The Carey Adventures: Christmas in Thailand!

Last year we spent our first Christmas in Thailand... we must have loved it enough because we decided to return again this year. While there are so many places to explore in Asia, sometimes going back to a place that you know and love just fits. One of our favorite daily rituals is walking down the beach to local bar for a beer. It is hard to believe that 10 years ago from this week, a devastating tsunami hit these shores and peoples lives were changed forever.

In 2004 a tsunami hit Thailand. This tsunami claimed more than 4,000 lives in and more than 230,000 in the region. There were times when I would gaze out at the Andaman Sea thinking how surreal that moment must have been watching those waters retract into the horizon. It seemed almost impossible that a twenty-foot wall of seawater had then hurtled into these very shores I was sitting on obliterating everything in its path. To look around at the perfectly landscaped grounds... exactly 10 years ago on December 26th, Boxing Day, this piece of paradise was underwater and so many lives were lost or changed forever.

We arrived at dusk... just in time to watch the most beautiful sunset... only to realize that an entire backpack full of electronics was lost in transit. Not pointing any fingers at who was responsible for the backpack at the time but... I am pretty sure now the kids will take better care of their belongings. A tough lesson to learn... not even Santa could right this hardship....

Who doesn’t love a beach... but for us, it was such a part of our life in Florida that the kids just got used to sand in their toes and waves to boogy board upon in their playground. I think it was one of the hardest transitions for them when moving here. While Shanghai is considered a coastal city on the East China sea, there are no beaches to walk upon or water worth diving into. There is something to be said about clean air and the sun on your face... but what really makes our vacations special... watching the kids in their element, relaxed and happy...

I love how I could be half a world away and when I see a poinsettia, I immediately think of Christmas. The resort had them everywhere...

Once we hit the beach... it is hard roping them in... but they are never far from each other.

It’s getting them off the beach at the end of the day that is so tricky...

We have gotten hooked on ATV tours... Jordan loved having her own bike. Chris had Garrett and I had Ayden. Ayden spent the entire two hour tour telling me to “stay focused.” That statement came back to bite me hard!

We use various tactics to keeping their skin covered in sun screen... The “warrior” face is among the family favorite.

The resort has a few catamarans to take out... We love this however struggle with too many captains and not enough mates.

One of our favorite hangouts is a local restaurant (or more like a tiki hut / shack right on the beach... The kids love to swim and swing while we order an afternoon snack of authentic Thai food.

Even mom gets a chance at swinging!!!

One of the reasons we love this place so much is how quiet the beaches are... it is our own slice of paradise!

This picture really captures their personalities... Ironically, this was not posed.

Last year we found a great local family owned restaurant to eat Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner. When we walked in this year, we were welcomed with hugs. They remembered us from a year ago!

We spent one day exploring the caves of Phuket in kayaks.

Ayden hit is off with her guide, Tiger... learning how to paddle and later winning several rounds of “king of the mountain!”

As a part of our tour, we all learned how to make our own offering. There are several elements that each unique offering must have: Flowers, leaves, incense and candles. The kids really got into making theirs... we found out that we will be entering a cave at dusk, lightening them and making our wishes.