BANGKOK

I love Girl Trips. Love them. It makes traveling in SE Asia a little simpler and cheaper than taking the whole family. And lucky for me, Dave agrees (especially if where I want to go has no beach :) . 

This time we brought the babes along. 

3 women + 3 babies in Thailand = the best costumer service ever. Everyone wanted to hold our doors, set up our chairs, take us to the front of the line, even give us gifts. From the eager bell boy to the ladies at JJ market holding my packages. They all wanted to know if we were sisters or if the babies were twins and who was the mother. 

The view from our hotel room. 

 

  

The streets. This is Chinatown so some of the signs are in Thai and some in Chinese.

 

tuk tuks

Thanks to Nicole for this one.

 

My new favorite. Fresh pomegranate juice. Absolutely hit the spot.

Another great picture from Nicole (I heart traveling with photographers)

Sybil didn't miss a thing.

  

 
One night we went up to Bangkok's Baiyoke Tower with its awesome views of the city from the 84th floor.

We also went back to our silver shop and ate lots of gorgeous food. I gobbled up every meal we had before I remembered to take a picture of it. But Nicole remembered the desserts! My absolute favorites - mango sticky rice and coconut ice cream in a fresh coconut. Yum!

Bangkok: markets

Lily was amazing. She was just supposed to be our driver, but ended up the perfect guide. Installing car seats, carrying strollers up the stairs, making food recommendations, giving us history lessons and explanations of Buddhism and Karma.

(Nicole's picture)

 

At the flower market, she told us that Thai mother in laws have 2 ways to judge if you will be a good wife - your cooking for sure, and your flower crafting skills. If you can make these beautiful, intricate flower offerings than you are good. 

And they sure were pretty.

The flower market was filled with fresh, gorgeous bundles. 

Like these bunches of roses for only 20 baht (65 cents). I won't even tell you about the orchids they had my head spinning with how I could get them back to Singapore.

(Nicole's picture)

Then on to the vegetable and fruit market. With all the normal stuff.

 

You know, like dragon fruit 

custard apples

 

rambutan

chilies

and Angry Birds towels.

(Nicole's)

We also spent a morning at the JJ market.Which of course wasn't enough. That place is incredibly huge. Good thing Angie had a great sense of direction.

And good thing Nicole snapped all these shots,  because let's keep it real - carrying a backpack, and a baby, while sweating to death and keeping your wits is not the easiest thing. So my camera stayed in the bag for most of the trip.

But I soaked it all in.

Because that's what we were there for anyway.

(Nicole's)

Bought a lovely little tea set for Sybil here. 

(Nicole's)

(Nicole's)

 And how cute is this little guy Angie befriended in the noodle shop?

(Nicole's)

  

Bangkok: Jim Thompson house

 

One morning we visited the Jim Thompson house.  All 3 babies slept through the whole tour - silk demonstration and all. Lucky us.

Jim Thompson was an American living in Thailand who is said to have saved Thailand's silk industry. He became a millionaire before he disappeared in Malaysia. His story is intriguing. And his house is gorgeous. Traditional Thai architecture. No nails used. Not many like this anymore. And the inside was museum-esque with its paintings and antique collection.

Thanks to Nicole for this shot

and this one

and this one

BANGKOK: the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, almost

The Grand Palace in Bangkok is amazing. Sparkling, glittery, shiny and peaceful. I took a great tour last time I was in Bangkok. But this time we only spent a few minutes there because let's keep it real again, the babies were SO DONE. So we saw the bling from afar, watched the umbrella clad people walk by in their borrowed baggy elephant pants or high heels, and then we were on our way.

Thanks to Nicole for all the pictures in this post.

Nicole and sweet Annika. 

 

  

a short tuk tuk ride to lunch

 

I absolutely love this picture. I can't believe Nicole snapped it. She is that good. This was one of those quintessential South East Asia travel moments. One of those moments that I have learned to handle so much better.

We had just gotten out of the tuk tuk and were going to a restaurant that was only 20 feet away. But a line of tourists came up and stood right in front of us blocking our way. Just to stare at us. I don't blame them, we are cute. And totally a circus. While we are trapped the vendors pounce. Umbrellas? Fans? Its super hot. We are boiling on the cement. Usually I put my head down, no eye contact and just barrell through. But we weren't going anywhere. So what the heck, I actually do need an umbrella or two...

 

  

We also almost made it to Wat Arun. It is called the Temple of the Dawn because of the way the morning light hits the walls. Its made of ceramic crockery. Very cool. But like I said the babies were SO DONE. So we spied Wat Arun from across the choppy river and then headed back to the hotel.

Gage's last day of preschool

We love Gage's preschool. It was the same one Noah went to. The perfect spot for these boys.


On his last day we handed out cookies and cards with this picture on them. They had a little party for Gage with a big group hug and they sang the "Good bye, See you again" song which he loves. We left with our arms full of paintings and art projects. 

 

And we will sure miss it. The art projects, the costumes, the songs, the parties, the teachers. Oh, and some reading and writing. 

We'll miss Ms. Zida and Ms. Yatea too. They were the best. I loved hearing their stories about school Gage. Like this one:

A few of the teachers were fasting during Ramadan. The children knew that this meant the teachers were not eating any food from sunrise to sunset for about a month. At snack time after 2 weeks of this Gage put his yakult on Ms. Yatea's chair. When she came back into the room she asked,
"Who's yakult is this?"
Gage said, "Its for you! Because you haven't eaten or drinken for so long."
"Gage, you are so sweet!"
"I know. When I am sweet you can call me Gagey. And when I am not sweet you can call me Gage Christian Wagner!"

Lantern Festival

We love the Mid Autumn Festival in Singapore. Its also called the Lantern Festival or the Mooncake Festival. Its a traditional Chinese harvest festival.  

 

 Chinatown gets decked out.

And there are lots of celebrations all over town. The kids do a lot at school too. Mooncake tasting and lantern making. Wearing costumes and learning Chinese legends and traditions.

One day Sybil and I went to Chinatown to buy a mooncake or two (except we buy the tiny ones because they are a lot prettier than they taste :)

Sybil gets a lot of attention where ever we go. Especially if I'm wearing her in the sling. Everyone wants to squeeze her cheeks or her toes or hold her. Can't blame them. Her cheeks are the best. I usually say 'no thanks' and get out the hand sanitizer, but this day we were feeling friendly and I wanted to snap a picture anyway.

Another day we met up with friends at the Chinese Gardens. They were decked out too. With performances and lit up lanterns. Although the boys said their favorite part was playing with the glow sticks.

I'm so glad Kristie got a couple shots.