Japan postponed...:(

Well, unfortunately a combination of unfortunate events(Ake's mom broke her leg...poor woman) and sky high prices for flights to Tokyo (nearly a 50% increase to travel in December) mean that we wont make it this December to Japan...

We've initially set on a 3000/ 4000 euro budget for it, but a quick overview of travelling expenses meaning flights + train passes alone would have meant 2500...ummmmm...

Not to despair though...Japan is still top of the list...but...will take on noodles and sashimi in April...fingers crossed there'll still be some snow left on the peaks for good snowball fight...

Sooo...APRIL=sakura blossoms...end of November possibly a quick trip to Kuala Lumpur...

Otherwise, life is superbly serene in our corner of the world...:)

Photos of our Vienna trip this summer...and our castle..:)

Trips

Where to go? where to go? We've got some holidays approaching quite fast and early booking is essential... We're still not sure how December will be...but if we've got our finances sorted we'd love to go to Japan. Ski if possible...Now the only thing is Japan seems quite expensive...15 euro meals for 4 , 3 times a day...it adds up...it's a wait and see, but highly likely that will happen.

Now October...that's manageable....I've love to take the kids to an elephant camp..but that's WAAAY up north and traveling overland with 2 kids...ummm...it's a lot of entertaining...

or...we could just go to the beach...:)))...

We've moved house!!!

Bangkok traffic - not for us thank you!!! We are now walking to school and work. We've moved into this posh condo next door from the school in the heart of Bangkok...pool, tennis courts, squash, gym, sauna, playgroung, library...ahhh, that's the life!!!!

Coming very soon...photos of our place and views of Bangkok!

 
Waiting anxiously for my parents to get here...for another year, TOGETHER in Thailand. It cant get any better folks! Except perhaps if next year granny comes for a short visit...Granny, who's never had a pasaport has decided to visit us...

YAY!

 
Back from Romania and short stop in Austria...cant quite get over how beautiful it all was...
We're very very excited about our own little house and the garden around which is just heaven. Lots and lots of pictures with Andrei and Sofia running around like crazy...some wild days we had...
Aahhh, good old European summers...:)

ok...we've done just about everything...and are now ready to take off which will happen tmrw night after a busy busy day...cant tell how beat I am after chasing 2 kids in the indoor playground at funarium and climbing up and down the stairs of our house...
I'm am so ready to live without stairs for a change!!! I HATE stairs in a house...I mean I can do with a flight, but that's my limit...

still have no idea what will do in RO for 3 weeks, but plain hanging out in parks and seeing granny and friends sounds divine...I need my dose of Europe...!

looking forward to...

Couple of weeks left of school , then we'll be doing our summer camp and testing that awesome pool equipment we got from the US. Thanks again George!


Then off to sunny Romania - kinda too sunny from what I hear - but just generally looking forward to NO PLANS...waking up everyday, even if that means 5 am with Sofia :))) and not having anything lined up.

We're flying straight to Cluj with a baby, a toddler and two bikes...YEAH...The bikes bit has been decided 2 summers ago when we were desperately looking for some decent wheels.

Can't wait to see granny and spend at least a week with her at her mini farm...Andrei was up at 5 am everyday with her for the daily duties: milking cows, feeding the chickens...plus running around with the dogs...Granny's got two of the friendliest dogs I've ever seen.

Then, back to Bangkok - eyeing our next two big trips for the year - October in Hong Kong and December in Japan...The only question is: Do we take Sofia skiing with us in Japan?...The kiddo is ALL EYES every time we leave the house and does extremely well outdoors...but not sure if I can leave Ake and 2 kids in the snow while I make my runs...I'm thinking: if she'll walk by the time she's 13 months (which will be in Decemeber), I'll take her! Bring on the sushi!!!

On kids and time off...yeap - none!

Have managed to escape last night and see a movie with Ake...it was nothing amazing, but it felt good to hang out and finish a conversation for once without having to chase the kids, bfeed, or do whatever toddlers do - don't get me wrong, I love it!!...again, we felt sort nice and fresh, only to come home and find Sofia crying cause mom wasn't there to put her to bed, and poor mom didn't want to call us cause she wanted us to have a good time....awwww...I thought I could afford ONE night out...Nope!!!

The truth is...we are absolutely loving having 2 children, but, boy...the days are VERY LONG...late late nights...It actually feels like it's not double the work, but more like 3 to 4 times.

Can't wait for Sofia to walk though...my back is killing me!:)

In an effort to get back in good shape I've started doing Pilates at home with Andrei...It's 2 peek-a-boos and a 100.

All about Sofia



Sofia is 6 months old...yeiiiiii..

Well folks, the world around us is falling apart..literally... but Sofia is such a doll...what can tell you: BIG LOVE!!! :)







And...more photos from Penang...

Hola Penang!!!

Loved loved loved Penang...my only complaint is that it was too hot..sizzling really at times...was on the beach for a total of 5 min - sand was BURNING.

I'll be posting in more details in the days to come, so this is just a taste of what it was like for us...beautiful hotel, warm pool, great coffee, yummy chinese and indian food, great architectural mix...

Ready? Backpacks on. Kids? Yeap. 2 Grandparents? Yeap. GO!

Yei...back to traveling again, now that Sofia is 4 months. Our first major trip comes beginning of April, an 8 day bonanza to Malaysia, specifically it's colonial jewel, Penang. Booked into what appears to be a very nice hotel - Traders...4 stars at the heart of the city ...

We are all buzzing with excitement....Our general goal is simple : walk - stop at cafes - cool in the pool - off to the beach in the evenings - take the tram to the penang hill which is supposed to be very cool - more cafes - parks with the kids - massages at night - yummy food (curries are said to be GREAT)....

Downloaded some photos from Lonely Planet - mouth watering. :)






Fingers crossed for decent temps - nearly 38 C yesterday in Bkk, and we're NORTH of Malaysia:)

What a week!!!

Can't even begin to talk about how busy this week has been. It' now Friday night 11:00 pm and I'm finally feeling like I'm having a rest...after a VERY LOOONG Day.

Did a lot though... our trips until August are sorted....YEI!!!

We're having crazy thoughts about Japan in the winter....brrr...would love to!

Below, photos from Sofia's swimming lesson and our trip to the Ministry of whatever to get her passport.

Work & leisureeee..




It's boiling outside guys...thankfully there're some great pool to cool of in good ol' Bangkok.

I'm exhausted today after the Swimming Gala at school...great fun though!

Just thought I'd post some photos of us swimming with the kids...Yei!

Right, back to work! I've got masters paper due in one week!:(

Chomsky Talks...

The Nobel Peace Prize, of course, is not concerned solely with reducing the threat of terminal nuclear war, but rather with war generally, and preparation for war. In this regard, the selection of Obama raised more than a few eyebrows, not least in Iran, surrounded by US occupying armies.

US military expenditures almost match the rest of the world combined, and the US military is far more advanced technologically. Nonpartisan budget and security monitors report that the Obama administration's request for $538 billion for the Defense Department in fiscal 2010 and its stated intention to maintain a high level of funding in the coming years put the president on track to spend more on defense, in real dollars, than any other president has in one term of office since World War II.

taken from Noam Chomsky's HOPES and PROSPETCTS

Well worth reading the entire article.

34 C in the shade

Sunny, gorgeous weather today in Bangkok for swimming! Being in the pool was so refreshing and energizing. If we ever leave Thailand, I'll know I'll miss the pools and the massage parlors...among other things.

Meanwhile we've got the first BIG trip of the year planned out(there will be several). One word for you: Malaysia!!!


Andrei and Peppe at the pool...