Kamala Dreams

We sometimes wonder whether others thinks us crazy for taking on such an extensive and extended journey with kids. So many unknowns, too much risk etc. Our experience has been that traveling with children has been more asset than "liability". Take our week spent in Phuket for example:

We stayed at the Kamala Dreams ... a small beach hotel that was the first to bounce back from a strip of beach totally decimated by the 2004 tsunami (Dutch owner said he was heavily insured unlike many other local operators). It was great to have kids arriving at the airport ... we were directed to the passport control line reserved for crew and special needs customers ... nothing like an express lane at an airport queue.

One day while sitting on the beach we were witness to an armada of inflatable tenders hitting the shore from a 5 star cruise ship moored offshore. The crews quickly assembled a 5 star BBQ for the cruise guests arriving separately. Mikaela took on the role of Oliver Twist with Mitchell right behind as "the artful dodger" in the BBQ queue ... the innocence of childhood employed in the service of beach bums pining for some quality European fare. Needless to say, Fagan ate well that afternoon.

Another day, Mitch and I took a cruise on the hired motorbike over the hills to Patong Beach ... like a trip to the big bad beach city. We parked and took a 2 minute stroll down the beach and came back to the bike missing one helmet. Mitch spotted what looked like his helmet sitting 15 yards away on a big bike amongst a large fleet lined up in rows (for hire). I gathered that the "owner" of this section of curbside had taken the hat as an arbitrary parking fee. He was watching me as I moved closer with a scowl. Mitchell seemed to attract less concern ... so he just walked up, tried it on for size and fit, said "Yup this is it" and walked away wearing it. He jumped on our bike and off we went ... "borrowed back what was borrowed from he." Fun and skullduggery whilst beached in Thailand!

BOSgone