Hello 2011

What a New Years weekend we had.  Initially I wanted to book us a weekend at an island called Koh Chang, about 2 hours from Pattaya but being that I left it so late everything affordable was booked out. So we decided to just hang out at home and take small day trips which turned out to be the most relaxing thing to do.  Our first couple of days were just spent hanging out at home and by the pool not doing much at all.  New Years Eve we made a last minute decision to go to the local restaurant we like and they happened to have a all you can eat buffet and a pig on the spit and of course some Karaoke and a couple of Go Go girls.  It was a simple night that started off well but then the DJ changed the music and it got very lame and boring very quick.  Thankfully a couple we knew arrived and we had someone to talk to.  The kids enjoyed themselves though, running around and dancing.  There was a man selling huge cylinders of fireworks and one of the owners of the pub bought one and headed across the street into the trees and set it off at about 9.30.  It was so loud, I have never been that close up to fireworks before so it was quite a sight.  Lillie ran off screaming as she was scared of all the noises but once she saw the sparks in the sky above us she wanted more.  I went to go to the bathroom later that night and there was a soi dog (street dog) hiding in the ladies cubicle, it refused to move, blink or anything.  It was a bit scary going pee pee next to such a big dog,he was missing hair everywhere and his ears were badly bitten and you never know if these dogs are friendly or if they are rabid.  This poor guy was just looking for somewhere to hide from all the fireworks that were being set off all over the city every 5 minutes.  No one waits until midnight around here, they have a few scotches and start letting them off.  Actually they have been letting them off every night for the last week. 
We almost made it to see in the New Year but Lillie had finally had enough and lost it so we headed home at about 11.30pm.  Once I put her down to bed I could hear everybody seeing in the New Year outside and I went out the front of the house with Marcus and Judd and we were literally surrounded by fireworks.  They were in front, next to and behind our village.  We needn't of worried about making it into town to see the show, it was right in our backyard. 

The next couple of days was spent hanging out at home or down at the beach in Sattahip.  We love it down there, so relaxing. Marcus even fell asleep in the sun, if I hadn't of woken him he would have been burnt to a crisp.  That afternoon a new friend of mine text and invited us for a beer at their local.  What a find!  It is the cutest little bar and restaurant right on the sand, it only seats about 20 people but it makes the best pizzas and they have Aussie pies and sausage rolls.  An Aussie called Tony owns it, he has been in Thailand for 24 years!  The kids had so much fun playing on the sand while we sat up top and had a few cold beers.  We will definitely be going back there.  He also hires 2 man catamarans and paddle boards, the ones where you stand up and balance on the surf board and paddle with a big long paddle.  I am definitely going to try it, it looks easy but I have been told it is quite hard.



The kids learning to dance with the Go Go Girls



Play time in the sand at Saekaew Beach

Our last day of the weekend was kind of stressful.  We realised we had alot of overdue bills and our rent from out tenants in Melbourne was 3 weeks behind and being that it is a long weekend in Melbourne as well I couldn't get any information from anybody until today.  Thankfully it is all sorted and paid now but we could have cut the tension in our house last night with a knife. 

This place is funny, some days are pleasant and peaceful and everyone gets along and others we are irritable and grumpy (well I am anyway).  Maybe I am expecting too much out of Thailand, maybe I am expecting this place to fix all of my little problems and make me Zen when really it is up to me to fix regardless of what country I am living in.  I am looking forward to this new year to be one of self discovery, new adventures small and big and learning new ways to calm my mind and my spirit and not to be so quick to bite.  As those who know me well, especially my husband, I have really really sharp teeth.