Sairee Beach, Koh Tao, Thailand

 

Thought we better visit the beach everyone talks about;  Sairee Beach, which we missed out last time here. Pleased we did as this was an ok place as well. More restaurants and shops but less good snorkelling and many more teenagers with crazy hangover as this apparently is where the Full Moon parties happens. Great to have been here but now we've been here done that.
Found the islands Muay Thai camp where Daniel got a private lesson. Wonderful to see what this kind of training do to you;  even if Daniel didn't have any energy left he still had a big smile on his face. I think he might visit the local Muay Thai club when we get home for some kick ass practice.

Oliver's foot is now much better. Still need cleaning every night but he's walking, running and swimming like never before so trust he's good again.

Koh Tao, Thailand

 

Early flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui, then speed boat to Koh Tao and
Sensi  Paradise Resort where we'll be staying the next week or so. Since
we've been here before it was easy to reach end destination. Just walking
past the taxi drivers calling out for all tourists arriving with boats.
After a refreshing welcome cocktail we checked in at our family bungalow.
So very different from the house we just came from in Ban Phe with open
space both indoor and outdoor to this jungle like surroundings 10m from
clear snorkel friendly water. With the jungle comes also the cool gecko
lizards!
Unfortunately it took only 20 min in the water by the beach before Oliver
stepped on something and got a bleeding cut in his foot:-( Trying to clean
it ourselves was out of the question as he is so sore and we don't have
enough to keep it clean with. So quickly down to town to try to get hold
off a doctor, they were all closed. So bought stuff to try to clean it
ourselves,  but he panic every time we tried so we left it for the doctor
to deal with. Luckily he calmed  down so we could enjoy Italian food for
dinner. But it's double the price and they're not that very good at cooking
anything else but Thai food.

Bangkok, Thailand

Last night with the gang! Today we left the calm and extremely friendly Thailand Dream Village in Ban Phe for a day and night in Bangkok. We chose to stay as close to the airport as possible. It will be very handy tomorrow when family Bendsen leave back home and we leave for Koh Samui early from the same airport.
Today became a lazy day with a short visit to the market next door, short hang by the pool before dinner at a restaurant which even the lunch at the local market was better than.
We said goodbye to family Bendsen and wished them a safe flight back home tomorrow. We thank you for this time! What a wonderful family to be traveling with. We're privileged to have had two good weeks together with you and are already looking forward to upcoming events with you all. You have the calmest girls on earth,  which our boys are NOT.... hope this haven't scared you off too much.

Mae Phim Beach, Thailand

 

Or last day at the Thailand Dream Village in Ban Phe where we've been privileged to share a house with the dear family Bendsen for two weeks. Homework and swim in the pool by the house together with kids from other families also staying in the village before lunch and then mum's with all kids went to the last beach still on our list to explore;  Mae Phim Beach (apparently the nicest beach in Thailand). Surly very nice and a very long beach with powder white sand and good Thai food and tropical fruit everywhere. Kids had a blast in the waves and in the sand. But personally I would rate a private smaller beach with more snorkel friendly water much higher.
The dad's had played the last part of the golf round in the golf simulator at the village while we were at the beach, and I would guess a few beers had also been purchased.
Had dinner at the village which have never been a disappointment and again tonight was very tasty. The boss Daw, waitress Gi and Check with maintenance-guy Pong and all others working at the village will be missed. More friendly and service orientated people will be hard to find.
Packed our stuff for taxi pick up at 10 am tomorrow.

Rayong Aquarium, Thailand

 

Earlier this week we got a letter that the village we're staying in would get a full day inspection and treatment for bugs, snakes and other unwanted animals. We were therefore not allowed to be around the house between 10am - 4pm. So we visited Rayong Aquarium, which is really in Ban Phe. Very cheap entrance fee and well worth a visit if you don't expect too much.
Strolled down to Ban Phe for shopping, hair dresser and a very very simple and good lunch.  It costed 130 sek for all 8 of us including drinks! Yes we gave him tip!
We manage to spend a couple of hours in town before heading home to the pool again.
Ann and myself took taxi to the big market to buy a good selection to bring back for dinner. Very interesting to watch and taste all sorts at the market and I think we got a nice selection of chicken,  duck, crimps, corn and mini pancakes back home.

Sunflower

 

 

A full day boat trip with recommended Sunflower that Stickan, a Swede based in Thailand since several years, is running.
He took us around the islands outside the coast of Ban Phe where we snorkelled with colourful fish,  BBQed and swam on an empty island (Koh Kudi) with clear water.  Then off to the cliffside of Koh Samet, where we also had a sneak peak at the resort where the Swedish King and Queen often spend time, for more snorkelling before heading back home. 
More swimming in the pool by the house before dinner at the restaurant at home.
Or boys are big boys now and it's getting easier and easier and more fun to travel together. Not much have to be adapted to young children anymore as they do pretty much what all adults do. Loving it!
We keep trying interesting dishes more or less every day and not once we've been disappointed. The food here is fantastic and really cheap.

Rayong, Thailand

 

 

 

Full day tour with our own chauffeur to cover Fruit Garden, big shopping mall Big C, Classic Forest Waterpark and Classic Forest Restaurant.
Fruit Garden was amazing and well worth every Bath. Very interesting to see how all these colourful yummy fruit grow and to taste these tropical fruits. They also showed us how to make delicious spicy papaya salad which we ate for lunch. Much more appreciated by us adults than the children.
Shopping mall was waste of time and nothing I would recommend.
We had the Waterpark on our own and it was fun in nice surroundings but water was cold and safety isn't something Thai people think very much of when building things.
At dinner in the jungle we all tried crocodile and the biggest prawns I've ever tasted and everyone loved it all! It was Oliver's idea to try crocodile. He also liked it allot, but was a little disappointed when the plate was served and it looked like chicken pieces and not like a crocodile at all:-)

Koh Samet, Thailand

 

Tried Koh Samet today. What a disappointment. Russians everywhere! We thought Oliver would get his fraught of his life on the speed boat across as they had full gas all the time! Luckily the ride home was smoother.

Ban Phe, Thailand

Very slow morning with homework for the kids, swim in the pool and fruit shake before free taxi to Kim's Beach 7 km away which we've been recommended to go to. A bit nostalgic as it turned out to be only 500m from where we stayed 2010! A very nice, calm and clean beach. Oliver and Kevin was in the water for hours. Only up to eat a pancake, then back to the water again. After 4 hour we took taxi back closer to home were we got convinced to eat at a very small family restaurant. Was actually closed,  but for us they would open the kitchen.  In 5 minutes they'd called for extra help and the number of people in the kitchen was the double. We didn't get any luxury,  but the food was very good.  8 of us got more food then we could eat including drinks for 45kr per person.
Fathers got Thai massage later in the evening while mothers planned coming day!

Ban Phe, Thailand

 

Oliver came in to us early,  Daniel checked the phone informing me the time was 07.30 am. I convinced Oliver to watch a short movie on the I pad so that I could sleep another 20 min.  But eventually I stood up with Oliver,  made breakfast and talked about all sorts. I put on combat music in headset and started to work out while Oliver watched cartoon. Ann came up complaining about the noise from me jumping. Great I thought! Already conflict over our different sleeping routines with family Berg up and about early and Bentsen preferring to sleep in until closer to noon! Argh!
Until we talked further and she informs me is 04am!!!! Are you kidding me?? Daniel had looked at his phone (with Thai time),  added 5 house thinking it was still Swedish time....... So nothing to beg for but to go back to sleep.  Which of course was impossible as I'd both had 2 big cups of coffee and started to work out!! So for several house me and Oliver laid in bed looking at the roof and solving all world's problems!
Eventually the rest also came up, we had breakfast and walked to Ban Phe town. A bit too long walk for the kids but with one swim in the ocean-break,  one ice-cream-break and one break for delicious sea food lunch we manage to stay in pretty good mood.
Evening by the pool/house was well deserved. Tobbe and Daniel went to the local market to buy delicatessen from the market for dinner. Everything doesn't look very tasty but -Boy it tastes very good! The funny Angry bird sushi was a sausage piece.

Ban Phe, Thailand

A bit nervous if we would manage to get across to the airport in Copenhagen due to the storm they've been warning about. But we made it and it felt really good to depart according to schedule in a bit of turbulent. Short stopover in Helsinki before the 10 hours flight to Bangkok. A very smooth flight even if there were extremely many noisy kids on board helping us stay awake:-( Or own kids all of a sudden seemed very calm and well behaved!
Loaded up with Thai Bath from ATM and food and water from Subway before getting on the pre booked taxi taking us to Thailand Dream Village Resort where we've rented a house together with Ann and Tobbe with family.
First impression is very positive. Nice house with plenty of space for two families in a tidy and nice garden with pool just 20m from our house. A bit away from action and city centre,  but that's how we wanted it so am sure it will be good.
With no sleep last 24 h I think we manage pretty well to stay busy swimming, buying and eating local fruit and later dinner at the restaurant by the pool before crashing in bed around 8 pm.

New Café in Kävlinge

Checking out the new Café in Kävlinge City with grandma who picked us up early from day-care and school today. That a cosy place! Hoping to convince grandma to take us here often! Thank You!

Crackers with butter

  

Getting ready for take off to Thailand on Saturday by finding clothes from last summer. Some still fit,  but some doesn't. We want to travel as light as possible and so far it seems that we'll do pretty well with only one suitcase for all four of us.

Even if it was a very chilly day we got dressed very warm and kids on their bikes and Daniel and I walking we went down to town and back. Stopped at Klasen's parents place for the best,  according to the kids, crackers with butter there is to find. There's nothing like Kenneths way of making crackers with butter. There's almost more butter than cracker!!

Made a successful dinner with our own caught salmon which we enjoyed together with family Bendsen.