Bangkok

So we did a crazy thing and planned a trip to Thailand right before Christmas. We booked it with our good friends the Erwins and it was AMAZING. Yes we were loud, crazy and tired often. But oh what and adventure that was so new and different for us. And I have to say the Thai food is probably my favorite (as long as I dull down the spice a bit, because they eat it spicy!).

So let's start off on our way to Bagkok. We hit horible Tokyo Traffic and no Joke had a Home Alone style run through the airport. It felt so Christmasy. The flight went smoothly and we landed in Bankok. Our driver picked us all up in a 12 seater van (or something like that), and we were off to our airbnb. Our first impression was the MASSIVE billboards. Honestly they were huge and took up the whole landscape. Then once inside Bangkok proper it was a bustling place. A bit overwhelming with lots of people, very small sidewalks near our airbnb, and traffic whipping by us. We had a little food truck center near our place so we tried it and the green curry was divine. I was sold. The kids of course found their safe chicken nuggets so everyone was happy.

Our first day of adventures we headed to Ayutthaya. Our first stop was Wat Yai Chai Mongkho. We first fed turtles bread and then checked out the beautiful temple ruins (the temple has been burned in a fire, but the temple is still very impressive). We could climb to the top of the main temple building.

Next stop was Wat Mahathat. Again the temple had been burned, but the temple was really stunning. They put treasure in the temple spikes as an offereing to the temple. This temple also had a Buddha head with tree roots growing around it and a reclining Buddha. The weather was warm and by then the kids were pretty much templed out.

But a lunch at KFC and a longtail boat ride lifted spirits and we had a fun time. The boat tour went around the river island of Ayutthaya. After that break we went to Royal Palace and Wat Phra Si Sanphet. They had vendors selling beautiful lotus flower arangement outside of the temple and there were crab apple like fruits growing on the temple property that we got to taste.

On our way through to our next stop we stopped by an elephant camp. They had gave elephant rides, but we just decided to feed the elephants as they didn't look the happiest in their pens.

Then we checked out the old Royal Palace and Temple. I thought it was beautiful and favorite of the day.

We found a fun restaurant where we ordered two different things a spicy sour soup and a ground meat over rice dish. The rice dish was amazing and we tried to love the soup but it was just SOOOOO spicy. Everything in it made my eyes water and everything burn (and I like spice). We picked out at least 30 whole hot peppers out of our bowl (if not more), and the guy even told us that he made us the more mild version. But it was an experience.

The next morning we got up early and went to the Maeklong Railway Market. We got there early stopped at a few shops and then it was time for the train to come through. It was amazing how the shops quickly picked up their goods and pulled back their store fronts. Then the train was inches from us as it went by. The market was also very fum in it's own right with spices, veggies and even frogs for sale (yes they eat frogs).

Next stop was a coconut farm where they made sugar from coconuts.

After we headed to the floating market, which was fun to see everyone selling out of boats (there were also plenty of shops to paruse along the canal front. Then we found a place there and got some yummy pad thai. And we tried some new noodles which were flat and wide, very interesting texture, but delicious.

Then we drove into town and explored the Royal Palace and Temple. It was so fancy and ornate. It had many different houses, buildings, and temples within.

Our guides found us a snack of "coton candy", but it was not the cotton candy we were expecting, it was sugar fibers they wrap in a crepe. It was new and absolutely delicious.

After we checked out the reclining Buddha, and our kids were done with temples again. So rather than opting to see another temple we decided to catch a ride on a tuk tuk. We all had fun and then headed home for dinner.

The next morning we took an easy morning and just walked around the neighborhood and caught a flight to Chiang Mai. Bangkok was a bustling big city, full of so much character and culture. It was an amazing, new, and so much fun.