Signs of Christmas

Christmas Shows:

Parties:

Baking:

And the waiting game:

RIS Gala

I am not sure what a Gala is exactly and I had to Google image it to see what to wear, but it was a fun event to celebrate 60 years of International education at RIS. A parent bought Amy and me tickets (they were very $$$) as a Christmas present.   We had a great night and danced until the lights came on.

My date and me.   Due to political issues downtown, we decided to stay in the moobahn to find our "fancy" clothes.  I think we did well.  Didn't spend a lot and came out with a nice pantsuit.  Not sure I was trendy or I have been in Thailand too long.  

Some of the ES staff.  They are all so much fun.  

Gretchen, Toni, Darcy, Amy and me.  

The salad:  You know it is a fancy dinner when you leave still hungry.  We all left still hungry. 

Good beef is rare in Thailand.  This was imported and man was it tasty.  Too bad it was gone in 3 bites.  

Kitty Cat Cafe

Maybe it is an Asian thing, or maybe I have been gone from the US too long, but there is a new craze here....cafes full of cats.   I am not a cat lover per say, but I do like cats, however, the thought of eating with them isn't really my cup of tea.  But, I knew the kids would like it, so a friend and I took advantages of one of the many cat cafe popping up around Bangkok.  It also helped that I had a Groupon. 

Amelia wore her Hello Kitty shirt just for the occasion.

Amelia and Liam loved it.  I liked it.  I only found a couple cat hairs in my tea, and the cats were VERY well behaved.  They had about 10 cats that were very well taken care of clean and fat.  There was a big difference between there looks and the soi cats we see running around outside.  

Amelia's favorite.

My favorite...I like kittens more then cats.

Our tea.

Eating with cats.

Playing with cats

Loving the cats

Rayong

Bangkok may be a big, smelly city, but it is within driving distance to some nice, relaxing beaches.   Wade had a friend visiting Thailand who was staying near one (Rayong), so we decided to pack up the kids and go for a visit.  The drive to Rayong was just under three hours.   We stayed in a nice condo that had pools and was across from the beach.  Rayong is a quiet city with no night life so it was great for families with kids. We ate, swam, got sun and swam some more.   Both the kids cried when we had to leave.
 

This looks out to the ocean.  We camped out here all day having food and beer delivered.  

Liam is so funny.  The first day he said he hated the beach and wanted to swim only in the pool.  The second day, he said he loved the beach and didn't want to leave. 

Just relaxing. 

Waiting for the sunset. 

Sun kissed cheeks

Amelia took this picture

The sun setting...pink sky at night, sailors delight.

Wade bought the kids floats.  They loved them.

Amelia said she wished the waves were bigger. 

These "muscle" make it so much better with Liam in/near the pool.  He doesn't have to depend on me as much and is learning to get around.  He now thinks he can swim. 

Run BKK

Last year I would have never imagined that I would be running in Thailand, especially a race.  People who know me, know that in the past I have been a runner.  I have ran a good number of races including some marathons, but there is something about Thailand that makes me shutter when I think about running here.  I think it has to do something with the morbid heat and 100% humidity.  But, I was talked into running the Bangkok 10k and it wasn't that bad...and even though it was probably the most disorganized race I have ran, it was a little enjoyable.

The 10k crew: Megan, Darcy, Me and Amy

Saturday late afternoon we all headed downtown to get our packets and stay the night.  This is because the race starts very early to beat the heat.  We were lucky the 10k's start time was 6am, because one of my friends who did the whole marathon started running at 1am.  

The night before we relaxed, got massages and ate Pad Thai and sticky rice from vendors for dinner.  We got as good as a nights sleep as we could.  That is because little did I know when looking for a place to stay, our hotel was in the middle of the protester's camp in Bangkok against the Parliament. Opps.  

My friends are already planning their next race.  I am still out for debate. 

We ran on the Rama 9 Bridge.

Through parts of Bangkok, including Khoa San and China Town.

This was a BIG race.  About 90% of the runners wore the shirts handed out.  This was a first for me. 

It was still dark when we started. 

Only in Thailand do you finish a race and you get a McDonald's sandwich.  Very healthy!

Viet Nam

One of the perks of traveling is what you learn.  For example, while traveling in Vietnam, I learned it is really spelled Viet Nam.  I also learned that the Vietnam War is called the American War there. Who knew?

It is all about our perspective.  I was reminded that my perspective does not mean it is reality.

When my sister said she was coming to visit me when I had a week off of school I knew right away that we were going to go to Vietnam.  I had to talk her into it, but what a better place for me to see then with a sibling.  That is because for the past 33 years (34 years in a couple weeks), Vietnam has been a fixture in my life.  It has been the topic of many conversations and the reason for a lot of decisions.  The reason is that at the ripe ol' age of 18, my dad joined the US Marines and was shipped off to war in Vietnam.  

He was sent to the middle of Vietnam to Da Nang.  I also found out later that Wade's dad was sent to an area close to that called Happy Valley (or something like that, but is more like an antonym of what it was).  Today Da Nang and other areas of Vietnam are huge cities or beach side resorts.  I knew going I was not going to experience even a small ratio of what they did, but I felt that I needed to go as a homage for them (even if they thought I was crazy for doing it)

ReBecca and I did not make it to DaNang in the time that we had.  Instead we headed to Ho Chi Min (previously known as Saigon) and the beach town Mui Ne.  It was not the exact places my dad had been to, but I did get a feel of the country and its people.   We also did not run into any other Americans while there.  I know there must have been some, but unlike Thailand, we were not as prevalent. 

The beach was luxurious and wonderful.  It was definitely a vacation.  Saigon was crazy and adventurous.  The beach I would go back too, Saigon, probably not.  

It was a five hour drive to the beach.  The last hour I thought I was going to burst.  Driving was crazy and we almost faced death a couple time.  They also honk ALL THE TIME!!

I was amazed that even though Thailand and Vietnam are only an hour flight away, at how different they were.  Due to French colonization there is a European influence.  The bakery items were wonderful and the architecture had a Paris feel.  20% of the country is also Catholic and with each street turn there was another church.  They also drive on the "right" side of the street. 

The hardest part of the trip, but the most needed was going to the War Remnants Museum.  It was not as anti-American as I thought, but it was a reminder of how awful war is.  As my sister and I walked the exhibits in silents on the verge of tears, I completely understood why it has effected my life through my father the way that it did. 

After the trip, we were happy to get back to Thailand, but glad that we went to Vietnam.  We got to see a piece of history and learn a little more about perspective.  

Mui Ne is known for their kite boarding.  You spend the mornings on the beach, and by 1pm the wind picks up and the surf.  

Our beach bungalow.  My parents gave us money for the trip, so we were able to do it in style!!!

Mia Resort.  Awesome place.  I highly recommend staying here. 

There was a WIDE variety of foods to try.  Some illegal in the US. 

Items being sold on the beach. 

Dinner one night.

People had pet monkeys everywhere.  At first I was scared of them, but then I became brave, 

Beach drinks!!

View from our hotel in Saigon. 

War Remnants Museum.  A US tank left after the war.  There was a LOT of items left after the war.  

One of the reason the Vietnam War has influence our life so much is because of Agent Orange.  My dad was sprayed with the chemical and now has health issued due to it.  Also, as some people know, I have crocked fingers.  This is due to a rare bone disease that makes my bones look like Swiss cheese.  I have had a number of surgeries for tumor growth.  My dad and sister are convinced this is also due to Agent Orange. It has been found to pass from people who where sprayed to their children to cause horrible birth defects.  This section of the museum is dedicated to that.  For more information check this out from BBC: HERE

One of the best ways to get to know a culture is through food.  Here we are enjoying some pho.  We ate a lot of pho.  I love pho.

Pho

Everywhere you go in Saigon the streets look like this. 

Back in BKK before she heads home.  Thank you ReBecca for coming to visit me.  It meant more then you will know.  It is a memory we will have forever. 

Thank you Kyle and girls for letting ReBecca come see me for two weeks!