Home again and life is now back to normality.

One final jump in the pool

 Last days of our holiday were fairly laid back.  It rained a lot, our plan was to go to the Tuesday night market for dinner but it POURED as we walked there, so we went to a restaurant instead.  Then both boys went crazy so we decided that no market for toddlers.  Mark offered (or was offered) to babysit, so Jamie and I headed back to the market - got Mark a set of Beats by Dr Dre headphones, there is a slight possibility that they are not quite the real deal... but they are cool looking headphones.  Hmmm $300 headphones for $16... probably not quite real.

Packing went well.  We organised a taxi to collect us at 5am, he rang us in our room at exactly 5am.. what a good driver.  Got through passport check very easily, sat down had some breakfast (or attempted breakfast, the most expensive meal in Thailand and we barely ate it as it was so awful).  The boys were so excited to get onto the plane and were very well behaved on the one hour flight.  Kuala Lumpur was not as hot as it was the first time (Jamie says its because I was more used to the heat), the immigration staff were lovely.  Ate some chocolate.  Boys ran, used free wifi, then they started crying.  They were so tired. Up since just before 5am.

Well the flight home went as well as the flight there.  I don't think they were too bad, but was hypersensitive to those around me.  They are loud kids and quite active.  Benno slept for about 3 hours (thank you Phenergan) and Ryan only slept for about one hour (no Phenergan for him).  Lots of swapping of tablets - ours and the ones we hired.

Finally got into Melbourne at 11.30pm.  I left my phone on the plane and had to run back to get it.  Got some duty free grog for my cocktail hour (or minute).  Immigration again was fun, boys kept running off, and as we were the last off the plane, we had them to ourselves.  Mark's wooden puzzle passed customs.  Got a maxitaxi home and it was 12.30am.  Had to make a mad dash for milk for a well deserved coffee.  Everyone was buzzing.  Ryan and Ben yelled "TOYS" as the ran to their toy room.

The next day no one woke before 10.30am.... bliss is a good sleep in.

My parents came for dinner and the new style "slide night" clicking on the laptop.

Day 14

Pool fun

Ben in the pool with an armful of trains.

Today we said goodbye to the Dunn family.  They flew back to Melbourne this afternoon.  Our group looks a little less daunting now.  Back to only 5 of us.  Today was a pool day, glorious sunshine and quite hot, although only 35 degrees.

Ben in the pool.

I went for an oil massage this morning.  It was freaking painful.  Stripped off to my undies... then she attacked my back, the top half was ok, but my lower back there was shooting pains that went down my leg (hmmm sciatica?), then each arm, then leg and foot, then flipped me over (that surprised me).  Front of arms, front of legs (shins were especially painful, possibly because of my RLS)... then came my big surprise, she rubbed my tummy, then my chest!!!  Went all around my girls!  Then head, then shoulders and I nearly cried when she did the shoulders, man I have some aches and pains.  Going with "I'm not a fan of massages", Jamie and I are tarred with the same brush in that department.  But a trip to physio is in order when I get back, my back is killing me.

Ryan and Toby scamming free drinks and bananas at the bar from O.

Had lunch at our favourite fried rice place, then the kids played/fought.  At 5pm the Dunn's left :((

This kombi van turns into a cocktail bar at night.  Mark seems impressed.

Rancho relaxo Mark

We then caught a tuk tuk to Patong, Jamie was trying to source an Apple TV box for a friend, we knew there was an Apple type shop in Jung Celong, so we headed back there - they didn't have it.  There was also the Phuket Motorbike Show on and as our boys (all 4 of them) are motorbike obsessed we decided to go there.  Walked from Jung Celong to the beach, right on sunset, it was gorgeous. No motorbike show, then walked along the beach front, on the shop side for about a kilometer, no bike show.  Every second stall talked to Ryan as he was in a Superman t-shirt, all were saying "Hello Superman.... do you want to look/eat/high 5).  Then we turned around an walked that kilometer, followed by another kilometer and finally came to the VERY loud concert that was the motorbike show.  They had mainly choppers, quite cool but ridiculous.

Crowds at the Motorbike Show

Ryan and Ben with some choppers

Dinner at a little side restaurant.  Ryan and Ben made a friend (see below), then we walked down the main street of Patong, Bangla Street, heaps of nudie bars, normal bars and PEOPLE.  It was so busy and quite exciting.  When Jamie went there with Paul, he was approached to go to every nudie bar, but when walking with his family.. nothing.  Thank goodness.  Some very flashy girls/boys were walking down the street.  The boys got a light up Angry Bird each, much to Jamie's disgust, but a little treat for them. 

Ryan with his new friend.  They played chasey whilst we had dinner.

 
Tragedy struck, when Ben fell asleep in the stroller, he lost his last dummy.  Crap.... went into a pharmacy, they don't sell them, "you need to go to the big supermarket".  I've been here 2 weeks and haven't seen anything bigger than 7-11.  There is one in Jung Ceylong and yes its BIG.  Enormous. And quite impossible to find anything when you are in a rush.  I asked a stock  boy, oh you'll have to go to the second level (what/?? in a supermarket).  Found one and bought two!  Another Tuk Tuk ride back to the hotel, finally got a pimped out yellow one.  The boys were in heaven.  We had green lights in the back and they were holding their flashing Angry Birds, we were very cool.  Home just before 10pm.  Everyone now asleep (except for me and Jamie).

Patong Beach just before sunset.

Some dressed up people on Bangla Road

Boys in the Tuk Tuk with their new toys

A little too happy to be home.

Day 13 - Sunday.

Hi!

Today was fun.  Started off raining.  Went for a walk.  Walked down to the local market and got some stuff.. man we can shop.  I got 4 new t shirts, a pair of shorts, Mark got a new t shirt (Grouchy Smurf) and some thongs, the boys got new runners (Ryan some Nikes and Ben some Adidas).  I got a Guess handbag and a HUGE suitcase.

Action shot of R-dog

In a rain storm the other day

Jamie and Ryan on the elephant (the other day)

Our two elephants.

(L-R) Ryan, Jamie, Mark, Paul, Zahli at Karon Beach

Just after Toby's nap (he's the eldest and the only one who napped that day)

Toby and Ben with our favourite bartender "O" (yes, that's his whole name)

Dinner at Rawai for a seafood extravaganza, we were sitting on the footpath at a low table.

Me at Rawai Beach

Me and Ben at Rawai... and my longneck beer.

The crabs... challenging but delicious.  The deep fried fish with chilli was by far the best

A gorgeous shot of the pier, thanks Jamie!

Me and Marko.  Feeling shorter every day.

All 5 kids.

Me and my wonderful husband.

Day 12

Another tragic day.. no photos.

Also our original anniversary - 13 years today!

Today was Songkran, the Thai New Year Water Festival.  Did I mention water?  Its a country (or at least Phuket) wide water fight.  Everyone - shop keepers, hotel staff, tourists, locals soak each other with water.  For Jamie it started last night - he and Paul went out to Patong and got soaked.  For the rest of us it started this morning we walked to get our washing and we got soaked by one of the restaurants with a huge drum of ice cold water.  We were armed with water pistols, Jamie took it very seriously and shot everyone who got him.  Then we spent a couple of hours int he pool shooting each other.  As a side bar, it was the coolest day here, so after been shot with mostly ice cold water, poor little Benny had turned blue so I bought him in for a warm shower and a dry off.  We then went back to get the washing (that shop ended up being closed for the Songkran), Ben wasn't a fan of getting wet and cried if he did, so at some water spots I had to get a double dose.

As the day progressed, it appeared that people on motorbikes, scooters and in tuktuks were fair game.  They were drenched.  Jamie, Paul and Mark headed out to the main street and got very involved.  I stayed home with the little boys tried to get them to rest (failed).

When they got home, the festival was mostly over, a few stragglers still had their water pistols, but it was quite safe to venture out and stay dry.  We went to the night market in Phuket (Phuket is the name of the island, and its also a town/city on the island).  IT was huge, prices were much the same.  Had dinner, super quick and delicious.  Poor Mark got stir fried vegetables and was surprised there was no chicken in it!  Had a lovely little fresh fish cake, potato dumpling, a sugar cane drink that was served in a plastic bag.  The boys had a chocolate ice cream cone each (10TBH) and it is apparent that Benno does not like waffle cone.  Prices were amazing.  So much variety.  I'm very sad that we didn't have a camera to take pics.

Then we shopped.  Mark got 10 t-shirts, 2 shorts.  Jamie got 10 t-shirts and three shorts.  I got 4 tops.. which proved quite challenging.  Phuket is an Asian environment and they have Asian sizing.  My bikini that I bought in the first week is a size XXXXL.  I asked in one stall, do you have tops that will cover a big tummy... his response "no" (hangs head in shame).  We also got a new bed spread, which I hope is lovely.  Other items we will need is a new suitcase for the new clothes, new thongs for Mark and hopefully new runners for all three boys.  I want some sunglasses.  Ummmm...... and some toys for the fellas, especially for the trip home.

Now as I'm covered in sweat, I'm off for a shower and off to bed.

Thanks for listening. xx

Day 11.

Today was HUMID.  After breakfast we decided it was time to hit the beach.  Got everyone dressed up, bag packed.  Walked across the road to the beach, got two banana lounges (100THB each) and then hit the waves.  Very soon little bity things started to bite.  One on my butt, Marks underarms, Connie's leg.  Paul complained that they got him.  So within 5 minutes we were out and headed back to the hotel pool.  Got some good photos on Connie's camera to prove our trip.

Lunch was at our local fried rice place, Jamie and Mark got their favourite sweet and sour.

We then caught a tuk tuk up to The Big Buddha.

The road was very steep and our driver went in first gear most of the way... he did have 9 passengers

A gong that if you rub it a certain way it "sings"

A little elephant hanging out on the side of the road.

The actual "Big Buddha" its quite enormous.

We wandered around up there for a while, women are not allowed to show their knees or shoulders.  Shoes off in certain important parts, but it was challenging for us... most of the signs, the informative signs were in Thai, minimal English translations, and having to chase three small boys made it hard to read the ones that were in English.

Now for a series of photos showcasing how un-photogenic my family is:

Ryan, unimpressed with the lovely view behind him.

Trying for a nice family photo... thanks Mark.

Oh gee thanks Mark... even worse.

The view from Big Buddha.

Chasing the kids.  "come back Ryan"

I feel the Big Buddha is made of marble, if not its hand carved in beautiful white stone. Its like the cathedral in Barcelona, it's unfinished as yet.

My big and little boys.

Another view

Yet another view. 

We feel the humidity or the overcast-ness is playing with the quality of the photographs.  The scenery ones are crap.  It was a dull day, but it was nicer than what these photos depict.  Camera people... advice???

Day 10 - just over half way.

Today was the day I was looking forward to.  I was going on an elephant.  It was very relaxing. 

Mark got himself a Red Bull hat.. the boys had to try it on.

Not entirely sure when this one was taken, but its a goodie.

Mr Ben in the hat.

This is the elephant that Mark, Ben and I went on.  It went for half an hour and both of our elephants poo'd.  They walk very VERY slow.

Closer up.. wouldn't know we were on an elephant.

Next was go-karting.  Paul and Toby in their kart.

Ben trying on his helmet.

Ben and Daddy.

That is Mark and Ryan in together, they had to wait a little longer for their kart to come back, hence couldn't get a close up.

Paul and Toby zooming by

Jamie and Ben at the starting line.

One lap down... Ben and Jamie

That is Mark and Ryan.  Mark spun out twice, causing another guy to crash.

Today was very busy.  Up and breakfast as always.
Then caught a mini bus up the the elephant trekking and go-karting place.
They had heaps of other attractions, monkey show, snake show (some of the other guys went there, supposedly the handler put the snakes head in his mouth), cock fighting, shooting, ox cart rides, archery and other stuff that I didn't' see.

Our whole family went on two elephants. Jamie and Ryan went on one and Mark, Ben and I went on the other.  I guess we were 2.5 to 3 meters up.  Felt very safe.  Had a bench platform to sit on and a loose seatbelt to go around everyone.  The elephant was much hairier than I was expecting. 2 inch black hairs sticking out all over.  It does seem very sad, but still I'm glad I did it.  Half way along the drivers bought out their tray of "elephant teeth" supposedly they were baby elephant teeth that are like human ones and fall out, but they sure looked like sharks teeth to me.

Then we went down the go-karts, the boys all had a "race" and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.  Jamie took about 150 photos of the go-karting.  He took heaps of the other people that are here for the wedding that Connie and Paul went to this evening.  Ben went about 3/4 of the way and then his helmet came off and he was slipping down, so Jamie stopped and then he got to go into a faster single seater which made him happy.  Marko really enjoyed taking the wheel, and being the man for his little brother.

Pool and relaxing (sort of) this afternoon.  We babysat Toby this evening as "the wedding" was on.  He was great.  Went out to diner (as you do), all three boys sat beautifully, shocked a lot of people as we had so many little boys!  When we got home, lay down and watched "The Lorax" it was so much better than I was anticipating.  Toby and Ryan watched it all, Ben is just not into movies/tv/screens as yet.  AND got them all to sleep before returning Toby to his parents.

Jamie seems to have taken ill, so I took myself out for a banana/nutella pancake!

The podium