Koh Samet

Just outside of Bangkok, about a 3 hr. drive, the island of Koh Samet lies just offshore and is accessed via a large ferry of sorts. We all needed a little more beach experience and this was the easiest so with few expectations we headed to the Gulf of Thailand where we were surprised by the beauty of the beach, white sand and calm, clear water. The accommodations left a lot to be desired--we tried renting a family room with beds for 6--but quickly moved to another hotel with slightly better facilities and definitely more privacy. Meals were basic and not very tasty but the children were out of the room by 7am and spent the day in the warm water and on the beach. They quickly shed their bathing suits which collected too much sand and didn't even wear their inflatable arm bands. There were boats to climb and jump from, fish to chase, new friends to play with. The twins loved it and so did the parents and grandparents!

Packing For Home

Gabe and Jen's time in Thailand is finished and it's now time to jam everything into the bags, check the schedules and prepare the boys for another long journey. Such a difference 3 months makes in these young lives. On this end, they have packed their backpacks themselves, they understand how they will travel and know how to clear a security checkpoint in the airport. Their passports have numerous stamps already and they understand that money is useful. They look forward to the airport as a playground--lots of escalators and moving walkways, cardboard cutouts to tip over, drinking fountains to play in, and, best of all, airplanes to watch. Ted and I won't know how to eat a meal anymore if we don't have to bolt our food in 5 minutes. Our hotel in Bangkok was perfect for children with cupboards to explore, an entire room that we used as our "private" dining room so as not to disturb other guests with racing children and flying food. The hotel staff joined the boys in their antics and frequently encouraged them to greater adventures. They have learned to recognize their floor numbers from the elevator and can find their way thru a maze of hotel corridors. The location near the Sky Train and river ferries allowed us several ways of exploring the city. Carrying two strollers and hanging onto two kids as we climbed 82 steps to the train and then repeated it back down again gave us new respect for the handicap access in the US. We've ended our time together with lasts minute trips to the Palace, river trips, shopping mall adventures to cool ourselves down favorite foods., enjoying favorite foods, and saying good-by to friends (the ticket takers, tuk-tuk drivers, hotel staff and the fish at the wat across the street).

Happy New Year Thailand

Songkran, the Thai New Year Festival, occurred the last week of our stay in Chiang Mai. Basically the Thai people let loose with a lot of water, flinging it on whoever passed by using fire hoses, water guns, or even buckets. Anyone is fair game with no sympathy shown for camera or cell phones. You reach your destination completely soaked and probably covered with a rice paste as well. After several days of crying children and wet clothes we opted to head to Bangkok which was in the middle of seige itself--the red shirts were trying to take control of the city and the government troops were spraying tear gas and rubber bullets everywhere but a war zone seemed preferable to more water. We came to our senses and got off the train early, in Ayuthaya, once the capital of the country and now filled with lovely ruins. But at 4 in the morning with 13 pieces of luggage, two kids, four adults and the guesthouse not open until 7am none of us were very happy. The train trip was lovely( if you ignored the occasional cockroach). We each had our own cabin and shared children. Before departure the engineer loaded the boys into the engine and let them "steer" much to their delight. While exploring Max pushed the emergency call button and the porter rushed to our cabin where we were profusely apologising. Thank goodness it wasn't the emergency stop button!