Let me introduce Bo properly

Now that my new cousin, Bosse, has reached the mature age of one month and, as you can see in the picture, can sit almost by himself, it's high time that he gets his picture published here in the blog. Enjoy! Can't wait to see him live in February!(The text under the picture reads: "Objectively speaking, the world's possibly cutest baby at the moment". His mom wrote that, but I would definitely tend to agree. And I'd probably go as far as to removing the word "possibly" from the sentence.)

Heading back home

This has been a great vacation! So good, in fact, that I've barely noticed the new molar that has broken through. But I'm also happy to go back home, to see my friends and Edgar and Pining and tell them all about my Borneo experiences.This general feeling of satisfaction makes me very cuddly. Even at the airport, which otherwise tends to be a place where I display displeasure and eagerness to run - fast and far and away.

Christmas Day activities

Christmas Day at the resort was loaded with fun happenings for kids. For kids age four to eleven, that is. However I tried, I didn't manage to work my way into that crowd. Luckily, there was not shortage of activities for me neither.

First, dad and I went riding down on the beach.

With a slight bit of assistance from one of the stable boys.

Then, I went on to feed the fish in the pond together with one of my Korean pals. You know, the guy who saved me from his five-year-old's unintently harsh treatment the other night.After that, I dug up all the pool water with my pink spade (and only had some of it to drink).And again went for a ride, but this time on mom's back.

Then, I proceeded down to the beach for a brisk walk in the sand. My ambition was to be alone for a little while. But even though my walk is brisk, dad's is brisker. Especially when mine leads into the sea.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the three of us! And from Santa, who doesn't come neither from Finland, nor from Kyrgyzstan (or wherever it was they concluded he had to be based to logistically manage his task of reaching all the children of the world) but actually from Malaysian Borneo!

Who's the choreographer?

In case you're wondering, yes, we did practice this coordinated walk in advance, so that dad would have a chance to capture it in the sunset.

But the beach's cool too

There's actually just one down-side with the beach, and that's that they don't let me go play in the waves unless I wear my swim clothes. And I don't all the time.

Do we like it? We like it!

I'm a big fan of playing in the pool. I dive from the pool side (causing my parents to grow grey hairs), I jump (with their help) and today, I went on the waterslide. Four times.

Kan själv!

In Sweden, kids that approach the age of two "Kan själv!" - that is, can do it themselves and clearly state this. I don't know how kids express this desire for independence in English, and to be perfectly honest, I'm still a bit more eloquent in writing than in spoken words. But I already "Kan själv!", that's for sure.

The world's biggest lizard...

...lives in the waters between our house and the restaurant. It eats anything that gets near and you're advised to stay at a distance. Good thing there's a fence.

Fancy facilities!

The means of transportation (of luggage and newly arrived guests only, alas) at the resort is pretty cool. Super-long golf carts. One was left unattended outside our house, and I managed to get mom on board with the idea to borrow it for a little joy ride around the garden. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite reach neither the gas pedal, nor the steering wheel, so I had to postpone the cart-snatching plans for fifteen or so years.

Making new friends

Yesterday, I made friends with a Korean family in the pool. They had also braved the heavy rain. Today, I followed up the friendship with the five-year-old. It was all good as long as we played with the sand down on the beach.But then she started a game of her being the mother and me the baby. Now, I'm not a baby anymore and I don't really like it when people forcefully hold my hands.But I kept a straight face until she started carrying me around. And then, her dad intervened, so I fortunately didn't have to use all of my voice resources to tell her to let go.

Snack by the pool

The fresh air and the beach and pool play make me hungry! (And a bit tired too.)

Dad boils pool coffee

Dad puts his face under the water and blows bubbles. It looks hilarious, and of course, I want to try it as well. Everytime I do, I end up drinking the pool water. This is something I like more than the parents. But we all think the whole thing of being here is fun!

Getting ready for the pool

I have the swim diaper, the trunks and the duck. Yet, something's missing.

Ah, here it comes. The indispensible swim shirt.

Mine's size 2, but so much cooler than those for us one-year-olds, so it's worth folding the sleeves.

The details that make it work

There are so many things to discover and examine at a resort. Like those perfect-length poles with coils...There to make it easy to seal off the pool area at night, they say. But this was at night, and there was no sealing off going on.

Entering the temple of fresh air and easy living

We're at the beach. It's rainy season (note to parents: always go on vacation during rainy season) and thus, overcast and thus, I'm allowed outside for once. I love it! The water is shallow, the waves spectacular, yet manageable. And the beach! The beach is full of interesting sand. Different textures depending on the moisture. Makes it differently easy to walk on, differently easy to write in, differently possible to make sand cakes with. But the taste remains more or less the same.

Leaving the temple of glass and marble

Yup. I've left the classic Manila style architecture (for lobbies in upscale residential apartment buildings) behind for a while to instead check out Borneo style wooden carvings.

Santa's little helper

Today it's December 13, and thus, the big Lucia celebration at the ambassador's residence. I actively participated in the entire thing and even danced a little to the best songs. But I'm telling you, it took a lot of bravery on my part! The temperature must have been very close to, or even over, 30 degrees Celsius, and that santa-hat was definitely not made for tropical Christmases, but rather freezing Swedish ones! I sweated like a piglet, but I made sure no one noticed, as I understand piglets live in danger this close to Christmas. Mom also participated actively in the whole thing. I had the distinct feeling that she tried to sing louder than any of the kids. Maybe she should join a choir for people her own age?

Joy ride, part 2

Last time we were playing with my scooter, only one of us could go at a time (and as mentioned, I'm still not quite as strong as Rosie, so that one person wasn't me.) This time around, we decided to share. I controlled the gas pedel, she controled the steering. And once she let go of her handbag, we did quite well.

Sang to by Santa

Santa lives at the Hartvig's place, on a shelf in their entrance. He's a short, fat guy with a big beard. When we were there to visit on Monday night (to celebrate Nils' 10th birthday a few days early), Santa sang to me. And danced.
Is this the person they say will come visit on Christmas Eve? If so, I'm not sure I want it to happen. That loud Jingle Bells voice and those wagging hips were really both awkward and a bit scary! Santa! Stay with the Hartvigs!

The good and bad about going to bed

I'm torn when it comes to the night routine. On the one hand, I really really like being read to. I get to pick the book (from the wide selection, I pick either "När två säger godnatt" or "Pajama Time").

But on the other hand, I think teeth brushing is way overrated. Way way overrated. Especially now when my molars are giving me a hard time and I'm feeling a bit below the weather in general.

They're really testing my patience

Today, the Christmas trees (yes, plural) were brought out in an attempt to adapt to local customs. Very pretty. Full of lights and cute little angels and stars and shiny things. Yet, believe me when I say that Christmas decorations don't seem to be meant for us one-year-olds to enjoy. At all. I used to be urged not to touch electrical outlets and those tall African sculptures. I've reluctantly accepted those terms. But now, the parents are really pushing it. They place something extremely tempting in the midst of my play area and then they say: Just look! Don't touch! Pretty, no? Look at it! But no touching! Don't touch!
Right! I nod and pretend that I accept. But silently, I plot my revenge. Those fragile little angels live in danger!By the way, this is the less decorated one of the Christmas trees...