Day 15 Leaving Cairns
I awoke early and spent a couple hours working and on conference calls.
I do not feel well – my ankle and sunburn are very uncomfortable – I would not mind a down day but I can tell that Pam is going to try to make the most of this day.
We have to pack for an international flight so we get our bags together – eat the rest of our eggs and meat and I am very rushed.
We drop our bags downstairs and catch a bus to the Sky Rail to Kuranda.
The sky rail over the rainforest is awesome – a bit pricey but cheaper than the train and sky rail – although later a cab driver tells us the best option is to take the train up and the gondola down.
We hit the village and decide against the venom zoo, koala cuddle, and butterfly zoo. This is basically a tourist village with a bunch of shopping – not my cup of tea. We do buy some Emu oil and I will try anything on my sunburn. We grab a bite and head back down. We catch a bus back to the hotel – it turns out we could have got a family pass for a lot less than we paid for each of out bus rides – hit the pool while I rest for a few minutes. Then a cab back to the airport – flight to Brisbane is 2 hours and leaves at 5:10om. Flight to Bangkok leaves at midnight and is almost 10 hours. We never really got any exposure to the aboriginal culture a real shame.
I have about $14 AUD left – the cab is 14.80 – the driver lets us slide - I feel bad but did not want to take out more money
We make it to the airport and check-in is a breeze. Allysha buys an Australian T-Shirt.
I start reading the Thailand guide – I really feel behind on planning – we are going to our first non-English speaking country – with a lot to learn from a cultural perspective and I have not had a chance to do my research – or plan on how we will teach the children about the culture – I have not learned even a few basic words. I am quite stressed – and the girls are both behind on their homework. I too am behind on work – I got additional assignments this morning and all I really want to do is sleep. I ask Pam for some help – to study the guide or help with school work – she can tell I am stressed and says she will do what she can. I caught up the previous 2 days of blogging on the flight to Brisbane – Allysha and Aria are working on school stuff –I do not know what I am going to do this evening. Maybe tomorrow – our first day in Bangkok can be a down day and I can catch up on some work.
I am both excited and a little nervous about Thailand – I feel unprepared – have not studied the language or much of the culture ad don’t have a detailed agenda. I am glad we are sending quite a few days in Phuket – perhaps this will slow the pace we will see.
[Continuing blogging on 12/24/2007- it has been a busy couple days]
On the plane a friendly Aussie gentleman purchased Pam and I a beverage – a very nice gesture – he said it was just Aussie hospitality.
We arrived in Brisbane retrieved our checked luggage and found we had to catch a train to the international terminal. As we were walking to the train a man walking the other direction said that the train at the station was the last one for the evening. Not knowing if this was true Pam told Allysha to got stop the train – Allysha took off running but dropped her luggage in the middle of the walkway. Pam started running and Aria and I just looked at each other and shook our heads. Pam raced through the turnstile with the ticket counter guy behind the glass indicating that she had to purchase a ticket. I stopped at the counter and got an international transfer for four. I rounded the corner to hear an attendant say we had a minute so take our time – as we were walking toward the train the doors started to close. Pam rushed to the train dropped the sweater she was carrying yelling that the train was leaving and we were supposed to have another minute. Ignoring the green button on the outside that said “Push to Open Door she slipped her arm through the door assuming it would sense her arm and reopen – it did not – instead it shut on her arm. The attendant strolled over – pushed the button and we loaded onto the train amongst a group of shocked Aussies. I can only imagine their thoughts regarding loud, stupid Americans. I rode most of the way to the international station avoiding eye contact. When we arrived I gathered the family together and had a briefing. I warned against yelling in public -many of the places especially Thailand frown upon speaking loudly. I said we are likely to miss many trains and buses and the like and we will figure out an alternative – it is not worth getting injured over.
We made our way to the terminal and found we had an hour before checkin was going to begin. We grabbed some food and eventually waited in the check-in line for about an hour – checked our bags and headed to the gate for another 2 hours. The girls fell asleep and the plane eventually took off about 12:45 am – we arrived in Bangkok at 6:30am – there was a 3 hour time change. Two meals were served – both were palatable – I was not really hungry but ate anyway. I got a couple hours of work done and tried to sleep for a few hours. The girls also tried to sleep – not very comfortable.
But we are in Thailand.
I do not feel well – my ankle and sunburn are very uncomfortable – I would not mind a down day but I can tell that Pam is going to try to make the most of this day.
We have to pack for an international flight so we get our bags together – eat the rest of our eggs and meat and I am very rushed.
We drop our bags downstairs and catch a bus to the Sky Rail to Kuranda.
The sky rail over the rainforest is awesome – a bit pricey but cheaper than the train and sky rail – although later a cab driver tells us the best option is to take the train up and the gondola down.
We hit the village and decide against the venom zoo, koala cuddle, and butterfly zoo. This is basically a tourist village with a bunch of shopping – not my cup of tea. We do buy some Emu oil and I will try anything on my sunburn. We grab a bite and head back down. We catch a bus back to the hotel – it turns out we could have got a family pass for a lot less than we paid for each of out bus rides – hit the pool while I rest for a few minutes. Then a cab back to the airport – flight to Brisbane is 2 hours and leaves at 5:10om. Flight to Bangkok leaves at midnight and is almost 10 hours. We never really got any exposure to the aboriginal culture a real shame.
I have about $14 AUD left – the cab is 14.80 – the driver lets us slide - I feel bad but did not want to take out more money
We make it to the airport and check-in is a breeze. Allysha buys an Australian T-Shirt.
I start reading the Thailand guide – I really feel behind on planning – we are going to our first non-English speaking country – with a lot to learn from a cultural perspective and I have not had a chance to do my research – or plan on how we will teach the children about the culture – I have not learned even a few basic words. I am quite stressed – and the girls are both behind on their homework. I too am behind on work – I got additional assignments this morning and all I really want to do is sleep. I ask Pam for some help – to study the guide or help with school work – she can tell I am stressed and says she will do what she can. I caught up the previous 2 days of blogging on the flight to Brisbane – Allysha and Aria are working on school stuff –I do not know what I am going to do this evening. Maybe tomorrow – our first day in Bangkok can be a down day and I can catch up on some work.
I am both excited and a little nervous about Thailand – I feel unprepared – have not studied the language or much of the culture ad don’t have a detailed agenda. I am glad we are sending quite a few days in Phuket – perhaps this will slow the pace we will see.
[Continuing blogging on 12/24/2007- it has been a busy couple days]
On the plane a friendly Aussie gentleman purchased Pam and I a beverage – a very nice gesture – he said it was just Aussie hospitality.
We arrived in Brisbane retrieved our checked luggage and found we had to catch a train to the international terminal. As we were walking to the train a man walking the other direction said that the train at the station was the last one for the evening. Not knowing if this was true Pam told Allysha to got stop the train – Allysha took off running but dropped her luggage in the middle of the walkway. Pam started running and Aria and I just looked at each other and shook our heads. Pam raced through the turnstile with the ticket counter guy behind the glass indicating that she had to purchase a ticket. I stopped at the counter and got an international transfer for four. I rounded the corner to hear an attendant say we had a minute so take our time – as we were walking toward the train the doors started to close. Pam rushed to the train dropped the sweater she was carrying yelling that the train was leaving and we were supposed to have another minute. Ignoring the green button on the outside that said “Push to Open Door she slipped her arm through the door assuming it would sense her arm and reopen – it did not – instead it shut on her arm. The attendant strolled over – pushed the button and we loaded onto the train amongst a group of shocked Aussies. I can only imagine their thoughts regarding loud, stupid Americans. I rode most of the way to the international station avoiding eye contact. When we arrived I gathered the family together and had a briefing. I warned against yelling in public -many of the places especially Thailand frown upon speaking loudly. I said we are likely to miss many trains and buses and the like and we will figure out an alternative – it is not worth getting injured over.
We made our way to the terminal and found we had an hour before checkin was going to begin. We grabbed some food and eventually waited in the check-in line for about an hour – checked our bags and headed to the gate for another 2 hours. The girls fell asleep and the plane eventually took off about 12:45 am – we arrived in Bangkok at 6:30am – there was a 3 hour time change. Two meals were served – both were palatable – I was not really hungry but ate anyway. I got a couple hours of work done and tried to sleep for a few hours. The girls also tried to sleep – not very comfortable.
But we are in Thailand.
