Here We Go…2016!

We wish you all a gloriously healthy and happy New Year!

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We returned to Whidbey Island from our Thistle travels last year at the end of May.  Since then it has seemed like we'd never get back on the Thistle Adventure Road.  First one thing and then another.  In mid July we opened our doors to an Airbnb business and have been slammed with visitors...meeting  one delightful guest after another.  We enjoyed an amazing trip to China and Thailand.  We celebrated the holidays with eating and decorating and family and friends.  Plus, we are trying to put garden and home  in order so we can leave again.  You know, it's called living life...

We finally saw the possibility of driving away in early January, but then Ed was called for jury duty.   With a whole lot of luck we might still make a mid January departure, but late January is looking more and more realistic.

In the meantime, life is good and the holidays were wonderful.

It's fun to be surprised!   And with the arrival of Brad and Yessi in their Chinese-Wedding-Red-Silk-Pajamas for Christmas morning,  we were delightedly surprised.

Rather than heaps of gifts under the tree, these past several years we've limited ourselves to stocking stuffers only.  Well kinda.  Cheating is a big part of the game so we switched from stockings to large shopping bags.    We squeal with delight, still, at the excesses of jams and vinegars and chocolates and pens and doodads.  And who can be blasé about WD40 or the ugliest joke gift imaginable?    

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?

Showing off the new socks. 

Benton loves celebrations with all the excesses of
snuggling and doggie treats!

How do we rate the holidays?  Well, by the food…of course!

Greg wears the crepe chef hat this year.

The house empties out after breakfast as Greg and Deb depart for snow at the Pass and Brad and Yessi depart for his Dad's in North Bend.   With so much snow, guess who couldn't stay away from the Pass, with North Bend just being down the road a bit? 

Brad just had to get a little white
stuff fun.

~~~

"Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile."

~ Shannon L. Alder

Ko Samet Island, Thailand

Thailand - #2 or  China - #9


Ah, the beach.  After a long, slow bus ride from Bangkok, we board the ferry to Ko Samet Island.  When we arrive, we are ready to do -- nothing!

Ferry to Ko Samet Island

Ko Samet Island taxi service…

Seat belts?  

Pile in...

If not getting about in a taxi, then a scooter will work…

Ed and I explored for a couple of hours one afternoon.
Brad and Yessi used this beast for hours and hours for
 both day and night exploration. 

This is what greeted us…

This is where we stayed...

And this is how we played…

Skin diving boat.  Would you believe they filled this boat
with 30+ folks, making five stops for diving, one for lunch.
It was crowded!  

One of our diving locations

What felt absolutely devine, was just doing nothing...

There isn't a lot one can say about unwinding on a beach, except to say, we found the Thailand people the most friendly and welcoming people anywhere.  The water was so warm we could swim for hours and so salty we floated high.

Beauty prevailed...

                            

                                                                             ~~~

               "The serenity of the lulling ocean is a wondrous thing to behold..more precious

                               than the gems coveted and covered in platinum or gold…"

                                                                    ~ Oksana Rus

Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand - #1 or China - #8

Ok, how in the world did we get to Bangkok?  This was our China trip, right?  It became evident that travel in China was going to be lots of work for Yessi and much, much less relaxing for us all.  After so many wedding and family responsibilities, we all needed time on a beach.   How about Thailand?

In short order we jumped on a plane in Xiamen, headed for Thailand.  Our first and last stops in Thailand were Bangkok.  My best word for this city is -- wow!  There are cities that strut their stuff.  They know who they are, where they are, and why they're there.  I put New York, Tokyo and Rome into those categories.  And now Bangkok.  What a city!

From the very modern…

To colorful and ornate temples...

To streets overflowing with people and tempting offerings…

                       

To the river…

The Chao Phraya River dominates the city, and is referred to as the principal artery of the nation.   Tourist river boats, large and small; working tugs pulling barges; military boats; the fishing fleet; and to top it off the dinner and dancing boats, lit up like casinos, cruising by in the evening with music wafting across the water.

And, last, but  definitely not least, wonderful food…

Always, beginning and ending with these little rascals…

Hot describes Bangkok's food and the weather.  Going outside or eating put us in heavy sweats.    Sandals and cool dresses were sought out in the markets - immediately.   Bus tickets were purchased for the beach.

~~~

"Where the familiar and the exotic collide like the flavors on a plate of pad thai."

~ Lonely Planet