Who forgot the stroller for the big trip to the city?! Yup, me. The plan would have been to put the baby in the stroller because she now weighs in at 15 lbs, but after 1 day in the heat and trying to walk around I so would have put the screaming 2-year-old in it! The second we'd walk out of the hotel Maggie would scream her head off and whine to the point of incomprehension. It was not so fun, so with 4 days in the city of Bangkok I managed to see not one tourist site. I did however get lost several times and endure Maggie's whines with stares from plenty of people which lead me to continue my long list of things I'm not cut out for; newest addition: tourist alone with 3 kids.
We did get to visit the Bangkok Zoo, the aquarium, a play place for kids and ride on a river taxi...Most done with out Mike, but we did the taxi with him.
I did get home feeling happy to be home, which is something I was hoping going to "The States" would do for me...who knew a stressful trip to Bangkok would do it. Again, not the travel the tourist time.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Traveling with kids
Let me start off by saying I love my country, I do.
Earlier this month I had hit my "flight" mode of culture shock. I really just wanted to get back to "The States", to shop in a normal store where prices are laid out and I don't feel like I'm getting ripped off, well, I know I am getting ripped off, but so is everyone else. To be able to drive a on a road where I know the rules of the road, heck to DRIVE. Until last night I didn't have a mode of transportation except my feet, a wagon and a bike. Anyway, there were lots of things pushing me to go back to the states, but 1 keeping me away. The travel! Just thinking about going through an airport with 3 children alone makes my eye twitch. Monday we took a trip to Bangkok for Mike's job. Getting through the airports with the kids was a breeze, and coming home from a very large airport was so simple. We were taken to our own special line to check in because we had 3 kids, then a special customs and immigration line was opened for us. Getting through security was a walk in the park. I didn't have to take the baby off much less my shoes. No one barked orders at me and made me feel like a 5-year-old child again. This is why I wouldn't go home. I HATE going through airports in the US. Yeah, yeah families get their own special line there too, but come on that's such a joke! We're moved from one line where things are actually moving to another line because we have kids where nothing is moving. There might be many reasons why the TSA security people are so RUDE, but really, I think it could be toned down a notch. Going through an airport in the US makes my hair fall out; here it makes me feel like traveling with 3 kids could actually be possible...
Until you forget the stroller.
Earlier this month I had hit my "flight" mode of culture shock. I really just wanted to get back to "The States", to shop in a normal store where prices are laid out and I don't feel like I'm getting ripped off, well, I know I am getting ripped off, but so is everyone else. To be able to drive a on a road where I know the rules of the road, heck to DRIVE. Until last night I didn't have a mode of transportation except my feet, a wagon and a bike. Anyway, there were lots of things pushing me to go back to the states, but 1 keeping me away. The travel! Just thinking about going through an airport with 3 children alone makes my eye twitch. Monday we took a trip to Bangkok for Mike's job. Getting through the airports with the kids was a breeze, and coming home from a very large airport was so simple. We were taken to our own special line to check in because we had 3 kids, then a special customs and immigration line was opened for us. Getting through security was a walk in the park. I didn't have to take the baby off much less my shoes. No one barked orders at me and made me feel like a 5-year-old child again. This is why I wouldn't go home. I HATE going through airports in the US. Yeah, yeah families get their own special line there too, but come on that's such a joke! We're moved from one line where things are actually moving to another line because we have kids where nothing is moving. There might be many reasons why the TSA security people are so RUDE, but really, I think it could be toned down a notch. Going through an airport in the US makes my hair fall out; here it makes me feel like traveling with 3 kids could actually be possible...
Until you forget the stroller.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Things I took for granted
This is a list I started when I got to Laos of things I so took for granted in America
Motor vehicles: should be 'nuff said. Try living w/o one after years of depending on one. Especially after noting the next few things taken for granted.
Sidewalks: Try walking a stroller down a sidewalk here, you'll find cars parked on them, food stands set up and every so often a motorcycle driving on them. They are obviously not meant for walking on.
Paved roads: Again, try walking a stroller down our road, you may lose a wheel...just sayin.
Grocery stores: When you just need some spices, think again this particular market is only selling squirt guns and bug zappers today, but try again tomorrow and you might find that hose you've been looking for.
Pediatricians: Spider bite? Mosquito bite? Pink eye? could be anything, but no pediatrician to tell and good luck with the health unit that is always CLOSED. Oh and no motor vehicle...
A bug free home: Not having to sleep under nets or wear bugspray while in our house...
Asking for directions: language barrier much?
Online Bill pay: Cable is Thai, not Lao and paid for in Baht to someone in GSO? And Internet forget about it...
DEBIT CARDS:! really, I have to carry this HUGE wad of cash around in case the market is selling what I want today? No you don't take debit, or credit
There is probably a whole lot more that I will soon find out I took for granted, but for now these are the things I have most noticed and complain about, probably on a daily basis.
Enjoy this picture of how we've tried to overcome not having that beloved motor vehicle
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)