Spring Break ~ March 31 – April 17. 2012
The third term at school is the longest and it seems to go on forever. When the last day of term 3 comes everyone is ready for a break. The exciting thing about school breaks around here is that it means we get to explore somewhere and experience something new.
~ The Journey Begins ~
(Since we moved here almost 2 years ago I have said it would be fun to take the local train from Chiang Mai – Bangkok. Now bare in mind a flight between the two cities is 50 min, a train ride is about 14 hours. Despite a bit of initial protesting by (you know who you are – papa schmu) we arrived at the train station excited for the adventure)
(Train personal getting a briefing before calling ALL ABOARD)
(There are three class systems on the overnight train. 1st class, 2nd class and 3rd class. Opted for 2nd class because it would provide us with a more authentic experience and 1st class sounded snobbish, can’t spoil the kids to much. Here Easton and Trent are getting settled in for our 14 hour overnight train ride)
(A few surprises came out of my bag to keep the kids busy for a while before their berths got turned down and it was time for bed)
(Ahhhhh this is awesome, I really think I may have been a gypsy before)
~ Press PLAY to hear what Easton has to say ~
(Dinning car – The kids loved this… The dinning car was 4 cars behind ours so they got to walk between train cars with the side doors open to the speeding ground beneath us. Food was not to shabby but it was the ambiance that made this cool)
(All the berths are made into our sleeping quarters. Very efficient system, surprisingly cleaner and more cozy than I envisioned)
(Em all tucked into her berth above me… I was out like light with the swaying rhythm of the train. All the kids and I want to travel the rails again, Trent, well…. I think he will fly and meet us 🙂
(My handsome men at the Bangkok Train Station. Very busy here)
~ Langkawi Malaysia ~
(There was some stunning views around the Island of Langkawi)
~ Beach Time ~
There are days we really miss Panama for our trips to the beach. Living in Chiang Mai makes it a big trip to get sand squishing between our toes not just an hour drive.
(My precious girl strolling up for something 🙂
(Ev all buried showing off his six pack stomach…haha)
(This was Emma most days until she finished her book. We could not gesture or even have a conversation until she found out “who did it”)
(AHHHH this is nice. Trent and I enjoying a cold brewski while the kids frolicked in the ocean… Love you babe)
~ Looking for Monkeys ~
Rented a car for a few day to tour the island. Trent found out about the highest peak so we decided to venture up it to see what we could find.
(There is an option to climb this peak stepping up over 4000 steps taking roughly 3 hours or driving up. Easton went to check out if we should climb down… decided no since we did not have a machete with us… It was like looking for Waldo among the tall grass)
(Easton and I ~ amazing kid he is. So incredibly smart, witty, and to the point)
(Trent said “sure wish we saw monkeys” Well monkeys we saw and they were chasing us as well. They are cute from afar : )
(The kids got a kick out of this guys prized jewels… he was the alpha male as you can see)
(The monkeys were coming from all directions, this one was surveying what she should do next)
~ Tour through
Kilm Geoforest Park ~
Kilm Geoforest Park ~
(On this tour at the National Park we stopped at a bat cave. I have no idea why people find this interesting, it was very smelly, bat poo everywhere and knowing bats hung above my head was not cool. The boys loved it of course 🙂
(Ev sporting his Edmonton Eskimos ball cap while Easton proudly wears a Calgary Flames. One day in a local store on Langkawi a guy turned to Trent and asked him “where in Alberta were we from?” It is great to meet other Canadians around the world and ones who know their hockey teams 😀
(Captain Ev)
(Some amazing scenery)
(This was called Baby Face Rock…. if you look at the lower left part of the rock formation you can see a profile of a baby face, hence the name)
(Soooo very thankful for this amazing family and all we experience together)
(Again some stunning views from around the island)
(There is something magical about the rock formations around these southern islands… they are so stunning in a simple way)
~ Time to Island Hop ~
(My beautiful girl on our 30 min boat ride to Pulau Payar Park to go snorkeling)
(Easton practicing his skin snorkeling… the kids are natural fish in water)
(Ev and I wide eyed after seeing a large barracudda, a few sharks, lots of parrot fish, huge groupers and other nemo kinds of fish)
(Em really could be a fish, I have a hard time keeping up)
(A pirate ship, A pirate ship!)
(Did a bit of fishing, Trent caught one on his spool of fishing line. He was excited because it was going to be lunch)
(Em caught a fish! “Oh a fish” – right honey…haha… Another fish to add to the BBQ)
(Our young man is growing up. East is free as a bird out here)
(Me and my girl, we have to stick together as the boys out number us)
(Oh these boys are fun, there is NEVER a shortage of excitement with them)
(Docked at an island for a delicious BBQ lunch of chicken, shrimp, noodles, soup and veggies. It was so good but we were in competition for our food with the monkeys surrounding us trying to get their hands on it)
(Trent and Emma’s fresh fish ~ delish!)
(As we ate lunch these awfully ugly but intriguing Monitor Lizards made their way up from the river looking for food. There was 5 of them that came up making me a bit nervous being cousins to the Komodo Dragon Lizard and not very appealing creatures. It was amazing how close some other people chose to get to these prehistoric four legged animals completely out of ignorance)
(Leaving the stretch of beach we had the most delicious meal on)
(Ev and his Daddy…. so sweet)
(Pregnant Lady Mountain…. if you look from right to left you see the woman’s head, breast, and her arm resting on her belly) On top of the mountain there was a fresh water lake we went to swim in. It was magical up there)
(At the Fresh Water Lake – Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park.
Fly Em Fly)
(We were having jumping and diving contests. It was so beautiful and breathtakingly gorgeous here. The water was refreshing and peaceful)
(My crazy, awesome family. If you look behind us you can see the Pregnant Woman Mountain … head on the left and her laying towards the right)
(Monkeys were everywhere on this island. The boys were given sling shots to fire at any monkeys who became aggressive)
(Easton practicing his aim)
(This monkey scared us (left bottom corner) We were walking back to our boat, Emma passed him without noticing while Easton and I jumped when we did. Funny creatures (the monkey that is) he just sat there staring at us.. )
(Malaysia is a predominantly a Muslim country and it was interesting to see so many woman in their burkas all covered up, I felt a bit under dressed at times. We did find this sign intriguing when we went to the Go Cart place, it almost would seem common sense to tuck one’s head scarf in but I guess it has been a problem)
(So we are racing around this Go Cart track, it is pretty competitive among the adults (of course) Trent and I come flying around a corner to this. A car is abandoned and Everett is in tears)
(The story was Easton cut off Ev and Ev drove straight into the tires full speed… poor kid, lucky he was not hurt as there was no seat belts in these carts… Ev got back in drivers seat though and drove across the finish line. You will not find it surprising I am sure that the employees at the track had no idea there was a crash and did not even come out to assess the damage)
(Emma is a natural market shopper/bargainer… always finding unique items. This man caught Emma’s eye and he made bracelets, necklaces, key chains by bending wire into any name or word you wanted)
(Em was excited to find flip flops that fit and fun ones to boot)
~ Langkawi Cable Car ~
(15 years married this year and we are still smiling… love you!)
(The skywalk we were all excited to cross over)
(Easton entered a contest at school for the most interesting place a student would read a book while on vacation. Easton was taking pictures everywhere)
(Emma snapping a picture of us while the poor woman beside me
was roasting fully dressed)
was roasting fully dressed)
(a picture reading over the island)
(A bit of an unnerving walk, but very cool)
~ Happy Easter ~
(The Easter Bunny found the kids even in the hotel in Malaysia, they were impressed! Easton woke up very early to try to catch the bunny but failed in his mission 😀 The kids were ecstatic to get some sweets that are not available in Thailand so it was a great Easter for these sugar bugs)
(A beautiful lunch at the Arman Hotel. We treated ourselves to a special lunch of curries, pumpkin ravioli and burgers…(of course)
(My family obliged and we found a Artist Centre filled with amazing pieces created by local artist. Here Emma is painting her own artwork called Batik, she had many admires as she painted)
(The boys each painted their own works of art. Beautiful guys can’t wait to hang them up)
~ Parasailing ~
(Time to fly… The kids strapped up and headed for the clouds. Em and Ev hitched together while Easton went solo. They loved it of course)
(Easton coming in for his landing. He was up with the birds ~ PRESS PLAY to view)
(Love this picture of you two.
They drive each other crazy but always seem to make up)
They drive each other crazy but always seem to make up)
(Me and my Man… we sure have fun 😀
(We will soon have a teenager! I know she will sail through, not sure if her Daddy will fare so well during adolescence)
(Trent and our big boy Easton)
(That’s me standing on my head doing a bit of yoga on the beach
~ a perfect place to relax)
~ a perfect place to relax)
(Our last sunset on the island. An amazing, adventurous trip)
(One last picture of East reading on the trip)
~ Back Home for Songkran~
(Back home… Em cutting up veggies for supper and to prevent her eyes from watering while she cuts up the onions she wears her swim googles, Moe just laughs)
~ Songkran 2012 ~
Songkran is the largest water fight in the world. It is celebrated at Thai New Years each year in April. This is one of the kids favorite festivals celebrated here. It is a blast. Here is a short video to show you what it is all about. Enjoy…
Press Play to see what Songkran in Chiang Mai is all about…
Hope you enjoyed the latest happenings. May is here and before we know it the kids will be graduating to Gr. 3. 5.7 – Wow!
Until next time…
Thanks for always keeping in touch.
Enjoy the beautiful weather, fresh food and your precious loved ones.
With all our love
Trent. Jody. Em. East. Ev
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