Landing in Bangkok has always made my belly tickle with excitement, but this time it was even more sweet…Annabelle was with me. She was going to experience the land I grew to love with her own eyes. What a trip it was! No seat belts. No car seats. Smells that wilt the hair in your nostrils. Heat that embraces and never lets go and the smiles that never end.
In Bangkok we stayed at my former school with dear friends who took us in like family. Michelle helped me suction out the snot in Annabelle’s nose, retold past stories, and we got caught up with the now. Her three children added Annabelle as a fourth and Craig helped us all see Venus, Jupiter, and the moon in their lined up glory. I am so thankful for their hospitality.
While in Nonthaburi, Annabelle and I would walk to Big C to cool down in the air conditioning. Each trip managed for her to disappear in the hands of the jubilant Thai who exclaimed how she looked like a doll and whisked her off to their friends to prove it. So much fun! We also would sit at Pii Oot’s side for hours at a time catching up while she made me a coffee shake and then held Annabelle tight with a laugh. We talked about how much had changed since I first came to Thailand in 2003. So much has changed…but not between us.
We headed down to Pattaya to meet Barrett and had about 24 hours before he came. We took the opportunity to walk and greet the locals. Every motorcycle taxi, fruit vendor, bar girl, and massage personal stopped what they were doing to meet Annabelle. We waied and conversed in Thai at each stop. The look of joy in the wide smiles made all of our lonely birds fly away. Innocence was once again restored to these overworked simple people…if even for a moment.
That night we had a girls night out at an Italian restaurant that Barrett and I went to last year. We met the engaging owner last year and had such a good time that I wanted Annabelle to meet him. Believe it or not, he remembered us! So our dinner lasted over an hour with him dancing with Annabelle and us all sharing the time. What a blessed time.
Then daddy came! We were swimming in the pool and he dropped everything to come in and join us. Annabelle flashed a wide grin then cried when the splash hit her face. We caught up a bit and then met Col. Arick for dinner…at the Italian restaurant where our old friend came once again to meet and greet. Our dinner was sweet until Annabelle blew out of her diaper. We think it’s the Colonel. I had no change of clothes for her so I wrapped her in my nursing cover and we grabbed 7-11 ice cream and ate it on the beach. The best ice cream ever.
Onto the next morning where we all went to a community relations project at a place that takes children off of the street, gives them a place to stay, shows them how to work, and takes them to school. The Marines cleaned out their water storage unit and tilled the hard ground. The children had lunch with us and drilled the Marines before we left.
Then off to the Tiger Zoo for us. Col. Arick (Uncle Will) and three other Marines were with us as we saw Tigers jump threw flaming hoops, crocodiles de-pants a Thai handler (no joke…hilarious as he stood there in his speedo), elephants play basket ball, and sat next to an Orangutan. So many memories! We finished the night sharing Thai food for hours and walking to a mall.
We had a full next day of massages, swimming, food, and fun before Barrett had to leave. A sad departure yet we had such a good time that it was OK to wait until next time.
Annabelle and I headed back and in the remaining time we met a former student and my dearest friends who were with me from the beginning of my time there. So we left with ant and mosquito bites, a little food poisoning, always a sweating back and head, and returning our smiles for the land of 10,000 smiles. Man, I love Thailand. And Im thankful for my family who makes it that much better.
More to come…