Easter

We celebrated Easter this weekend (Thurs/Fri) since we were working on Sunday.  We started by dyeing hard-boiled eggs. 

This morning we had a compound egg hunt and brunch.

Hunting for eggs by the pool

 

Then the Easter bunny came to our house and hid a basket while Jack was napping.  

After minutes of looking, we found it!

The special basket Grandma Karin made

The Easter bunny brought some jungle animals for Jack.  The rest of the day was spent as any good Easter should be spent -- playing with our new toys in the pool!

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...