Sept – Nov 2012 Cambodia & Koh Chang

Posted on November 30, 2012

Sweet Memories from the beginning of Sept 2012 🙂

Always playing catch up.

(My Panther models! The kids sporting the new school sports wear created by
the Schmuland Fam. Looks great kiddos)

(Em and her baby Charlie, our newest rescued dog ~ he is very loved)

~ Chiang Mai Triathlon ~

The school hosted a kids Triathlon in October which they did great!

(East with his buddies Maxime and Piers getting ready for the big event)

(Everett & Easton in the transition area assembling to jump on their bikes)

(Easton completing his first lap taking a great lead)

(Maxine the Head of School congratulating Everett for placing 2nd in the triathlon
and for being a great organizer of the event)

(Top three finishers)

1st – Maxime Gr 5

2nd – Everett Gr 3

3rd – Easton Gr 5

~ Sr. School Swim Meet ~

(Emma intense focus to win her back stroke race and she did it!)

(The U14 relay race team. They kicked butt.

L – R

Emma. Sara. Irene. April. Mikayla. Emma Brett

(The PREM Sr. Swim Team! GO PANTHERS!

~ We are OFF ~

Love school breaks, we get to explore.

This trip took us to Siem Reap, Cambodia

(On the overnight train to Bangkok… Love it….
The boys settling in, relaxing, enjoying a pre bed bevy)

After 14 hours on the train to Bangkok we hopped into a taxi bound for the Cambodia boarder which took us 3 hours to drive. Crossed the boarder into Cambodia loving every minute of our cowboy and indian experience. Once we crossed the boarder we loaded onto a functioning bus (barely), drove to a station that was ran by the Cambodian mafia to then transfer to another taxi. Squished as sardines in a small car taxi we drove yet another hour & half to Siem Reap in hopes to find our hotel …hahah

(Cambodia boarder … an interesting crossing point)

(our 4th mode of transportation of the day)

(YA! we are at our hotel. Very proud of Emma as she was assigned to find us a
hotel in Siem Reap within our specifications and budget…
She did awesome! She is hired to be my assistant!

(The tranquil area, for people not traveling with kids..haha)

(Trent enjoying laying down after a long couple days of travel (my style). You did great honey)

~ A full day of the Amazing Angkor Wat ~

(The rear and way less crowded entrance to Angkor Wat)

(This place is a picture haven, so many amazing angles, textures and sights)

(East kept a great journal of our adventure, can’t wait to read it in years to come)

( Modern day explorers)

(First temple of the day – Angkor Wat. We finished here now to go explore 6 more)

(One of my favourite pictures… little old men riding their bikes with their crop on their back.
Such a raw and organic site)

(My young journalist on the left, taking notes everywhere we went)

(Ev receiving a blessing)

(One of my other favourite pictures… my three explorers creating unforgettably cool pictures)

(A statue this big is always stunning)

(One of the most recognized and photographed tree ever. Can you say Laura Croft in Tomb Raider…(filmed here)… Ta Prohm Temple was my favourite, it has been taken over by trees, roots, moss and creatures, our senses were working overtime to absorb the beauty)

(Breathtaking. I could have lost myself here for hours)

(Rain catcher. We got caught in a downpour which the kids loved)

(Skipping in the rain)

(Love my man)

(Buddha’s face profiled in the rock formation. These temples are centuries old and the craftsmanship, design and engineering shows how brilliant the human mind is)

(Easton our history buff filled us in on all the stories from the Angkor Era)

(Day 2 went for an adventure to Kulen Mountain Waterfall. It took us a few hours drive to finally reach this magical waterfall. Since the Khmer Empire broke down years ago it is safe to discover these gems once again)

(Love all the beautiful structures that are full of history)

(A Buddha carved into a huge mountain)

(Love this little one… such a sweet moment)

(His little bum melted my heart)

(I am pouring water over the LINGA …aka… big penis for good luck.
You have to love the humor in things)

(A river full of linga’s, a gift from the Prince)

(This cutie was following us)

(Fun at the pool after a long day. The kids love taking pictures showing their cool personalities)

(East don’t eat him!)

~ An awesome day quading through villages ~

(Day 3 – Out in the middle of rice paddies at the beginning of our day exploring)

(They said East could drive his own quad – Ahhh he liked that, however we
requested someone ride with him, you know incase the 10 year old needed help
on the road with other vehicles. LOL)

(These local kids where beyond cute. We bought bags of treats to hand out to the local kids and they came running out to see the commotion. Cambodia is extremely poor, poverty is everywhere, but the spirit of the people is beautiful)

~ Highlight of our trip, the Orphanage ~

(Everett handing out treats to the grateful little ones at the orphanage)

(East with a little cutie who became my best buddy while we were visiting. I could have easily brought her home with us)

(My little buddy. She melted my heart, I ate her up)

(We had a trail of kids follow our every move. They had such amazing spirits to them. The little girl was on my lap loving the attention. To think their parents had to give them up because they could not care for them ~ truly heart breaking)

(At the end of the day we traveled through villages giving the last of the treats, the smiles of the little ones were gifts we will cherish for a life time)

~ Crossed the boarder back to Thailand ~

A very early start leaving Siem Reap to get to the boarder crossing. We were a little bit wiser on the way back to Thailand as we ensured we skipped the mafia taxi stop. Our journey from Siem Reap in a taxi was a nail bitter. The gentleman was one of the most crazy drivers I have ever encountered and I was praying the whole 2 hours for a safe arrival! When we stopped at the boarder I was sooo relieved to have made it safe and sound.

Cambodia was amazing but the heaviness we all felt lifted as soon as we crossed back into Thailand. So very thankful for all our opportunities, our language, home, food, family. It was a great experience but it was pretty intense for all of us. I have to say it was good to be back in Thailand.

After leaving Cambodia we jumped into another taxi to drive more hours to the ferry port to cross over to Koh Chang for 5 days of exploring that island.

(On the ferry to the island of Koh Chang. My two Gangman Style kids)

(The ocean was so beautiful, we played all afternoon while watching the sun set on paradise)

(Nothing better than spending time together enjoying the sounds of the ocean, feeling the rays of the sun and sand between our toes)

(This is how Everett rolls to the beach. If you have to wear sunscreen you need to make it fun. Ev is always making us laugh!)

(Our sweet, thoughtful, caring, determined almost teenager Beach Babe)

(Oh yes we brought our comedian with us as well 🙂

~ Snorkel Time ~

(We chartered a boat for the day to go island hopping around Koh Chang. We had fantastic visibility and saw so many fish. The kids have been in the ocean since they were babies and it is awesome to see them explore with such ease)

(East being swarmed by his fishy friends)

(My mermaid… Em is one with the water. The fish were everywhere, very cool)

(Our three awesome miracles)

(The water was crystal clear. This is paradise you see on post cards)

(Trent enjoying the magnificent day)

(East just had a fish swim up his shorts… it was hilarious)

(Trent found this clam. He picked it up and spit water at him for disturbing his peace)

(We are still having fun together 🙂

(These guys have the best laughs and comments. They know to turn to the camera then back to their business)

(She’s one cool chick. Love your shades kiddo)

(Our own private pool outside our room, over looking the ocean in the background. We stayed at the GrandView Hotel on Koh Chang on White Sand Beach. We will be back 🙂

(Trent and I sat out while enjoying a cold beer watching the sun set each night…ahhh I am missing it right now)

(One of our last nights at the beach. Something hit Emma and I the day before but we enjoyed a beautiful dinner on the beach watching fire dancers and playing with their lazers)

Up early, packed into a van bound for Bangkok International Suvarnabhumi Airport. It was a 5 hour drive which went by fast, I think because we were not packed in like sardines. Boarded our plane back to Chiang Mai in the early evening and layed our heads on our own pillows after a 10 day adventure once again.

No other new news to report. No wedding or babies so far. So that is it for now.

Life is what you make it and we intend to make it awesome!

Lots and lots of love!

Until next time.

The Schmu Crew