Lantern Festival

It sounds like a war zone outside our apartment. Don't worry, it's only fireworks! For the past 3 hours, fireworks have been going off continually outside our home, and all over the city, and all over the country. It's the last official day of the Lunar New Year celebrations. The 15th day of the lunar month is the Lantern Festival. Actually, fireworks have been going off all over the country since the beginning of the holiday, but tonight it's ending with a bang...literally. Boy do these folks love fireworks. The other day I was going to the store and someone was setting them off by the bus stop. This time of the year is the only time they are allowed in the city limits. And, they are allowed basically ANYWHERE right now. Can you say duck and cover?

back home

My good intentions of blogging from Thailand didn't come to fruition, but now, blog I must! We arrived home late this afternoon, have the child asleep, and are enjoying catching up on what we've missed while gone. Even though it's rainy outside and cold in our house, we're sitting beside our space heater and thinking it's good to be home. 19 days is a long time to be away.

Unfortunately, most of our time in Thailand was spent indoors and in meetings, but of course we had to find some time for fun. We enjoyed catching up with friends, walking on the beach, and eating real western and Thai food. (Dad, we ate mango sticky rice in your honor twice at the Food Loft.)
When we first arrived, Grace was in total awe of all the other kiddos around. And they weren't afraid to play with her! She made several new friends and is still talking about them.
I love this picture because it is a microcosm of Thailand. You can see people from all over the world in Bangkok! These 4 kiddos spoke 3 different languages but played and laughed for a good 20 minutes together. I'm talking good-hearted belly-laughing that had over 20 adults in the room laughing, too. Turns out that preschoolers don't even need to talk to each other to have a blast.

a walk on the beach at sunset...
The hotel where we stayed has quite a mold problem, but hey, the pool facilities are great!!
We attended a little carnival and Grace was fascinated after getting her hands painted for the first time.
One of several Hard Rock Cafes to be found in Thailand. We enjoyed getting to go and remembered how great cherry coke is!
One evening, we had a kind friend who volunteered to babysit, and after we put Grace to bed we ventured out with some friends to a wonderful, fancy restaurant. I'm talking sherbert-in-between-courses-to-cleanse-your-palate-fancy. It was a treat to sit and enjoy talking without worrying about entertaining a little one.

I could go on, but you probably don't want to hear all the details about our immunizations for exotic diseases or other tidbits such as half-naked Russians running around the hotel. Perhaps those stories are for another day. For now, my brain is tired but thankful for a night in my own bed.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY tomorrow to Mom Godin (aka Nana)! We love you and look forward to seeing you next month!