Rayong - Boxing Week 2022

We're off to Rayong in a few hours... and here's our new ride for the journey!

Arlo approves!

Uh oh! We haven't even left the driveway, and Arlo's eating his snacks and asking if we're there yet!

New car, new car seat. What's going on?

At least one person has decided to catch some Zzz's.

Leg-stretching break! We've made it about 75% of the way there.

When there's an Amazon, there's a coffee too.

Enjoying being out of the car seat.

Hey, they even have an old, photogenic building to pose with.

Hey! Someone got a whole chocolate stroopwafel for the rest of the journey!

We've arrived! Granny and Arlo chill in the lobby while Mum checks in.

Lucy's down with the beach vibes.

Oh my, oh my! What a comfortable bed!

Not 30 seconds in the room, and both of them identify the big, cushy bed.

Then a quick lunch at a nearby fishing village.

Eating over the ocean.

Lucy's not dined out at a restaurant in a long time!

Arlo was interested in the fishing boats, and the fishermen on them.

Back at the hotel, exploring the property. It's high tide right now!

Lucy's seeing the sea for the first time. Listen to the waves!

Arlo's already begun his shell-collecting mission.

A quick hello to the bunnies...

... before parking himself in the sand, to dig, excavate, dump, and flatten.

Arlo's happy.

Wow, what a mountain, Arlo!

Brr! It's time to swim, and it's pretty chilly.

Putting his elbow-elbow-tummy-knee into action in exactly the wrong spot.

Cheese!

Now show your tongues!

All smiles!

After eyeing it for the past 2 visits, trying the water slide with Dad.

And now the big water slide.

Splash down!

Brr! Hurry up and dry off the boy with purple lips.

These two are warm, dry, and and enjoying the evening beach breeze.

The dry crowd.

Lucy is entertaining Grandpa.

"Here, Grandpa. I brought these two neat balls!...

... and now let me whack you with them!"

Meanwhile, on the beach, Granny and Arlo are inspecting the waves.

Lukewarm about the ocean water.

Running back to land to tell Mum about the sea.

And finally it's Lucy's turn: her inaugural touching of the ocean waters.

A little bit unsure, but enjoying the breeze.

With m'babies.

Hanging out with Granny now.

Granny's fun!

The impact hammer is a great tool for the beach!

Arlo approves! (And could do this all day.)

Lucy's sitting patiently on the blankets, but wondering why oh why we can't sit on the sand!

And now, it's shell time!

What started as a fine art of selection has turned into a gold rush.

Arlo's enjoying walking along the sand. What a difference school has made!

More impact hammer work to be done before the sun sets.

This impact hammer is going to sleep well tonight!

Playing away the day.

A beautiful sunset, as seen from the main hotel building.

The next morning, Lucy's up early, and she can't seem to remember where she is or what happened last night!

In fact, she looks appalled to be someone other than her bedroom.

But after some cajoling, and a nice view, Lucy is happy to start another day at the beach.

Hooray! Another day at the beach!

Let's all be thankful for what we have.

Thinking about what she wants to do first today.

First: a quick (and cute) wardrobe change.

Waiting patiently at the bath tub. Because why not.

Arlo's down for some soccer before breakfast.

Running with gusto, despite not yet having had his coffee.

Arlo's coordination - if not his overall soccer skills - have improved a lot since last year.

Uh oh. Good luck scoring on Dad, Arlo.

Lucy's cheering on from the sidelines.

And eating her breakfast.

Sitting pretty, with her guardian gentlemen watching over her shoulder.

Inspecting the grass. So much to see in nature!

The boys at the top of the amphitheater.

And finally breakfast time; Arlo's enjoying his breakfast olives.

And he's settled into position for a fun morning: on the sand, in the shade.

Arlo's got this whole "beach" to himself.

Time for a dip in the pool, with Grandpa this time.

Brr! The goggle boys find it chilly!

Back in the hotel room, Lucy wakes up from her morning nap... and is still not sure where she is.

Enjoying the newly-renovated Kids Club.

Arlo's really into the water cannon.

Intently focusing... and pretending that he's a pumper truck.

Meanwhile, Granny and Lucy are dipping their toes into the wading pool.

You'd think the baby pool would be a bit warmer... but no.

Lucy really enjoyed sitting on the edge of the pool and splashing with her feet.

Time to warm up and change.

Staying shaded in style.

A huge treat for Arlo: riding back from the Kids Club to the hotel building in a golf cart -- front row seat!

Highlight of the trip for Arlo!

Posing with the golf cart.

Back in the room for lunch, and entertaining herself with some toys she knows and loves.

Storytime for Arlo, with Granny.

And naptime for Lucy. This was her signature napping position throughout the trip.

In the room next door, someone else settled in for his nap, too.

Then, eager to practice her walking and get around, Lucy spent some time in the kids club. She had the whole place to herself for a while.

These rings are pretty tasty!

And after Arlo wakes up from his nap, he assumes his afternoon position.

A real Asian!

Arlo could sit here all day and play!

Very proudly showing off the shell balanced on his finger.

Oh! What's Arlo got? Enjoying a treat, courtesy of Granny.

Lucy wonders where her ice cream is!

Here it is! Lucy and Dad share a poolside scoop.

And finally, it's Mum's turn in the chilly pool with Arlo.

It's his first time driving a duck!

And then a quick dip in the ocean, and a photo on the swing (which happens to be vacant).

Posing with another beautiful sunset.

Everybody now!

Can't beat a good Thai sunset!

Someone's losing energy, since she got up so long ago.

Dinner time again, at our "regular" spot on the balcony.

Lucy thinks she owns this place!

Hey! It's Thursday morning! I think I'm getting used to this place now!

Welcoming the new day like a cutie.

Arlo's found his spot for the morning, and is carefully inspecting the site.

Lucy's come down to play at Arlo's spot, too.

Cheese!

And now it's Lucy's turn to take a dip in the big pool.

Going all the way to the top end, to check out the sharks.

Amazing Lucy, swimming with the sharks at only 9 months of age.

Hey look, Arlo's here too!

Three generations of lovely ladies. (If I may say so myself.)

Hi Lucy! Look at you, swimming all by yourself in the big pool!

Arlo finally wants in on the action, too.

More specifically, Arlo wants in on Lucy's float.

Driving his sister around. Somehow, though, I don't think it was out of the kindness of his heart!

Well-framed action shot, courtesy of Granny.

And this is proof that Mum was trying to stay as dry as possible.

Our little burrito, warming up after that chilly dip.

Back in the room for lunch; someone's enjoying herself!

Of all the things in the room to play with, and all the toys we brought from Bangkok... the bathtub is the most fun.

Hanging out with my big boy in the lobby nest.

Pensive big baby bird.

This is what Arlo's been waiting for: a chance to play ping pong with a real table!

He's starting with a tricky racket sport.

Then the boys in yellow all head off on a golf cart excursion.

Waiting patiently in the sports bar, and watching the sun set, while the lovely ladies (if I may say so myself) ready themselves to come down.

And Arlo's found another lovely construction site for his last evening in Rayong.

Wishing he could live here year-round.

Look at these trucks, working so hard.

The dump truck is going to be as tired as Arlo. Maybe more!

Lucy's entertaining Grandpa again on the blankets.

And she's getting a kick out of the soccer ball.

Discovering that her dress is very tasty indeed.

Another day, another beautiful sunset.

Hey look! Arlo is getting very good at balancing shells on his fingers!

Miss Lucy is really chuffed, because she's discovered that sand tastes delicious.

Happy to be out on the beach, in the evening breeze.

This was supposed to be a photo of Granny, Dad, and Arlo. Well, I suppose it is!

Shaking things up this evening: going for a long walk along the beach, for dinner at a beachside restaurant.

Classic beachside Thailand: umbrellas, rainbow chairs, neon lights.

Lucy could get down with this.

Waiting patiently for dinner to come.

Bon Appetit!

Bonus! On the walk back through the Moo Baan, we pass a Polaris - just like Arlo's Matchbox car.

Good Friday morning: everyone's ready for an earlier brekkie today.

Arlo's gone for only the healthiest.

Taking a stroll to the beach, and enjoying the pristine views along the way.

Look, the whole resort to ourselves!

Cheese!

Checking out the little sand balls made by the burrowing crabs. Arlo doesn't remember seeing these before.

Can you spot any crabs?

And dashing off, wasting no time to find his favorite construction site.

Lucy, too, is making the most of the last morning there.

Applauding the beach.

Best effort attempt to take a photo of Lucy and Arlo together.

Putting his arm around his sister.

I love you, big brother Arlo! You're so cool!

Today they're building roads.

Civil engineer-in-training? Or truck driver-to-be?

Lucy needs one more quick nap before we head out.

And Arlo and Grandpa go for one last swim.

They've made it their mission (or, Grandpa has made it his mission?) to swim the entire length of the pool.

Peace!, from the bottom tip of the pool.

Stopping to pick up Mum...

And playing some water polo (?).

Arlo scores (himself)!

Attempting one last photo with m'babies.

Quick lunch stop at our favorite place in Klaeng. (Or, second-favorite, after the Lotus's?)

And while Arlo enjoys the good views on the drive home...

... Lucy catches up on some sleep...

... as does Granny. See you back in Bangkok!