8 Moves and Counting!: April 2014

So excited to share this adventure. Bali truly was an amazing holiday and made us all appreciate our time in Asia, just wish Ryan could have been there to experience it with us.

When Ryan turned 13 some years ago Walter and I came up with a new tradition. Having 4 kids is sometimes hard to give individual attention so when they turn 13 the child gets to pick a "reasonable" place to visit and either Walter or I will accompany them on this weekend trip.

Ryan was simple, being first born and living in Mexico at the time he chose the US. Off we shipped him with Walter and he spent 2 glorious weeks in the US.
(Broke our first rule of it being only for the weekend.:)

Erin, well, she didn't get a choice of where but she was not disappointed when she and I flew back to Mexico for a long weekend to spend with great friends. It was quite a surprise for her when I picked her up at school and drove to the airport without her prior knowledge that this would take place.

Well Andrew just turned 13 and as his birthday was approaching he wanted to know what his special trip would be. With this crazy life we lead lets just say his destinations were a little bigger. All of our traditions have been tweaked over the years because we never seem to be in the same place for long and obviously with Ryan and Erins' trips rules have been "adjusted". Andrew came up with Bali. How could just Andrew and I go to Bali by ourselves?
(hello of course I was the parent taking him to Bali, LOL) Again rules were "adjusted" and making sure he didn't feel slighted HAHAHAHA we all went to Bali.

Jack is of course praying we have to stay in Thailand 1 extra year so he can turn 13 here. LOL

Bali was a pinch me moment. As expats we say that a lot because this is not a normal life we live and sometimes we get to do some incredible stuff. We are a pretty fortunate bunch. How lucky were we to be so close to an amazing island. The Balinese people were lovely, the scenery was gorgeous and wow what a vacation.
Oh and I think Andrew had fun too!

I won't bore you with the over 200 photos I took but just a few to share the incredible landscape and fun.

Heading to Canyon Tubing

Almost there

The rapids

A little competition - who will win? Ok of course Walter did!

Padang Padang beach

Have to experience a little Balinese culture. I am Carol's daughter. 😊

Uluwatu Temple - that's why we all are wearing purple wraps except Jack, guess it has something to do with his age.

Gorgeous scenery

These little buggers are mean and they steal your belongings.

Kecak Dance - traditional Balinese fire show and dance

These people cracked us up with their long arm thing to hold the iPhone for taking selfies. The funny thing this was not the only one in the crowd.

I think secretly Erin and Jack want one. Lol

A dad and his girl at our beach dinner.

At surf school. It may have been the only time some of us actually stood up on the board.

He was a natural

She was a natural

I was not!! Lol

Mom, mom did you get the picture?? I got up!! Can you see who it is?

Of course the other times he got up I never had the camera.

Our surf school class and instructors. SO MUCH FUN!!

Horseback riding on the beach.

Black sand beaches we rode on

Black sand because of the nearby active volcano

Little boys all in white we rode past. They are playing after their worship service on the beach.

We rode to a bat cave and I got to hold a baby bat. The bat cave was loud and smelly.

Watched this man perform his worship services on the rocks overlooking the ocean.

A temple we saw while riding.

Beautiful sunset.

And this is what I love about going on vacation. Being served in the pool. 😊

What we do best!

What he does best, Drink as many fancy mocktales as we will let him.

The queen barterer!! Boy does she do it well. She'll get the shirt off your back if your not careful.

Underwater selfies are COOL!

Cheers from the other side!

😘 M

A giant water fight it is!

Songkran is Thailand's New Year celebration. This is a week long celebration with each major city designating a particular day for their celebration. It's a water celebration to wash away the bad so the new blessings can be received. Pattaya is the last city to celebrate at the end of the week. Hawaiian shirts are worn and people walk and ride around with huge water guns and pails throwing water at people, motorbikes and cars. They also mix water and talc and rub it on passerbys faces to bless them for the new year.

Never one to miss a good party Walter, myself and the kids head into town Saturday to check it out. We even decided to upgrade our night, revisit our past a little and book a hotel room at the oh so lovely hotel, Amari -

(if you have followed from the beginning of our Thai story then you know about the Amari :)

Since the big K (aka Walter) has been giving the Amari all their business Walter is treated like royaly and we get upgraded to the executive suites, my kids will never be the same in hotels again - lets just say staircases were in our hotel rooms. Got to enjoy Easter the next day.

Erin heads out with her girlfriends. Walter, Jack and I head out to Beach Rd not sure what to expect. Don't ask about Andrew ~ Andrew was being Andrew that is all I can say. :)

It was like nothing I have ever experienced in my life. So glad we didn't miss out!

Buckets by the dozen filled with some talc and a little water makes for a great mess to rub on peoples faces. Of course Jack needed some.

Water guns to purchase everywhere. Of course Jack got a new one.

These are not trash cans but cans filled with water to refill water guns and buckets. Ice water is the choice of water used. It's 95* so it makes it fun and chilly. Kind of shocking when they hit you with the water.