Emily Turns 8

Our little Emily turned 8 while we were in Thailand.  So, this year, on her birthday, she got to ride an elephant.  To watch her face was a true joy.  The other fun part of the day was how special the JW Marriott made her feel.  While only telling our breakfast waiter it was her birthday, she ended up with 3 birthday cakes, flowers, cards, personal notes and many employees stopping to wish her a very happy birthday. 

Emily and mom during the elephant ride.  The Mahut had picked the flower just for Emily. 

Phuket Thailand - Siam Safari

Along with the elephant rides at Siam Safari, we had a few more hours of cultural things related to Thailand.  After the elephant ride, it began with a discussion of rubber trees, and how you turn the rubber tree sap into rubber products.  Really interesting how you tap a rubber tree and it drips down into a container, which is then collected to begin the process. 

Then on to a cooking demonstration on Thai cooking.  Of course, it was slightly spicy! 

And a coconut demonstration.  This lady, with one whack of the machete, halved a coconut with hardly any of the coconut milk spilled. 

Then off to a rice threshing demonstration.  Here, Anna is threshing the rice (i.e., removing it from the shell).   Emily and Jenna both tried, but they weren't heavy enough to make it go. 

How about some Thai coffee?  That was a big hit among the girls.  There were also coconut pancakes, but we weren't that impressed.

Then the rice fields.  Demonstrations by the water buffalo ... and water buffalo cart rides.

 

Phuket Thailand - Elephant Rides

Nothing more cultural in Thailand than an elephant ride.  So ... here is a lifting-the-trunk salute from the elephant that Kristin and Emily rode.  On Monday (Emily's 8th birthday), we headed for Siam Safari for elephant fun.  We spent about 40 minutes on the elephant, and then more time interacting with our elephants, including two baby elephants.  A pretty cool experience for all of us.

The family photo, with Kristin and Emily's elephant!

All of us during the ride!

The group of elephants waiting for their passengers.  The Mahut's (the elephant trainers / guides) spend most of their life with one elephant and have an incredible bond. 

Riding pictures ... notice all the smiles.  Kristin and Emily with TimLin (the elephant) and Thor (the Mahut).

Our elephant was BoBo.  Since he kept getting passed by other elephants (usually by Timlim), Jenna was frequently yelling "faster Bobo, faster". 

Kristin and her elephant being crazy.  She sure had a crazy personality ... which increased the fun that Kristin and Emily had with her.

Baby elephants!!!  Jenna and Addlea with a 3 year old elephant.

The elephant on the left was 8, just like Emily.  Our first try at a picture had the 3 year old elephant tapping me on the shoulder and trying to eat the flower Emily was holding.  Picture #2 below went better.

Oh yes ... and spiders.  BIG SPIDERS.  These spiders were all along the trail, and one of Mahuts (Thor) took it off the web to show Kristin and Emily.  He said it wasn't poisonous, just BIG.  There were a few screams as he showed it around. 

Bye Bye from Timlim!!!!

Phuket Thailand - Beach Bums

We were in Phuket during their rainy season, which also meant that the ocean / beachfront was not welcoming and friendly.  But, we had fun anyway.

Dune climbing ... always a fun (and dirty) activity.

Phuket Thailand - Family Fun

Four days of rest and relaxation provides for some great fun (and great pictures).  We had two separate rooms (Anna and Addlea had their own room).  We were busy with activities, swimming, beach walks, one outing ... and lots of relaxation.

Jenna relaxing with a cool towel and drink while we check into the resort.  I think she thinks she was made for this type of life and pampering.

Craft time (while dad had some alone time).  Fancy paintings even for little girls!

Kristin's creation!

We had a date night while Addlea and the girls did pizza (except for Jenna since it wasn't safe) and a movie in the room.  Kristin looks beautiful in the tropical climate!!!

I at least look comfortable in my shorts and flip-flops.

Sea-side reservations just for us. 

Some friends from Singapore (also go to ICS - the Berntson's) were also at our resort, so we got together for an evening of fun at a Japanese restaurant.  This was new for the girls.  They declared it a big hit with lots of giggles and laughs at the antics of our chef.

I missed (twice actually)!!!