Raise a glass to 2009
Yesterday was Dave's last day at work. Not this work, or that work, but the other work, the office work, the work he's been slogging away at for a couple of decades. From today he'll no longer be managing a staff, just himself and a couple of cameras.
Scary, but exciting. A big change, but change is good.
What does this mean for EatingAsia? Not much, initially. We're in the throes of annoyingly time-consuming transition-related tasks. But once we've settled into a new routine we may tinker. I'd like to write more ingredient-focused posts. The photographer will be lurking in the kitchen more often, so you might see a few more recipes here too. And more Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia-focused posts, now that we'll again have time to explore our own backyard. Then there's that site redesign we mentioned last September.
We'll be traveling more (in the very near term, Penang and Jogjakarta) but, free now of time limits imposed by the fact that one of us has a full-time other job, we'll be traveling differently. Some of the best stories come when you've got time to just hang out, observe, become part of the wallpaper - something we haven't been able to do in so long. Now we will, at least sometimes.
We're looking to get started on some larger projects too, some related to food, others not. We'll keep you updated. The latter you'll be able to follow on Dave's photography blog, which should be up and running in a few weeks.
It seems right, today, to thank you, for visiting EatingAsia once and then coming back. We've so appreciated your support and your comments. What a difference three and a half years makes!
New year, new life. Best wishes for 2009 - we hope it's a great year for you.
Happy New Year to both of you and good luck to Dave with his "new" work. Am looking forward to more and much more of your food posts then. Am thrill to have read you will be writing more ingredient-focused and Malaysian-focused posts. It is always a pleasure to read your blog and salivating on the food images. You have made SEA come alive and am looking forward to more.
P.S. I was in Malacca and Penang recently and took upon myself to discover the hawker foods that you posted earlier in the year. Hope 2009 will be a better year for all.
Regards
Posted by: MikeKoh | 2009.01.01 at 23:35
All the best for the New Year, I hope it is productive and enjoyable for you both. Looking forward to sharing in all your travels!
Posted by: CW | 2009.01.02 at 05:27
Best wishes for the new year.
Posted by: yym | 2009.01.02 at 10:34
I really enjoy visiting your blog and I look forward to more interesting entries this year. Have a wonderful New Year!
Posted by: bertN | 2009.01.02 at 11:05
congratulations and good wishes on your new ventures!! i do love your posts, and look forward to more. happy new year!!
Posted by: dena | 2009.01.02 at 11:52
Happy New Year, Robyn and Dave! And good luck with your new endeavors; I'm positive you guys will be successful in all that you do.
Posted by: Gastronomer | 2009.01.02 at 12:41
Happy New Year guys!
Looking forward to seeing your new projects in 2009.
Posted by: aaron | 2009.01.02 at 13:14
I wish you both well! Enjoy the change!
Posted by: kiko | 2009.01.02 at 21:13
Dear Robyn, Dave, I have been a fan of your site for a while now. I rarely post comments but rest assured that the quality of your posts is much appreciated and I have grown to be fond, although cyberly, of these 2 gwai=lohs who have this rather odd inclination to lurk around the lanes and alleys of KL/Malaysia looking for tasty morsels in the most unlikely of places. May this inclination live long and well!! And may the two of you find happiness in this adopted country of infuriating politics, various folks of different tounges, cultures and customs speaking an endearingly mangled English and of course, glorious foods, glorious Malaysian foods. If there a factor that should unite us Malaysians, it shoud be this - the food! Thank you for lurking in our lanes and "lorongs" and in turn holding a mirror in our faces showing us that peace and unity is perhaps possible when we all sit down to a gobsmacking good meal.
Here is to a great 2009 to you both!!
Posted by: TJ | 2009.01.02 at 22:30
Hear hear! And *klink*!
Posted by: Jennifer | 2009.01.03 at 00:01
Happy New Year to you both! I only recently discovered your blog and had such a wonderful time browsing through all your archived entries. I lovex2 all your pics. I'm originally from KL but living in the US now and I have to say that you both really know where to find good eats in KL even way better than me. And thanks to your blog, I've discovered places to eat that I never even knew existed. Looking forward to more of your KL street food pics. For now, I just have to look at your pics to satisfy my cravings until I make my next trip home to KL!
Posted by: TeriY | 2009.01.03 at 00:50
If your previous entries were done with you two traveling under time constraints, I can't imagine what you'll be able to do on your own schedule. Happy New Year, and I can't wait to see more of Asia through your eyes. -X
Posted by: Xander | 2009.01.03 at 01:37
Here's to many more years doing the work that is desired and enjoyed. And may the new year bring you guys much more food and photography adventures than ever before.
Have enjoyed meeting you and getting to know you especially through your posts and Dave's pictures. They've always been our inspiration with our own blog.
Hopefully we'll get to meet up in Malaysia when I get myself home.
Posted by: Annie | 2009.01.03 at 01:50
Hi,Happy New Year!! Would you mind if we could exchange links?
Posted by: ninku02 | 2009.01.03 at 02:36
Happy New Year! I wish Dave all the best of luck in his new endeavor, a photo blog is definitely something to look forward to, and may you, Robyn, find more inspiration in your backyard, to share all your delicious finds with all the Eating Asia readers. Thank you for a food-filled year. Cheers!
Posted by: Mila | 2009.01.03 at 15:52
Happy new year and thanks for this blog, it makes me travel in front of my PC!
Posted by: Plume | 2009.01.03 at 17:55
Happy New Year, Robin and Dave!
Alws enjoyed ur posts and phtos! Bring us more for 2009 yea!
Posted by: thenomadGourmand | 2009.01.05 at 10:00
when you guys go to yogyakarta, please feature the batiks and tips on getting a good deal.... if you're at java, hope you go to surakarta also (the pasar klewer!!)
happy new year!
Posted by: juls | 2009.01.06 at 22:05
Thanks everyone, and Happy New Year!
TJ - thank you, and well said. Here's to unity and harmony via food!
Xander - thanks. It's called never having a proper weekend or a non-working holiday! We hope to do something about that this year.
Thanks Annie - and here's to a trip home for you in 2009.
Hey juls - we're really not shoppers, I gotta tell you ... unless it's for food. And I hate bargaining, so I'd be terrible at offering advice in that respect!
Posted by: Robyn | 2009.01.10 at 15:34
Congrats to you two! Nothing feels better than working on something that you're passionate about and I wish you all the best with this new change.
Thanks for your email. I couldn't reply to my emails somehow. Yes, it's exceedingly hard and sad and I am just emotionally and physically drained and very sad. I came back last Sat before it was too late. It happened 1/5 (Monday)...
Posted by: Bee | 2009.01.10 at 16:03
A belated Happy New Year and good luck! Sounds like a great adventure ahead.
(I'm way behind on reading posts, sorry!)
Posted by: Kitt | 2009.01.31 at 13:44