Thailand Photo Collages

10 Vacation Tips

Back home in Singapore.  It's always nice to go on vacation, but it's also wonderful to come home.  I always feel a sense of accomplishment.  Lots of adventure on this past trip;  Both Tori and I got the flu, worst I've ever had;  Brie had an ear infection;  I crashed on the motorbike;  ruined my glasses, got a black eye and lots of scrapes; lots of mosquitoe bites, it stinks to be allergic to those little buggers;  ate some great Thai food; The beaches of Thailand are Paradise; Brie is a master bargainer; Crazy shopping in Bangkok.  
Ten Things I learned this vacation;
1.  Vacation always cost more than you budget for.
2.  I would travel anywhere in the world with my two daughters.
3.  Never ride a motor bike in a swim suit.
4.  Scuba is amazing and I can concur deep water.
5.  I'm not really a backpacker, I'm a poshbacker.  I like the adventure, but I want some luxury.
6.  Coconut Smoothies, Heaven.
7.  What's that perfume you're wearing?  Aux des Bug Spray
8.  Sawatdee Khrap means Good Morning, not swatting crap.
9.  I can say thank you in Thai, Khmer, Mandarin, Japanese, Malay, Indonesian, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese.
10.  Always bring a calculator when shopping in a foreign country.  Calculating the exchange rate can get tricky and get's much harder as you age.
Once again I was reminded that vacation is not just about seeing or experiencing a new place, but it's about reconnecting with the people that you love.  It's about making lifelong memories.  I love you Tori and Brie.  You are great to travel with.

Thailand Pix

Scuba Diving at Sail Rock

Brie'middle name should be Arielle because she is a beautiful mermaid in the water. No fears, just completely free. Swimming comes so natural to her. She could be a dive master. We took an hour boat ride out to sail rock to experience our first dive. Two dives to day, each of them about 50 minutes, down to 12 meters ( 40 feet). First fear to overcome was jumping into the ocean with my gear on. It took me three times before I got up enough courage to take the step off the boat, but I did it. Sail rock was amazing. Sail rock is a large rock formation covered with coral with a cave in the middle of it. During our first dive I had to keep telling myself to breath and relax. The dive instructor held my hand, then for the second dive I relaxed and enjoyed myself. I didn't have to hold the dive instructors hand. Beautiful things under the ocean. Angel fish, porcupine fish, huge groupers, gar fish, eels, sea urchins, huge schools of fish. Made me feel like I was in the Finding Nemo movie or filming a National Geographics special. We got some amazing pictures, I will post them when we get back to Singapore. No Whale Sharks today. They were at the sight the last two days but not today. It was probably a good thing because I think I would of freaked out if I saw a 40ft shark coming towards me. Great experience. I'm ready to do it again.

Pushing Past My Fears.

June 23. Ever since I was a little girl I have been afraid of deep water. There are several reasons for this. First if all I had an older brother who thought it was funny to try and drown his little sister and secondly I stepped in a sink hole at Mauthy Lake and almost drowned. This is the year that I've decided to face my fears. For a month I have been snorkeling in the pool at my condo. I probably looked like a psycho but it helped me get my head under the water and learn to breath with my mouth, through a tube. This has helped to prepare me for the ultimate test, scuba diving.. Yesterday the two girls and I had our first scuba class in the swimming pool. I did ok until I had to put water in my mask and blow it out through the bottom. I panicked and rushed to the surface. But I didn't give in to my fears I kept trying and finally did it. Tomorrow is the big test, off to sail rock. Deep water, large fish and possibly a whale shark. Thanks God for helping me push through my fears. Another beautiful day in the sun drinking coconut shakes. We saw a huge box jellyfish washed up on the shore. It was the kind with the short tentacles and it was dead. Of course Brie wanted to touch it, we flipped it over with a stick. Did you know that jelly fish don't have a mouth or a brain. Basically seaweed with stingers. Makes me a little nervous about the water.

Motor Bikes and Mishaps

We postponed our diving trip twice because Brie was getting over an ear infection and Tori got the flu and was sick for two days. So Brie and I decided to rent a motor bike and explore the island. Several words of advice; 1. Have someone teach you how to stop before you get on the bike., 2. Never wear a swimsuit on a bike., 3. Make sure you travel will a first aid kit. Yes, you guessed it I crashed. Brie told me to try it out before she got on the back, wise teen. So I confidently got on the bike, road it up the hill tried to turn around, I pushed the accelerator while trying to grab the breaks and I crashed the bike. Scraped up both knees, several gashed by my eye and cuts on my shoulder. Blood everywhere. Brie said I looked like a horror movie. $245 worth of damage to the bike. Didn't even get out of the driveway. My ego was hurt more than anything. So a day resting in bed for me. Scuba tomorrow, I hope I have scabs or the salt water will kill. Another day in Paradise.

Fire Dancers on the Beach

June 21st. Koh Phangan Island is absolute paradise. It's the kind of place people dream about. I met a backpacker named Jackie, she came here for two weeks and extended it to 6 wks, now she is going back to Australia, selling everything and moving here. I can see what the temptation is. Good food, crystal clear, warm water, white sand beaches, friendly people and tall swaying palms. We swam in the ocean and couldn't believe how hot it was. Hotter than the air. You'd think the fish would fry. We ate dinner on the beach at Haad Yao Villa and watched the sunset while fire dancers performed in front of us. Panang Chicken and Coconut Shakes nothing better than that.