PHUKET

This is going to be a long post so if you are interested - start reading, otherwise you may just want to look at the pictures.  

The girls had winter holiday these last two weeks and we are missing our American summer so we decided as a family to visit someplace warm during our holiday.  We have had Phuket, Thailand on our bucket list for a while and when I was able to line-up all of the travel arrangements over night we felt like it was the perfect fit.  It was not the HIGH season in Phuket so we had heard from local Australians that is a good time for a visit.  Less people and the weather is still wonderful with an occasional rain shower.  (The whole time we were there it only rained on us once and we were in a taxi headed back to the hotel.)

One of our biggest desires in moving abroad was the ability to expose our kids to different cultures and experience all this wonderful world has to offer.  Phuket, Thailand did not disappoint us.  The girls noticed many differences and made many mental notes about how blessed they are.  Tom and I felt that we achieved our goal by helping them to see that there are many people that live in this world without very much in-terms of monetary blessings but, they are HAPPY and generous with what they have.  We have been given a lot by our Heavenly Father and we have a responsibility to share with others in whatever capacity that we can.  Where much is given MUCH is expected - SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE!

So while we were staying in a lovely 5-star resort, we wanted them to experience the REAL Thailand.  In order to do that, we went on many excursions....just driving in the shuttle van down the city streets was a real eye opener for my children - Life-changing!  

Just to name a few things that we did...
We rode elephants, 
went snorkeling, 
visited the Big Buddha and received a blessing from a Buddhist monk, 
visited three Thai Temples, 
shopped, 
went sea kayaking in caves at Phang nga Bay, 
ate many, many Thai meals (we love Thai food), 
visited a rubber farm, 
and visited the Governor's Mansion in Old Town Phuket. 

Our trip was relaxing and very educating!  It was the perfect mix---congrats to the travel agent - oh, that's me!  :)  Here are some photos to document the trip........

We were excited to fly out....10 hours later....we were happy to arrive.  :)  The girls got to see their first Asian style toilet in one of the airports.  They are LOVING the fact that we have western style toilets in our homes.

We were greeted by this adorable towel elephant!

One of the pools

View from our room

 Our beach view

Ya-Ya the elephant came to the resort twice a day....we feed her, rode her and just loved her.  I wanted a baby elephant by the time we left.  She is gorgeous!

Loving some pool time!

We did not see Nemo, but, we saw many other wonderful, colorful friends of his.

 We spent the day on a speed boat traveling to the different islands snorkeling and seeing the monkeys. Beautiful....this guy above turned 48!  Happy Birthday Honey!!

 Monkey Beach

These monkeys are wild and one of them climbed up onto the boat looking for a snack - crazy.

 Waiting for Dad to take our picture and getting pummeled by a wave....HURRY!

 Riding Large Elephants - Jane did not like it as much as riding bare back with YA - YA!

View of Patong Beach 

 Visiting the Big Buddha - 45 m high, 25 m wide at the base.  It has taken them over 20 years to build it and there is much work to still be done.  It is made of white marble that the Thai people refer to as white jade (above).

Buddhist Temples 

Firecracker that they light many times a day - very loud.

 Gorgeous ceiling inside the prayer temple.

 View of rubber tree farm.  It was beautiful and so fun to see how they make rubber.

 POOL TIME - Volleyball, swimming, jumping and catching some rays. 

 Love the Sun - however it does not love me.

 At dusk in our hotel, they perform a Thai fire dance in our reflection pool.  

It was beautiful and so interesting to watch. 

 Sunset

I still have my cheerleader moves!  WOW were my kids surprised that this old lady still had it.

 Celebrating Tom's 48 birthday with some traditional American Ice Cream.

Swensen's, we love you!

 Sea Kayaking in caves in Phang nga Bay.

 Making a traditional "Krathong" that we floated into the water at dark.  You light the candles, make a wishes and float it from your kayak.  It is made of banana trunk, banana leaves, and native flowers.  The flowers can be made into birds.  The girls loved this, it is origami with flowers. YIPPEE!!

 Our view.....as we ate dinner on the charter.  Magnificent!!!