Life Of One: Aunties in the Land of Smiles

My aunties, Nini (Sally) and Alma (Amy) finally found time in their busy schedule to come and visit me in Thailand. They stayed with me for 6 days, 10-16 April 2010, and I had fun touring them in and out of Bangkok. It was a timely visit as I am on my one week Spring/Songkran (Thai New Year) break that's why I was able to take them to places. However, it was also an untimely one since Thailand was, still is as of this writing, in a political turmoil. In fact, the first day of their visit, 10 April 2010, will forever be marked in Thai history as the day when a bloody crackdown on the Red Shirt protesters resulted in 21 deaths and hundreds injured. It sure was challenging to think of routes that will not let us come face-to-face with the protesters. But then again, their visit was a fun and memorable one. It was Auntie Amy's second visit to Thailand while it was Auntie Nini's first. (I always find it interesting that they get to go to European countries first before visiting an Asian country but maybe the opportunity did not present itself then.)

I took them to boat rides along the Chao Phraya River, to temples especially to my favorite temple, Wat Arun, to Bangkok's big shopping malls, to Koh Kret - a man-made island housing Thailand's original settlers, the Mon people, and we even went to an authentic jewelry store where both of them got good value for their money (I think).

Here are some of the pictures of the places I took them to. More are found on the Facebook photo album links that are posted below the photos. And oh, Auntie Nini celebrated her birthday here, too! It was her first birthday celebration overseas and we had fun! :) Enjoy the photos!

inside the Hall of the Erawan Shrine and Museum