College Students Are Not So Bad

During our last couple of weeks in Bangkok, Kim and Dan started to feel satisfied that they'd really gotten some quality time with Anna and Max. Fortunately, some of the Cal Poly students were ready to step in and spend some quality time with them themselves so that Kim and Dan could go out together. Anna and Max got to spend almost a full day with Annie and Josh, a couple of crazy engineering students that had started hanging out together during the trip. They took the kids out on a fun journey around the city, played games with them at the mall, and got them treats at the fancy doughnut shop. Kim and Dan got some work done, went for a massage (oh, we will miss the $6 massages), had some great grownup food, and visited the famous Oriental Hotel for a cocktail. The Oriental has housed some of the most famous European writers and travelers over the past century and it is a model of extravagant living. After our family got back together, we all went down to the National Puppet Theatre and saw The Birth of Ganesh, a mythological story about one of the major gods of Hinduism (though Buddhist in name, the Thais kind of like a mix of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Animism - think animal spirits). Anyways, the puppet show was wondrous. The puppets are on sticks coordinated by actors (three to a puppet) who dance, gesture, and react in synch with the puppets themselves. A live orchestra with traditional Thai instruments accompanied the performance. Afterwards we were all able to "worship" Ganesh and try to get a little of his strength and ancient wisdom to seep into our selves. Oh, by the way, Ganesh has the head of an elephant - think of the teasing he must have had to put up with at school.
Monica, Shelley, and Emma all got to take turns watching the kids at some point as well. Kim adn Dan got some really fun time down at Kao San Road, the famed hippie hangout area in central Bangkok. They went to a cool rooftop hookah (water pipe) bar, got another message, and snuck in some more of that really spicy food that Anna and Max cannot deal with.
In our last week, we had a going away party from the college here and a going away river cruise on the Chao Praya River with all of the Cal Poly students. Both were really fun. Anna and Max spent the whole river cruise goofing off with the Cal Poly students. Kim, Dan, and Ginger loved the incredible view of the whole city going by as we ate. The college party was filled with slideshows, speeches, music, dancing, food, picture taking, and lots of silliness. The Thais bent over backwards as usual to make us feel loved and respected. The Cal Poly students had a nice farewell present for Dan and our family. Everyone agreed it was the best trip ever!