Stefan and Sarah’s boys—they’re so much alike! 

Our whole gang--Adi, Oma Dani, Bumi, GrandpaTed, Bayu, Rina, me, and Aka Zamin!

Gangstas Ted and Bumi 

Good conversation and fresh fish--who could ask for more?

Rina, Bayu, Bumi, and Adi

With our Malaysian grandsons at the Wishing Tree

On our final day, Adi took us to an artisan’s co-op, where we met his good friend Allan, a charming, positive entrepreneur with a furniture workshop he runs with his wife. I did some shopping for handmade goods, we enjoyed a mango lassi with Allen, then headed back to the apartment to spend time with Rina and the boys, as well as with Dani, who drove over to say goodbye. Zamin had a prior commitment, and kept apologizing for not being there. 

A snack with Adi after our tour

Allan with some of his artwork at the co-op

I don’t know how we all managed to connect so closely, but the tears were flowing from all of us as we left. I so wish KL wasn’t so far away. Rina and I were a ridiculous sobbing mess. The boys wanted to know why we couldn’t stay. Dani and I talked about going to her hometown Jogjakarta, Indonesia, together somehow. And Adi hugged us both. Words can’t begin to express our connection with this dear, dear family.

Oma Dani and Grandma Judy