July 15, 2009
Tomorrow I will head home. What an exhausting vacation. With a wedding, all the wedding drama, all the family, flying half way around the world, the guilt for leaving Josh with the girls for two weeks, the humidity and heat, no cheese or beans and lots and lots of noodles I am ready to go home. Being away from Josh for that amount of time was too much…I don’t want to do that again! I did enjoy myself. However, all the other stuff got in the way of having fun…It was rather interesting having both of my parents on the same vacation for two weeks though…They got along very well too! Good job…That was also a stressor!
Today we are wandering around town and catching any last minute sights we might have missed.
obsessed...
The day was concluded with a group dinner (except Aaron and Nadine: it was date night) at a hibachi style restaurant…
In the morning, I fly home to California where the weather is hot and DRY and the beans and cheese flow freely! I am looking forward to smacking Josh a big one! Thanks for a good family vacation everyone who was involved in me getting there. Next time I leave for 2 weeks Josh will be with me!
July 15, 2009
Today was a day of relaxation, eating, and shopping. After a lunch together, we all wandered in our own directions for some last minute doings…
Matt enjoyed his first pedicure along with a heal shave…it was quite the adventure for him and kind of gross for Niki and I. I too enjoyed a pedicure and heal shave…nice and smooth!
While we were finishing our treatments in walks Mom and Mike, Dad and Darlene for a wide variety of treatments ranging from hair braiding to whole body scrubs…
The finished product on mom…
Aren't they cute?
Later in the day we all (except Rob, Felicia, Ed,& Daniel: Left earlier in the day) hired a van to drive us the hour back to the airport. Thailand was great fun. I especially enjoyed the lemongrass soups!
July 13, 2009
Aaron and Nadine on the Elephant
Matt and I
After our tour we headed back to the hotel to shower and relax. The nine of us then headed to a wonderful dinner…
I know it is a little fuzzy!
Complete with a rose for the girls at the end of the meal!
This was one of my favorite days of the entire trip! We all had a great time hanging out together!
July 10, 2009
Today 9 of us (Mom, Mike, Dad, Darlene, Matt, Niki, Aaron, Nadine, and I) headed out on an elephant tour and expedition:
Water Buffalo Wagon ride!
Dad riding the Buffalo!
We thought after the wagon ride: “What did we get ourselves into? This is going to be a hokey tour!” Complete with a he/she guide!
Folowing the wagon ride we headed off to the river for a canoe ride!
Nadine and I
My turn:
Of course it started to rain a little so I left my camera with Niki. When a portion of us were out on the river it REALLY started to pour! So all of us except Matt and Niki got soaked!
This storm was INSANE! We had so much fun! We were all laughing and smiling and enjoying the fun!
The rest of the tour will follow in the next blog entry.
July 10, 2009
After the boat trip we relaxed for a while and a few of us headed to dinner. It was very fancy but cheap and good!
I had the cashew rice, shrimp, scallops, calamari, and veggies, complete with a pineapple! Only $2.50 US Dollars.
Mom and I also shared fresh fish…
this fancy for only $8 US Dollars! WOW!
Nicole, Matt, and I
And of course no day would be complete without the local whiskey (Courtesy of my Dad, who of course dank it!)
Thailand rot gut whiskey and the country beer
July 9, 2009
Today we booked an island tour to Phi Phi Island and a few other spots.
Me!
We snorkeled, fed monkeys, swam at the beaches (including the “highlight” of the tour the beach from the movie The Beach this beach was insanely crowded!)
Maya Bay from "The Beach" movie
This beach was too crowed for us all. following this beach we headed to a snorkeling area and saw some cool fish. It was Nadine’s first time snorkeling…it was fun trying to get her to get in the water. By this time of the trip my motion sickness began to kick in…I began to get VERY sick…what a horrible feeling it is to have motion sickness (I only began to get motion sickness after I had Regan…Thanks Regan!) Next we headed to see the monkeys on a different beach. The guides fed them bananas and soda(terrible, I know). Some of the tourists (us) also fed the monkeys. Matt actually petted one! His wife made sure he washed his hands before he touched anyone.
By this time I was overtaken by sickness and I could not do anything but focus on getting off of the boat! We arrived on Phi Phi island for lunch and a sickness break! This island was wiped out by the tsunami in 2004. It now show many signs of rebuilding from the disaster.
A tree wrapped in ribbon as a memorial
Following this we headed to Khai Nai Island. A small island with basically nothing but beach and a drink/snack stand. This was a nice relaxing Island. We completed the day with dinner and SLEEP!
I had to buy the souvenir photo of myself. It was a funny framed picture…
July 8, 2009
This morning we woke up too early and headed to the airport for Phucket, Thailand. The flight was a quick one (1 hour) from Singapore to Phucket. We all arrived easily and effortlessly to our resort/hotel in Kata.
Checking into the hotel
After checking in we headed to the only whole group meal we have yet to have…A very tasty lunch that accompanied everyone’s picky and different needs. I enjoyed soup and noodles with beer…yummy…
Actually all 13 of us TOGETHER at the table!
Lemon grass soup...mmmmm....
Noodles
Lunch was followed by some wandering and beach time…
My dad is silly
July 5, 2009
Today is a day of recovery! Recovery from jet lag, Wedding stress, family dramas, late nights, Singaporean food…and so on…
We are preparing our bags for our flight tomorrow to Phucket, Thailand. We are going to be there for 4 days. I am excited to sit on the beach and chill. I am really struggling without my Josh here. I am realizing how much I take just being able to sit and chat or cry on his shoulder for granted in California. I really miss you babe. See you in less than 1 week!
Tea ceremony from the 4th
Ed without a head...the family
And no Aaron in the picture too…as you can tell someone else took this picture.
Brothers and I
Parents of the wedding
July 5, 2009
Today started with a tea ceremony including Felicia’s family and our family. This was held at her grandmother’s apartment. Felicia wore a traditional tea ceremony outfit hand embroidered by her family. It was full of detail. After the ceremony we all were treated to a 9 course meal. The food was yummy. One course was chicken and the plate was served with a chicken head as garnish. Of course Daniel and Aaron thought the chicken head was meant to be eaten. So of course they both took the head and began to eat it…Felicia’s mother proceeded to our table to check on our comfort and saw the boys eating the head. She proceeded to inform us that the chicken’s head was only meant to be garnish. 
It was pretty funny…both of the boys stopped eating their chicken heads immediately.
Yummy, Duck!
I know the picture is blurry…but I thought I’d share it anyways…
After lunch we had a scheduled nap…I was wonderful!
The evening ceremony was held at a cute little French restaurant. Rob and Felicia created their own ceremony. Dinner was yummy. I actually had a steak. It was cooked perfect!
French fries!
My little brother Matthew, his wife Nicole and I
My brother Aaron and his girlfriend Crystal-Nadine
Daniel, Crystal-Nadine, and I
The ceremony and dinner was followed by a late night at a piano bar called Howl at the Moon.
Rob and Felicia
The Newly Married Paetz Couple!
July 3, 2009
Well today I actually slept until 2pm…It was a late night on Wednesday and I was still recovering from the jet lag. So needless to say I missed out on some of the days activities. But Mom, Mike, Daniel, and I did manage to get some lunch and wander to the grocery store.
Random sauce...Daniel and I found it interesting
Later mom, Darlene, Nadine, and I went to a nice dinner of Italian food (wonderful change from all the Singaporean food). All the boys went to the Bachelor party and Felicia was having a day alone…so us girls were on our own. We shared some wine and relaxed together…it was good.
Nadine, Mom, Sarah, and Darlene
Nadine and I headed off to the airport around 12:20am to pick up my brother Matt and his beautiful newly pregnant wife Niki. They arrived safely and were happy to find a place to sleep.
We are going to go exploring tomorrow (Friday), and have some more noodles. Yummy!!!
