Free Range Kids: Thailand Adventures- Part 9 Sukhothai

DRIVE SOUTH (Day 3)

March 4

Miracle--bed a little softer. Didn't wake up with pulverized ribs. Hotel had small room for us. Three on floor, four on bed. Huge tub but no hot water--waa. Children begging for a home cooked meal. Dinner goes like this...Rachel excited and says, "I want to try it." Instant touches tongue spits out and says it is too spiky (spicy). Gulps down water. At least all well hydrated.

Area very dry and smoky. Contained intentional fires throughout. Kids very good in car. Mostly because boys are willing to be Rachel's cat or baby. So nice to each other. Today last long day in car. Went well, but glad to almost be back in BK. People all so sweet and friendly. Finally learned that "hah" means 5. Everyone says it to us because of our kids.

March 5

Spent short time in Sukhothai ruins. Instant get in park, Rachel has to go to bathroom. Nice Peter took her the hike back--good thing because it cost money to use toilet and I didn't have any. After longest day of car travel, Peter and I could be one of the nice couples in show "Amazing Race". Doing this with 5 kids, helping child use squat toilet or attaching child DVD player between two seats in sweltering car, harder than any challenge do on show.

On our drive, there were many fires and in one area there was a large fire on either side of the road. It was both exhilarating and unsettling to drive through the inferno. We stayed at the Tharaburi

Resort in Sukhothai and although it was nice and we were grateful they let us squeeze in the room, it was also a little bit of a downgrade from our previous luxurious rooms. The room was fine, but the bathroom left something to be desired. I'm nit-picking, I know, but here goes--you weren't supposed to flush your toilet paper (I say "supposed to" because we didn't read the sign posted next to the loo until after it had been used a dozen times....woops); there was only tepid water for the tub and only a little of that anyways; there was dirt in the corners of the tub; the walls looked as if vomit had splattered on it, except it was under the glaze...one of life's mysteries that I might not prefer to figure out.

The restaurants in this area were traditional road-side fare, which made it a little hard for the children because everything was so spicy. At one place the ~~sugar-dye concoction~~ juice (apparently, they use "juice" very loosely here) ended up being that fake green apple flavoring...you know that florescent green stuff? I didn't let the kids touch it, but you know how I am about food coloring. You don't? Maybe another day. Well, this same place redeemed itself entirely because it had the best dessert. It was that sticky rice with mango, except this one came warm, creamy, AND {insert drumroll} sweet. It came with mango slices like all the others, but it also came with a ball of chocolate ice-cream. Chocolate ice cream and mango sounds gross, but maybe it was my deprived tastebuds talking, because it was DELICIOUS. We had bought one plate for all seven of us to share, so naturally I ask for another one to go. She understood what I wanted, but was completely baffled as to how I could possibly take it to go. I wasn't taking no for an answer, so I grabbed a plastic cup off the table and told her to fill 'er up. She did my bidding and to Peter's relief we left without me making my way into the kitchen. ~~Peter and~~ I got to enjoy a little treat in the car while the children were blissfully unaware. Ok, I was generous and shared a few bites with Peter..I say generous because I warned him if he wanted any he should just get his own. I had pity on the man.

Children opening our hotel room. The key got completely stuck and even after everyone,
including the staff, gave it a go the locksmith had to come.

SUKHOTHAI RUINS

In the early 13th century, Sukhothai Kingdom dominated the Central Plains of Thailand. These ruins are the best preserved and most popular sight in Central Thailand. Now, if only you could find a way to insert that bit of trivia into your conversation today you would sound really smart.