Christmas in Thailand 2012

THAILAND 2012

I probably say this after ever vacation I take but this time, I really mean it...this was the best vacation ever!!!

We spent 10 days in Thailand, 5 in Bangkok, 4 in Koh Samui and a day of travel, which really sucked!  26 hours from door to door!  But on to the good stuff starting in Bangkok...

Arrival at the Davis Hotel in central Bangkok and then straight to our first stop, the Jim Thompson house.

Shrine at the Royal Summer Palace.

Holding up the temple!

Jim Thomson compound.

Jim Thomson was the man who re-established the manufacturing and trade of Thai silk after WWII.  The Jim Thomson compound is a collections of Thai homes that he selected from various parts of Thailand and were re-constructed on his property, representing his deep love of Thailand and the Thai people.

During our visit to Bangkok, we stayed in a Thai house at the Davis Hotel - a really beautiful dwelling crafted in traditional Thai form.  The grounds were lush with vegetation - a real rural Thai paradise in the middle of the sprawling city of 10 million inhabitants.

Entrance to our Thai house in Bangkok.

Brendan in our Thai house living room.

Stunning master suite with high vaulted ceiling.

We visited a snake farm in the city where venom is extracted from a wide variety of poisonous snakes for anti-venom purposes.  The staff entertained us with a demonstration of snake handling, including interactions with the King Cobra - yikes!

The King!

Bailey and Brenna with a massive non-venomous variety...

Massive reclining Buddha...

Palace shrine...

Here's our visit to the Grand Palace established in the 18th century as the home of the royal family.  Very unique, beautiful and ornate architecture - really amazing to behold!

Beautiful ornately decorated shrines at the Grand Palace.

Christmas Day - a visit to the ancient ruins of the old capitol city Atutthaya - beyond description...

Family photo in front of stone statue encased in roots.

Beauties among the ruins!

No white Christmas - instead, we travel among the ruins via pachyderm!

Bailey's buddy...

Travelling first class!

We fly south to the island paradise Koh Samui.  Thai hospitality, island beauty, and 5 star accommodations make this experience one to remember!  Lots of time spent on the beach or in the infinity pools.

Siblings on the beach.

Siblings enjoying one of the pools.

Siblings enjoying traditional Thai culture...

Ronald and friends...

Shopping was another fun past-time - anything from silk to teak and lots of street food.  In addition, Thai massages are very popular and inexpensive - we took advantage of this hedonistic pleasure every day paying on average $4.00 per hour!

Thailand was a fantastic family adventure and a great way to spend the holidays!