Friday, February 1 marked the auspicious and much-awaited arrival of my beloved parents. For our first night together, my parents went all-out and sprung for a room at the Oriental. When Mom and Dad checked in, they found out their room had been upgraded (yay!). After 24+ hours of traveling to Thailand, they freshened up in their room overlooking the Chao Praya River. A butler waited patiently outside to tidy their room any time they left- bringing in fresh tropical goodies like ripe mangoes and passion fruit. Because I had secretly given the hotel a heads-up about my parents' 30th Anniversary (FYI, actual date- 10/22/07), presents began popping up in the room including a little cake, a breathtaking bouquet of orchids, and a heart-shaped display of rose petals. When I finally caught up with my parents for our gourmet dinner (picture above), they were ready to pass out from all the traveling and pampering. While they slept soundly, I spent a few hours exploring the amenities of the super-sized bathroom. I'm not kidding.
My parents' trip marks their second journey to the Land of Smiles. Some things haven't changed since the time they were here eight years ago: terrifying traffic, exposed electrical wires dangling in the streets, Bangkok's pollution, crazy drivers, and tourist traps/scams. In an effort to provide a different view of the country I've called home for the past four months, I deemed myself their personal cultural guide. Though my Thai language skills are shaky at best, I hoped to provide an all-encompassing experience beyond the bounds of the guidebook. Lesson One: Make an offering to the spirit house (the colorful little birdhouse-type structures next to the buildings they protect).
On Saturday we flew to Phuket for some island-hopping fun. Immediately, I experienced a dizzying wave of sticker-shock in this tourist hotspot. I could not believe how expensive everything was- from the transportation to the meals. In the afternoon we visited a sobering memorial to 8,000+ people who died in the tsunami on December 26, 2004. Then we stopped by the beach and dipped our feet in the Andaman Sea. Finally, we spent some time by the swanky swimming pool at our hotel before retiring to our bungalow.
On Sunday we took a ferry to Koh Phi Phi, home of Leonardo's utopia in The Beach. We spent most of the day slurping fruit smoothies, wading in the crystal-clear water, sipping beer, and reading on the white sandy beaches. Unfortunately, we soaked up a bit too much sun and ended up with a painful, pink reminder from head-to-toe. Nonetheless, we took our sunburned selves out to a seafood dinner on the beach. We watched sun sink below the horizon and paint the island paradise with warm shades of orange, red, pink, and purple before revealing a glittering display of stars. Ahhh...
1 comment:
Your writing is still fabulous! We get the feel of the place by your descriptions alone. Your Mom & Dad have been talking the trip, and you up since they got back!!
Phil Wilson
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