Bangkok Week 706 — Mika's Photos

Happy New Year's Eve! Arlo began the day by requesting that his tent be set up!

Spending time outdoors at the park while we can. Today, Arlo's practicing his balancing skills.

Lots of practice still needed on the biking front; but we're mastering the hamming-it-up.

After quite some effort, we've arrived at our destination: the playground! Arlo springs into action!

Down the slide he goes.

His assessment? "This is a slow slide."

He finally works up the courage to try the big slide!

Good job, Arlo! Here's a slap in the head from Dad.

Monkey by name, monkey by nature.

Resting. Right here.

And riding the see-saw with Dad. Dad's good at bouncing!

And equally content to be riding with a friend he just met.

Posing in the park. He's such a natural.

Surprisingly, the sunflowers are still alive and in bloom!

The boys are enthralled by the volleyball game.

Practicing his biking in the skateboard park, before heading home.

Oh, I missed you guys so much, says Bella.

Lucky Arlo was fortunate to stumble upon a Supercar during our walk around the block.

The car's owners are inside the teashop, busily enjoying their tea.

While Arlo is busily enjoying their car outside.

Dad and Arlo, in their matching Roots t-shirts!

Arlo enjoying an animal cracker, and talking to his Puu. Happy New Year's Eve!

To ring in the new year: red wine (from the Bangkok Shangri-La) and freshly-made baked ziti.

Going out with a bang. Well, a full tummy anyway!

Happy 2022, Arlo!

When we said, "Happy New Year!", Arlo asked if Santa had come and left lots of presents under the tree...

A garbage truck, and a mail delivery truck!! Wow!

Helping Ba Wan with the gardening.

We visited Hua Lamphong station (officially, "Bangkok railway station"), which is having a special commemorative exhibit right now -- including of some old steam trains.

Arlo was not interested in posing with the train! Let's just look at them up close!

Boarding one of the steam trains, to try to find his friend Carson.

We found them, in this nice dining car!

Making himself at home, at one of the bar seats.

The boys were excited to see the neighboring train pull out of the station.

SRT Prestige! Actually, these trains are still operational for special, occasional trips.

Posing with Dad in front of locomotive 715.

Uh oh! Don't fall onto the tracks!

Some (very) old posters, warning people of the dangers of the new train!

And here's forest-green locomotive 713.

A beautiful red cowcatcher on this locomotive.

We made it! All the way back to Bangkok!

The station opened in 1916 (just over 105 years ago)... but its future is uncertain now!

The grand Main Hall, with a portrait of King Rama V looming over.

They've converted these old wheels and axle into a nice bench in front of the station.

We collected 10 stamps throughout the station, and in return earned a commemorative stamp set and a keychain.

Waiting, while Dad goes to find Stamp #10, in a far-flung place in the station.

The station is still very much operational. Here, a motorcycle was just loaded into this cargo car.

It would be a shame to see this station razed and replaced with another mall or something.

There's quite a bit of momentum behind the movement to preserve it as a building of historic significance. So let's see!

Back at home, Arlo is inventorying all his cars and trucks (including the new garbage truck and mail delivery truck).

Helping Ba Wan with the housework.

And helping Mum take Bella for a walk.

Why not! You can walk Bella yourself now, Arlo!

(They do walk at more or less the same pace.)

Good morning, Sunday! Arlo decided that Mum & Dad's bed is the better one to wake up in.

New year, new opportunity to organize our affairs. We're off to IKEA for a quick shopping trip!

Running to the main building. Who can get there first?

Arlo's wasting no time! In fact, he looks like a shopping spree natural.

Rushing over to the play kitchen to see what he can find.

Trying out the big kid's beds.

This office chair fits nicely.

We're on a very targeted mission. Time to head downstairs to find what we came for!

For a short while, Arlo opts to sit in the shopping cart: it's novel.

But he soon realized it's more fun to push!

Now we're in the warehouse section: Dad's pulled out the big guns.

Arlo pushes, while Dad fetches the big boxes.

This works too: riding on the trolley.

Trying out the office chairs in the as-is section.

And stopping at Mega Park behind the mall, before heading home. Arlo was very cautious around the fountains this time.

Run-run-running in the grass.

Practicing his climbing skills, with a little assistance.

Zoom! Now this is a nice fast slide.

Wow, what's this? A giant slide.

And whoosh, is it a fast one too! Good thing Dad's down there to catch Arlo!

Water break!

Arlo only agreed to step into the fountain if Mum picked him up. And even so, we didn't last long.

Finally, the playground for little kids is open. Although to Arlo, it's not much fun.

Running down a hill, toward Dad.

And a few rides on the escalator, before heading home.

Et le voilà: one of two finished products. To solve our storage problem.

Watching The Snowman, one last time this holiday season.

For dinner, another special treat: spaghetti and meatballs, featuring IKEA's plant-based balls.

I must say, the meatballs significantly exceeded my expectations. They tasted really great, and were very fairly priced for the quantity you get.

Monday morning: and another trip to the park / playground.

Eventually we'll reach the playground! But we have to stop every 5 pushes, to make an observation.

"Do I look like Grandpa?"

Playing in the tunnel.

Getting bolder about exploring all the different parts of the equipment.

Driving the playground.

Waiting patiently on the smaller slide, until the traffic clears from the big slide...

... so that he can ride the big slide in peace.

Feeding the turtles with our stale bread.

And trying the scooter inside the skateboard park.

He basically had the whole place to himself.

Hey, this incline makes for a good slide, too!

Doing painting for the first time in a long while.

Now that's more like it! Thank you for the paintbrush!

The artist needs a thicker canvas, after tearing a hole in the middle of this one.

Getting ready to dive into these nice fresh paint blobs.

The artist shows off his finished masterpiece.

Not interested in putting clothes back on after the painting. But... will wear a bib as a concession.

Playing some music with Mum.

We call this piece, Why Do I Feel So Cold?

Arlo having a dainty Japanese bath tonight

Brushing up on his matching skills: we haven't played with these cards in a while.

Flying around with Dad.

Trying to find just the right toy in the bin.

And visiting Playville, a nice indoor play (and family) space not too far away.

And grabs a basket to go shopping.

Eagle-eyed Arlo spotted a small cement mixer and dump truck. He would keep an eye on these the whole time!

He also found a pair of wooden scissors. So now, it's time to "cut" everything he can find. Like this clothes rack.

They had a nice sand box outside, complete with boots for those less inclined to stand in sand...

... but even so, Arlo was neutral about the experience. (They did have some neat sand toys.)

Driving that Cement Mixer around again.

And finally: is it time to face the ball pit?

It look us about 10 minutes to go down the slide the first time.

He finally did it, but only after Mum "moved the balls" out of the way at the bottom.

A smile of happiness?

Okay, these balls aren't too bad...

Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!

Arlo also spent a long time washing and chopping veggies.

Posing with N'Paul, who's 1 year younger, and his mom (Mum's former colleague).

And we end this week with another shot of long-nosed Bella. See you next time!