I was planning on packing today. Geoff informed me this morning that we'd have the Delta van(with Peter the driver) available to us. So much for packing.
We went to Geoff's favorite restaurant in all of Thailand. It's down by the water. On the way we pass fish farms. There's no "city plumbing".
Houses are on stilts. Flush the toilet by dumping water into the toilet from the rain barrel. Homes have large clay pots to catch rain water for home use. At the restaurant... When you first walk in, take off your shoes and put on a pair of slippers at the door. There's toys for the kids to stay entertained. It gets chilly with all the strong bay breeze so the restaurant keeps long sleeve shirts and light jackets on hangers for guests to borrow.
While you're watching the tide come in you're entertained by the lung fish and crabs in the mud below.
It's comfy, casual, and of course... The food ROCKS!
After that we stop by a market an pick up dessert. It's sweet coconut grilled in banana leaves. YUMMMMMMMM. We should've bought more. I could've eaten that all night long... ok, it's good that we didn't buy more. We have a few other sweets and smoked buko(young coconut) juice. People are STARING at us BIG TIME!
We visit another striking wat.
Finally we meet Jack and Ying and their niece and nephew for a kick butt dinner. It's going to be sooooo hard to enjoy Thai food restaurants in the States after having the real deal. I'm beyond words. The kindness and hospitality is endless!
The restaurant is practically floating. It's in a neighborhood equivalent of Orange County. Live music, private karaoke rooms, and water features are ALL OVER the place. Unfortunately Felicia did get a small 2nd degree burn when she grabbed on to a light. But she got over it pretty well. It was a spotlight for one of the waterfalls. There's also lots of coy and the kids are having fun feeding them. It tickles me that in the photo you can see my kids have finally learned the "Asian squat". Sitting... without really sitting :o)
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
August 11 - Packing? Who needs to pack? LET'S EAT!
Monday, June 25, 2007
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.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
June 16 - Note to self: When gut says to let kids skip the 4d movie... LISTEN!
First it's the breakfast buffet. The kids are sooooo happy to have pancakes and other western breakfast food. We're also entertained by one very indiscreet woman who's packing her bag, or maybe it's better descibed as a sack, with fruit and other breakfast items.
Today we take a totally see-through(like see below our feet) cable car from Mount Faber to Sentosa Island.
First, an ice cream and beer break.
Second, we indulge the kids in a ride up the Sky Tower.
Next we try the 4D movie... I'd been to the one in Disneyworld so I wasn't sure if it might be too much for the kids. But, I figure if it gets too intense we'll just take the 3-D glasses off them. BOY! was I waaaay off. In addition to the seat bumping, wind effects and 3-D visuals there was a "foot-whip" for when the crabs ran across the screen. That's what got Felicia and Turner (the longer legged ones) screaming. So, Cam starts screaming because the first two are screaming. Finally, when the 3-D swarm of bees come at Ronan he throws the glasses on the floor and starts screaming. By this point, I've got Felicia and Cam in the back of the theater while I'm feeling through the dark for an exit door. Geoff's got Ronan screaming and Turner screaming in panic, "I have to go to the bathroom!". Turner was figuring it was the quickest way to get out. We eventually all escape out a back exit. This was all withing 5 minutes of the movie. Comes out to about $10/minute.
It's raining, so we hop back onto the cable car and review the day's horror with the kids.
At Mt Faber we park ourselves at the restaurant with the killer view and have a food and drink break. Geoff watches the kids while I escape to the gift shop for a few minutes.
Then back to the hotel for a break.
After dinner at a disappointing Tapas restaurant we take a beautiful evening boat tour. But, before we hopped on the boat tour we needed to head back to the hotel and clean up Ronan's poop ooze coming out up the back of his shorts... We're pretty confident that he left a souvenier at the bad tapas restaurant.
Next, back to the hotel for the night and Geoff's conference call. OOps, we realize that Geoff didn't power-save his laptop and we have no adapter for the power supply. BLAST! So Geoff gets to wing-it on the call a bit. Of course this is the ONE TRIP that I didn't pack the outlet adapters because we never needed them before.... until now. AND we've got 2 suitcases this time! Oh well...
Friday, June 8, 2007
May 16 - Language Lessons
Today Geoff noticed a line worker at the plant wearing a JACKET! Mind you, it’s not air conditioned in there… but it is “climate controlled”. Geoff tries out his Thai and asks if she’s cold.
Response: Snickers, confused looks, laughing, etc… Then after Geoff points out her jacket she shakes her head to convey “no”.
Later, Geoff asks Jack how to say “Are you cold?” Jack says it in Thai and Geoff’s thinking, “That’s what I said.” But after repeating it back to Jack, Jack clarifies that with the tone that Geoff used… he was asking, “Are you lonely?”
A couple of trips ago Geoff had a similar experience. He asked a line worker, “Are you finished?” Later, others told Geoff that he used the words incorrectly and was asking her if she was “finished” in the –bedroom- sense.
May 9 - Safari World
It’s been raining. So, that means more mosquitoes. You all know I’m sooo not into bugs. I think I’ve FINALLY stopped flinching and smacking at the little mole on my right bicep.
Today we had a short day at Safari World. We drove through the animal park and got stuck in animal traffic (wildlife has right of way… the sign said so). Then, we saw the Dolphin and Beluga Whale Show. Very entertaining… Actually, the kids BECAME entertainment. There was a family who asked if their daughter could take her picture with the 4 kids. They even video taped them. I figure it’s OK. What’s the worst that can happen with a photo/video of the 4 kids eating ice cream? Our family of 4 kids catches lots of stares and attention. I don’t know if it’s because we’re “funny” looking or that there’s so many of us…. Probably both.
Animal traffic.
It's hard to get all 4 kids in photos.
Turner liked the dolphins.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
April 18 - Stay cool at the pool...
The kids have gone swimming practically every day. We’ll go to the pool for about an hour or so at around 4 or 5pm. Yes, the sun is THAT strong. It’s a beautiful pool and the boys can’t get enough of the architecture.
