Thailand Part 3

One day in Bangkok we went to the Dusit Zoo, which was really impressive.  The best part was that they have a tall platform by the giraffes where people can stand at the height of the giraffes' head.  The zoo workers let Jack feed the giraffes!

Check out its tongue!

Here are some of the other highlights...

A white Bengal tiger

Albino Soft-shelled Turtle

Golden Thai Python

Funny sign in the bathroom (but not meant to be funny...)

Jack having a conversation with a goat

We had to go all the way to Bangkok to see camels...

...and cows!

Side note: Two-humped camels (bactrian) are not found in Saudi Arabia; only one-humped camels (dromedary) are.  My mom taught me that when she came to visit us.

 

Loving elephants

 

Thailand Part 2

One day we took a tour of the canals of Bangkok on a long-tail boat.  Apparently Bangkok used to have an extensive system of canals similar to Venice, and some of the canals are still there. 

Along the canal are houses raised up on stilts.  We saw eight huge monitor lizards basking in the sun!  Our guide told us that Thai people are terrified of monitors, even though they keep the houses free of rats.  Jack insisted they were crocodiles, and would not be convinced otherwise, even when Rob explained that crocodilians and varinids are in completely different orders. 

In one of the canals, we pulled over to buy a couple loaves of bread from some monks so we could feed the fish.  Our boat was swarmed with gigantic carp, which are huge because there are rules about eating fish that live near temples.

 

Jack had to taste the bread, of course

Just then, a lady floated up in a kayak selling beer!  What a perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Thailand Part 1

Last week we traveled to Thailand for spring break.  Rob and I attended an international teaching conference in Bangkok, but we had plenty of time to explore and have fun.  Grandma Nancy came with us after a week in Saudi, and Alek and Ryan came to meet us all the way from Minneapolis! 

The first thing we did after arriving in Bangkok was to go out and get some street food.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoying some deep fried taro and potatoes.

My favorite thing was a hard-boiled quail egg in a wanton.

After Jack had a nap, we took a water taxi up the river to see a Buddhist temple called Wat Pho, or Temple of the Reclining Buddha.  It was amazingly intricate and Jack loved the animal statues.  The centerpoint of this temple is the Reclining Buddha, which is a giant (46 meters long and 15 meters tall) gold plated statue depicting the Buddha as he entered nirvana.

Nancy in front of the Reclining Buddha

Buddha's toes inlaid with Mother of Pearl

 The next day we took a boat to Wat Arun, or the Temple of Dawn, which is across the river from Wat Pho.  This temple is very tall (85 meters) and has very steep steps going up it. 

Wat Arun as viewed from the river

Rob climbing the temple

Looking down

to be continued...

Birthday Party

On Friday we hosted a joint birthday party for Jack and his friend Elodie, who also just turned 2.  We had a carnival theme, and invited all 10 of the 3-and-unders on the compound.  Then we invited some of the older kids to help with facepainting and watching kids on the bouncy castle.  Then other kids asked if they could "help".  Soon we had every kid on the compound over!  Here are some of the highlights....

Grandpa and Grandma Schlesinger Arrived!

On Wednesday night, Grandpa and Grandma Schlesinger arrived safely at the Dammam airport.  Besides being long, their flights were good, and they even liked the airplane food.  They've been entertaining us with stories of all the people they met on their trip, especially the friendly Saudi customs officers.  Seriously.

We introduced them to Saudi fast food -- Shwarmas!  They are sort of like Gyros, but with chicken, pickles, french fries, and who knows what else in them.

We had beautiful weather on Thursday so we all spent the afternoon by the pool.  Grandpa taught Jack how to kick and splash, and Grandma napped in a lawn chair.  She was probably dreaming of blizzards and snowplows...

Jack's Haircut

Grandpa Dave called to say that he was reading this blog and thought Jack needed a haircut!  He was right - and the day before he called we took Jack in for his second haircut in two years :)  We went to the shopping center that is a couple of blocks from our house, where there is a children's barber inside an amusement park.

Before: Playing on the rides while waiting for his turn with the barber

During: Jack say very nicely for his haircut

He was clearly the first blond to get his hair cut that day!

After: "Jack like haircut"

The next day we were surprised with another King-declared holiday!  This time the holiday was not announced until 2am on Saturday, so we got a phone call at 6am telling us school was cancelled!  We celebrated by having pancakes with Grandpa Dave's maple syrup.

No one quite knows why there was a holiday--just the King being nice--but no one was complaining!  It was kind of like having a snow day, but not having to make it up, and instead of being snowed in, having beautiful weather so you can spend the day at the pool....


Now we are just waiting for Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Steve to arrive, and planning our trip to Bangkok where we will all meet up with Alek and Ryan. 

Happy Birthday Jack!

Our little Jack is two today!  He sang "Happy Birthday to Jack" to himself several times today, and he brought cookies and animal headbands to all his friends at nursery, which he was very excited about.  When I told him he had presents to open he said "Ooooh, Santa came?"

Opening a present before going to school

Jack's new big boy backpack

We are waiting to have a party until Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Steve come next week, but we had a little chocolate cake after dinner tonight...apparently Jack liked it!

(Thanks to the Dolls for the Twins cups which were put to immediate use!)