Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Post Christmas adventures...

As I mentioned in my last post, we went on a little "adventure" just 2 days after Christmas.  Let me just say... "adventure" is a kind way of putting it :)

Let's just say that after:

an 18 hour train ride (which was supposed to only be 15 hours), 
plus a ride on the subway,
plus a ride on the BTS (sky train),
plus a 4 hour bus ride (during which Callie threw up ALL OVER Jon, with just an hour left to go),
plus a 10 minute boat ride (to the wrong location on the island),
plus a 1km walk up hills with luggage and a very tired and hungry 2 year old in tow,
plus a 2km VERY bumpy songtaew ride,
and FINALLY arriving at our resort (over 24 hours later)....

we were pretty relieved to see such a beautiful sight... :)


We spent 3 nights at Samet Ville Resort...

We swam in the ocean...

We ate our dinners on the beach, complete with live fire shows...

We walked to the beach every morning...

... and stared at this gorgeous landscape....

We built lots and lots...

... and LOTS of sand castles...

... and enjoyed the view some more... :)

We warmed up in the sunshine after swimming in the cool water...

... and re-hydrated, of course.

We went for walks and enjoyed the scenery again and again...

We took pictures of pretty flowers (for Mom) :) ...


We played at the "playground"...

We searched for seashells...

... and other sea treasures...

We enjoyed hour long massages in this little cabana on the beach...
(did I mention it only cost about $12 for said massage?)

So... although our trip started out stressfully and definitely 'less-than-ideally,' we did have a very relaxing time in the end and will always remember those white sandy beaches and gorgeous blue ocean waves :)
---------------------------------------------------
After Koh Samet, we made our way to Chonburi (where we'll eventually serve, upon completion of language school in Chiang Mai) to apply for our visa extensions.  We had a good week in Chonburi and enjoyed lots of things about our time there.... such as....

Our first Starbucks Christmas drinks in Thailand...

... so good... like coming home to an old friend ;)

We spent time playing with the most incredible kids at the Abundant Life Home orphanage...

Lots of sand tea parties...

"Mmmmm.... nii aroy maak maak!"
(translation: Mmmmm... this is so, so delicious!) ;)

We made some pretty awesome new friends... :)

We also enjoyed time with our future teammates (though, sadly, I don't have any pictures)
... AND, we had a successful visa run!  In and out of immigration within half an hour.  We were totally amazed and grateful!

So, all in all, a great week in Chonburi!  

But I have to admit, after 2 weeks away, we were SO happy to come "home" to our house here in Chiang Mai.  And it was great to finally feel like this was home :)

5 comments:

Naomi said...

What a beautiful place, I think we may have to go there when we come to visit :) Callie looked so big in the picture of her looking for sea-shells, she is growing into such a big girl so quickly!
We miss you terrible, wish we could have you over for supper and games but are happy you have such a great Christmas break!
Love you, love you, love you!

PS Erich wore his shirt the other day, love it!

Elissa said...

Sounds like a great getaway (excluding the ordeal you went through to get there-- crazy!!)

Trish said...

I'm looking at your pics for a second time today, trying to "feel" the warmth !!! ( It's not working ..... because out the window are howling white-out conditions :) Yikes, it's cold & I envy you !

Kelsie-Lynn said...

Now that is an adventure! Glad there was so much goodness after the crazy trip there. Callie is beautiful Bonnie and she is getting so big so fast!

Jen Glen said...

Mom and Dad let us in on the adventures the other night! I can only imagine...oiy! Glad that Thailand is beginning to feel like home. We love you.