We flew out of Dubai at 7pm after a rather normal Wednesday. The girls went to quilt class. Isaac and Matt swam. We ate lunch, cleaned up the house, and oh yeah, packed for an international trip. It didn't seem real somehow until we were leaving in the taxi and I started panicking a little thinking, "what did I forget??" Turns out nothing too serious, just annoying, like the charging cable for my phone's back-up battery.
We took off for a short leg to Bahrain, yes, we flew west before going east. We took off 20 minutes late which started Matt and I worrying a little because we only had an hour layover. We were thinking we can still hopefully make the flight, but what about our luggage? We had NOTHING useful in our carry-on bags (backpacks). Each of us had as little as possible--just what was needed to make the plane ride more comfortable. We landed with 35 minutes till take off for the flight to Bangkok. Take away 5 minutes to get off and miss the first bus. Wait for the 2nd bus to fill and slowly go to the airport. Take another 15 to get through immigration. Less than 15 till take off and we are running. The kids are out front with me trying to keep up and hold my skirt high enough to run, but low enough to not scandalize any locals. Matt is bring up the rear holding a computer bag with one hand and his pants up with the other (he had to take off his belt in immigration!) It was our Home Alone moment except a lot louder because 4/5 of us are wearing flip flops/fish flops and they really slap. We caused quite a few raised eyebrows and smiles as we dodged around people and ran down the concourse. We made the plane with moments to spare. We were the last ones on the plane and had to kick people out of two of our seats who had hoped we wouldn't show. 7 hours later we landed in Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, just before 7am local time. And by some miracle, so was all of our luggage.
No one slept much on the plane, so the first order of business was to get a taxi and find our hotel.
We were able to check in early and everyone took a shower and couple hour nap. When we woke up we did our best to see some of the city.
After accidentally sleeping in too long, we rushed down for breakfast just before they closed at 10 and then still made time to jump in the pool for an hour before we had to check out. It was a big loop with a couple of alcoves on the sides and two bridges going over. Isaac swam several rounds, but mostly they played on and around the bridge. I took more with my phone including a 1 minute movie, but here are a few off the camera.
We took off for a short leg to Bahrain, yes, we flew west before going east. We took off 20 minutes late which started Matt and I worrying a little because we only had an hour layover. We were thinking we can still hopefully make the flight, but what about our luggage? We had NOTHING useful in our carry-on bags (backpacks). Each of us had as little as possible--just what was needed to make the plane ride more comfortable. We landed with 35 minutes till take off for the flight to Bangkok. Take away 5 minutes to get off and miss the first bus. Wait for the 2nd bus to fill and slowly go to the airport. Take another 15 to get through immigration. Less than 15 till take off and we are running. The kids are out front with me trying to keep up and hold my skirt high enough to run, but low enough to not scandalize any locals. Matt is bring up the rear holding a computer bag with one hand and his pants up with the other (he had to take off his belt in immigration!) It was our Home Alone moment except a lot louder because 4/5 of us are wearing flip flops/fish flops and they really slap. We caused quite a few raised eyebrows and smiles as we dodged around people and ran down the concourse. We made the plane with moments to spare. We were the last ones on the plane and had to kick people out of two of our seats who had hoped we wouldn't show. 7 hours later we landed in Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, just before 7am local time. And by some miracle, so was all of our luggage.
No one slept much on the plane, so the first order of business was to get a taxi and find our hotel.
It was GREEN! And Matt always had me sit up front, in the left, with the driver to communicate and pay. He squished in back with the kids and made mischief.
Matt and Jess on their way from the palace to the boat. Makenna, Isaac and I are in another Tuk Tuk (three wheels, motorized, open).
Moving on the water helped beat some of the mugginess.
Wow. There are nice, huge modern houses, and right next door there are slums. This was an eye opening boat ride.
Everything is colorful. The taxis are bright pink or green or blue or yellow. The boats are full of rainbows.
We saw two VERY large lizards. You can just see the head of this one. He climbed onto the rocks right after I took this, but I was too far to get a good shot.
We docked and climbed into another boat and then onto the dock to see a temple.
We walked through 3 and saw a dozen more. It's probably wrong of me to say, but it's a little hard to tell them apart, even after just 24 hours.
The boats had car motors rigged on the back with a propeller attached to the drive train. Pretty crazy to watch the guys drive them.
I was just mentally comparing the cleanliness of the river and canals to Venice and thinking how none of those shacks built over the river had plumbing and how much I did not want the boat to tip over when we saw a bunch of kids swimming by. I didn't photograph them, but I snapped a couple boys a few minutes later.
See the BIG lizard. Another reason to stay out of the river?!
The reclining Buddah. He's HUGE.
That's his head a football field away from us.
The bottom of his feet are decorated with mother of pearl.
Jess dropping coins into the pots. The pots are metal too and they run the whole length of one side. It echoes like crazy inside and sounds like metallic raindrops.
Merit Making Pavilion for scouts.
At this point starvation was kicking in. We went back to the hotel area to find dinner and then the girls went down to try out the pool. Makenna proclaimed it her favorite pool ever. She loved the jungle feel and both girls loved jumping off the bridges. I tried to take a picture that night, but it was hopelessly dark.
After accidentally sleeping in too long, we rushed down for breakfast just before they closed at 10 and then still made time to jump in the pool for an hour before we had to check out. It was a big loop with a couple of alcoves on the sides and two bridges going over. Isaac swam several rounds, but mostly they played on and around the bridge. I took more with my phone including a 1 minute movie, but here are a few off the camera.
Right before we wheeled our luggage out, I ran around and snapped a few pictures. We really liked our cheap hotel suite.
Master.
Girls' room
Isaac's room
He stayed in the from night swimming and did a chemistry lesson!
And now we are in Phuket. We got a taxi to take us to the Don Mueang International Airport and flew Air Asia down south. (By the time this trip is over, we will have added 5 new airports to our list since we fly home by way of Kuala Lumpur and sampled two in Bangkok.) While here, we are planning on some scuba, jungle exploring, visiting a different island, and more. Tomorrow starts Songkran--the Thai New Year. It is a huge national water fight. There are water guns for sale everywhere!
Kids in their new room. We will be here for three nights.
They loved the towel art.
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