Unicorn Girl & Sequence Sister

For the recent Magical Nights themed Annual Girl Scout Dance, the girls took a lot of time and consideration getting ready. Their auras were radiant, their look gorgeous, their moods, pure joy.

Four Friends in Hawaii (2019)

2019

2019

2017

Aloha 2019

Six weeks after our return from SE Asia, we were on our way to another tropical destination. Hawaii, a place near and dear to our hearts and souls.

We love Hawaii so much that we have gone almost every year since the girls were teeny tiny babies. We took a break in 2018 to travel to Panama. I was happy to return to the islands of Aloha where it'd be less exploring and more relaxing.

 During our nine days on Oahu, we found ourselves feeling at home with the familiar stomping grounds we have gotten to know. There was our condo in Turtle Bay the first several nights where we swam in the pool and the ocean. We visited the nearby Saturday Farmer's Market, where we ran into some farmer's we met two years ago. Of course, we had happia pie from Teds and breakfast at Hukilau Cafe. It feel nice to be away but feeling at home.

Before we headed to Ko Olina to meet up with our Hawaii travel buddies, the Haas-Jajeh clan, we did a few new things too. We hiked to Hidden Beach, took in a movie at musty theatre (the new Lego movie was awful; I read on my Kindle reader through most of it!), tried to get used to the unusually cooler weather and stopped to say hello to some horses in a nearby pasture. Nothing too extreme, just mellow, which was very welcome by all.

There was one noteworthy event however, Ms. Havana lost a tooth in Hawaii and the Tooth Fairy came to visit and left a seashell along with some money!

This trip to Hawaii felt different to me. When it was time to go, I felt our time was not done, like she wanted to us to visit longer. We may be taking a break next year for a more exploring type of holiday but who knows, the land of Aloha may see us sooner than we think.

Mahalo, Hawaii.

Hidden Beach

Havana lost her bottom left tooth!

Rainbow Havana

Havana LOVES rainbows. Thus her GS camp nickname, Rainbow. While celebrating the life of our beloved grandmother in Key West in late January, my sister and I came upon this hat. My sister persuaded me to purchase it despite the hefty price tag. "She'll love it. Get it" She encouraged. Older sisters usually are correct. Havana loves her rainbow hat and sported it while on our recent trip to O'ahu. However, Havana isn't fond of photos so getting a few was lucky!

                                                                       

Rasta Havana

Havana doesn't like to comb her hair. When she does, it still appears like she is in the early phases of growing locks. (and she is not fond of my "Rasta Havana" teasing remarks!)

It's a struggle to get her to agree to let me help her with her hair. Sometimes a day or two (or more goes by) before she succumbs. My arm muscles have gotten stronger with all the effort I have put in to untangle her hair. No fun. Alot of pain for both of us.

Recently, Big Sis asked Havana if she could do her hair. An immediate "Yes" was heard by my astonished ears. I know Havana loves her sister and since there is often conflictual challenges (aka fighting!) between the two, I think that being asked by the one she adores, she was totally up for the attention and pampering, despite the pain of taking out knots.

The result was not only beautiful tangle free hair but a sweet bonding moment between my two small gems.

Christmas Abroad

in Yangon

 For 2018, I was relieved to be away from the commercialism and false religion that is too widespread in the US for Christmas. Having grown up Jewish I found that having an outside view allowed me to see the hypocrisy of the birth of Yeshua (he wasn't born in December; there was no such thing as an Inn back then; he would die of a heart attack that we spent tons of money to buy material items; he was Jesus and never ate a ham and that he portrayed as white and blue eyes). I really struggle with the Christmas holiday and was thankful that we would be abroad. 

In a Buddhist country, where Buddhist philosophy is the way of life, it felt much more balanced. Yet with the throngs of tourists who flocked their cold homelands to celebrate Christmas in warm, tropical Thailand, there was no escaping Christmas decorations or celebrations.

I would be a hypocrite myself if I denied that in our family we do celebrate the holiday along with Hanukkah. I have to admit, I have grown fond of the pagan adopted tradition of the tree with it's ornaments. During the course of our family travels we have picked up some ornaments that would remind of a journey or occassion. Those along with some homemade ornaments or ones from Don's childhood allow us to reminisce each year over happy memories. But I always have a rebellious spot in my heart that keeps the truth about the holidays present, one that I have long taught the girls. I also use this mostly commercial holiday to buy the girls necessary items like clothing and shoes. I don't want them to think those things come easy and like attaching having necessities with special occassions. Because having good clothing and a proper pair of shoes is a luxury (my dad never let us forget that for his entire high school, he and his brother Norman, only had one pair of pants to wear. And that they shared a bed until they left home.)

Because the girls are used to waking up on Christmas morning and finding gifts (which have included a new bed, clothing and of course a fes toys), they were reluctant to go away. They were in support of my belated 50th celebration overseas but no Christmas morning? That was a tender topic. A few weeks before we departed, the girls and I went out a bought a small fake tree for our house. That helped. We had a feeling that tree might have gifts underneath when we returned (well the adults said that, the girls, esp Amara were not in agreement) but they still worried. Amara really (really) wanted a cell phone and Havana wanted a fitbit and they worried if Santa would remember them (and in my endeavors to share the truth, they know that Santa from really from Turkey not the North Pole!)

I have to admit, it was sweet to see the girls get so excited at the decorations at the hotel in Yangon and then later in Ko Chang. To further bring on the holiday vibe, the girls took a bunch of Don's socks and made stockings on Christmas Eve. Throughout the first part of our trip, the girls independently and secretly bought gifts for each other, Don and myself. They planned to put them in their stockings. What they didn't know was that I packed that cell phone and that Fitbit along with some items for Don. Those high priced items were coming from mom and dad. I/we wanted them to know that. Santa may leave gifts back home but the pricey items, that was us!

Christmas morning, on a hot, tropical beach was a special event. The girls were thrilled with their presents and deleted by the special treats the hotel made. We even saw a Thai Santa who passed out snowman decorated cookies. I was peaceful and content having the girls have their piece of Christmas in tact while not being immersed in the chaos of a commercial Christmas back home. In actuality, it felt more Zen. A win-win for all.

Two Nights in Bangkok

Bangkok is full of rich cultural, history, spiritual components. Bangkok for our family meant shopping, visits to get our hair and nails done, a last minute foot massage and of course pool time and chilling. I had thought about bring the girls to see  the sleeping Buddha and the Grand Palace, maybe even a few other tourist destinations or even take a ride on the taxi ferry.  When we got to our last destination on our three week tour,  I realized we had done dozens of similar outings and in all honesty it felt like they had enough. 

The girls were pretty good travelers but I did not want to push is. Sure, we had a handful of bumpy, grumpy, ungrateful moments. Meltdowns and sometimes demands that left Don and I asking, "Why are we traveling with them?" Yet overall they were phenomenal and patient explorers. Ten flights, several boat trips, one ox cart ride, along with time changes, new food and so much sensory overload for almost three weeks was a lot for one nine year old and one eleven year old. We figured that the most we wanted to push them in Bangkok would be the train (identical to the BART, except for being far cleaner) to some trips to the malls to do some last minute shopping (Amara had to get a phone case for her new phone that she got on Christmas and I had to do some hand bag shopping!) and lots of pool time. The girls had swam every single day and did not want to break the swimming streak! They also had their last few tuk tuk rides, which were loud but exciting. Bangkok is a busy, noisy city but it is full of so much to see even if we opted out of the more sought out destinations.

I felt sad leaving Trat (Ko Chang) knowing our time was drawing near.  I could have keep on traveling.

Thailand's exchange rate afforded us the ability to stay in some posh lodging. We had a a great view of the city from our place in Central Bangkok (along with a two bedroom hotel, two bath, full kitchen hotel room. The girls loved it!)

Overlooking the train and a traffic light. Traffic in Bangkok is off the charts crazy.

Taking some time at the hair salon. Something I don't have the time or energy for at home.

Shopping for squishies at the most gigantic mall I had ever seen. Eight floors of endless shopping. It was a bit of sensory overload but Amara got her phone case, Havana her squishy, and I got several handbags. Oh and  a small suitcase to put all the loot in to get it back to California!!

Over the course of  2 1/2 days the girls swam several times. They swam right up until the taxi was going to come and take us to the airport!!

Goodbye Thailand. A million thanks, hearts full of love and memories.

Twenty hours later.