jan’s diary

Stina gave the kids crayons and they have never looked back.

Jan Thomas is studying wild animals at school. Here is one of them. JT and his friends went to a zoo last week to inspect some of the wilder animals up close.

The other day we went with Stina and Jan to Jomtien, next to Pattaya, to experience a beach with tourists.

The next day we went to a beach in our neighbourhood. The image shows the table next to us at the restaurant where we ate.

Close to Ban Sarai there is an elephant show we have visited twice. This video is from our visit with bestemamma and Andrés in July, 2009.

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Every night around midnight the above sound is heard from our garden. Is it a frog, a bird, or a ghost? If it is a frog/bird what kind?

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Jan Thomas explains his art work and how it was shipped to Spain (in Norwegian).

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JT talks about his Christmas presents, Santa Claus, and the recent trip to Laos (in Norwegian).

In our ten years long tradition to spend New Year’s Eve in a different country every year we slept our way from Bangkok to Nong Khai and crossed the Mekong river over to Laos on the train below.

Laos opened up for tourists fifteen or so years ago. On many buildings and private homes two flags are swaying.

In our desire to visit Luang Prabang we took a bus to Vang Vieng, one third of the way, and almost too far for the kids’ patience,  after one night in the capital Vientiane.

I am enjoying Tom Yam on the riverside of Mekong our first night in Vientiane.

The streets are called Rue and one of the favourite past times is also a French heritage.

Jan Thomas ready for kayaking for the second time this year. This time on a river in Laos.

Rule #1: Keep your tongue straight!

Restaurant with view in Vang Vieng.

We decided Luang Prabang was out of reach this time, so we returned by bus to the capital. Four hours with the most common speed sign saying 30km/h and bridges advising drivers to enter one vehicle at a time. Both rules were violated. We would like to have returned by boat, but Sebastian’s young age did not go down well with the captain. Next time. Laos has no railways and the roads are far from straight so river locomotion is a better way to travel.

Art found on a restaurant wall.

Happy New Year!

Waiting for the train to Bangkok.

When I dressed up as Santa Claus JT reassured his scared brother Sebastian: Don’t be afraid, it is only daddy! When Santa Claus asked about daddy’s whereabouts JT declined to answer.

The piano with microphone and the domino were popular presents, and so were the elephants who had flown in from Spain.

Here JT shows one of them how to play the guitar.