Who ever said vacation with a one year old is vacation? I think they should have a pseudonym for such an adventure, something like: no-nap-innovation or won't-eat-vegetation or something like that. Actually, Gracie was really good, but travelling can be hard on the little one especially when she leaves everything she is accustomed to for 3 weeks.
In Bangkok, our first stop, we stayed at the YWCA. The taxi driver couldn't find it - drove right past it several times - and we were dead on our feet when we finally crawled into our bed(s). The Y is actually a hostel, so our room had 3 beds, which we pushed together to create a sort of haven where Gracie was able to sprawl and roll without bumping into us or falling off the bed. She slept well (at night anyway).
Oh, I almost forgot that on that first night in Bangkok I had to go to the hospital to have my eyes irrigated. Matt was helping me wash Gracie's hands and when he squeezed what he thought was the little soap bottle it burst and spewed hand sanitizer all over my face and in my eyes. Ouch! I wasn't sure what effect alcohol might have on my eyes so I called the hospital and of course they said I better come in. I don't think it was necessary, but I went and they did basically the same thing I did, except they used saline instead of tap water. 1200 baht and 2 hours later I returned to our room with the incredible mattress island and finally slept.
On our second day in Bangkok we went to the hospital again, but that visit was planned. All 3 of us had check ups and Grace got some immunizations. I was very impressed with Bumrungrad International Hospital - and I understand why it is becoming so popular for Americans to go there for medical care. It was clean, professional, and relatively cheap.
Day 3 was spent at the dentist, also located inside the hospital.
On Day 4 we tried to go sightseeing. Well, we did go sightseeing. I don't know why, but it seemed that every time we got in a taxi there we were taken to the wrong place. On this particular day we asked to be taken to a specific dock to catch a type of ferry that would take us along the river and drop us near a museum. The driver decided to take us to another dock - and the business there wanted us to pay 2000 baht for a private boat. No thanks. We had to walk about 2 miles back to the right dock. As if that weren't enough walking we then got off the boat at the wrong dock (not our fault, I might add) and had to walk about 2 or 3 more miles. It was so hot! To top it all off the museum wasn't even that interesting. The best part of the day - the payoff for all our hard work - was the patch of grass where Gracie was able to play. We captured it since it was her very first time to play in the grass.
Day 5 we had to go back to the hospital again for more immunizations. Then we just walked down one of the major roads there in Bangkok and spent the evening at the night bazaar where we had a fairly nice dinner. I was vacationed out already, even though the vacation hadn't even started yet.Jom Tien
Our second destination was Jom Tien where we met up with some other Americans and enjoyed fellowship with them and Gracie got to play with other kiddos. She loved that but of course they all swapped germs and Gracie got a cold. The best part of Jom Tien was making new friends and seeing how the Lord just provided exactly what we needed to be rejuvenated. The worst part of Jom Tien was the ever so present prostitutes. Those were mostly in Pattaya (the neighboring beach) where we went to get diapers and enjoy Western food and Starbucks.
In Thailand most people ride from one place to another on a tuk tuk (3 wheels contraption) or a Song Tao (a truck whose bed has been modified with a bench seat down each side). We took Song Taos to and from the grocery and restaurants. There were these neat little signs affixed for passengers that read "Normal fare is 20 baht" but somehow we kept getting charged 150, 200, 250.... Of course I always bargain and once even got away with paying only 30 for me and Grace to get to the grocery store.
We went out to Starbucks one night and regreted it. Although the iced coffees were nice the view wasn't. We were so ready to get out of dodge but of course the drivers all wanted to charge us 300 baht to get home. I negotiated for 200 and agreed to let the driver pick up a few more passengers. This guy drove down every street in Pattaya trying to pick people up. Matt was so mad. Of course it was all my fault and I was banned from bargaining for a fair rate from then on. We were all pretty sick to our stomach at seeing the foreign men attached to the Thai ladies and the bars doubling as brothels where women sat ready to swarm the next man that approached them. Sex is a big industry there, which made us wish we weren't there at all.
Oh I almost forgot the one other really great thing about Jom Tien... big swimming pool! And Gracie went swimming for the first time! She loved it, of course. She wanted to swim away from us... guess she's going to be a little fish like her daddy. Unfortunately the beach was really nasty so we didn't dare take Gracie out for her first date with sand in Jom Tien.
Phuket
Our third stop was Phuket. By now we were wishing we could just go back home but we were glad when we arrived and saw our room that was located right on the ocean (although we didn't have a view - contrary to the false advertising we bought into when we booked the place.) Oh well, the room was splendid and I wasn't too sore about the view since the bathroom had a huge free standing tub and separate shower, the room itself was well furnished and great for lounging, and there was even a shower right outside our door. We did however have to walk through a restaurant to get to the beach, that experience would have been a bit more uncomfortable if every one who ate there hadn't also been in a bathing suit.
The beach was great! Gracie played in the sand, tore through all the sandcastles Matt built for her, and charged the surf with no fear! Seeing her have so much fun made the trip! That was what I wanted - to see my baby girl enjoy something new.
I'd say we saved the best for last, except for the fact that we all got sick our last full day there. I am sure it was food poisoning for me and Matt. I ate a skewer of half raw chicken before realizing it was raw which left me moaning and miserable in the bed all the next day. I did lose a pound and the french fries I tried to eat for lunch. In the midst of our sickness Gracie ran a fever for 2 days and we had to take her to a clinic. She ended up on antibiotics and couldn't even get her follow up immunizations before we left. Oh well, I guess we needed a reason to be ready to come home again. Needless to say it was good to get back to China. Thailand is nice in small doses. Maybe we'll go back next year.... but definitely not for 3 weeks!
