Special price for you…? To match your eyes! : ) (+pics!)

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First Video - Mini-pre-show outside to Siam Theater Show
Second Video - Sample of the Floating Market boat ride

**FULL SCOOP**

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MONDAY – WEDNESDAY*

Itinerary Summary:

MONDAY

Main event: Grand Palace (Home of the Emerald Buddha, former residence of Thai Kings, lot's of beautiful buildings and funny pants – since it is holy ground, you are asked to wear a skirt, or put on a sarong which they will provide, and men are asked to put on scrub-like pants or crazy patterned pajama pant looking things : )

TUESDAY

1^st stop: Ayutthaya (sp?) (Major ancient city in the central plains, trading, government buildings, religious places, etc. but was "sacked" in war in the 1700s – Today…? Cool ruins & elephant rides: )

2^nd stop: Jim Thompson Home (American architect (1940sish) who made Thai silk famous – After mysteriously disappearing at age 61, his house (made up of 6 teak houses he had moved there) is now shared with tourists, a great place to have lunch and has beautiful gardens!

3^rd stop: Thai Cooking with Khun-Uk (sp?) Our roomie's family arranged for their helper to teach us how to cook two Thai dishes – and an unforgettable lesson, "Don't eat too much, make fat!" (Not sure what she was trying to tell us, but… it was pretty funny : )

4^th stop: Siam Niramit (Theater Highest Theater in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World records (and the huge sign outside: ) Has a truly spectacular show with traditional dancing on a stage that has a mini river running through it (they had water literally down-pouring from the roof in a mock rainstorm, elephants walking through the rows, costumes and flying performers and all kinds of other elaborate details and backgrounds – truly probably one of the most impressive shows I've ever been to! – Also, a cute "old village" outside with food samples, little boat rides, and a fun look at the past.

WEDNESDAY

1^st stop: Floating Markets (And they were just that! People floated around in boats and tried to get you to buy their wares and you had to bargain to get the best deal and everyone wanted to give you (and of course only you… a "Special price" – LOVED IT!) I think this has been a favorite for me so far – and not gonna lie, I got some great deals : ) I'll definitely have to write more later, but this was a blast and so fun to chat with the people more – I really loved the interaction : ) Another favorite quote and lesson learned… my roomies were buying dresses and they wanted a longer skirt, the market lady said, "No, no long skirt old, not sexy" (or close) – so great, we'll all work on that ; )– thanks lady!

2^nd stop: Home/Nichada Community Area (Roomie's home area) Went to a local market and had some fabulous adventures with boys asking to get pictures with us, live fish ready to be eaten, half chickens cut open, and plenty more! I also got a fabulous Asian-American shirt… see above (must read) – do you love it or what?! : )

 

Anywho, more to come later!! Today we are off to the beach!!

Much love, K*

YOUR TURN/READ THOUGHTS: Have you ever had to bargain? What's the best deal you've gotten?

 

*More detailed updates to come, but with limited internet time, this is the best I can offer! : )

Sa-wat-tee-kah! (sp?: )

**SAMPLE**





VIDEO: A quickie video of our golf cart tour around our roomie's International Community lake... be-a-u-ti-ful!! : )



**FULL SCOOP**

Sa-wat-tee-kah!! (aka... Hello in Thai: )

Once upon a time, I had a roommate who's family lived in Thailand...

...after listening to her stories about her travels, a few fellow roommates and I decided we should probably visit her... : ) One thing led to another and I started receiving email updates on good flight fares to Bangkok, my roommates started looking into getting passports, and our hosting roommate talked to her family who said we could stay with them... and well, the next thing we knew, we were all sitting together with our laptops clicking "purchase" = 2 weeks in Thailand with roommates... aka... an opportunity of a lifetime!!

I will update more later, but here is a quick whirlwind update of the last few days...

Tuesday - Arrived in CA, visited sister and darling family : )
Wednesday - Ran 13 miles with the crazy marathoning sister... I wanted to die... but we survived (while her husband so kindly watched the kiddies!)
Thursday - Woke up, finished packing, scurried to the airport and began the 10 hr. 40 min. flight to Tokyo!
Friday - Arrived in Tokyo, chilled in the airport, had a good time with the fun buttons in the bathroom... (I'll have to explain more later, but all I can say is, from seat warmers to soundtracks, I have never had such an exciting experience...! : ) After a 4 1/2 hr. layover, got back on the plane and began our 6 hr. 40 min. flight to Bangkok... during which I was graced with a chatty neighbor whom I tried to tell (several times) how tired I was and looking forward to a nap I was: )
Friday night - 10:30 p.m. (about 20 hours after take off...) we arrive in Bangkok, were greeted by a shrine to the King at the hotel entrance and slept very soundly!
Saturday - Woke up, explored the fabulous hotel our roomie's fam set up for us with a garden full of colorful flowers which we observed while enjoying the balmy warm weather, caught a cab via driving on the left lane and headed to our next hotel near her neighborhood!
Saturday day/night - Strolled around the neighborhood full of dogs and scooters, snagged some lunch at a Mexican place (we figure there will be plenty of Thai food to come : ) and took a quick visit to the International Community where our roomie's family lives and enjoyed the lake there, took a 3 hour nap (still jet lagged, but adjusting well: ) and finally met up with our roomie for dinner who had just arrived herself!
Sunday - Went to church at their International ward, got to hear testimonies in Indian, Philipino, etc. accents and on our way home, saw royalty pass us on the opposing highway! (the highway was cleared and there was an entourage of cars with the "yellow mercedes" that is for royalty only...!) and closed the evening with finding a little baby gecko in our room... : )



All in all... so far, it has been an adventure already... the best part? This is just the beginning! : ) Much love, K*

PS - I'll try to provide more details later, but for now, I'll just be posting what I can : ) Loves! - K*

YOUR TURN/READER THOUGHTS: What's the craziest place you've ever been to, or wanted to go?