Watching the break dancers

Easter in Kathmandu

So, we went to celebrate Easter at the American club yesterday, and Leila had a great time. She said she was going to sit on the Easter bunny's lap this year, but when we got there she saw the bunny and chicken and quickly changed her mind. She definitely had fun looking for eggs though. And, watching the break dancers, pictures coming up next.

Easter at the Meeks House

While Erica and her friends went for a run yesterday, we dyed Easter eggs and drew on the walls of the house. Good times!

Random pic from Thailand

Learning about world religions

Leila has these cool blocks called Widgets that we call her "temple blocks" because they build structures that look just like the temples around Kathmandu. Yesterday she built this temple (the blocks in the foreground) with Shila, our didi. I came home and she told me the animals and people inside were there to visit the gods. Then we decided it was a temple for Ganesh, one of the most worshiped and important gods in Hinduism. Horton makes an excellent stand-in for Ganesh, who has an elephant head!

Look who's coming to dinner!

Our high school English teacher, Lani Tierney, came through Kathmandu last week during a China-Tibet-Nepal-Bhutan trip. We spent a fun evening with her and her brother, Bruce. It was really great to see her & catch up, and they were good sports with Leila and her attention-seeking ways!

Leila just wrote her name!!!

And we have proof! She did it all by herself, too. I am proud and a
bit amazed!!

You know you are in the developing world when...

...there is a random electrical cord hanging on the kids climbing wall at the indoor playland. In other news, Leila is ready for another trip to the real climbing wall!!

Bangkok!

After leaving the beach, we went to Bangkok for a few days of city living. We were so lucky that Rani was there too so we got to spend some time with her. Yea!!!

These pictures are from the Royal Palace compound. The Thai royal family used to live here, but now it is used for ceremonial purposes only. Here, Rani, Leila & Erica pose with one of the guards.

Leila & Grandma June.

Gene & Rani.

A nice family photo. You can barely tell that it's 95 degrees with 99% humidity!

Leila's favorite part about this tourist mecca? Playing hide & seek around the columns. Go figure.

Admiring the elephants.

The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho

After the Grand Palace, we visited nearby Wat Pho, which houses this enormous Reclining Buddha. He is covered in gold leaf and has mother of pearl feet. Even Leila thought he was pretty amazing!

Doesn't he look relaxed?

Other Bangkok highlights

We got to take all sorts of exciting transportation in Bangkok. Here, Leila & Grandma ride the (very nice & clean!) metro. We also took a boat ferry/taxi which was too crowded to get any good pictures on, lots of normal taxis (ask Grandma June if she's still having nightmares!), tuk-tuks, and of course plenty of walking in the hot, hot weather.

After a long, hot day of tourism, Leila & Erica relaxed in the swimming pool on the rooftop of our hotel.

Siam Ocean World Aquarium

We spent a day at an awesome aquarium in Bangkok. Leila (and the rest of us too) LOVED it! It was pretty dark inside so hard to get pictures that really captured the experience.

Leila getting up close and personal with the fish.

Making friends with some penguins. These are fake, but they are right next to the real penguins, who were getting fed while we were there.

We got to put our feet in these pools filled with little fish that are supposed to nibble the dead skin off your feet. Leila wasn't a big fan, but we had to drag Gene away! Maybe we should get some little fish for their bathtub?

We took a glass bottom boat ride inside the huge aquarium tank where we saw sharks, rays, and all sorts of fish. We even got to feed shrimp to the fish and watch them jump excitedly out of the water to get their food.

Food, food & more food

No vacation would be complete without lots and lots of delicious food. Check out June's crab. Messy, but soooo good.

Breakfast outside.

Fresh mango. Yum!

With so many delicious choices, Leila's standby was a grilled cheese sandwich and fries. She did try (& like!) lots of veggies, fresh fruit, calamari, smoothies, fish & stir fry, too.

Goat cheese salad.

Cleverly designed cafe latte at our favorite beachside restaurant.

Shrimp.

Fresh vegetables.

Cashew shrimp.

Thailand family photos

Leila with her Grandparents on the beach

All smiles at dinner.

Enjoying the ocean.

On the beach at low tide. That's our resort in the background with the white trimmed roofs.

The whole clan by our pool.

Chinese Lanterns

After dinner one night, the restaurant offered for us to light a lantern and make a wish as it floated away. Here, we hold it as the air heats up inside.

Letting go.Away it goes! May all our wishes come true...

Our sassy daughter

Leila showed off her sassy side while strolling on the beach at low tide.