Thailand

Dash and Laura ended up traveling solo, due to a little snafu with Laura saying she had Chris' passport, but didn't. Oops. So my 'punishment' was taking Dash on the 20 hours of flight time by herself. Fortunately, we had a bulkhead seat and Dash was cooperative, with a little bed on the floor.

Don't let the pictures fool you - I only had time to photograph when he was asleep (about 8 hours into the flight, and about 6 hours past his normal bedtime)...see Laura's dissheleved hair. But the important thing is he slept, even on this second leg from Taipei to Bangkok. Go Ergo go!

Ah finally at the hotel in Bangkok, showered and ready to go! We had a little harness for him, to brave the siteseeing crowds. A little bribe with an apple and we were almost out the door.

The view from our room, looking out at the Milennium Hilton (we stayed at the Royal Orchid Sheraton).

More views from our room - this is looking up river or the Chaoa Praya as it is called in Bangkok. We loved touring the city by water taxi.

A few more munches on his apple before we head out.

Dash and mom on a water taxi, heading to the Grand Palace. Dash loves it!

Our shoulders covered, we can now enter the Grand Palace. They loan you shirts and pants for 100 baht (about $3 while we were there).

Hallways of the Grand Palace.

More of the Grand Palace frescos.

Close up on the frescos.

Dash is sick of being on my back and insists he get to climb to the top. Thank goodness for baby wipes - his hands and knees were filthy!

Wat (temple) inside the Grand Palace

More at the Grand Palace.

Yes, Dash was the only blond curly head child in the crowd (which was massive!)

Details at the Grand Palace.

Great door into the Grand Palace.

There's Dash - how do I get out of this stroller?

No really, I want OUT!

So we got back on the water taxi and headed down the praya to our hotel, to wait for Chris (coming in on the next flight, passport in tow, 12 hours behind us).

A look at the Grand Palace area dock.

Dash went piggyback on the way home.

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The Temple of the Dawn - we went to go see it on the 2nd but it looks like a stack of coke cans from far away.

More Dash.

He's not actually having fun - just delighted at the sight of the camera, which he wanted to play with the whole trip. Forget phones :)

There's a view of another, larger water taxi.

And back to the hotel to wait for Dad. Christmas trees were still up everywhere.

Chris arrived the afternoon of the 31st and we went swimming and went out for dinner at a local Thai restaurant - very cute - looked like a little house.

Dash endulging in his first mango shake. As at every meal, we had the pacifier (or "dummy" as we like to call it) at the ready.

It was necessary by about minute 5. This was one tired guy.

Having fun with the self-portraits - goodbye 2009!

Dash didn't make it past the appetizers.

Poor sleepy bear! He was zonked.

So we went back to the hotel, and watched the dinner boats cruising up the river for celebrations.

Looked fun!

Lots of fun activities going on at the Hilton across the river.

We were getting a little blurry-eyed ourselves, so went to bed about 10:30 (if that!).

And woke up at midnight to the sounds of this incredible fireworks display, right outside our hotel window.