Bangkok Week 824

April 11, 2024

We’re entering the Songkran season! Arlo’s school is on a 2-week break now, and the heat is at its peak. How can we entertain ourselves while keeping cool? Let’s find out!

It's the last day of school for the term, and they're celebrating Songkran (a week early, but nevermind).

Pouring the water on the Phra.

Arlo really wanted Lucy to come to school as well, which was very sweet.

By now, Lucy is totally comfortable at school and can entertain herself.

Watching her big brother on the monkey bars. Lucy will be next!

And trying her hand at Som Tum.

After dropping Arlo off at school, Lucy retreats to the office to "work".

Last swimming lesson before the Songkran break.

Special treat for Arlo after the half-day at school: ice cream with friends!

The seaweed has taken over the fish tank, so it's time to take it out.

Stylish monkey in her Native shoes.

Someone can climb to the top of the monkey bars and hang (for a short while). She's her own liability.

Nice lighting at sunset.

Lucy demonstrates how to cool off.

Someone knows how to help herself to milk now.

Another "picnic" breakfast.

Arlo's been asking for weeks to go to Rot Fai park to bike, so here we are.

Lucy prefers to hold onto Mum's shirt, not the handlebars.

It's awfully hot today!

Stopping for a cold water and cold juice break.

Even Arlo thinks it's too hot to bike!

Cooling off in the A/C'd entrance to the butterfly garden.

Looks like it's too hot even for the butterflies!

Time to head home! We'll need to save our biking for a slightly cooler time of year (or the late afternoon).

Arlo still has a swimming lesson in the afternoon...

... and then a visit from his friend Aya and her family in the evening!

We had lots of fun with the GoPro camera in the pool.

Arlo enjoyed swimming with Aya's older sister, Doreen.

Lucy easily touches the bottom of the big pool when she jumps in.

Where's Lucy?

And this is Arlo, mid-backward-summersault.

Everyone say, "Cheese Pizza!"

Playing "Memory". Arlo is finally getting the hang of it.

Uh oh! Where did all the kids go!?

Entertaining himself first thing in the morning.

Lucy's enjoying an egg for breakfast. A chocolate easter egg, that is.

An important message for Auntie Jasmine, whom we'll be seeing soon!

And a belated message for Granny.

Only trouble can happen when Arlo wields the hose like this.

Special trip to our favorite store on Rama 4!

Lucy had a blast, zipping around on a new balance bike. (She insisted on wearing the helmet.)

In this case, I think "big ball" is accurate.

This store is more entertaining than Harborland!

Special treat before heading home.

Trying out Dad's new purchase for the balcony.

Mum made brusselsprouts!

Dad with his two little monkeys.

It's never too early to wear Songkran shirts!

It's been exactly 1 year since we last came to Harborland...

... and so this family is back for our annual visit!

Lucy doesn't remember being here, so for her it was all new and uber-exciting!

The ball pits were a blast!

Going down the roller slide together.

Arlo was much braver and much more independent than a year ago.

Snack break!

Lucy adored all the balls.

And Arlo had his own ideas.

Arlo showed no hesitation when he scaled this giant volcano...

... and turned right around to slide back down again.

This air cannon was great entertainment.

Winding down with some quiet painting.

Lucy lasted for about 45 seconds...

... whereas Arlo actually sat and painted two cars.

The cactus was in full bloom, waiting for us at home.

Posing for portraits before nap time. (Procrastinating, I daresay.)

And finally tackling a task that's been long in the waiting...

... replanting all the baby cactuses!

Done for now! (But there are still 2 more adult cactuses' worth of babies that we've yet to tackle.

Arlo's latest purchase: sand timers!

Someone fell asleep on the guest bed, while waiting for Mum to finish her evening calls.

Taking inspiration from Princess Leia this morning.

New fish for our collection, courtesy of Larissa and her dad.

These will grow up to be beautiful metallic guppies.

Lucy's ice cream birthday cake is still providing dessert after dinner. Great value!

Waking up to watch the tennis lesson next door.

Sharing potato chips.

And biking into a beautiful sunset.