As you all know, we have made some amazing friends here in Bangkok. Last year we took a trip to Pattaya, which is a beach town a couple of hours from Bangkok to watch one of our friends race in a go kart race. At the time, it was our first trip with our friends who are now like family to us. Since then we have gone on many great trips with them. So we were excited about celebrating our one year friendship anniversary by going again to Pattaya to watch him race. The kids were so excited as well.
Although it sounds appealing that we live only a two hours drive from a beach town, unfortunately Pattaya is not a place we would necessarily want to visit. It is a party town (not in a fun party town kind of way for us) and its beaches are not the cleanest.
The purpose of our trip was to watch the race, but we wanted to enjoy the sun and some water. We booked at the Hard Rock hotel because it gave us the next best thing to a natural beach - a man made beach with sand and slides that is attached to a pool. It was perfect for the kids. We even attended a kids foam party (the whole time I was wondering why I didn't participate in such parties when I was younger and cooler - I definitely missed out because it was so much fun!). I think the adults had more fun than the kids in the foam. So we spent a full day, and luckily a full sunny day, at the beach/pool and the next day when it was gloomy and at times rainy, we were at the track. The kids bonded after months of being apart and it was a good way to start the traveling season for us. At least it gave me a test trial for packing for vacations. Packing has become an art for me.
Here are some pictures to illustrate how it all went.
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| Arrived and ready for the beach |
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| Ditto |
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| Well, this one is ready for the show |
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| The show and the beach... |
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| Our view, well our view from the business lounge (we opted for the non-sea view room so our room view was of the back doors of restaurants, how appealing!) |
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| They were and are always so excited to draw and make books, something they learn to do in school. |
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| We decided to stroll Pattaya a bit so we can say we visited the city and didn't just stay at the hotel. The shirtless man on the left perhaps gives you an idea of what kind of place this is. |
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| He really wanted to go to the beach |
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| This is what it's like to play in the sand at the hotel. |
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| Foam party time! |
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| It's Adriano in there... |
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| It didn't take much for Michael to disappear in the foam |
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| He had enough of the foam party, well we all did, but he didn't mind the foam the blowing into the pool! |
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| This pig was the highlight of the day for the kids. They met him in the morning just before he started being roasted. |
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| After a long beach day and stuffing ourselves at the buffet it's time for Tutube (as Michael calls it). |
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| As is typical in beach resort, we must end the day with a stage party |
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| And of course Cristiano is always willing to volunteer for the show |
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| Us! |
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| The next day at the track, dressed in cool black and ready to watch |
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| It was a long day and the silliness came out |
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| Three of the families part of the gang, and three families are missing |
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| Michael likes to give hugs |
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| And more hugs |
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| Uncle Joe is winning!!! |
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| Rock n' Roll |
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| They loved the guitars |
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| They were exhausted and slept the entire ride back home. Sleep is a sign of good fun. |
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