Today was our "Wat are we doing today?" day. The answer? Wat Pho and Wat Arun. Wat Pho was filled with high-schoolers working on their English and asking American tourists questions in English on video. We had two groups of girls come up to us, and one girl told us what to say when you bow. Bowing means lots of things including thank you, hello, and good-bye. After Wat Pho (pronounced "poe"), we crossed the Chao Phraya River on a ferry that cost $0.10 a person. When we got to the other side, the clouds burst into tears. We found ...
Today was the most non-touristy day so far. After over-sleeping, we went out for mochas, fried rice, and chocolate cake at the Chimney Café. Yum! (Despite what seemed like sarcasm, it was really good. ESPECIALLY the chocolate cake.) Mother, Ethan, and I all had the chicken fried rice and Dad had the green curry chicken fried rice. The mochas were good, especially with the whipped cream and sugar. 🙂 Ethan and I each had a piece of double chocolate cake, and Dad got a piece of chocolate fudge cake, which was by far the better choice of dessert. Our cake ...
Today we made it our goal to visit the museum across the street. Well, in the end (or as of 5:30 pm), we accomplished nothing other than more schoolwork, eating more chocolate bars, sorting pictures, reading, drinking plenty of water, and taking a nap. Oh, we also added photos, as you probably saw. Well, the museum will still be there tomorrow. Ciao! ...
Today was an interesting day. We got up early and were supposed to leave at 7:30, but due to our late breakfast, we finally slugged out the door at 8:05. After four modes of transportation (super crowded bus [morning rush hour], sky train [also crowded], Chao Phraya Express's blue flag [tourist] boat, and our own tired, blistered feet), we finally got to a corner diagnol from the Grand Palace. There, a man with a lanyard that said 'Royal Thai Police' saw that we were looking for the Palace (and had walked right by!) and asked if he could help. Then ...
Today was apparently cooler than yesterday, but obviously we couldn't tell. What we could tell, however, was that the Or Tor Kor vegetable market was missing because of construction in the area. We walked what seemed like miles just looking (and never finding) it. It was supposed to be right by the Jatujak Market (nicknamed "JJ" by the locals), but we walked up and down and side to side on those streets and never found it. We did, however, find the three main forms of transportation in Bangkok: BRT, BTS, MRT. (The bus rapid transit, the sky train, and the ...
For all you die-hard Directioners... On the planes from Seattle to Japan to Bangkok, I listened to One Direction. Okay, now for the rest of you... At supper last night, "American" music was playing. I use quotation marks because it was by a certain Canadian... Justin Drew Bieber. At a Thai restaurant!!! Then there was a Bruno Mars (I think) song and some others. The real surprise was when the three guys doing the live music covered the Lazy Song, Set Fire To The Rain, and a bunch of others... In English. And these guys are Thai! Oh, and if you ...
Today, Saturday for us and 1/2 Friday and 1/2 Saturday for you Pacific coasters, we got up at around 8 am, showered, and walked down the street 850 meters to the Chimney Café. We had an interesting mix of food- to drink, Mom and I had hot chocolates and Ethan and Dad had lattes. For the main course Mom and Ethan had chicken fried rice, Dad had green curry chicken, and I had a chicken soup of some sort and steamed rice. Let me tell you: salty chicken soup and a creamy latte don't taste good together. At all!Anyway, we ...
17 hours, 17 things: 1. Landed in Thailand 2. Checked into BS Residence 3. Gone to bed 4. Woken up 5. Had breakfast (rice, toast, and chocolate dry cereal... yum) 6. Swam in the ("biggest ... I've ever seen" Ethan said) pool at BS Residence 7. Packed up and moved out of BS Residence 8. Rode in first taxi of my life to Star Estates 9. Entered apartment to find it wasn't yet cleaned 10. Left in search of the Holy Grail... okay, bottled water 11. Went to the "market" across the street 12. Sweated 13. Crossed back and found a ...
The [airport lounges] are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. -Robert Frost, arr. Eryn Reeder Ciao! ...
We chose to go bowling (since it was raining), and we played two games at the Hollywod Bowl from 2 to 4 pm. All that arm use made us hungry, so we drove for forty-five minutes to get to the Old Spaghetti Factory, which was 3.5 miles away. On the bright side, if we had taken only five minutes to drive to the restaurant, it would have still been closed. (It opens for supper at 4:30 pm.) After spaghetti (obviously), spumoni, and Oreo milk shakes, we said good-bye to my aunt, uncle, and Fergus and headed to Fred Meyer because ...
This morning, we got up at the odd (okay, even) hour of 4:30 am. After breakfast, we loaded up the hotel van, got to the Portland International Airport a few minutes later, and boarded our Seattle-bound plane. We landed on Washington tarmac at 8:27 am according to my watch. We're supposed to get to our Bangkok hotel at midnight in Thailand on Thursday, or about 7 am (on Thurs.) Oregon time. Between here and there, however, is the Pacific Ocean, a layover in Narita, and the South China Sea. Ciao! ...
Okay, this post is not about George Washington but about Washington (state) in general. We are at my aunt's house in rainy Kelso, Washington, and, now that we're all here, we're trying to decide what to do. Two options on the table: minigolf and bowling. Tell me what you think! Bur here's what's happening: my uncle and Fergus just came home from work, my father just woke up and is now discussing how we don't have seats on our plane, Ethan just beat my aunt at Stratego, and my mother was a spectator of her sister's epic loss. My cousin ...
Okay, two hours later (1:45 pm) we were still at home, but a mere 34 minutes later we were at the bottom of our driveway. Everything fits (!!!), and Ethan and I have room to spare. We're currently at our grandparents' house saying goodbye and dropping off frozen and refrigerated goods, cherry tomatoes, a banana, and some potatoes. Also, it's June 18. Shouldn't it be sunny?! (no) It is Oregon after all. Ciao! ...
Today we leave the house. Tomorrow we go to the airport. Wednesday we fly. It's 11:45 and we're supposed to leave in fifteen minutes. I personally don't think that's going to happen because we haven't checked our luggage yet... or finished laundry. In two hours, though, we'll be on the road and this will seem like only a bad memory. Tonight we sleep at my aunt's house in Kelso, WA, and then spend tomorrow with her and my uncle and their puppy-in-training, Fergus. Tomorrow night we check into our airport hotel and on Wednesday, in two days, we fly from ...
For those of you who know us well, you know that the height of Ethan, our mother, and me is very important to us. Until today, we thought that our mother was 4'11.5". When Ethan and I were measured and it turned out that I am 4'11.5", we took the time out of breakfast to measure Mother. Turns out, she's 5'. Ethan's still only 4'10.5", and I'm lording it over him because I'm pretty sure he'll end up taller than me. And you can bet there will be a post when one of us become taller than Mother.Ciao! ...
Wow Eryn! you really are going all around the world!!!! LUCKY!!!! I’ll miss you @ school though 🙁
Eryn! Have a safe trip! I miss you already. And post a lot of things, cause I’ll be checking;) Love you TONS!
Good Morning Miss Eryn, Did you like bowling? Did you put the ball down the lane or were they gutter balls like I manage? I’m glad y’ll made it safely to the country of Siam. I’m assuming you have gotten warm, thaughed out or otherwise melted? You’ll get used to it as the days go by. Enjoy everything to the fullest. Laters, Love Grandma
Bowling was okay. Not my favorite … “sport”. (Honestly, I prefer minigolf.) Umm… it seems like half-and-half, but I think it was 1/3 gutter balls and 2/3 “good” balls. Oh, yes, we’re very thawed, and we’re melting through the back of our shirts. 🙂 I love you! Tell Grandpa and Zoie “hi” for me, and tell Grandpa I send my love!
Good Morning Sweetie, Well guess what…its raining. should be in the mid 60’s today. Did u get my reply from yesterday? when I pushed the Post Comment button it said the server was down or some such nonsence!
I’m getting ready to go to Curves. Today is the Garage Sale and its raining. Should have it on a different weekend.
Have fun today. Love you
Good Morning, Ethan!
The things and places you have already seen and enjoyed are very interesting and will be remembered for your life. But even more interesting to me is what you see when compared to the other scribes’ reports on this ADVENTURE. Keep up the good work!
Your discription of the Buddhist shrine/Temple leave me wondering how odd Christians must look to Buddhists.
I am really enjoying your notes.
Love, Gramps
Hi Eryn,
Wow! Is what I have to say! You have a great writing style, informative and entertaining 🙂 I look forward to your continuing sagas.
Happy trails!
Eryn.. it most certainly seems like you and your family are having a wonderful time
(so Jealous!) Love your stories, especially about your mom ! Thanks for keeping us posted.
Yes… but I tone down the stories of my mom a lot. 🙂 And, yes, we’re having a good time here in South Africa.