Bangkok Week 855

November 14, 2024

The week started with Shin the giant caterpillar, and included a fun long-weekend in Trat. Big boy Arlo did a Taster Day at St. Andrews, and everyone is gearing up for Loy Krathong. Stay tuned!

Happy Friday, says the girl in her pajamas.

On the way out the door, met the largest caterpillar we've ever seen!

He was as long as my pointer finger, and almost as fat!

He came to school with Lucy and Arlo, and entertained the kids.

Arlo went to school for an hour...

... and then popped out for his assessment at St. Andrews.

This large boulder left an impression with him.

Showing off where she stores her dinner.

Stretching and ready for an exciting day ahead!

We're off to Trat, for the first time since July.

Everyone was happy that we were there.

Lucy approves of Bella's digs.

Oh my. New toys (and new old toys) to go around.

Dumping a shoeful of pebbles into Yaa's hand. How did those get there?

Checking out the trees in the back.

Just like in Ueno Park, the pond here is full of lotuses, too!

Yea plucked this flower for them to look at. (It's surprisingly light, which makes sense I guess.)

And then Dad managed to snag a flower in full bloom.

"Helping" Yaa cook dinner.

And a quick trip to visit Yaa's brother (and his family) down the road.

It's a rodeo in the house tonight!

Hang on, Lucy!

Can't call it a night without going fishing.

Up bright and early the next morning.

It was a fight for the trike all weekend.

The two little "helpers" are back, this time eager to "help" sweep.

Both Lucy and Arlo enjoy having Yaa brush their hair.

Prancing around upstairs.

"Hi, Bellllla!"

Visiting the family's rice paddies.

Most of the rice had been harvested, but a few stalks on the edge were missed.

Two city girlz.

Next stop: the rubber plantation.

Lucy and Arlo both were very interested in how the latex was collected.

It does eventually harden, but it's a sticky liquid when it first comes out.

Looking down over the river that's right below the land.

Someone else has planted pineapples on the land immediately next door... but none were growing yet.

Stopping to visit Puu's sister (can't you tell?) on the way home.

There's a new cafe, ice cream shop, and (tiny) hotel just down the road.

The ice cream was home-made, tasty, and inexpensive!

They were also home to two giant tortoises...

...and lots of fish.

10 baht to feed the fish? Why not.

Enjoying the fruit back at home. Orange season is starting!

Here goes the dangerous duo again.

As if one ice cream a day weren't enough...

Lucy figured out the pedaling motion this trip.

Taking a quick trip around the yard with Aa'Top on his new electric bike.

This hairbrushing routine reveals how easily tangled Lucy's hair is!

Monday morning already?

Bella knows something is up.

Saying bye to their up-country sister.

See everyone again soon!

Bye bye, Bella! See you soon!

Quick stop at everyone's favorite Shell on the way home.

This one is new (or more prominently positioned).

Captaining the rocket ship.

The cafe backs onto this pond, with a two-story seating area overlooking it! Who knew!

Back home just after noon, in time to splash in the sun (and for Mum & Dad to work).

Lucy's Loy Krathong outfit arrived from the north.

Arlo's getting ready to make his Krathong later this week.

Tuesday is another special day! Arlo is spending it at St. Andrews, in what they call a "Taster Day".

We can bike to school in no time.

This will be so convenient!

Lucy is missing her brother, and insisted on coming to his side to play first.

Arlo was back at Annabel's in time for Thai class and football.

What a long day! But he had a spring in his step throughout, and hasn't stopped talking about St. Andrews since.

Uh oh! Arlo's stuck!

Jumping from hill to hill with Amalia after school.

Playing with a game he made in Thai class.

The air is bad these days, so there's no garden time before school.

Caught red-handed!

Enjoying a cake pop after school while waiting to be picked up... the traffic was so bad, no tuk-tuk could be found :(

And someone turns 5 years and 2 months old today!

Halloween continues: these two ghosts were spotted running around Lucy's room.

And if that weren't enough, someone really wants to wear this dress for Loy Krathong tomorrow.