Our first hotel in Thailand - Hip Hotel

In the duration of our 9 days holiday in Thailand, we stayed in 4 hotels and on a moving train.

The first night was at this hotel named Hip Hotel.

It's not too posh, nor too low-budget. Modern designed and new, with a free upgrade to a bigger room and a free extra bed for us. Hubs got it at a corporate rate from his customer in Thailand and we were pretty satisfied with it. 

By the time we checked in, it was very late, like maybe 10+, which strictly speaking was 11+ Malaysian time. Which means, the kids ought to be in bed by then. But since it was holiday, all rules were bent!

 Lots of decorative at the lobby and whilst the hubs were checking in, I was busy snapping pictures away.

 Our luggage for the entire trip. One for me, one for the hubs, one for meimei, and one for the boys. Apart from that, all of them carry a backpack each.

 The restroom looked so clean and slick. I love the different designs of the washbasins, it gives a feel of uniqueness and we get to choose a favorite washbasin to go to.

Right after we dropped our bags in our room, we headed straight back out to the streets, to the nearby night market. It was a hot and humid night and the kids were not very happy being dragged out walking in the narrow walkways of the night market. But I had already set some rules to our holiday beforehand.

1. No fighting, bickering, argument, complaining.
2. Must follow either mommy or papah wherever we go.
3. Must try all food regardless how weird they looked
4. Oh-shit, I forgot what the 4th one was, but yes, there was. I need to ask meimei or didi.

On the way back to the hotel, I so wanted to taste my very first tomyum already, but the kids so wanted to go back to the room and shower. Since a stall was just right outside the hotel entrance, we took the kids back first and told them to stay in there quietly and take their shower by themselves while both my hubs and I go back down to eat a little bit of tomyum supper. They obliged happily.

Hubs was not very good in ordering food, but we had a little bit of something while I satisfy my craving for tomyum for the moment. I was still pretty worried about the kids, and hurriedly ate our supper to go back to the room. Somehow, all those scenes from the movie "Taken" kept flashing back in my mind. Yeah, I was getting paranoid. It was a relief to see them in comfort lying around in the room. We went to sleep very late that night.

The next day, we had our morning buffet breakfast at the hotel and I was most tickled by these little pods on the tables. After breakfast, we set off for our first day in Bangkok city.

Our newest addition in our home

Hubs' extravaganza expenditure thus far on a hobby has finally arrived and settled in our home. 

It's a mighty huge aquarium, custom made to suit our purpose *to be a divider for better fengshui too* and space, fully equipped with the cupboard where the aquarium sits, filter, fan, carbon dioxide and all the necessary soil needed to grow plants in it.

We had been looking around for some time, and finally decided on giving this whole task of setting up the aquarium to an expert, complete with all the designing of what goes inside as well. We were not very confident of buying parts and setting it up ourselves only to find fish and plants dying in it. So not ready to be heartbroken.

 So we paid a deposit and waited anxiously for it to come. Korkor kept asking us every other day and we said it would be here before our trip. Our trip came and gone and it was still not anywhere to be seen.

Finally!

 Seeing for ourselves how they put different layers of soil and nutrients in there. Looks amazing enough.

 Then he buried some rocks inside to make a beautiful landscape.

 And when the water is in, it looked so mysterious. The aquarium guy (which is what we call him behind his back) told us to wait for a few days for the settlement of dust before moving the fish in.

The next day, it cleared up! yay! so happy!

We moved a few fish from the small tank to it first and see if they survive or not, and when they looked pretty active swimming around happily, we moved more in and brought more in to make the place look more enchanting. IT IS ENCHANTING!

The more thrilling thing is that, we had a pregnant guppy some days ago, and then the next day, the bulging belly was gone and we saw a few little baby fish! The kids were so thrilled, especially meimei, I think. She keeps saying how cute the baby fish were, but alas, the next day, all the baby fish seemed to be missing. We believed they either died being sucked into the filter or eaten by the bigger fish. Poor babies.

Can't wait for the plants to grow into a tropical jungle in there and get some little shrimps in too. Yesh, we all have been very delighted watching the aquarium and the activities inside, on and off the whole day. Papa would be straight heading to the tank when he comes home from work to see his babies, and it's also a very pleasant looking decoration indeed in our living room area.

Stopping ballet lessons.

Ever since meimei started learning on RG, it had been crossing my mind to cut her ballet lessons off totally. That's because it's such a hassle ferrying them 3 all over to and fro from school several times a day on some days, and twice a week to her ballet lesson for an hour. 

After all, I had always tried to advocate that they learn 1 non academic extra curricular each. Korkor is learning piano from the Yamaha course since the beginning, didi had been jumping around from piano to drum back to piano (more to kill his time while the other two go for their lessons) and meimei ballet. 

What I hated most are one of those weekday evenings I had to rush from school back to home, rush to cook dinner, serve them on time and rush meimei to her ballet school which get us crawling together with the rush hour traffic workers on their way home. Though it's just an hour class, but 30 mins to and 30 mins back make the whole trip 2 hours altogether. 

And sometimes I need to manage the other two, either they follow us together, or stay at home while waiting for papa to come back. In any case, I really hate going out when the sky is dark. I don't like to be in the traffic madness and I hated wandering around in the streets at night where the safety these days is so frightening bad. 

What are the benefits of ballet anyway? Heck, I didn't know why I had started her on. I just thought she insists to go ballet class instead of learning piano, and I thought, why not. I then began to think it's good stretching exercise for her too so that she would be more flexible. Then there were the fees which we had been dumping in for her so far. It seemed such a waste that she stops here, especially when she was one of the few to score distinction in her ballet annual grading exam. 

But paying for both of these darn expensive sports/hobbies is really taking a big toll on us. It's not cheap at all with the monthly lessons' fees, apparel and attire, exam fees, year in year out. I just feel somehow this ought to be stopped at one point or another anyway.

It took some time for me to finally make up my mind. Now that I have that off my shoulders, I have to say, I am SO RELIEVED And happy. ! I feel so light knowing I don't need to hurry anymore during the weekdays and I get to be in control how to spend the time with them every weekday night. Though now it's just holidays and we only watch TV or eat dinner together only, it still feels great. I ought to have done this so much earlier! 

Going for holiday is sure fun...

... in the "going" part.

The part of packing is not so fun, but the anticipation, the time near to the departure dates, the journey to the airport and flying to the destination, those are all part of the FUN in a vacation in itself. 

 Lookie here, we were at KL Sentral to check in the luggage so we do not need to lug them all over to KLIA. I like that! Hubs said it's very pricey to take the express train for all 5 of us, so we hurried down to the bus station.It was about RM10 per person compared to RM35.

A bus was about to go, and we quickly boarded while hubs buy those tickets. Then, korkor wanted to buy the RM1 soda he saw on the above floor before we took the escalator and asked his dad for a 1 dollah note. I went to look for our seats but the bus was almost full and only a pair was available right at the end. I let the 2 younger ones sit there while I occupy the one beside a lady.

Papa and korkor had to sit separately apart, but dang, suddenly the bus was moving away from its bay! And both of them were yet on the bus! I was getting panicky, and then I saw papa was standing beside the bus at its doorway, looking at the escalator for korkor to turn up. IN a little while, I saw him giving hand signals to hurry and whew~ both of them rushed onboard and the bus moved off in a jiffy.

I admonished korkor and told him never to do that again! Really a mini heart attack there!

The bus ride was smooth sailing, but the two smaller ones still enjoyed that. It's so happy to see them enjoying such simple little pleasure.

We reached the KLIA one hour later and let the kids hold their passports at the immigration to the automated gate. Didi and korkor passed through but meimei couldn't. Korkor told her that is because their fingerprints stored in the chip is still fresh new whilst hers was so long ago that it didn't match anymore. Meimei then understood. *wink*

Our boarding gate was at the main terminal but papa led us all to the train and to the satellite building. For what leh? For this...

 Food at the lounge. Haiyah... all the way walking over and just spent about 10 mins to gobble some free food and drinks. I wouldn't have bothered if I were to travel alone, but not the hubs. That's him for you.

 We took the train back to the main terminal and walked to our gate. Almost everytime, it would be running to the gate while the loud speaker blaring our names, I hate it really. Hence, I really didn't want to wait for hubs as he JUST have to linger around longer somewhere else. I guess it's in his blood. It's a habit of his he couldn't or wouldn't want to change. I think he's even more "steady" when I'm with him. Coz I would be there early at the gate and telling all sorts of lies to the personnel to wait for him. Ish!

 The kids LOVE the meals on board the plane. They claim it's the BEST FOOD on earth!! And that was the journey to the Land of Smiles. As I've said, it's really part of the whole FUN in a vacation. And that's why I also insist this year, our family vacation must be flying off somewhere. As really, when they grow bigger, they wouldn't be so easily contented with the flight and all anymore. Heck! They wouldn't even want to go anywhere with us! The joy in seeing their happy faces on the journey itself is immeasurable.

The above is the flight flying home. We were lucky to get a never plane with personal TV. But as the journey was less than 3 hours, so no speakers were circulated and hence the kids had to make do with just the moving pictures. There, next time must fly at least 3 hours or more.

Korkor's first parasailing experience

The bits and pieces of our trip would be random and irregular, without following the sequence (like you cared! heh!)

Up there in the air was korkor soaring up in the sky. He was 12 when he had his first parasailing experience, I was 24 when I had mine. I ngam-ngam attended my graduation party and my whole family were there with me. We went to Batu Ferringhi and I don't know why suddenly I had that urge to try that out. Maybe it was some sort like a celebration? You know, like freedom from exams forever? It was etched in my memory from then on. The thrill and the experience, nothing quite exhilarating. Except childbirth, maybe. But korkor won't be experiencing childbirth.

Korkor's parasailing was in Pattaya, on that day we went out to the sea on a speedboat (without life jackets! EEK! It did cross my mind how terribly dangerous it was!!). The skipper took us to this platform in the middle of nowhere where the parasailing business was bustling with tourists like us. We paid 500 baht for a round and it was very fast. Though there was a long queue of people, we didn't need to wait too long. I believe we paid the premium price, coz hubs went to ask another tourist how much he paid and he said it was 400 baht, but he was in the long queue. Well, so.. which one would you have preferred?

Anyway, as a mom, I have to say, I wasn't so brave like him, but I didn't show it out. I'm sure my hubs would immediately shoot me down if I had said anything discouraging to him. After all, hey, we do all know THERE  ARE cases people perished from that stunt. So my heart went jumping a few times more from the moment he was strapped in and flew into the air. Nervous was I until he landed safely back on the platform. You have no idea how relieved I felt and thankful to God for not letting anything happening to him. I'm sure most mothers feel the same thing.

I was glad the other two younger ones weren't brave enough yet to do this. I saw some small kids doing it too, and one was crying when he landed. Oh dear, poor him. That is why I always insist, no forcing, let them decide when they are ready. Sometimes I just despise the hubs for pushing them when they said they do not want to do try on anything new, or saying things which is so demeaning. He thinks it's encouraging words, but I beg to differ. Thus, both of us are truly opposites, but then again, might be the best combination too as they would not be pushing their limits if they are too scaredy-cats like me.

You Pee Ass Are

The next day after our return, it was the day korkor's results were out. *bip bop bip bop...*

Seriously, I didn't think much, lest worry about it, coz really, all it matters is he's going into a reputable school next year.

It was an overcast morning and I was contemplating of going for my yoga class or not when the car decided for me as it refused to give any response at all. That was my hubs' car but of course, I would be in great trouble if I just ran away from home just like that before he solved his problem of how he's going to office.

Apparently, one of the connection to the battery was loosened and we were appalled to see how that could have happened! Anyway, I then went back home and took breakfast out and woke the kids up.

We reached school about 11 and there were many people already in the school compound. I found his teacher seated at a bench serving a beeline of her students and I stood nearby eagerly waited for his result slip. Out of the sudden, korkor turned up in front of me and told me his results instead. I couldn't believe my ears, I thought he was kidding, coz no, it wasn't because he achieved straight As but it was mighty B.A.D! I asked him how he knew, and he said everyone's results were all "dipaparkan di papan kenyataan" already.

No, he didn't fail in any subjects, it was As and Bs, but the number of As were just too far below our, even his own expectations. Frankly, I was rather disappointed, so was he and his dad.

I did feel guilty on my part, oh what have I done? I could have done this, I could have done that, but then again, we all know he's so much better than his results showed. And I slapped myself too for contradicting on my own priorities. The results do not spell how successful and happy they are in their lives, dammit!

To be fair, I do feel proud of him for his other achievements in school. On the last 2 days of school, they had the prize giving ceremony and he bagged the "Best Service Award" (total 10 of them) and the "Excellent Performance for the year Award" (only him) from the ICT group. ICT stands for Intellectual Cult Terrorist,  *something Computer something*. Although it was nothing big to shout about, but hey, EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE, did you hear??? Though I liked to use marker pen and add a SUPER DUPER in front of the word EXCELLENT in that certificate, but well, that should suffice for the moment.

Anyway, I digress.

So back to his UPSR results, there it went. The unceremonious results day. We went home pretty much tau-tap-tap, no actually it was me only, as he hopped on to his friend's house to play computer games immediately after! Wtf.

I so hope he would prove to the whole world he could do much better than this in his SPM, which is coming in 5 years' time, not for us, but for himself. People won't care how many As you get for UPSR, but you certainly would want to brag to your own kids how many As you get for your SPM, wouldn't you? Err.. I forgot what I get, but I always told them, it was DAMN GOOD, ok.

And that was pretty much ended officially his primary years and I do wish he would enjoy himself more in the coming secondary years and put more keen interest in his studies.

The theme for our trip.

This trip had been many "firsts" for us and we went on many different types of transportation that it looked like a educational trip on "THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES"

Let's see...

We took a bus to KLIA.

We took a plane to Bangkok (duh! why of course!)

A taxi took us to a hotel in a suburb of Bangkok (I think, I mean, the suburb)

We went on the sleeper train to Chiengmai and had our dinner onboard. The kids were thrilled having dinner on a moving train, and jumping over carriages.

Didi was especially excited with the tuk-tuk.

We were on a bamboo raft on a river, on top of an elephant over different terrains and river, and on a ox ride. It was so exhilarating yet so... sigh.

We went to an island from Pattaya on a speedboat and korkor experienced his first para-sailing. I believe he enjoyed his flying through the air tremendously.

Why, that almost summarized the whole trip. Ain't I clever?