Since our last post we visited beautiful Railay Bay (which was highly recommended by the Swensons), the place is as advertised and is stunning with brightly colored water and huge limestone karsts. We had a fantastic day on a beautiful beach...until both kids received multiple jellyfish stings, turns out that this area is a hotbed for stingers but is not communicated to the public as it is in Australia. They ended up being very lucky with small stings, so after quite a few tears and asking at the local hotel for vinegar (they wouldn't let us pee on them) the kids ended up with a definite memory of Railay Bay. Footnote- Turns out my friend Swenner may be tougher than I give him credit for. From there we hopped on a ferry to an island called Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand. Once again, thanks to the off season we have found some steals where we have been able to enjoy the tropical climate in beach accommodations nicer than what we are accustomed too. All in all, Thailand is a very diverse country from north to south with the bulk of activity (or lack there of it) occurring in the many islands one could explore. We have also realized we are not made up to be the Swiss Family Robinson as we are all ready for a change from the island beach lifestyle.
With not much to blog about, I thought I would focus on some of the lighter notes from our last couple months.
JAKE'S DIET
If any one knows Jacquie you will know she has a "delicate" palate. So SE Asia has been a bit of a challenge for her, comprising her meal plan with garlic bread, pancakes and fruit. You will notice no meat listed, since Vietnam when we saw what we think were dogs on a rotisserie (they may have been small pigs) she has sworn off all meat and has pondered many times why there are so many cats and dogs around the restaurants and resorts. So while us other three enjoy chicken satays, garlic and pepper pork and an abundance of seafood, Jake enjoys her breads and fruit shakes each day. She has started to buy BBQ corn off the street vendors now...so there's that!
BARTERING
Again, if anyone knows Jake you know she is an astute bargainer and typically has very strong bargaining skills. However, I honestly believe she is marketed out and has really lost her edge the last month. The children however are gaining steam, E typically has a pretty good sense of what things are worth and has the ability to leave a store without buying. He has also realized his age benefits him and has mastered the short money trick. Once he gets the seller close to his price, he then pulls out his cash (which is always slightly less than the agreed amount) to show the seller, this then usually ends up with some grumbling by the seller who then reluctantly gives in. Elyssa on the other hand just wants to know what stuff is worth...."how much?". She never intends on buying anything but just wants in on the action while driving the vendor mad with an abundance of questions.
MASSAGES & LADYBOYS
As I touched on in an earlier post, Thailand is home to a cultural phenomenon of a large number of transgenders or Ladyboys as foreigners call them. Due to the stigma against them in this society many of them work in massage parlors, both the Thai and "sexy" versions. The kids have adjusted to the initial shock and now make a point of picking them out of the groups and get a kick out of the cracking male-female voice calling out "MASSAAGGE!" as they walk by.
JEFF KLUMP
Another phenomena has been the increasing size of Jeff's midsection. One would think that eating mainly rice and fruit would have a positive effect. However, in an effort to make the most of our dollars he has taken the task upon himself of clearing everyone else's plates (only our family's). The beer of choice in Thailand is Chang and although he doesn't drink too many here, Jacquie has wondered aloud if he is making a game called Changa...rules are still to be determined. If you notice fewer pictures of him in the blog it is due to his selection and vetoing of all photos.
NATURAL DISASTERS
In our travels we have visited some places with recent natural disasters such as Christchurch and Phuket. Upon visiting these places and learning as we go about what and how these events occur, one would expect to be educated and informed but it has had an opposite effect and has turned some of us from casual beach bums into paranoid weather watchers looking for tsunami escape routes. Being on the beach is typically quiet and peaceful enjoying sunsets or watching the boats and clouds drift by with not a care in the world, knowing that inevitably the wind and swell may pick up at anytime of the day or night. However, when it does pick up this is when the crazy starts and one of us starts pacing and wakes the others from their peaceful slumber at nights. Loud noises such as jet engines or distant thunder have also been known to make members of the family run for cover thinking that it could be the "sound?" of an earthquake (which will turn into a tsunami)! I think Jake may be turning into a Captain Ahab since she recently said "the ocean can be a monster!".
OTHER FUNNY ANONYMOUS QUOTES
At an aquarium- "I honestly didn't know seahorses were real"
On a Thai beach - "I can't believe I was chased by a three legged dog"
We are off to Hong Kong for a week and will post again after that. Bye for now!
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