3 Nights in Bangkok

We are leaving Bangkok this afternoon and heading to Kanachaburi, a town across the river from Cambodia, where the famous Bridge over the River Kwai is located. We are going to take a train so the kids are really excited. It is not far, but apparently takes 4 long hot hours as there is no air conditioning. The scenery is supposed to be fantastic though so we are excited!

We have had a great stay in Bangkok. We are staying in a great part of town that is just bustling at all hours. Our hotel was a convent, built in the 40s and it looks and feels like a hospital, but is quiet and clean. Step out of the doors and you are greeted with every kind of food imaginable. Thailand is all about eating! We have been eating from all the roadside stalls...everything from Pad Thai, papaya salad, fresh kettle corn, smoothies, fresh tropical fruit...AMAZING. Food from the vendors is cheap...most meals for our family cost under $5. There are many international restaurants as well, but at a higher price.

The malls here are absolutely amazing...the nicest I have ever seen...seems so out of place, but the real fun shopping takes place outside at the night markets. I love shopping this way. We had such a great time bartering on items. The initial price quoted is about 4x what you can buy the item for, so you feel like you are really getting a great deal!Our room was very hospital like!
Our smoothie vendor...
What in the world?


The famous Bangkok taxi "tuk tuk"


Other highlights have been seeing the life of the river that runs through the city, touring the Grand Palace, and going to the waterslides! This morning Jordan and I went for a run through the park nearby (Bangkok's version of Central Park). It was bustling with activity until the clock struck 8 and everyone stopped their Tai chi, running, stretching and stood erect for the Thai national anthem. It gets broadcast twice a day over loud speakers and everyone stops in the whole kingdom.





Well onto the next adventure...

The next chapter

Last night we arrived in Bangkok and took a cab out to our destination about an hour away. We are in a beach town called Bang Saen (not touristy) staying in a cheap apartment type building. It is really simple, but clean and quiet. We got here around 8PM and went out across the street for our first Thai meal! It was so good, but very, very spicy! Today we went to the beach and experience the most vendors I have ever seen in my life. 5km of beach umbrellas with people selling everything possible. We were the only whites and the only people on the beach wearing swimsuits (Thais swim completely clothed). Dan made friends right away with some drinking Thai men/boys and they paid for him to go out behind a boat on a banana floaty. That was hilarious.

Team 2000

Tonight we went to a small church, that is a church plant from the main one we will be attending tomorrow. There are three families who moved here from North America in the year 2000 for a ten year commitment. They have opened two homes (boys and girls) for HIV positive kids. It was so cool to meet the kids from the orphanage where we will be hanging out tomorrow. They are fantastic! Taylor was a big hit and did so well, allowing them to touch her and drag her around. She is going to be a missionary someday!

Cream Bath

I got to treat Julene to a traditional spa practice in Indonesia called a cream bath. It was fabulous. They massage your head neck and shoulder with ultra moisturizing cream. We splurged and got a pedicure at the same time. I have never had three women working on me at one time! I can't remember the price, but I think that the whole thing for both of us was under $25. Not bad!

MY TURN to fly

He made me fly the plane...I was so nervous that I would nose dive into the ground that I was sweating like crazy! He did a few drops for us..."Zero Gravity" he calls it...where your stomach ends up in your mouth! What fun!

Check out the white knuckles!

Wakeboarding in Borneo

The last day in Indonesia was full of adventure. We got to go to a pool at a resort about an 45 min. drive away and hang out with Chris and Julene and the kids. Then we got to take an old motorboat that Chris revived from the bottom of the river and go Indiana Jones style up the rivers. So cool...he even had an old wakeboard that Dan went on...boy was that a sight for the locals!!

Dan flies!

Dan got to go on a scheduled flight with Chris...9 different take off and landings. WOW!