Thailand 2019

January 26/2019

Our flight from Singapore was one of the best flights I’ve ever had the privilege to be on. SCOOT is a discount airline owned by and affiliated with Singapore Airlines. The seats were plenty big for this Canadian, the staff was very friendly and the take-off and landing was one of the smoothest I’ve ever been through. Well done SCOOT!

Landing in Bangkok after dark was a tad intimidating but having traveled now for just about 3 months, most of which has been in Asia, the trip to our hotel was seamless. Grab Car is still our most useful travel tool and least expensive method of private transport.

Finding food at night in SE Asia has always been a challenge when first arriving in a new city or area. We have always been fortunate to have a 7-11 close by for a quick snack and a beer to get us through until morning. Tonight was no different. We chucked our bags into the room and went for a quick walk down the block in search of “The Sev”. The streets were full of vendors with food and used iphones but one thing stood out more than usual. The streets were also full of “massage therapists”. Perhaps there was a convention in town? They were all dressed very nice in short skirts and some even had chairs to sit and wait for possible clients. Hmmmmm. No wonder everyone in Thailand was so LAID back 😉

Provided with what we needed to get by for the evening, we head back and settle in for our nap.

January 27/2019

The Grand Palace will be our late morning excursion for the day. We will be choosing Thailand as our “chill” country. Even with the obviously relaxed environment of OZ, NZ and “The Cruise”, we still feel as though we aren’t finding enough relaxing family bonding time.

Leaving the room at 10:30am puts us in a bit if a tizzy, as we are more used to the up and out by 7 or 8 method of exploration. Our grab car to The Grand Palace takes us on an exciting drive through the streets of Bangkok. Still, the streets seem much more empty than what we are used to. Vietnam was a shit-show for driving and we were actually told to skip the driving in Bangkok as well but we find it very manageable.

The kids are excited to be in a new city and seem to be enjoying Thailand so far. Our quick stop in Phuket during the cruise impressed on them the fact that Thailand would be much more “kid friendly” then Vietnam was and perhaps a bit more fun than China and Japan. Thailand is a nation that loves kids and we are pumped to be here!

As Patty dons her ankle long skirt and I pull up a pair of sweat pants in the 30 degree heat, I quickly realize that this family will not be visiting a whole lotta temples in Thailand. 15 minutes into the GP walk and I have a good case of “swass” goin’ on. It’s hot out here folks!

The first temple we go into enshrines a massive golden Buddha, sports fans to circulate air and is carpeted for patrons to sit and pray. This was my type of temple. I am very much a “meditator” and am fascinated by the Buddhist culture. As we all sit in a row to do a quick meditation and say a prayer of thanks for all that have kept us safe on our trip, I notice that what we are doing is very welcomed by locals doing the same. Apparently, a white Canadian family of four lined up in the religious room is exciting for others and very pleasing to the eye. Good thing photos can be taken otherwise we would be the only ones left there…

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

The architecture here is amazing. So many temples, buildings and statues all created by gluing 1”x1” square tiles on the outside to create magnificent color and beauty. The Emerald Buddha is a must see here at the grounds. Unfortunately there was no photos allowed and some renovation inside actually blocked most of the Buddha. You must take your shoes off to enter these areas. This one in particular housed a great many tourists at once in a small area. The smell of feet had me in and out in about 35 seconds… Yuck…

As our visit ends, the thought of losing these pants excites me to the point of practically running to the exit. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh… Finally shedding the unneeded laundry and getting a bit of what is a slight but still HOT breeze.

This is where we will get a taste of Tuk Tuk craziness. Our Tuk Tuk driver is apparently a seasoned vet with no cares in the world. Doing mach-chicken down the streets of Bangkok on a five wheeled bike with no seatbelts is quite a rush… Destination, The mall of all malls.

There is a mall in Bangkok called IconSiam. This mall has 10 floors including an underground level and house up to 5000 cars.

We decided to go and visit this mall. Holy hell… The mall boasts automotive brands with vehicles present including, Rolls-Royce, Maserati, Mini, BMW, Porsche and Toyota. It was absolutely the craziest mall I have ever seen.

The amazing deals to be had were non-existant… hahahaha

This was enough walking for today…

The street that we live on here in Bangkok is all street food with a few very Thai restaurants. Being pretty tired and not wanting to much of a hassle, we decide that it’s a Domino’s Pizza kinda night. I am in charge of navigating the “on duty” massage professionals and retrieve pizza by myself. Fortunately the resident therapists have already seen me with family so I am no longer “fair game”.

Pizza and bed time. We have a big day of who knows what to do tomorrow.

January 28/2019

Our tickets to the Grand Palace yesterday came with entrance to the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre for a Khon performance and a look into the Thai culture which is much better then dance shows in restaurants. This short play was amazing. The dancers were skilled and the music was mesmerizing. A definite check mark on my should do if in Bangkok list.

• 

• 

After the play we decide to head out to another massive mall in search of a Lamborghini dealership. According to research, There is a mall with Mclaren, BMW, Rolls-Royce, Porsche, Ducati and Maserati as well as the most sought after, Lambos and Ferraris. We booked another Tuk Tuk ride to get to this mall. Mostly for the kids. Nothing can match Tuk Tuk Timmy from yesterday. He was fast and crazy…

Disappointing to say the least. The Lambo dealership is no longer there and the Ferrari store was just that… A store. Beater… That’s all I have to say about this mall. While smashing a Baskin Robbins unicorn ice cream cone, we decide to head to the tallest tower in Thailand! Why not? We have other tall structures licked in our travels so it only seems fitting.

The King Power MahaNakhon is Bangkok’s tallest skyscraper that opened in 2016. Its appearance is very unconventional. A glass curtain walled square tower with a cuboid surfaced spiral cut into the side of the building. The Skywalk opened only a couple of months ago and is the highest observation tower in Thailand. Like the Tokyo Skytree, the elevator basically launches you to the roof. 74 floors at a speed of 480 metres per minute or just under 30km per hour. That is about two thirds as fast as the Skytree at 600m/minute. Crazy nonetheless!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

At the top, Patty and I were excited to have a beer at the highest observation point in the country. Well weren’t we in for a surprise! Thailand has a law that prevents the sale of liquor to the public between 2pm and 5pm. Actually a brilliant law if you think about how it would positively affect the workforce. Nobody leaving early to have a frosty pint at the pub before 5pm! Or it could work negatively. Perhaps those who indulged in a liquid lunch, decide to not bother returning to work!

The short time we have spent in Bangkok was very enjoyable. Much too busy in my opinion for a family with young children but we loved the sights nonetheless. We have heard that further north there is a mysterious city that is very family friendly. Onward and upward to…

January 29/2019

Chiang Mai, Thailand. We have heard so much about you. Our goals for you are simple. Enjoy the old city, get a tattoo and relax in the sun, sans beaches. Chiang Mai is a city of roughly 130,000 but full of history. The historic importance is derived from its close proximity to the Ping River and major trading routes. Chiang Mai was on a tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage inscription and was one of two tourist destinations on Trip Advisors 2014 list of “25 Best Destinations in the World” where it stands at number 24.

Our knowledge of the city is limited and therefore we are winging it once we get settled. It is still a stressful situation to arrive in a new city and try to find your bearings. Food, laundry, The Sev…not to mention that we have arrived in CM without accomodations. A host with our AGODA booking had failed to approve it in time for our arrival and we don’t want to book something else until that is resolved.

We decide to get to Celebrity Tattoo and get a date set up for my next paint job. Arriving at the shop and still unable to get a call out on our cellphones to find out if our goofy AGODA booking had been cancelled or not, Adam, quickly offers his personal cell phone for us to figure this out. While Patty tends to the booking, Adam and I get down to business. With the booking cancelled, Adam again offers his help to find us a place. He was unaware of the research skills of the one I call my better half but the offer was most appreciated. All figured out, we head for our new digs and bid a farewell until Thursday at noon to our new friend.

Our first hotel is well north of town so we didn’t do much exploring. We did find a Sev, the laundry and this hotel has a pool. A COLD pool but a pool. We did try our hand at “boil it yourself” food at a cool little Thai restaurant plus had some amazing sushi at a Japanese place across the busy highway. Np problem for us to cross. We’ve been in Vietnam!

Fast forward to Thursday at noon. Its TATTOO DAY!! I am beginning to have a love hate relationship with this day. I love the work but not the actual “sitting”. I don’t so much mind the pain. It doesn’t last that long but sitting idle for a long period of time does not go well with my personality. My day is made that much better knowing that I am sharing the pain with… PATTY! She has decided to get a small tattoo as well. For those that know her, this was WAAAAYYYYYYYYYY out of here comfort zone. I am so proud of her right now.

• 

• 

• 

I have the pleasure of watching history being made before my artist is done drawing my piece. She doesn’t even flinch and the double entangled heart design that reminds one that self-love comes first goes perfect with the beauty that enshrines this woman. We are truly the luckiest family to have her as our wife, mother and research analyst.

I get to spend another couple hours lying face up for what is to be an enjoyable time I am sure…

Unbelievably, this tattoo is of limited pain and I somehow put myself in such a deep meditative state that I fell asleep for the first ½ hour or so, quickly woken up as Taki ventured closer to my armpit.

Another incredible piece of artwork forever inked onto my skin… Sounds weird when I say it lie that but its true.

January 30/2019

On this day we go to the Old City to check out Tha Phae Gate which is a part of the Old City walls and some of the shops around the area. Just a lazy walking day with some ice creams, Some traditional Thai Burger King and some good family bonding in the HOT sun. Not much of a blogging day really. More of a take a break kinda afternoon.

• 

• 

• 

February 01/2019

We cannot believe that its February already. We haven’t seen a lick of snow nor have we felt 60 km winds in -30C weather. We are also not missing that either. Though we are missing home. I am gonna get real here for a moment.
.
.
.
.
.
Travelling is not all “rainbows and puppy farts” as we put it whenever this comes up. It is a commitment to family, learning and understanding. It is the promise to one another that you are here for them in the good and the bad basically because you cant get away from them. Seriously…

We are missing our friends, our family and our routines. We are missing the “normalcy” of Alberta. The familiarity of things that we have known ALL our lives. Trying to figure out a new language every month and a new city every couple weeks is taking its toll on us.

This being said… and I needed to say it, we must continue on our path and not give up. Our lives have already been changed. We are more forgiving, patient (small steps) and loving of each other being on the road for nearly 3 months together. We are also more understanding of each others needs. This is a big one. This day today has been full of nothing but hanging out. Together, alone and everything in between. We live, we love and we laugh as the old cliché goes.

For some reason we decided to let our kids watch the Hangover 2 beings that its based in Bangkok. Parenting victory? We will see. Until then we enjoy the laughs and the cuddles, together as a family.

February 02/2019

ELEPHANT DAY!! Now before all the bleeding hearts start commenting on how no none should enjoy the captivity of elephants, please do your research. I am not an advocate of elephants in zoos. We didn’t even see any elephants in the Australia Zoo and if there was a zoo for them, that would be it.

We are visiting an ELEPHANT SANCTUARY. Until you have seen one first hand, you have no idea of the love and care that has gone into and continues to go into the handling of these majestic beasts. Choose the right one. Do the research and find the one that fits your budget and feels right to you. Thailand offers many sanctuaries but we chose THE ELEPHANT JUNGLE SANCTUARY. This one was right for us based on price, accessibility and reviews.

The drive out to the sanctuary is about an hour and a half but we are in the cool confines of a newer Toyota pickup while there are 7 others riding in the box ranging from German to Brazil and American nationalities. Our arrival at the sanctuary shows us a very simple yet efficient area for tourists to bathe, mud, and feed several elephants ranging from age 2 years to 75 years old. You can tell right away that these beasts are not mishandled. Literally pampered everyday, your money goes to keeping them taken care of and creates jobs for locals. The days of using elephants for both work and riding for fun are only disappearing because of these sanctuaries.

The pictures say it all…

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

February 04/2019

Chiang Mai is also home to some incredible art museums. Art in Paradise is a 3D interactive art museum with 3 locations in Thailand. One of which is right here in CM. At a price of around $50 CDN for the family, I was skeptical at first but was instantly impressed upon seeing the first works of art. The pictures that we took and the fun that we had for the next couple hours was worth the price of admission. If you are in CM, Bangkok or Pattaya, check out Art in Paradise.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

February 06/2019

Today is a day of travel. We head out early to Chiang Mai International to board the 2 hour flight to Surat Thani airport to get on the bus for the hour and a half long ride to Amphoe Don Sak to catch the hour long Raja Ferry to the island of Koh Samui only to pile into another van for the 45 minute ride around to the opposite side.

• 

• 

• 

Feb 07/2019

Our first day in Koh Samui sheds light on the expense comparison of and island to the mainland. Right off the bat, KS transportation is astronomically more pricey than any other Thai city be it on the beach or not, that we have been too. That being said, there is definitely something different about the energy here.

Easy beach access was something that we chose to forgo in exchange for price. Our $60 CDN per night, two bedroom apartment is priced right for our budget. We must walk about 15 minutes to the beach and unbeknownst to us, up and down a 250 yard hill. Quickly it was realized that we would be getting our exercise in if we wanted to see the sun and the sand.

Not willing to let any time be put to waste, we head on down to find the best sand and sun spot that we can. Nuzzled up to a drinking establishment affectionately known as The Monkey Bar, we plant our butts in the shade and ready ourselves for fun in the sun. The sand is soft and the water is clean. All we can really ask for I suppose. Massages, henna tattoos and Changs are what we spend the next couple days filling our schedule with. It’s time to be lazy.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

February 09/2019

There’s always opportunity to meet another traveler, befriend them and develop a relationship with them. Sometimes you REALLY get lucky and it’s a seasoned traveler who owns a business here and has lived, at one point, in Thailand for 10 years. Fiona Hayes and her son Jack frequent the island once in awhile to tend to her Nanny business here. The insight about Thai life, her sons bond with our kids and the laughs that we share quickly spill off to a cool little restaurant on the beach called “Your Place” This of course was referred to us by Fiona and we were not disappointed. The food was exceptional, the ambiance, spectacular and the wine… Well the wine… We were entertained with an incredible fire show and some more wine. Oh what a night!!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Feb 10/2019

Choosing plans to explore and boat when you are under the influence is less than recommended. Today we all meet at 9:30 at the opposite side of the island to grab a long tail boat and head out to a couple of different islands. Koh Tan and Koh Matsum. Affordable based on occupancy, we jet out for our 45-minute ride to these “little pieces of paradise”. Feeling none worse for wear from the night before, I am ready to enjoy the day! Fiona takes us to an UNBELIEVABLE reef located about 40 minutes from the shore. We didn’t believe it until we saw it…

We have snorkelled the Great Barrier Reef but we all agree that this is just as incredible if not more! More fish, more color and definitely less waves, we find ourselves lost in the sheer beauty of our surroundings. The water is warm and the swimming is easy. Very worth our while so far… Back on the boat and off to our first EXOTIC Island!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Breaking up disputes between people from other countries is not on my list of most favourite things to do but I have gotten fed the hell up with it. The other day next to our building there was a very loud dispute between what looked like a father and his son. Hearing plate glass shatter and seeing the father close to the edge of a balcony with said son hanging over screaming bloody murder will make anyone with a mind for humanity step in. I am a loud person. It didn’t take much for it to stop and the son left soon after for what looked like a flight outta here. I didn’t expect to have to do it again so soon.

As we all try to enjoy the island dreamland that we are on today, yet another family is in turmoil. This time its two women. I cannot understand them but with two men holding them back from ripping each other’s throat out, I could gather that they weren’t happy with each other.
I’m not a violent person per say. I didn’t mind a good row or two back in the rodeo days but it has been a long time since then. I also don’t care for my personal space to be filled with loud noises and negativity in a public environment.

I hold nothing back when I very UN-QUIETLY state my opinion that they should take their shit-show into the bush or just shut the hell up all together. Sometimes as adults, we lose our minds. Like them, I was frustrated. They need a cattle prod but I needed to tone it down. We all found a common ground. The battle was postponed as peace and quiet ensued.

This leads me to the moral. Perhaps I didn’t fully understand what their problem was? Maybe it was justified? Was it my place to reprimand them?

So the moral is…

Sometimes our adult squabbles in public require a good tongue lashing by an unbiased party to put it in perspective.

We have lost our shit many times. Not in front of a gaggle of tourists though. We have seen many different types of cultures on our journey so far. This type of action is not abnormal by any means.

Remember… This is my perspective only. My take on what I have experienced as a traveler and my morals as a human being.

Enough of the DRAMA!!

Onto our next island.

Patty and I melt ourselves into the knee deep blue water of the Koh Matsum shore while staring into each others eyes thankful for what we are experiencing and the people whom we are experiencing this with. While the 3 kids play and Fiona bask in the sun, we are happy. Happy for this day and happy with Thailand.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Feb 13/2019

We would not visit the beach again until today. A couple of “apartment days” with homework and movies is how we chose to spend some time. A few walks to different parts of town and pick up groceries outs us in the mood for a beach day again. Again, Fiona makes a referral to another part of the island. This time Coral Cove Beach gets to experience TheFlashPackerZ. Admittedly it wasn’t the most isolated beach that we have seen but it was another day spent in a foreign country on a hot beach instead of deadly cold that our friends and family are experiencing. We chose to part ways early and head back to find food for the evening and hunker in for another night of “The Roman Empire” on NetFlix.

• 

• 

We have become addicts of this docuseries and enjoy that the kids are learning so much. This is high on my, “recommend” list. Not as graphic as one would think and yet very informative.

Feb 15/2019

We got invited to supper at SuperPro Samui to see where Fiona stays and works out while in Thailand. Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand and we really wanted to see a fight before we left the country. Unfortunately the ticket prices are the same as an Oilers game and they just don’t fit into the budget. This is both a great chance to have a last visit with our new friend and a less expensive way to watch Muay Thai.

The facility consists of several rings, cages and workout areas. It also is the home to the students and trainers alike and includes hostel like housing and apartment style living depending on what you chose to pay and how long you will be staying and taking lessons.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Our night is full of laughs, wine and round house kicks leaving us to say our goodbyes around 9pm and head back to our hotel. Tomorrow we change hotels to a place closer to the beach.

Feb 16/2019

We found a nice little place close to the beach but a bit further away from the airport. Situated on the north shore of Koh Samui, The White Cottage will be our lodgings for the next two nights. Seeings that we scored huge on the first hotel during our stay in KS we decided that we would play the FlashPackerZ card and spend a bit more to end our stay here on the island. The room was very small but the beach was very close. Much closer than the 15-20 walk that we had grown accustomed to staying at the Lakeview Residence. The sand was less gritty and the pool was pretty cool. One side had transparent glass which allowed for some cool pictures of the crazy Canadian kids.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Lela has lost two teeth on this trip so far and another is hanging by a thread of skin. I continually ask her if she has lost her tooth yet hoping that she will get tired of my questions and finally make the last pull for baby tooth freedom.

Well on this day, a little poking together with a small bribe (her birthday is coming soon anyways) she finally yanks it out. No prouder parents could there be plus the English ladies sitting beside us showed signs of disgust as Lela smiled her bloody smile. Ahhhhhh satisfaction!

That evening we take in a nice meal of shark and barracuda at a locally owned restaurant with great reviews and head back for a sundown swim in the outdoor pool.

Feb 17/2019

More beach and pool takes up our late morning and into the afternoon to which we decide to head out for an early supper to explore The Fisherman’s Village. A big market place and restaurant area, not far from our hotel. During our search for food a French lady boisterously stops us to have a look at her menu (there are many French people here on the island) and view her beachfront seating. Affordable and available, we decide to sit right by the water and enjoy our last meal on the island. For tomorrow, we head to Phuket to our gifted Marriot Vacation Club, two-bedroom villa.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Feb 18/2019

Arriving in Phuket, we have a personal van waiting to take us to a wonderful Marriot Villa that was gifted to us by another traveling family during our journey. The GlobeTrotting Five own a time share with Marriot Vacation Club and for the price of sitting through a ninety-minute sales presentation, we get a free 3-night stay in this luxury apartment. Truly a change from what has been the norm and a welcome change at that. Upon setting foot at on the beautiful resort we immediately are treated to a rundown of the property’s amenities which include a Kids Club, mini golf, basketball court and of course poolside bar. Noticing that the prices of food and drink far exceed our budget we quickly look for the nearest “Sev” and grocery store to stock up on supplies in order to make use of the kitchen in our suite!

• 

• 

• 

• 

Plans to cook for ourselves are put on hold for tonight when we notice what seems to be a very affordable Irish Pub that serves Mexican food. Mmmmmmmmm… Its been awhile…

Back to the pool for a bit until its time to clean up and head for supper.

Later that evening we head for the Mexic-rish pub and come to an agreement on some deelish Nacho Grande and a couple Changs each based on happy hour (2 for 1) prices. Here, the kids eat free if the adults order over a certain amount. We are in affordability HEAVEN!

Wait…

If it’s too good to be true, it usually is. 2 for 1 drinks cannot be purchased along with the kids eat free deal and the 10% Gratuity and 7% Tax put us into the not so affordable anymore category but hey… we make the best of that considering the price and quality of accomodations. That’s for sure…

This little “holiday” will serve as a good chance to catch up on homework and finish off our time in Thailand.

Feb 19/2019

Our goal is to make use of the workout facilities here at the resort so with kids in tow, we head to the gym! I haven’t worked out in years. I haven’t run more than 5 km in over a year and can count on one hand how many times I’ve hit the treadmill in that time span.

Excited to focus on pumping the iron, I warm up for an accumulated 7 mins and head directly to the free weights. I have worked out enough to know that lifting and pushing your max right outta the gate after being idle for two years is a bad idea, yet it still seems to be a good one at the time. Concentrating on my arms, shoulders and chest quickly fatigues my upper body and forces me to hit the core. My first workout experience finishes in under an hour. I am tired but not sore. Not yet.

A quick trip to the beach and a couple lunch beers should add to my new health kick just nicely.

• 

• 

• 

• 

That evening we all split up. Patty and Lela hit the poolside movie and Reid and I watched Anchorman 2 together. Father son/Mother daughter bonding time for sure.

Tuckered out and ready for bed, we all drift off into dreamland ready to awaken tomorrow to enjoy more of what the resort has to offer.

Feb 20/2019

Patty and I will be married 11 years on the 22nd of February but that entire day has been chosen as a travel day so I doubt any celebration will be desired once we hit our next destination. I counter act the anticipation of a crappy anniversary by coordinating something special yet affordable with the promotions-manager at the resort. Pook is more than happy to have housekeeping decorate our room and have a nice bottle of bubbly along with some chocolates comped and ready on our table for our return from our sales presentation.

I have been through the time share presentation thing before. A VERY LONG time ago but it still gives me shivers when I hear those two words. TIME SHARE. Very appreciative of the offer and of course the trade off, Patty and I go into our meeting with and open mind and as a matter of fact, thinking of the possibility of a purchase. Though a very, very small possibility.

I immediately request a private room as the entire place is filled with others doing the same thing all within earshot of each other. This will give me a chance to give 100% to the salesperson who I respect very highly being a salesperson myself. Twenty minutes into the meeting we both are asking questions and talking travel with our guy. All of a sudden he loses me somewhere. I’m not sure where it was but I feel myself drifting into to “I don’t care land.” I am although, interested in the bottom line price of the vacation club time share if for nothing more than curiosity. We have determined that we both like traveling and normally a two week holiday is what we would take. One per year.
.
.
.
.
Now I’m not going to get into details as that would not be fair to either the salesperson nor the family that gifted this to us but when the “lump sum” price plus the yearly maintenance fee was revealed to me, I answered like this…

“Are you shitting me?”
It was not in a rude manner whatsoever but I was both incredibly surprised and a tiny bit appalled that they thought this is a “good deal.”

I quickly did math both in my head and with my calculator to see if I was mistaken.

Nope…

The aggressiveness and attitude of our salesperson changed quickly but I diffused any type of conflict quite easily. If there’s two things I’m good at, they are intensifying conflict or diffusing it. Plane and simple. Depends on the situation.

Nonetheless, it was very educational and we all left on a good note. Hands were shaken and information exchanged.

Back to the room where the surprise awaits!

My intentions for an anniversary surprise were a dinner in the beach with a small band or something to that effect. Price tags of 9000-12000 Baht quickly put a damper on those plans and knowing my darling Patty would have been money wasted when the same result of love and appreciation would be felt with a simple room decoration and a bottle of champagne.

As she opens the bedroom door, a HUGE smile comes over her. This is Patty’s calling card. She is always smiling but this was a true LOVE smile.

We quickly start to read aloud the words written on flower petals and admire the swan towel centerpiece.

Happy 11th Annivesary… Dang they missed the “R”. I thought this was endearing beings that we were in Thailand and we chose to keep it on our bed for the rest if the day. Even an afternoon nap while the kids hit Kids Club didn’t disturb it. We slept in the kid’s room…

• 

• 

That evening we celebrated our early anniversary with both of our children. That was always the plan as well. These two little humans make us who we are. Without them our world is not complete.

Feb 21/2019

All good things must come to an end. Our time here at Mai Khao Marriot Vacation Club Resort is over. Never to return unless we become an owner. So… Never to return. We would like to thank Doug and the rest of the GlobeTrotting Five for this awesome stay and break from “normal Thailand.” It was very much appreciated.

Oh by the way. Remember that gym visit, two days ago? Well I sure haven’t forgot. I can’t friggin move. I slept like shit last night because I couldn’t move my arms, they were so sore. I can’t even put my glasses on. My triceps are so tight and sore that I have to bend my neck towards my hand to drink a beer. No sympathy from my wife though… Oh no… She seems to remember telling me to not put out so hard at first. I don’t remember that.

Onto our next hotel for one night, closer to the airport. We will be up at 4:30am to catch our 7:30 flight to…

Feb 22/2019

4:45 am. Frickin chicken are we tired. A mix of roosters and dogs kept us awake last night for a good portion of our 6-hour sleep. The kids are grouchy and we are hungry. Coffee better be good at the airport, let me tell you, Magoo.

As I write this, we are in the air bound for…

I am now going to share what may be the crappiest thing to happen to us yet. I guess missing that flight was crappy but it all worked out in the end. This too shall pass.

When getting up that early, one may be a bit groggy and attention is not at its peak. Make sure everything is packed. Clothes, toiletries, kid’s stuff, etc… Everything makes it into the cab just like it should. Let’s see if everything makes it out…
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
You see, I have this pair of adidas shorts. They are the most comfy shorts that I have owned. They look good and feel great. There is a drawback to these shorts in particular.

The pockets don’t hold things very well. I am constantly having to zip up the pockets so as to not lose the contents inside.

This morning I failed to do that upon entering the cab. Tired and mindful of flight times and family, I failed to be aware of my iPhone.

By the time I realized that it had slid out of my pocket and most likely between the seat and the console of the cab (where it had parked itself 2 or 3 times on other occasions), the private cab was gone. No contact info, my location services were off and the hotel receptionist was not awake yet to take any calls as the cab was booked the night prior.

Normally this would really cheese me off. It did not. Not this time. I chose to accept and own my mistake. I did not pay attention to a vital piece of my business and I lost it. This is such a huge lesson. I could go on about how I can twist this into positive lessons left and right but I won’t because I lost my fuckin’ phone!

With no luck and after multiple calls to both my phone and the hotel, we leave it in the hands of the universe. I am on my way to Dubai. Tech capital of the world. I can probably find another one there. I have my iPad for business communication purposes. Anyhow, what’s done is done and can’t be undone. If by some miracle, it is recovered and makes it back to me then so be it. I will have another one to replace it by then.

Just stuff.

Important stuff right now though… Damn it!