Bangkok Week 628

July 9, 2020

It’s a long weekend in Thailand, and we’re off to Hua Hin. Lucky Arlo gets to stay at two beautiful resorts, with wonderful swimming pools! Fun!

It's Friday morning, and we're off on another road trip. Lucky Arlo! Where to, this time?

Hua Hin! We're staying for 3 nights: this first night at the Hyatt Regency.

It's a beautiful property. Lots of space, and greenery. Too bad it was overcast (and rainy) most of the time!

Arlo's thrilled to be here.

They have a huge network of lagoons and pools, all connected. See the water slide on the right?

One of the main open swim areas.

A rope bridge, covered in tamarind that has just fallen from the tree overhead!

Their artificial beach, with the "real" beach in the background.

Here's the beach, and the Gulf of Thailand.

Checking out our room. Arlo's bed gets his stamp of approval!

Arlo's happy to hang out in this pack-and-play all afternoon.

But Mum has other plans for him.

Down to hang out at the Kids Club, while we wait for Dad to go get dinner.

Exploring this space - which is clearly for play.

"Okay. I could dig this rocking giraffe."

Uh oh! Swim time! Let's warm up in the kiddie pool.

Why, Arlo likes it after all.

Dipping his face into the water. That's his new favorite move.

And trying out that social distancing ring that Mum & Dad bought last week.

Cheese!

Next, an upgrade to the big pool!

Two ants in a giant lagoon.

With our picturesque backdrop. Arlo's having fun!

Uh oh! The glasses thief came with us from Bangkok!

Father and son. Under the sun. Oh wait, nope.

What's this? Sand? It's edible, right?

Hmm. Nope. Most definitely not edible.

After a fun afternoon, it's dinner time. We were the only diners inside the hotel restaurant!

Arlo's the boss of this joint.

Saturday morning, Arlo's firing up the laptop to call Granny and Grandpa.

Wow. Lucky Arlo. What a nice, big remote he found.

Papaya for breakfast at the buffet. That's novel.

Nope. Arlo the boss prefers his apple.

Getting in another swim before we have to check out.

Off we go! Around the lagoons.

Swimming through the lagoons, that pass in front of many guest rooms.

Having fun, despite the drizzle.

Time for water. (As if we didn't just drink enough of the pool.)

Did we mention it was overcast skies?

Arlo's first time on the beach!

Group shot. (Get me out of here, Arlo says.)

We're spending the next 2 nights just up the road, at the Hua Hin Mariott Resort & Spa.

It's a much newer hotel (opened within the last ~4 years?) and you can tell!

Our neighbor, a snail, working his way up (and over?) the giant leaf.

Quick stop to check out this kids' club.

Arlo does some cooking, and concludes that the other kids' club was more his speed.

But we can't fault this hotel for its kids' water park!

Woah! Check out all these water jets!

So many water jets to try and grab.

Woah!

This is impossible!

Even more jets; guys, this is fun!

And a water mushroom.

And a tiny pool that's perfect for Arlo.

Splash splash!

He's ready to swim! Better upgrade to the big pool then.

Time for the family pool.

This is fun!

Doing his signature face dip.

Arlo could swim all afternoon!

Swimming with Dad for the first time!

Look! We found a fish in the pool!

Practicing his backstroke and kicks.

Arlo's so tall!

Yay, this is fun!

Dad's a good swim partner, too.

After another long and tiring afternoon, we're off to dinner at a nearby vegetarian restaurant. Look at the durian in the downtown sidewalks.

Yum - pulled "pork" burger. But Arlo's got his eye on the fry.

Sunday morning is looking good! This is the weather we came for!

And a sunny view the other way, from our balcony.

The two boys, doing some Sunday morning people-watching.

Time for our morning swim! Off on a loop around the property.

Arlo's finally getting used to this social distancing ring. And the hat is not so bad, either.

Hey look! Another snail friend.

Wowee! Jacuzzi jets!

And a water tunnel! How awesome!

Having fun in the sun!

Back in the big pool.

Group shot!

We couldn't come out to swim without doing a detour through the water jets.

It's worth it!

Popping down to the beach while the tide is out.

Too sunny to stay here! We'll have to come back much later in the day!

Oh boy! Arlo's pooped from all that swimming.

Off to lunch at a nearby mall.

We dined at Sizzler, for it's unlimited salad bar - complete with new standards for the "new norms".

Arlo loved it! Broccoli, pumpkin, quail eggs - so much he could feed himself!

"We should have lunch here everyday, guys!"

Spotted at a nearby Family Mart: entire watermelon for sale!

The two boys, doing some more people-watching.

What a handsome duo.

Powering up before our next round of swimming.

"Am I eating this the right way, Dad?"

Here we go again! Another loop around the pool.

Excited by what he sees!

The water curtain! Arlo loves the water curtain!

And yay! More of these water shooters.

"Let's go again, mum!"

Down at the beach again; the tide has come up.

And all the resident horses are waiting for tourists to take for a ride.

"Woah! Guys! Do you see those giant dogs??"

Very pleased by the horses.

Arlo and Mum.

Trying to get a family shot, here.

This is the best we could do.

Arlo vs. Sand: the second edition.

Taking the hotel shuttle home from dinner. Arlo's confused.

Sunset over the hotel.

Sunset over Hua Hin.

Yay, it's a holiday Monday!

Arlo's pretending he doesn't have to go home today. Life is good with this pack-and-play, and the pools.

Family portrait!

Oh hey! The boy in the mirror came to Hua Hin, too. What a coincidence.

Kisses for the boy!

Reading one of Arlo's favorite books, while Mum gets ready for the swim.

Arlo loves Penguin!

One last loop around the hotel pool!

What's this? Arlo sees something that looks fun.

The bubble zone!!!

That was fun! What's next?

More water jets!

These are nice, too.

Oh oh oh! But nothing can beat...

... the water curtain!

Yay! The water curtain! Let's do the water curtain again, guys!

Looking back toward the water curtain. How about just one more time?

And one final play in the water fountains.

Still so many jets!

Arlo still hasn't managed to catch them. I guess we'll just have to stay longer.

And one last swim in the big pool.

This is fun, Mum!

Yay! Swimming!

And Arlo's practicing his flying, too!

Up up and away!

Final farewell to Hua Hin.

All our stuff, waiting for our car. We pack light!

Arlo's entertainment for the 3.5-hour drive back to Bangkok.

And finally. A nap.

Back to reality, Arlo! At least he's excited to see all his friends again.

And finally! Some proper finger food!

Reading with K. Noi on Tuesday morning.

What's this? Mum found Arlo yet another new toy!

Pop! Now it's Arlo's turn to try the tunnel.

A day later, Arlo works up the courage.

And through he goes!

Lucky Arlo! He didn't have to wait long before his Wednesday swimming lesson!

A quick visit to the hospital, for Arlo's dermatologist follow-up.

All clear! And hopefully, no need to come back.

Looking out the window on Thursday. Good bye, and see you soon!