Koh Chang

In April one of Thailand's biggest holidays occurs and the whole country shuts down and celebrates.  This year, we aimed to stay clean and dry and stayed away from this.   We were also super excited to have two wonderful people come visit us during our time off work and school.   

For Becki and Paul's ten your anniversary they decided to cash in their frequent flyer miles, get their first passports, and travel around as much as the world they could in about ten days.  Lucky for us, Thailand was on the list of places to stop. Knowing this was probably the one time they will be doing this, I had a lot of pressure to make sure the time in Thailand was full of memories.  Becki wanted to ride an elephant, Paul wanted to see some fish, and Wade was determined to show them one night in Bangkok.  We had a lot of laughs, great food, many old memories shared, and new ones created.  

When looking at where to take them, we all knew the beach was a must.  There are SOOOO many beach options in Thailand that knowing where to go can be overwhelming.  I wanted to go somewhere new and they wanted to see what you see in travel magazines.  After asking around, I decided on Koh Chang.  Chang in Thai means elephant.  Seeing that the island is shaped like an elephant's head, it earns the name.  Koh Chang is a quiet island, what they saw is about five years before it gets too touristy like the island south near Phuket.   It is in driving/boat distance from Bangkok towards the Cambodia boarder.  It had a peaceful feel and it met my expectations of a great place to holiday.  I can see why some friend's of ours go there every chance they get.  I hope to one day go back as well. 

One night in Bangkok....

Becki and her elephant ride.  A memory was definitely made here.  On the trail a large snake went under Liam and Goma's elephant and freaked it out.  I was behind watching (not knowing what was going on), their elephant was crying, bumping into Becki and Paul's elephant and being very upset.  All I could do was sit back and realize how helpless I was and that these were wild animals that we really have no control over.  Thank goodness it didn't last long, but it was a moment I will not forget.  

Only in Thailand will they let a five year old ride on an elephant's head.  

This trip we brought Goma with us to help with the kids.  It allowed the adults to have more time together.  We rented a house on the beach, so while the big kids played, the little ones still had fun as well. 

Beach fun. 

We spent a day on White Sand beach.  Paul started to feel right at home with the Thai lifestyle. 

Date night.  Pictures on the beach before we head to dinner. 

Happy 10 years!!!!!

I never thought I would have my feet cleaned by sucker fish, but I wanted to show Becki a good time.  I HATED it.  I lasted long enough to get a picture.  Creepiest feeling ever. 

Paul found us a day boat/snorkling trip.  It was the best food I have ever had on a tour before. 

Tutti Frutti

Working where I do, I get the opportunity to meet and mix with some Hi-So Thais because their children go to my school or Amelia is friends with them from class.   In the fall I posted here about a fashion show Amelia did for a mother at RIS who is a designer.  Since, Tutti and I have become friends and Amelia has done a couple other modeling "gigs" for her.   Yesterday, Amelia was part of the spring children's line fashion show downtown.

In true Token style, she has LOVED it all.   Below are pics from the print work and show.  It is scary how old Amelia looks.  At the show I was walking her to the bathroom and three times Thais called her "sexy lady".  I sure hope they were translating that wrong. 

Poor thing is not going to know where all her fame went to when we leave Thailand in June!

Print Work Photos:

She called this the "frozen" dress.

This is what the big models looked like.  It surprised me how much they made Amelia looked like them.  There are from the States living in BKK for three months to do modeling.  Their agency sent them

Kid Fashion Show:

The little models with Tutti. 

What a ham!  With Jazzy, one of Amelia's friends from school.  She is on Thai TV. 

She laughed all the way down the catwalk.  

Dada, Tutti's daughter.  Amelia LOVES her!  She goes to RIS as well. 

Pre-K Art Class

Flat Macie in Thailand

 After seven days of travel, Flat Macie made it to Thailand.  She went from the cold temperatures of Kenmore to the hot humid weather of Bangkok and boy was she ready to get out of that stuffy envelope!   Once Amelia and Liam meet Flat Macie, they were in love.  We decided to treat Flat Macie as if our cousin was really here knowing that the real Macie cannot make the trip .  Thank goodness Macie and class where doing a class project around the book "Flat Stanley".

In Thailand we live in a community that is very much like America.  It is a BIG neighborhood (‘moo-bahn’ in Thai), where we play with neighbors, BBQ with friends, and walk to the store for ice cream.  In our neighborhood is our school, Ruamrudee International School.  RIS is an American based school where we all speak English and use American curriculums.  At RIS Amelia is in pre-kindergarten.  There she is learning math, reading, writing and many other things.  Her favorite thing to do is play at recess with her friends Lizzy and Jazzy.  Her least favorite thing to do is take a nap.  

RIS was the first place Amelia wanted to take Flat Macie.  Below are pictures in front of Amelia’s classroom door and the playground.  Flat Macie loved going down the slide.

Just outside the gates of our neighborhood you can see “real” Thailand.  This is where there are people on the streets selling food, clothes, and most anything that can be purchased.  FM arrived during the weekend, so we thought it would be fun to take her for a taxi ride to see our local Wat and weekend floating market.  There Amelia showed her the sights, we relaxed on a boat with iced Thai tea, and we toured the Wat.  Flat Macie loved everything that she saw and ate.  She also got to meet some friends of ours who were also there showing friends around.

After some long thought, Flat Macie has decided that she is going to stay with us in Thailand.  She loves feeling warm and has many more foods to try and places to see.  Thank you to 

We ran into friends at the market.  They wanted a picture with Macie.

Even Superman wanted in on the action.

Touring the local Wat.

Fun with Macie at the floating market.

Mini horses!

Touring the market.

Thai ice teas on a boat. 

More Wat.

Parental selfies. 

Macie's first taxi ride. 

Showing Macie Amelia's classroom. 

Singapore

Last week/weekend Wade and I left the kids at home and went to Singapore.  I had a conference and we met up with a college friend, Cheryl Pink.  I had a plan to get lots of pictures, but this was it.  I guess I will have to go back to get more. 

When you live overseas, seeing people who knew you from your past is a luxury you cherish.  You can sit for hours and reminisce about who we once were.  It was so great for Cheryl to lets us stay with her and be our tour guide.  Singapore is an amazing place.  Clean, orderly, and safe are just a couple words to start with.  For someone who is in business it is the place to be.  But, it costs a lot of money to stay and live there. Forbes named it the 5th most expensive city in the world for expats.  Coming from one of the cheapest, it was a hard transition.  

Most of my time was spent at the conference, but at night we went downtown and saw where the rich play.  Singapore has a very unique skyline and surrounded by water.  The whole country is only 16 miles by 24 miles and getting around was super easy and cheap with its public transportation. 

If you are ever touring Asia, I recommend stopping there. But don't stay too long or you will run out of $$$. 

(I posted this and an hour later this was published. I guess it is now the most expensive in the world!)

Handsome Man.

One of the BEST things I have ever eaten: Singapore Chili Crab. 

Most expensive drink I have ever had.  EVERYTHING is Singapore is SUPER expensive.  

Candyland Birthday Party

February is a big birthday month for the kids in our community.  So for Amelia's 5th birthday party we joined forces to celebrate Amelia and Molly together.  The theme: Candyland. I can't take credit for most of  the party.  While I spent my time studying, Amy (Molly's mom) did most of the planning, decorations, and organization.  I helped where I could (mainly food).   The girls and the friends who attended the party loved all of it.    

Crafts

Goma and Liam in the photo corner. Love this picture.  We are going to miss Goma so much when we leave Thailand in June. 

Games: Pass the bubbles.

Candy bar.  Thanks to my mom for sending most of it from the States.  Half of this candy you cannot get in Thailand. 

Food: We even had a chocolate fountain Amy and I spotted (stole and returned) at a meeting we were in.

Bubbles outside

Birthday girl!

Party Pics! Amy hired the school photographer to take pictures.  His camera is SO much nicer then my camera phone. 

Then vs Now

Amelia at age 2 at Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle and Safari World, Bangkok age 5.  Shows how life can change so fast.