Island Thailand

How do I capture such an amazing vacation? How about just the highlights? Oh, but there is so much to show...

Beach swing for two.

Christmas party on the beach with fire show and candle lit lanterns flying into the air for good wishes.

 Beach front huts were perfect for relaxing in the shade when we needed a break from the sun.

Our daily view while at Ting Rai Bay Resort. The swimming was excellent except for the occasional little jellyfish. We got stung a few times but they weren't that bad.

Rubber plantations were all over the island. You can see how they slit the tree and catch the resin in a half coconut shell strapped to the tree with wire. There were rubber wringers dotted about the plantations as well.


Cheeky monkeys. Many were much cuter than this exhibitionist!

More than anything the water was the highlight of our trip. I think the whole family would agree that we are the most comfortable and have the most fun when on, in, or near a body of water.

 Two motorcycle crashes and the scrapes and bruises that go with them!

 We took a private long tail boat to Bamboo Island for a day trip. When I woke up to the wind rushing through the bungalow I knew we were in for a treat. Our boat trip took place on the roughest seas of the week. The first 20 minutes went great. I even had the nerve to say "I don't know why I get so sick on buses when I am fine on boats." Well it wasn't much longer before Haven and I were both puking and had another hour left in the boat.

 Once on land I immediately hit the deck and got as cozy as I could with the sand. Eventually we enjoyed waves on gorgeous white sand and turquoise waters.

After a week in this remarkable place we had one more excellent breakfast at the resort and were off to the ferry toward Krabi and the plane bound for Chiang Mai! Part II begins.

Ting Rai Bay Resort, Koh Pu, Thailand

Part of the adventure is getting there and probably most of the best places take some time getting to them. I think our trip to Koh Pu was pretty easy but the kids aren't as convinced that the travel can be fun too.

From here to there took 2 taxis, 2 planes, 1 bus, and 2 boats as well as many cold drinks.

We saw practically nothing of Krabi on the way from airport to ferry dock. But what we did see was colorful and lively.

We drove through a fabulous street market and were bummed not to get to stop. BUT the island was calling us.

 Thank goodness were getting off the ferry at the first stop. We got to stay on the deck of the boat. All of the passengers bound for Koh Lanta were shoved below deck. More and more and more people packed below deck. I was starting to get Titanic flashbacks.

On deck it was glorious. The view was spectacular. Beautiful jungle-covered rocks jutting out of the blue ocean waters. The four of us sat among the mountains of luggage, covered of course by hats and sun shirts.

From over crowded ferry boat to wooden long tail boat. Koh Pu island is VERY small and there is no pier large enough for the ferry so instead the ferry slows down out in front of the island and each resort sends out their long tail boat to pick you up.

The day we arrived a couple from Germany and a family from England arrived with us.

 There is the resort, Tin Rai Bay, tucked into the hilly jungle. The kitchen/restaurant is in the center of the property with a u-shaped ring of private bungalows surrounding.


We were greeted by fresh squeezed orange juice with orchids on the edge! Let vacation begin.

Short Stint in Malaysia

Finally! We made plans for our winter trip to Thailand last March and it is here! We packed light and set off for an adventure in tropical paradise.

It seemed like half of the KIS families went to Thailand for the break. We rode to the airport with one family and were in the plane with another.

Here we are at Incheon Airport.

Arrival in Malaysia. The jeans were a bit hot and sticky. We had forgotten what the humid air felt like.

It was a quick landing. Just long enough to find the hotel (a 5 minute walk from airport) and get a bite to eat before the early AM flight to Krabi, Thailand.

 We were all amazed to see an all vegetarian restaurant at the airport! That kind of this is hard to come by in Korea!

 The hotel room was barely big enough for the bed. But all we had to do was sleep here.

Palm plantation next to the hotel.

Winter Walk in Bundang Central Park

The day before we left on our trip to Thailand we took an awesome winter walk at our favorite park, Bundang Central Park. It was a very chilly day but the skies were bright and sunny.

One of the cool things about this park is the giant hill you can climb. Surprising you at the top is an outdoor weight gym. It is more than the regular workout spots you find in every park. Those usually just have workout machines that use your body weight for resistance. This spot, the Rabbit Warren, has all sorts of free weights. Even on this very cold day there were many people working out.




Plus one of the rabbits made an appearance!

 The highlight of the day for the kids was the frozen pond. They collected as many rocks and chunks of ice as they could in order to try and smash a hole in the ice.

This is the same pond a couple months earlier when my mom was over for a visit! What a difference the weather makes.

We knew there were hot drinks in this machine but WHAT they were was a mystery. Turned out we got hot cocoa, hot red bean drink and hot soy drink. Pretty yummy.















We couldn't leave for Thailand before the kids wrote a letter to Santa. They decided he should leave presents in Korea rather than try and find us in Thailand.

A tough decision for them to make.

Snow and Winter Fun

I LOVE the Korean winter. It is a marked difference from the Washington winter. Most different is the level of moisture and the amount of blue sky. Here in Korea we actually have to run a humidifier in the house because the air is SO dry! Back in Olympia we molded and here we are shriveling up!

The sun is out most days and I seem to love it even though temperatures are usually in the 20s. The blue is uplifting.

We have had a few good snow falls in the dong. Enough to build snow men and sled down the awesome hill down the street.

 The most difficult part of building the snow man was finding arms! Without a yard we had to scrounge!

 

The fruit truck still comes through the neighborhood in the winter. Love this guy. He is so happy every time you buy some fruit. Last week we bought apples and strawberries!

Haven sledding with one of her best friends, Shelbe. It is so funny to move so far from Washington to find new friends who are also from Washington! Shelbe moved here from Gig Harbor! It is nice to have friends here in Korea who are also from the PNW.