June 22 - Jules gets a day off!

Today, Geoff makes a fabulous suggestion! He'll take the kids out while I enjoy some ALOOOOONE time at this killer resort:o) Geoff begins his day with the kids by taking the kids to breakfast so I can shower in peace.



After breakfast Geoff will take the kids fishing and to the free clay play area at the resort. When Geoff inquires about fishing, the resort staff's response, "Fishing? That's not very popular." The kids love fishing. Geoff gets a real workout. It's non-stop... "Watch the hook!" "Don't foul the lines!" Untangle the line... "You'll break the lure!" "You broke the lure!" For the first time it looks like the driver, K.Supachai is enjoying himself. The kids have fried rice for lunch and drink them out of Sprite. At the clay area Geoff spends lots of time trying to keep Cam from destroying the artists works that are not yet hardened. Geoff gives the guy 100THB tip... Cam has taken a stick to a piece that it looked liked it WAS almost done.




Now as for ME! I've parked my rear on the couch on the back porch with a pitcher of water, a couple of apples, some magazines(although mostly in Thai), a book and a couple of smokes. I'm killing time in the beautiful mountain air and views while I wait for my 1pm appointment for a PhuChaisai massage and O2 facial. I'm also trying to ignore all the mountain insect critters. I can deal. The spa was wonderful. Afterwards I park it in the outdoor lounge area and read the Bangkok Post.


Once G and the kids return we have dinner at the resort and get the kids in bed. G annd I enjoy a beautiful, cool, breezy mountain evening on the back patio with some wine and grown up talk.

June 12 - The Sikarin Hotel/Hospital

Cam's managed to pick up a rash on his scalp. By the looks of it... it's spreading like some sort of fungal problem. So, after letting it go for too long we get him checked out by a doctor.

I'm not sure about this, but people here don't typically have a "primary care physician"; they just go to the hospital. So, Geoff took Cam to the hosital.

GOOD GOLLY!

When he came back only 1.5 hours later all he kept saying was, "It was like being at a hotel!". When the driver pulled up, hospital staff were there to open the door and carry the diaper bag for him. Geoff didn't even carry the diaper bag! So, in the 1.5 hours: Transit to hospital, check-in/ID card registration, visit with doctor, get prescriptions for fungal skin issue, transit back home. All of this for less than USD $20! In the states, MY COPAY FOR THE DOCTOR VISIT *ALONE* IS $25!

Geoff kept comparing the hospital trip with his previous stays at the Novotel Hotel in Thailand. Geoff's friend Jack says that this isn't even one of the "better" hospitals.

I'm reminded of story of Geoff's friend's visit to Thailand. After a food poisoning issue Geoff's friend needed to go to the hospital to get a shot in the rear. ...after they stuck him, they rubbed/massaged the sore spot. Full service.

Two words everyone... medical tourism.

April 19 - Traditional Thai Massaaarrghh!

It was overcast this morning so I took the boys to the playground at the end of our street. It was their second visit to this playground and Ronan was very excited to go on the see-saw. They’d never seen/used one before Thailand. Boy that brought back memories. It took Turner about 37 seconds to learn that if he jumps up real hard it makes for a less that pleasant ride for his 10 pound lighter younger brother. It took Turner another 15 seconds to learn that if he keeps see-sawing too hard he slides forward off the seat onto the bar and has an unpleasant ride for himself.

Then later in the morning we hired a housekeeper to come in once a week and clean the house. I’m sooooo not in my comfort zone. However, with every child that’s blessed our lives, I‘ve learned to let go of my control freaked-ness a little more…. I think I can get adjusted to Pia cleaning my house :o) She starts in a week.

After that I had my 1st Thai massage at Healthland Spa.
A few things I’ve learned from the experience:

- You can get a 2 hour traditional Thai massage for $12!

- I need to stretch before the massage.

- Look out! That little Thai woman giving you a massage will TAKE YOU OUT with just her thumbs.

- My calf muscles are NOT strong enough to withstand a Thai massage.

- Two hours goes quickly when you don’t have 4 kids around.