Travel

Thailand – Elephant Hills

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The very best day that we spent in Thailand was at Elephant Hills. It happened to be my husband’s birthday. Even thought he took me to Thailand for my 40th, he managed to celebrate his birthday in Thailand as well. We almost got in a fight just before this photo because I was asking him to hang out in the common area and he was insistent that we go to the tent. We were trying to surprise him with a cake for his birthday, and he was asking far too many questions.

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We had to get up super early to catch our flight from Bangkok to Phuket, and then after the flight we had a three hour drive. But it was so worth it. Upon arrival we were treated to a yummy buffet, and got ready for an afternoon with elephants. Our accommodation was a luxury tent, it rained all night on the metal roof and I had the best sleep of our vacation.

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The elephants were the best part of the whole trip to Thailand. I’m not even sure that I can put into words why I liked spending time with elephants so much. Even thought they are so large, they seem so gentle. Their eyes are so sad. When I talked to them I felt like they understood me. It was interesting to see their personalities, and how they interacted with each other. Some were friends, there was a gang of three that were “the bad ones”, and one that followed another around like a shadow.

We watched them play in the pond, we bathed them, petted them and fed them. It was an experience that I won’t forget any time soon. When we were booking I didn’t really want to be involved. I wanted my husband to surprise me, but he knew that even though I want to be surprised, I am not very good at being surprised. He also knew for the good of our marriage that he wouldn’t get the surprise right, and he was correct on that. I’m a bit of a pain that way, I want to be surprised but only if you have super human mind reading powers to surprise me with exactly what I am thinking.

When was the last time that you spent a few hours doing something that touched your life in a memorable way? There are lots of things that happen in life that touch us, but they are often negative events. A death in the family, a job loss, a brain tumour, bad surprises, things that you don’t see coming. This elephant experience was up there with the news of being diagnosed with a brain tumour, it was a shock to my system but in the best way possible. If you have the chance spend the day with an elephant, do it! Watch them sway to music that only they can hear.

Sampran Riverside Village

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As a maker I am interested in crafts so the Sampran Riverside Village was right up my alley. We learned about and tried our hand at some traditional Thai crafts. We learned how silk can be spun by hand into thread, and then woven into gorgeous silk scarves. We watched a painting demo, wove fish out of grass, made clay elephants and tried out musical instruments. We also learned about making compresses from herbs, watched a cooking demo, and made flower garlands.

I have zero rhythm, I have given up on dancing because watching me dance is like watching someone writhe in pain. It’s that bad, and it’s not enjoyable for me either. You could try bamboo dancing but I wasn’t confident that my lack of rhythm wouldn’t leave me with bashed up ankles. We also watched Thai boxing, and a traditional wedding ceremony as well. My husband got in on the dancing action, and participated in the Thai dancing performance.

We also saw these big guys. These were the first elephants that we saw in Thailand, and I was super surprised while wandering around the village to see 2 elephants.

We had about an hour to walk around before we went to the craft village and performance. These are a few of the things that we saw. I think the people washing the sidewalks with something that looks like a floor polisher was pretty funny.

 

Up next, ELEPHANTS!

Floating Market

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In addition to temples, and tuk tuks there are many markets in Thailand. The Damnoen Saduak floating market was about an hour and a half out of Bangkok but it was worth the drive for the experience. There are a few floating markets in and around Bangkok which are primarily for tourists.

We were dropped off at a boat dock where we boarded long tail speed boats. The ride was terrifying. We rode through man made canals and saw homes, temples and shops. The boat driver was a bit of a speed racer. It was rough and the water was a lovely shade of brown. We ended our speed boat ride at the floating market.

Boats full of everything imaginable could be found in the floating market but most vendors were selling food. Anyone want a banana? How about a mango? Coconut?

 

 

Next up the Sampran Riverside Village followed by a day at Elephant Hills.

Railway Market

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I think that I love to be surprised, but I am not good at accepting surprises. The truth is that I love the idea of being surprised. When we go on vacation I painstakingly research everything, so that we can make the most of our time and money. This vacation was different, I asked my husband to surprise me.

Which went something like this;

  • Him: where do you want to go for your birthday
  • Me: surprise me
  • Him: can you narrow it down
  • Me: somewhere I have never been
  • Him: how about you pick a continent
  • Me: Asia, or South America, or Central America, or how about Europe
  • Him: how about we look at potential vacation destinations tonight
  • Me: then it wouldn’t be a surpise

The moral of the story is that I am a pain in the ass, and he is not confident that he could pick somewhere that I would like. He was right, he didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell (my dads saying). BUT, my super smart mom said why don’t you contact our travel agent. That was an AH, HA moment. Vacationing old school.

We used a travel agent, they did all the work, and we had all the fun. We were picked up at the airport by our guide and driver and spent the next few days getting a private tour of Bangkok. There is no better way to travel. I have done bus trips, train trips, cruises, backpacking, you name it I have probably tried it, and a private car and guide can not be beat.

On the second day Rose (our guide) arrived to pick us up at our hotel, and decided that she was going to alter our itinerary to include the Maeklong Railway Market. I didn’t fully understand everything that she was telling me, so most of the time I just followed her around. We were dropped off in the middle of the street, and she walked us down train tracks. She started shopping as we walked through the narrowest market I have ever been in. Rose stopped to buy dried squid. Not my idea of an afternoon snack.

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Then comes an announcement to get off the tracks and behind the red line. Up to this point my husband and I fully believed that there was no train. How on earth could a train come through this market? There were people, canopies, tables, baskets, and garbage can lids full of products everywhere. The market was full of vendors and shoppers, where was everyone and everything going to go to make room for the train. I’m thinking that a tiny little train is coming through, until I saw a full size train.

It was amazing. Bonus – I was surprised.

Up next, the floating market, and an Arts & Crafts village. Followed by Day 3 at Elephant Hills.

 

One Night in Bangkok

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Today is my 40th birthday. It’s a big deal. Every birthday is a big deal because I am still alive, and that’s worth celebrating (at least in my mind). My lovely husband took me to Thailand for my 40th. I know that I am fortunate, I am not taking my life for granted. On top of the great gift my amazing parent flew to our house to take care of our kids so that we could go away without the kids, how fantastic is that?

I’m not going to focus on the fact that the day before we went on vacation my husband got a letter informing him of the end of his employment in the new year. It’s only a job, right? He will find another one, no biggie. That’s what I tell myself so that I can sleep at night. But I am digressing from the celebration.

I mentioned that I am now 40 which means that I was a kid in the 80’s. One Night in Bangkok is a song from my youth. If you don’t have any idea what I am talking about (you spring chicken) click here. We didn’t go to Thailand because of the song but we did see plenty of muddy rivers, temples and a reclining Buddha.

I took way too many pictures, the ones below are my favorites. I did have a little help from my 5 year old who either said “that’s beautiful” or “delete”. Warning – his favourite colour is GOLDEN.

This was day 1 in Bangkok, Thailand. Coming soon, day 2 where we headed to a train market, floating market and an Arts & Craft village.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

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I mentioned in my last post that we traveled to Vancouver as a family for a week. My husband had a conference and I though that it would be a great time to take the kids and spend some time playing tourist. We went to the Capilano Suspension Bridge on the last day of our trip after spending three nights in a hotel as a family of four. It was just what I needed after spending most of the week inside hiding from the rain.

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Vancouver Aquarium

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My “Making A Life” philosophy to living includes creating a homemade life but it also embraces making memories. When my husband announced that he had a conference in Vancouver I took the opportunity to invite myself and the kids along for the week. I firmly believe that learning happens everywhere, so I have no qualms about pulling the kids out of school for a few days for educational field trips of my own design.

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Moat Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

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Florida has been on my mind of late with all of the news about Hurricane Matthew. While we were there earlier this year we visited the Moat Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota. I hadn’t been there before but my parents had, and they suggested it as a good place to spend the day with the kids, and it was. The kids got to see fish and marine mammals that they can’t see locally. My oldest pet a sting ray which was a pretty big deal for him, and there was lots and lots of talk about the sharks. My favourite was the jelly fish, I can watch them all day.

The Royal Visit 2016

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This past week the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge along with their children, were in BC for a visit. I am not normally a Royal fan but since there were in town I figured I would get in on the action. They were sailing past our house, and it didn’t take much effort to walk to the end of the block. My seven-year-old son wanted to see what a Duke and Duchess looked like so he joined me. While we were waiting for their tall ship to appear he played at the beach.

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So Long Summer

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My Making A Life blog was getting a little overloaded with photography posts so I have created another website specific to photography here it is…

Sarah Patterson Photography

Today celebrates the last day of summer. I can’t think of a better way to close off an excellent season than sunsets. As the sunsets on summer 2016 tonight, I am going to keep the excellent memories of summer warmth alive until next year. So long summer, welcome fall.

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