thailand travels

T H A I L A N D T R AV E L SD E A N I C H I K A W A

Chanya & Danica

Chanya’s mom, uncle, aunts, and cousin picked us up from the airport and helped us move in.

The toilet at our apartment had this interesting attachment. I never tried it.

High-speed DSL saved my (work) life!

The family’s laundry business had an office in our complex run by Chanya’s uncle. Danica looked forward to these daily visits.

Motorbikes of all kinds serve many different purposes. Love this dog holding things down too.

A more nimble food truck than we have in the US.

One of many tuk-tuk rides for short trips around town.

When we could, we took a taxi. Taxis take a little longer than the more nimble tuk-tuks, but they’re air conditioned and a little more trustworthy.

We used the Skytrain and sometimes subway as often as we could. Cheap, convenient, and ice-cold air conditioning, but sometimes they don’t go where you need to.

Not sure if this guy has something to do with the protests or just a random piece, but makes a bold statement either way.

Getting around on foot in Bangkok is a serious task that left us weary almost every day.

A billboard of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra sits atop a small police office.

Here’s something you never see—a motorcycle actually WAITING for an opening in traffic!

Forget about child safety seats in Thailand! This was a very common sight—kids wedged between their parent’s legs on a motor scooter.

A neat freak’s nightmare! In many spots too, you could easily reach out and touch the wires.

An old, lost attempt at adding life to the concrete jungle of Bangkok.

I wondered if there ever was a time that this sign looked new and cool.

Statue guarding the entrance to Lumphini Park, one of the main protest sites.

Rice soup at a street vendor for a Sunday morning breakfast.

View from hotel in Chiang Mai.

Ronald McDonald, Thai style.

Golden buddhas surrounding a courtyard at a Chiang Mai temple.

The elongated ear lobe of a buddha.

Small statues that surrounded a shrine at a Chiang Mai temple.

Reclining buddha in Chiang Mai.

Following the set ritual to pray to buddha.

Making the long descent down from a Chiang Mai temple to a waiting tour bus.

It would’ve been faster to carry her down, but she wasn’t having it.

A surprise smooch from a young girl dressed in traditional northern Thailand attire seeking tips for photos.

Happy to have a new friend or relieved that it’s over?

This girl was a little badass. It was infuriating to watch a tourist snap a picture of her, not give her a tip, and then run from her as she tried to chase him down.

A big step up towards the top of a Chiang Mai village in the hills.

Preparing to pose for a picture.

Found a fellow tourist to take our picture.

Art in Paradise in Chiang Mai had optical illusion art made specifically for posing with.

Vendor at an indoor market in Chiang Mai getting set up for the day.

Back to our home base, these topiaries adorned the middle of a busy Bangkok road.

The garden at the Jim Thompson house.

Our tour guide at the Jim Thompson house.

A typical day in Bangkok included a walk to Lotus—the rough equivalent to Target in the US.

The scenery for the walk to the nearest Skytrain station from our apartment—National Stadium.

A common sight in Bangkok—traffic! But watch for an upcoming photo after protestors shut this street down and thousands of pedestrians replaced the cars.

One of two trips to the doctor to address a cough that wouldn’t go away. At least they had a killer playground to enjoy!

Happiness.

Benjakiti Park.

Before the fall.

After the fall.

Waiting for a paddle boat ride at Benjakiti Park.

Giant replica of the Golden Gate Bridge at the Terminal 21 mall.

Exploring the playground at Benjasiri Park.

While Thai adults loved Danica, kids not so much, for some reason. Yet another little girl that wants Danica to get out of her way.

Accidentally happened upon a big candle-lighting and balloon-releasing celebration for New Year’s at Benjasiri Park.

Reaction to me releasing her balloon.

Watching it float away.

A visit to the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute Snake Farm.

Shrine outside of the CentralWorld mall in Bangkok.

These are for the buddha that enjoys red soda. No joke!

Praying and caring for a two-year old at the same time is no easy task.

Taxi cabs are all blessed by buddhist monks.

Truck taxis aren’t available everywhere, but are a cheap and convenient option when they are.

Our driver for two road trips and to the airport for our return flight. He was the husband of the cleaning lady at our apartment and a true professional.

We splurged for a suite at the Hilton in Pattaya and it came with an outdoor tub on a deck that offered a wide, sweeping view of the entire Pattaya coastline.

View from the deck.

Base station for paragliding rides in Pattaya.

Motorcycle taxis are a cheap and fast transportation option that I never partook in. It doesn’t look safe at all!

Pattaya water taxi.

Pattaya at night.

New Year’s Eve prayer at a large temple in Chinatown.

The odor from so much incense was overwhelming.

The King.

Preparing for New Year’s prayer ceremony.

Buses are probably the cheapest mode of transportation, but this is one of the nicer ones! Many have no air conditioning and are completely packed.

Storefront and apartment above where Chanya’s father once lived.

Before a fire destroyed it and this door was installed to prevent access, this was an apartment where Chanya once lived as a little girl.

A busy Bangkok alleyway.

Buying some snacks from a street vendor.

You have to admire the effort and passion that most street vendors put into their work.

A picture of dedication.

“Don’t take my picture!”

Catching up on the news at Starbuck’s.

Playing peek-a-boo with a Starbuck’s barista.

7-Eleven’s in Bangkok often have a street vendor outside peddling hot food.

Most buildings have a shrine outside for good luck. The size varies with the size of the building.

Late night tuk-tuk ride.

Street vendor outside our apartment stayed open until late at night.

The dim lights of the fountain outside our apartment was a welcome sight after long journeys through Bangkok.

The Seacon Square mall, a big mall that had kind of a “Disney” feel to it.

For about $3, you could get a photo shoot in your choice of themes at an indoor amusement park at Seacon Square.

Riding the Skytrain.

Fun indoor playground at CentralWorld Mall.

Flowers in a pond at our hotel in Hua Hin.

Baby monitor lizard cruising the grounds at our hotel in Hua Hin.

Failed attempt to get Danica to go for a horsey ride.

Danica declined, I accepted. She was the smart one.

Taking over Uncle’s van.

Street vendor is ready to sell as protests pick up steam.

Motorcycles back up while waiting to enter one of the protest sites. Motorcycles were the only vehicles allowed in certain areas of the protest sites. Eventually, motorcycles were blocked too.

The street outside of the National Stadium Skytrain station. The typical hundreds of cars have been replaced by thousands of pedestrians.

One of Bangkok’s uglier problems—sick and malnourished dogs are a common sight.

Trash piles beneath a major Bangkok highway.

Protestors camping out at National Stadium.

Eating lunch on a hot, sweaty Bangkok day.

Vendor’s point of view at Chatuchak Market.

The playground at Chatuchak Park had some unique structures.

An unnecessary but amusing photographer’s stance.

The traffic outside of Chatuchak Park and Market.

Protestors shopping inside Terminal 21 mall somehow don’t seem very intimidating.

Joining in on a cheesy pose.

Unfortunate-but-amusing name with a double meaning.

Sculpture in the street outside of the Bangkok National Museum.

At Bangkok National Museum.

The temple at Bangkok National Museum.

Timeline of Bangkok events hang from a long wall leading to the Bangkok National Museum.

Indoor fortune tellers’ mall.

Chinatown from tuk-tuk.

Results of Chanya’s week-long baking school.

Protestors step up the roadblock at National Stadium.

At the protests’ height, tents and vendors covered the streets surrounding the main stage. In the background you can see the large video displays and there were also huge banks of speakers scattered around.

It looks like a market, but it’s actually one of the protest sites.

Getting brave—climbed up on stage to dance to some Chinese New Year’s music.

The view from across a water taxi stand.

Chanya reconnected with her former boss and friends.

Cousin’s dog: JLo.

Danica and Uncle.

Inside Uncle’s shop.

Uncle’s cat: Keebow.

In an incredible coincidence, on our last Saturday there, we went to a Korean buffet, sitting in a corner with only one other table next to us. Another family came to sit at that table. That family turns out to be Chanya’s father’s father, sister, and nephew that she lost touch with over 20 years ago. Because it had been so long, Chanya was hesitant to approach them, but she did, which led to an intense, emotional reunion. This little girl is her cousin’s daughter, who instantly hit it off with Danica.

Chanya’s grandfather (father’s father) and family.

Chanya’s grandfather and cousin’s daughter.

When we left for Thailand, I didn’t think I would ever be so happy to leave, but here we are on move-out day, excited to go back.