Dream Vacation to Thailand

This last spring, as Jen and I discussed where we were going to go on vacation this year, we talked about several different options.  Thailand kept coming up, but there were also places in Europe that both of wanted to go like Austria, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal....the list is endless.  We had a team here in early spring and they have kids that work in Hong Kong and they had told us about this place in Thailand called "The Juniper Tree".  After looking into "The Juniper Tree", we were convinced that we should go to Thailand.  So, we started looking for deals.  Jen found a deal on Travel Zoo to stay at a 5-star resort for three nights that was incredible.  We bought the deal.  We didn't have airline tickets, but we had a place to stay for three nights in Thailand.  I, then, emailed "The Juniper Tree" to see what their prices were and availability.  After much research, we determined that we would not stay there because they did not want guests that looking for a bed and breakfast and, also, we could find cheaper lodging elsewhere.  We bought our airline tickets and researched, researched, researched!!  We kept telling ourselves that this was a dream vacation.  We basically had four goals going into to this trip: to ride an elephant, to zip line, to snorkel, and to get as many massages as we could (because they are so cheap).  And every time we came up with a new idea, we were just like, "This is a vacation of a lifetime....we have to do it!"  We did all four of those things and much more!  We of course did some resting and relaxing!!

The basic timeline of our trip was as follows: Bangkok for three days, an overnight train ride, five days in Chiang Mai, and six days in Khao Lak. We really enjoyed each location and the different things we did in each place.  

At the Grand Palace in Bangkok....mere hours after I fainted on the river taxi!

Yes, there is even Starbuck's in Thailand and we were even able to use our gift cards that we had from the US!  Yeah!

These pink taxis were all over Bangkok!  So cute!

We visited a private AIDS orphanage.  These little girls just came running up to us with open arms.  This orphanage is run by Americans and so here I was singing the ABCs with them.

We stayed with Sara in Bangkok for three nights.  Jen knew her from college and we became fast friends.  What a blessing it was to stay with her and her little family!

Overnight train ride to Chiang Mai!  Let's just say this was an interesting experience!

The Old City of Chiang Mai

Making Massaman curry paste at our cooking course.  Thai food anyone?

We got to enjoy what we made!!  Yummy!

Yes, I really did this!!  It tickled when you first put your feet in the water, but you got used to it.

Zip Lining through the jungles of Northern Thailand

Enjoying one of the many massages on the beach front

Khao Lak white sand beach....so beautiful!!

One of the highlights of this trip was riding this elephant!!  What a gentle giant!!

Feeding Mr. Elephant some bananas!  He was hungry after our journey!

Bamboo ride down the river...really cool and fun!

This is Maya Beach where the movie "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed.

We snorkeled with the fish.  I had a little piece of banana and they would just come right up to my hand and grab the banana.

All dressed up in our snorkeling gear

Relaxing at the Le Meridian

The Le Meridian waterslide

We had so much fun taking pictures in the hotel pool!  We laughed and laughed at how funny they turned out.  This is probably one of the better pictures except that I have a funny smile on my face!

The last morning we took a bike ride to a rubber plantation and to a waterfall.  This was probably the prettiest waterfall that we saw the whole trip!

So long Thailand!  It was fun, relaxing, beautiful....