Today was a luxurious island day. First we had breakfast on the beach with our toes in the sand, and a guest at our table.
Then we took a walk around our property. The steps in Thailand are very steep and do not have to follow the same safety codes that we are used to. Here the first of many steps to our room.
And our little hut in the trees.
Our walk took us to a beautiful lookout and without a tripod or anywhere to set the camera to capture the three of us I rigged this so that the neck strap was wrapped around a tree branch and the camera was blowing in the breeze! I am just happy you can see our faces!
Because of the weather the long tailed boat wasn't running so we caught a taxi from the hotel next door and found the miniature golf and bowling spot I had read about in my Lonely Planet. As Makoa decided golf was his all time favorite at the start of the trip I knew he would enjoy it. Neither Don or I expected him to like it so much though - he made it all 18 holes and wanted more. Some quotes from Makoa while playing: 'nice shot' 'Makoa really well' ' here it comes in the hole' 'Daddy turn now' 'Dada, ball go this way.'
Since we were still having fun we decided to try the bowling as well. After we paid our fee our 'ball/pin guy' went to the end of the lane and took a seat behind the pins. He would put his feet up when the ball was bowled and then send it back on the little ramp and set up all the pins - no machines here! Makoa's favorite was when the balls were on the way back to us as he would yell, "here it comes!" Then ask "which one?" as there were so many different colors to choose from! The floor was warped hard wood that I am not sure was ever polished, so the scores weren't good but it was a blast!
When we got back to the neighboring hotel we found they had a gigantic tree swing! If anyone is going to take a toddler to Thailand and wants to know where all the swings are I think I could make a map as I believe we have found at least 6 so far!
Day 17 - 11 January
We stuck close to home today but Don went snorkeling right off the beach where we were staying and then took Makoa for a little tiny swim. Makoa isn't too fond of cold ocean water so it didn't last long.
After a towel off he played with his new friend, Nam-won, who is the daughter of one of the ladies working in the kitchen.
Day 18 - 12 January
Time to leave our gorgeous hut on the quiet island of Ko Tao. We are headed to the island of Ko Pha Ngan to meet up with Jeff who arrived there two days earlier for the famous Full Moon Party. Makoa is such a trooper and as we were packing our bags he helped and then said, "bye room 14." We piled into another crowded truck taxi and got dropped off at the pier. The woman at our hotel arranged our boat tickets and chose SeaTran because she thought it would be less rocky on the rough seas. Once we saw it we quickly realized we were on the more 'local' boat, although we were charged the same price. There were no planks from the dock so I had to hand over Makoa and jump across myself as Don managed to carry both huge bags. While seated I smelled and heard the familiar sound of Raid being sprayed behind us - Don and I had to kill a cockroach each from our seats. Don almost hopped off to get us some breakfast as the boat wasn't supposed to leave until 9:30am but luckily he didn't because we were pulling away just after 9!
After a short boat ride we disembarked and were happy we had an excuse for the taxi drivers (who weren't nearly as bad as in Ko Tao), "no thanks, meeting my brother." Makoa and I were very excited to find a proper playground at the docks while we waited. Jeff wasn't there even after a half an hour so we decided to head to the hotel. One of the very best purchases ever for our trip - Thai SIM cards for our cell phones. We left the docks knowing that Jeff knew where we were staying and that he could call us on our phones. What did we ever do before cell phones?
Our first 'real' resort we stayed at was, Milky Bay Resort, which was fantastic. We have learned a lot since our first night stay in Thailand and I did my research so was able to get some free items (ride from pier and baby cot) and also bargained for my room rate. Yeah, I felt good! Our room was beautiful and Makoa thought it was fun too! After taking this photo I realized he was so happy and chatting because he could see himself in the bathroom mirror!
First order of business was to go swimming - it was our first place with a pool. The water was a bit cold so Makoa didn't want to go in, but they had one of those floating lounge chair things with a clear patch in the pillow so we all laughed and Don and I made faces under the water. I just stepped away to put my hair back up and Don had turned around too, out of the corner of my eye I saw Makoa's arms flail and he went under. Like he learned in class he kept his hands up searching for something to grab onto. Don was quick to get under him and push his bum up so that I could swim over and hold him. We really tried to play it down and tell him what a good job he did holding his hands up and how we all blew bubbles together and how great that was. I don't think he bought it. He didn't cry long as we pretended nothing was wrong and not too long after Uncle Jeff walked up and was a good distraction. Makoa didn't get back in the water but he did start playing around the pool. I think most parents have scary swim stories and I just had to share our first one!!
Day 19 - 13 January
The only thing left that I REALLY wanted to do in Thailand was to see the elephants. I didn't feel the need to ride one or go on some big excursion, I just wanted to be close to them. It all seemed very Thai! Today the boys helped me check this item off my dream list, as long as I agreed we could also take a hike to the waterfall nearby.
We caught a ride to the elephant camp and were able to buy a basket of bananas for $2 to feed the elephants. It was amazing to be that close to a gigantic animal and their trucks would read out and then coil around the banana to take it back to their mouths.
The texture of their skin is kind of rough and hairy and unlike anything else I've ever touched. Makoa liked watching me feed the first elephant and wanted 'more nanas' so he and I fed the second one.
We walked behind through the property to a national park. We saw a guide touching a fern and someone taking pictures. When we touched the little fern, it almost looked like a weed, the leaves would fold up until it looked almost dead, then it would fan back out. We started the hike and my camera battery was out so I don't have any gorgeous photos, but the hike was nice. Ths was the last photo before it died.
Makoa and I didn't make it very far before we went back to the little eatery and had a green lollipop while we waited for Don and Jeff who jumped around the rocks and hiked to top of Phaeng Falls.
Day 20 - 14 January
On our second to last travel day we didn't want to waste time waiting around, so we booked our boat trip to Ko Samui and our flight to Bangkok pretty close together. I can tell you that there wasn't any time wasted except for the time waiting to load onto our boat. There were so many people to get off and on at Ko Pha Ngan and we knew right away that we were going to be cutting it close. Between chewing my lip and trying not to turn green on the short boat ride, Don and I devised a plan to make it to our flight leaving only 35minutes after we docked. I was the first one off the boat with Makoa in my arms, Don had both backpacks. I shoved my way and used the woman holding a baby routine - I have learned a few things in Asia! We took off running and I was chasing a man in a paisley shirt that I had spoke to briefly on the boat - he was on the same flight. He spoke to a cabbie then turned around and his girlfriend was not right behind him, I was and Don was shortly behind me, the girlfriend was too blond and pretty to run so he stopped and gave me the okay to steal his cab. The driver took Makoa, as we are still running, and I chased after him. We jumped in the car and held on to anything we could as we swerved and honked our way to the airport. Once we got there he tried to charge us an arm and a leg, luckily I had hid our big money so could do the whole 'nothing else in my wallet' routine - see all that I am learning :) We ran up to the check in and the man looked at us with worried eyes, but got us on. Then we took the walk to the gate. It is the weirdest outdoor airport we have ever been too - we had to walk through an outdoor mall for at least 10 minutes just to get to the gate. We found out our flight was running late, perfect for our situation, but in 2 minutes they called for preboarding. We walked through and were then loaded onto a little shuttle bus, it pulled forward and then stopped for 10 minutes. It sucks to have to run run run and then sit, but at least we were making our flight.
In Bangkok we negotiated another taxi ride and were on our way to a brand new hotel in the Pratunam district. We were a bit uneasy as the taxi driver listed to us tell him where we were going and said he knew where it was. Makoa was asleep in my arms and the driver stops on a busy road in front of the Platinum shopping center. I realized that me saying Pra-tu-nam sounds just like a Thai saying Pla-ti-num! We had to call our hotel twice - did I mention how invaluable cell phones are - and had the front desk tell our driver where to go. A few alleys later we were at a fantastic hotel. Don did all the research and deserves all the credit. Citin Pratunam is a brand new hotel run by Sikhs, and get this, the restaurant ONLY has vegetarian dishes. Yummy ones like pork chops, duck, and lamb - all fake meat!
After a little rest we explored our new neighborhood which is in the heart of the shopping district with a huge market one ally away. The streets were crowded and busy, but that just added to the fun. It was just as we had pictured Asia to be. After a short walk we found a nice place to eat and Makoa and I found a McDonald's to get an ice cream to share!
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