The acid reflux situation has been solved. Christie had a small revolation that maybe our anti malaria medicine was causing the problem. We brougt out our iPad and did a little google. Shockingly the symptoms that Amy was having were nicely written out as possible reactions to doxycycline. Problem solved!
Anyway, today was our last full day in Thailand. We got up at our usual 8 am. Christie has found that it is possible to go to bed at 10 and get up before 8am. Anywho, we went to breakfast and had another language barrier issue with the hotel. Our flight to Bangkok that night was not until 7. We were told that we could check out at 4pm by our travel agent and our hotel said we had to be out by 1130. Amy, as the yes person, rolled over and agreed. Christie, who does NOT roll over, figured out how to call our travel agent in Bangkok and demanded a late check out. Moments later our room phone rang from the front desk saying we did in fact have a late check out. Go Christie!!!!!
We laid on the beach for the rest of the day watching a soccer tournament. Now our dreaded departure was upon us. Yes dreaded because we were leaving our tropical paradise, but also we wer concerned if we would have to walk through knee high water to the boat. Fortunately, this time we were princessely escorted to the airport.
We got to Bangkok around 8 and stayed at a lovely amercanized Novotel. We haven't mentions this but every hotel we have stayed at has garnished our bed with a honeymoon flower design and this hotel was no different. We ordered a very tasty room service and fell asleep by ten.
5am wake up call for our two day flight back to home tomorrow....
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Relaxation
Today was a very laid back day in Railay. Amy has now had some fairly painful acid reflux for the past week. So breakfast for Amy has been milk and dry toast. Christie has really experimented going with a lite French diet of toast and fries :). Anyway after breakfast we wondered the beaches of railay to find a nice restaurant where we made dinner reservations for that night. The rest of the morning we laid on the beach and relaxed.
In the afternoon we both got two hour spa treatments. Christie got a foot scrub and a painful Thai massage. We have learned that a so called thai massage is more like a yoga work out then a massage. Amy got a Thai massage and a facial. It started to pour in the afternoon so we watched a movie called Buddy. Buddy was a movie based on a real story about a lady in the 30's who raised a gorilla in her home.
After the movie we headed to dinner... The actual hotel the resturant was in was really nice, with modern Asian architecture. The food was yummy and had a nice presentation... Amy did fail to finish her bebida so Christie had to take one for the team.
Today actually felt like a relaxing vacation. Tomorrow is our last full day in Thailand and off to Bangkok in the evening....
In the afternoon we both got two hour spa treatments. Christie got a foot scrub and a painful Thai massage. We have learned that a so called thai massage is more like a yoga work out then a massage. Amy got a Thai massage and a facial. It started to pour in the afternoon so we watched a movie called Buddy. Buddy was a movie based on a real story about a lady in the 30's who raised a gorilla in her home.
After the movie we headed to dinner... The actual hotel the resturant was in was really nice, with modern Asian architecture. The food was yummy and had a nice presentation... Amy did fail to finish her bebida so Christie had to take one for the team.
Today actually felt like a relaxing vacation. Tomorrow is our last full day in Thailand and off to Bangkok in the evening....
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
We woke up to some sun and blue sky this lovely Wednesday morning. We have not noted this but it has been actually mostly cloudy since we have been Thailand. They were not joking about the so-called rainy season. Fortunately when it has rained it really has not effected our trip.
Today we were supposed to go on a kayaking/snorkeling trip, but received a phone call from the company saying the waters were to rough. This was another situation wheN knowing Thai would have been helpful. The lady on the phone said we could do something else involving elephants and a waterfall. To get there we would need to take a boat somewhere and they would pick us up. Also, we would have to leave now. We were slightly apprehensive since we were not sure what boat to take and where we were going, but off we went.
Somehow our hotel got us to the correct port and after waiting we met our personal guide for the day. In my opinion that was a miracle, but it definitely taught us to just trust that things will work out.
Anyway, our guide, Hen, told us that we were going kayak, no waterfall, and then elephant trekking in the afternoon. We drove about 45 minutes and hopped into our two person kayak with our guide in another kayak. At first we were paddling through the rough open sea asking ourselves why we made this decisions. After about 15 minutes our guide took us through a deep mangrove Forrest for the rest of the trip. It was gorgeous. We saw monkeys and wildlife that we have never seen before. At one point a fish jumped into our kayak. Christie got so startled that she threw her hands in the air and off flew her ring (not her wedding or engagement ring. Amy thought it was gone, but our guide had different plans. Aftere helping us get the fish out of the kayak he went into the shallow swampy water stuck his hand down once and came up with the ring!!!!!!!!! Hen also told us that it was good luck that a fish had jumped in our kayak......
We had our best meal yet at a small cafe next to the sea and then headed to the elephant trekking. As you may remember our last elephant trip was not our favorite experience, but Christie really wanted to see them again. Welllll this experience made the last one look like elephant paradise. First of all it was raining, second we were sitting on top of an elephant, third the mahoot kept hitting the elephant on the head. The experience was terrifying and it could not be over any sooner. We somehow we talking into buying a three dollar dvd of pictures of our adventure.
Hen took us back to the port and we returned to our hotel and relaxed for the rest of the evening. Just a side note, I am writing this on a remote beach in Thailand. It is truly amazing where technologies goes.
Tomorrow is our last full day at this beach until we head back to Bangkok. I think some spa treatment is in store for us....
Today we were supposed to go on a kayaking/snorkeling trip, but received a phone call from the company saying the waters were to rough. This was another situation wheN knowing Thai would have been helpful. The lady on the phone said we could do something else involving elephants and a waterfall. To get there we would need to take a boat somewhere and they would pick us up. Also, we would have to leave now. We were slightly apprehensive since we were not sure what boat to take and where we were going, but off we went.
Somehow our hotel got us to the correct port and after waiting we met our personal guide for the day. In my opinion that was a miracle, but it definitely taught us to just trust that things will work out.
Anyway, our guide, Hen, told us that we were going kayak, no waterfall, and then elephant trekking in the afternoon. We drove about 45 minutes and hopped into our two person kayak with our guide in another kayak. At first we were paddling through the rough open sea asking ourselves why we made this decisions. After about 15 minutes our guide took us through a deep mangrove Forrest for the rest of the trip. It was gorgeous. We saw monkeys and wildlife that we have never seen before. At one point a fish jumped into our kayak. Christie got so startled that she threw her hands in the air and off flew her ring (not her wedding or engagement ring. Amy thought it was gone, but our guide had different plans. Aftere helping us get the fish out of the kayak he went into the shallow swampy water stuck his hand down once and came up with the ring!!!!!!!!! Hen also told us that it was good luck that a fish had jumped in our kayak......
We had our best meal yet at a small cafe next to the sea and then headed to the elephant trekking. As you may remember our last elephant trip was not our favorite experience, but Christie really wanted to see them again. Welllll this experience made the last one look like elephant paradise. First of all it was raining, second we were sitting on top of an elephant, third the mahoot kept hitting the elephant on the head. The experience was terrifying and it could not be over any sooner. We somehow we talking into buying a three dollar dvd of pictures of our adventure.
Hen took us back to the port and we returned to our hotel and relaxed for the rest of the evening. Just a side note, I am writing this on a remote beach in Thailand. It is truly amazing where technologies goes.
Tomorrow is our last full day at this beach until we head back to Bangkok. I think some spa treatment is in store for us....
Okay get out now
Today was our last day at the tropical resort on phi phi island. We were still not completely sure how we were going to get off the island, all we knew is that we were departing at 130. We haven't really found anyone that knows great English, so maybe next time we need to learn a little more Thai. Anyway we decided to get a massage. We were picked up from our bungalow and taken to their spa on the side of the cliff. We were served tea listening to the waves hitting the beach. Christie got a cucumber wrap and Amy got a full body oil massage done side by side. After our hour massage we headed back to our bungalow to pack.
We met at the pier to depart and Amy was a little nervous about getting sea sick again. We wer both a little apprehensive on how we were getting to our next destination, Railay Bay. We took a long tail boat to the main phi phi island port. Once we arrived there we got to wonder around for an hour. We met some monkeys and took in some sights. Then we boarded a very large ferry to the Railay port. This was a very very rocky trip, but fortunately Amy did not get sick. When we get to the port our princess trip came to an abrupt pause. We then went onto a long tail boat where the driver about one hundred yards from the shore said "okay get out now". At first we thought it was a joke. We are aware of the saying only pack what you can carry, we just never thought we would have to carry anything through the ocean. When there is challenge we just have to find the support. Fortunately, some very nice canadians offered to carry our luggage for us. We got to shore with wet bodies but dry luggage.
We were then taken to our private bungalow with a beach front view. Railay bay is gorgeous. Pictures will come soon.
Tomorrow we have a sea adventure..... It is very sad that our days are winding down, but we are definitely starting to appreciate our lives in America.
We met at the pier to depart and Amy was a little nervous about getting sea sick again. We wer both a little apprehensive on how we were getting to our next destination, Railay Bay. We took a long tail boat to the main phi phi island port. Once we arrived there we got to wonder around for an hour. We met some monkeys and took in some sights. Then we boarded a very large ferry to the Railay port. This was a very very rocky trip, but fortunately Amy did not get sick. When we get to the port our princess trip came to an abrupt pause. We then went onto a long tail boat where the driver about one hundred yards from the shore said "okay get out now". At first we thought it was a joke. We are aware of the saying only pack what you can carry, we just never thought we would have to carry anything through the ocean. When there is challenge we just have to find the support. Fortunately, some very nice canadians offered to carry our luggage for us. We got to shore with wet bodies but dry luggage.
We were then taken to our private bungalow with a beach front view. Railay bay is gorgeous. Pictures will come soon.
Tomorrow we have a sea adventure..... It is very sad that our days are winding down, but we are definitely starting to appreciate our lives in America.
Monday, October 11, 2010
The Beach
One thing Christie really wanted to do while we were here was see the actual beach from the movie The Beach. It's about a 45 minute boat ride from our resort... Amy was not looking forward to that part. And she was a trooper and we signed up. We left bright and early, Christie fully clothed, covered head to toe.
We got some motion sickness pills... Which Amy took while christie hung out in the shade. We got fitted for snorkeling gear and off we went for the day.
It was well worth the trip... Amy did not get sick, Christie is no more burned, and we got to see some of the most beautiful water, fishes and beaches you could imagine. We had quite the adventure getting to The Beach - really called Maya Bay - the water was too choppy to go around the end of the isle d, so instead we climbed through the jungle to it... We had to jump off the boat and then pull ourselves in the water along a rope and then climb a ladder out of the water. Once we got to shore we walked through a jungle on some of the softest sand these feet have ever touched. We reached the other side and were in beach heaven. The water was a green we have never seen in this gorgeous cove with 30 foot high cliffs on three sides... we were actually on the beach the movie was filmed. It was unreal and almost too much to take in. Christie managed to get a camera over in a ziplock... And back! So hopefully there are some good pictures.
We spent the next five hours or so boating around, docking, and then jumping off into some of the most blue/green waters this planet has to offer. We snorkeled around so we could see everything around us. This day we will never ever forget. What an unbelievable experience.
Onto our next and sadly our last destination tomorrow, railay bay...... But first a massage and sun burn treatment.
We got some motion sickness pills... Which Amy took while christie hung out in the shade. We got fitted for snorkeling gear and off we went for the day.
It was well worth the trip... Amy did not get sick, Christie is no more burned, and we got to see some of the most beautiful water, fishes and beaches you could imagine. We had quite the adventure getting to The Beach - really called Maya Bay - the water was too choppy to go around the end of the isle d, so instead we climbed through the jungle to it... We had to jump off the boat and then pull ourselves in the water along a rope and then climb a ladder out of the water. Once we got to shore we walked through a jungle on some of the softest sand these feet have ever touched. We reached the other side and were in beach heaven. The water was a green we have never seen in this gorgeous cove with 30 foot high cliffs on three sides... we were actually on the beach the movie was filmed. It was unreal and almost too much to take in. Christie managed to get a camera over in a ziplock... And back! So hopefully there are some good pictures.
We spent the next five hours or so boating around, docking, and then jumping off into some of the most blue/green waters this planet has to offer. We snorkeled around so we could see everything around us. This day we will never ever forget. What an unbelievable experience.
Onto our next and sadly our last destination tomorrow, railay bay...... But first a massage and sun burn treatment.
Smothered with sun kisses
We awoke to cloudy skies... And quickly realized that was a blessing, as it meant we would not melt in the heat, but rather enjoy it! Breakfast was fine... No raw chicken, and we were defiantly spoiled in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, in terms of food. We wandered over to the pool and found a spot where we could see and hear the ocean and be next to the pool. We spent the morning swimming and laying by the pool, at one point some people came and sat next to us and they were completely burned to a crisp... We commented on how it must have been sunny the days before! Well... It hasn't been sunny in a week, and what we realized is that we stupidly made the same mistake they did... Thinking the clouds would protect us. Christie suffered a worse fate then Amy. It's not good.
During the reckless sun exposure we sat a the pool bar and had a bloody Mary, swam in the ocean, played in the pool, watched the people walk by... And quite a lovely time!
Large container of aloe and "headache medicine" on board... And laying in e air conditioning, lucky we were not too upset about missing dinner. Amy did venture out to see some of a buddhist wedding.
During the reckless sun exposure we sat a the pool bar and had a bloody Mary, swam in the ocean, played in the pool, watched the people walk by... And quite a lovely time!
Large container of aloe and "headache medicine" on board... And laying in e air conditioning, lucky we were not too upset about missing dinner. Amy did venture out to see some of a buddhist wedding.
Sea sick chicken
Today was a travel day to remember and unfortunately not in a good way. It was our last morning in Chiang Mai so we wanted to wonder around and try to find Christie an elephant before leaving. We were not successful on the elephant hunt and headed to the airport to Phi Phi Island in the south.
We arrived in the major city, Phuket, outside of Phi Phi. The resort picked us up and took us to their ferry for an hour and half trip to the island. Before getting on the ferry Amy had memories of the last time she was on a ferry for a long period of time. Oh some good old whale watching off the coast of LA when she was younger. Sadly times had not changed and as she was sea sick then oh boy did she get sea sick again. There may have even been prayers for a tsunami to take her away from her misery. We finally did arrive at the island where the tide was at least a quarter of a mile back from the beaches. They picked us up in this funny looking water truck mobile and took us to the beach.
We were greeted with a fruity beverage and then taken to our own bungalow. They had meticulously spelled out Happy Honeymoon with grass and two intertwining hearts made out of rose pedals on our bed. The resort we are at is on Phi Phi Island, which is a small gorgeous island on the Ademan Sea. It is very heavenly here and we had both felt the "honeymoon" part of our trip had begun.
I did start this blog speaking about unfortunate events, so I will end with one. We had made reservations at the supposed nicest restaurant at our resort. We ate outside on the side of the cliff on this lovely island. All the food was Thai, so we ordered a chicken lettuce wrap to start the meal. The dish came with three lettuce wraps and we each ate one. We split the third one only to immediately realize that the chicken was completely, 100%, absolutely RAW. Did I mention we were eating in the dark? A, number one, we are praying that we don't get salmonella poisoning, B number 2, that kind of ruined our eating experience going forward here, C number three, Christie can barely be in the house when chicken is cooked, so you can only imagine how traumatizing this experience was cutting through raw chicken.
Onto the next adventure on this beautiful tropical island......
We arrived in the major city, Phuket, outside of Phi Phi. The resort picked us up and took us to their ferry for an hour and half trip to the island. Before getting on the ferry Amy had memories of the last time she was on a ferry for a long period of time. Oh some good old whale watching off the coast of LA when she was younger. Sadly times had not changed and as she was sea sick then oh boy did she get sea sick again. There may have even been prayers for a tsunami to take her away from her misery. We finally did arrive at the island where the tide was at least a quarter of a mile back from the beaches. They picked us up in this funny looking water truck mobile and took us to the beach.
We were greeted with a fruity beverage and then taken to our own bungalow. They had meticulously spelled out Happy Honeymoon with grass and two intertwining hearts made out of rose pedals on our bed. The resort we are at is on Phi Phi Island, which is a small gorgeous island on the Ademan Sea. It is very heavenly here and we had both felt the "honeymoon" part of our trip had begun.
I did start this blog speaking about unfortunate events, so I will end with one. We had made reservations at the supposed nicest restaurant at our resort. We ate outside on the side of the cliff on this lovely island. All the food was Thai, so we ordered a chicken lettuce wrap to start the meal. The dish came with three lettuce wraps and we each ate one. We split the third one only to immediately realize that the chicken was completely, 100%, absolutely RAW. Did I mention we were eating in the dark? A, number one, we are praying that we don't get salmonella poisoning, B number 2, that kind of ruined our eating experience going forward here, C number three, Christie can barely be in the house when chicken is cooked, so you can only imagine how traumatizing this experience was cutting through raw chicken.
Onto the next adventure on this beautiful tropical island......
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