For My Dad, the Electrician

Dad, here are some fantastic examples of how electricity can work. I thought you could take some pointers from the Thai people. All of these are within reaching height, so we can easily go back and note ample notes.

Things We Learned for Future Travel (to Future Us)

• Exchange money before you leave. This makes life less stressful when cabs don't take Visa.
• Take two forms of credit cards. 
• Call ALL banks before you go, just in case.
• Registering with the Embassy was worth the ten extra minutes.
• Take the time to do TSA precheck and global precheck. Or, if you are looking for a way to be extremely irritating to your spouse who took the time to do this and encouraged you to do it also, don't sign up and then lament when he doesn't want to wait with you in the TSA line :-). Sorry Bob. 
• Buy things like sunblock and bug spray BEFORE you go. They can be VERY expensive and very frustrating.
• Do laundry/get laundry done at least one day before you are desperate for clean undies (because everything takes longer than you expect).
• If going on adventures, bring snacks that you are accustomed to. Ignore your husband when he says you are a neurotic, over packing maniac and do it anyway. (Ding, one for Jen)
• Keep travel stuff together so that it is easily found ie: neck pillow, money belt, earplugs, small blanket "borrowed" from Delta, eye masks, sleeping pills, watch, etc...
• Bring cash. Exchange it before you go.
• Exchange money before you go!
• Take rain gear...invest in a lightweight, breathable jacket that is waterproof, not resistant. 
• Ask a neighbor to turn up the heat/air conditioning at home 24 hours before you come home.
• If using a credit card at ATM's, make sure you have PIN. TAKE CASH, as well :-).
• Bring a cord for your camera or buy a camera that gets online. Do not depend on computers in hotels to have camera card readers. 
• If you buy your husband liquid travel bottles, make sure he doesn't plan to use your liquids before he decides not to pack any. One tiny tube of toothpaste is not enough for two people for two weeks.
• There is no need for the Bisha's to go to another city in a Developing Nation. If, future Bisha's, you feel the need to go, take a face mask to fend off the overwhelming amount of pollution.
• Don't go to another city in a Developing Nation. If you go, take Cash. 
• Take cash no matter what.
• Having paper copies in plastic slips in a binder organized by date order is, after all, a great idea.  Ignore your husband when he says you are a neurotic, over packing maniac and prepare one  anyway. (Ding, two for Jen)
• Make copies of your passports. Ignore your husband when he says you are a neurotic, over packing maniac and take copies anyway. (Ding, three for Jen)
• Order any guidebooks you want before you go. This will save you three hours of walking around the jungle in search of the store who has the specific one you read about and should/could have ordered on Amazon three months prior to leaving.
• Triple check your flight schedule one month, two weeks and two days before you. 
• Fly Delta. They have OUTSTANDING customer service, as long as you don't have children. Delta was an integral and very helpful part of our trip.
• Take a phone that can get on the system, particularly GPS, no matter what. Pay the extra money and take the d**n phone.
• Fly directly into the place closest to where you want to be. Don't mess around. You will pay for this cheapness in the long run on taxis, ferries, and time lost from your trip. Pay extra for convenience. 
• Exchange some money before you go on the currency of each country you will be visiting!!!!

Revisiting Singapore...as Executives

Traveling to a country for a day, getting lost, waisting tons of time and figuring out how not to visit that place was great practice. On our second round of visiting Singapore we had a fantastic time and knew just what to expect. As an added bonus, we were able to buy a lifetime supply of condoms at House of Condom :-).

We had been pretty conservative for most of the trip, but Singapore will wipe conservative right out from under you. We quickly blew a wad of money on the cable car to Sentosa Island, which was a lovely ride over the water and gave a great view of the city. This is rated the number one most toursity thing you can do here. Check. 

After seeing how good we looked as high adventurers, we heeded the advice of the signs all over the island and decided that happiness really is flying without wings. As a mid-afternoon tropical stormed ensued we took flight in the world's largest indoor sky diving tunnel. It was VERY different from actually diving as there is no free fall time and the whole jumping out of an airplane bit is eliminated, but it was outrageously fun and we were really happy to have had the opportunity. Highly suggested to anyone that has the chance!

For my Mom and Dad! We found a Hershey's store and had to take a photo with this guy. Too funny.

A couple of shots of the city at night from the Cable Car. The city transforms at sunset and becomes a mecca of restaurants, entertainment and energy.

5:30am flight? Who cares!? Let's figure out the public transportation system and go across the city to see the Gardens by the Bay at night! Turns out it was well worth it. It was calm and peaceful and this "super tree grove" transported us to another world. A wonderful ending to a fantastic trip. 

Paradise Found... ourists

Stories to come later! Just wanted to get some photos up!

Scooting, Caving & Mango with Sticky Rice-Chiang Mai

Stories to come later! Just wanted to get some photos up!

Temples and Curry and Massage, Oh My!

After our most fabulous day at the Elephant Nature Park, we wondered around the "old city" to find a famous temple, have dinner and try out our first Thai massage.

The temples here are absolutely incredible and can found at the turn of almost every corner...over 300 temples in Chiang Mai alone. They are absolutely stunning, calm and peaceful, right off of a bustling main street. All are welcome to join the monks inside to sit and clear the mind for as little or long of a time as they please. It feels quite different than most closed door churches in the states and was not only an astounding feat of architecture, but also very welcoming.

Mai Tais followed by the most wonderful, aggressive, stretchy massage I have ever experienced made for an absolutely spectacular day. We will be going back for as many massages as possible (for 200 baht each, about 8 dollars) before we leave Thailand!

We have also really enjoyed cruising around the old city in a tuktuk. This is always an adventure where you have to sit back and trust that the driver knows the city MUCH better than you. So far, that has always been true :-). I absolutely love the yellow curry and mango with sticky rice. Last night my curry was served to me in a whole, fresh coconut. Spectacular.