Easter in the Southeast

Happy Easter! It has been one fun and HOT weekend for me. Even though the temperature has been soaring, in the high 40s, I have managed to spend most of the weekend enjoying the outdoors.

No Easter eggs here. I had my students make fortune cookie origami instead. Just a little bit random...

Celebrated Holy Saturday down at my favourite restaurant on the river with some friends. I really can't get enough of this place.

This is what I came home to after my supper. Three boys experimenting with the relationship between water and sound frequencies.
Our friend, Mike, is here visiting for two months. Good times are going to be had, I can tell you that much.

We went to a packed Easter Sunday mass.

Then we took Mike to experience the madness of Khao San Road (although it looks rather tame in this picture).

The Science of Grade Seven

Round one of visitors left yesterday, round two starts trickling in starting tomorrow. Like I've been saying to everyone...we have had more people come to visit us in Bangkok than in Vancouver. I assume no one will want to visit us when we move back to Saskatoon. I really hope that is not the case though! We love company.

Today my students and I went to an awesome science museum two hours from the school. I did not have high expectations for the museum. However, I was pleasantly surprised at what the six floor museum had in store for us. It had a mix of everything.

"Ms. Melanie, Lucy the Australopithecus we learned about!!!"
These words are music to a teacher's ears. It is nice to know students occasionally listen to your lessons.

This Australian scientist helped design the museum many years ago.
Guess how old he is.

NINETY!!!! And still putting on science shows for kids every day.

Number one lesson I learned today: our hot water heater in the shower uses almost FIVE times more electricity than our air conditioner. Now I don't feel as bad about leaving the a/c on during the day by accident.

This place had it all. Even part of an airplane.

We also checked out the Natural History museum next door.

A little bit of taxidermy to end the day.

 

 

Spending Baht

Andy and I spent a lovely long weekend up in northern Thailand.. in the city of Chiang Mai. We spent the entire weekend shopping, shopping and more shopping. And eating. We had a blast.

Venice of the East

This week, we were blessed with more family having made the trek across the world to visit us (or maybe just holiday around). This time Andy's sister, her husband, and their cute as a button toddler came! Jamie, Ryan, and Edward are here checkin' out the country for the next three weeks.

No time was wasted in Bangkok. First stop: Khao San Road.

We took everyone to our favourite Israeli restaurant. Edward had his first taste of a watermelon smoothie. It was probably one of the happiest moments of his life.



Falafel, potato salad, hummus, more salad, pita bread, and mint lemon smoothies.......my mouth is watering just typing this.

So many things to look at!

Eating street doughnuts.

On the weekend we all went to Ayutthaya, the old capital of Thailand, located in the valley of the Chao Phraya River. It is sometimes referred to as the "Venice of the East". In 1700 CE it was one of the largest cities in the world, with a population of nearly one million people. In 1767 the city was destroyed by the Burmese army.

We stayed at a 100 year old, traditional Thai style, 15-room, made of teak, homestay on the river. I was a little bit hesitant about the place- this was the front entrance. But as with many things in Thailand, you can't let looks deceive you. It was in fact a lovely place.

We spent the weekend touring temples, seeing lots of cats and dogs, checking out random market stalls, feeding animals, passing Edward around Thai ladies (who can't get enough of his golden complexion), going on a sunset river boat tour, and eating several times. Great fun had by all.

The one thing I was most excited to check off my 'things to see in Thailand list' was this famous Buddha head in the tree. I must say, I imagined it to be much bigger than what it is. Nonetheless, it was still pretty neat to see in person.

 

Palm leaf ants in the making.

We also checked out a rather barren museum.

If I were a dog, I would nap here too.