New Years Eve Shanghai-style!

We made no plans for New Years Eve this year.  Maybe we should have (being our first year in Shanghai and all...) but it just wasn't on our radar.  We had dinner with a friend in our neighborhood, drinks in our apartment, then tried to stay awake until midnight to see fireworks from the roof of our building.  Chinese New Year which begins the end of January is THE BIG new year holiday (based on the lunar calendar...) not the western holiday....

Waiting for Midnight...

 

 

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...

We did it!!

View from the gym in our building!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

H O N E Y M O O N ! Part 3: Longboat & Phi Phi Island Excursion

B and I rented a private longboat for just the two of us for a few hours to go snorkeling around Phuket.  It was about an hour ride to the bay.  The water wasn't the clearest but we saw a lot of tropical fish, starfish, and urchins.  Was nice on the water with just the two of us :) 

 

We left on a group speedboat tour in the Andaman Sea to see other local islands around Phuket:

Ko Phi Phi Don Island and Ko Phi Phi Le Island.

These islands are very famous and are usually on the top of lists of tourists to see who visit Phuket.

One of the most famous spots to visit is Maya Bay where the film 'The Beach' was shot.

It was BEAUTIFUL but SO crowded.  My best shots were from the front of the boat!

It was disappointing to see how commercialized the area was but we tried to enjoy the most we could.

Even with the amount of people and boats, the snorkeling was the clearest we've ever seen with beautiful fish!

 

Maya Bay:

 

 

Look at all those boats and people!

 

Next we headed towards Viking Cave (cave that looks like a ship) and Monkey Bay where we fed monkeys bananas from the boat!

 

This monkey was GOOD!

He caught every banana tossed his way!

I like that he looks like a grandpa monkey with a mustache :)

Last stop was a little island on the way back for some rest and relaxation.

We snorkeled a little more, B read on the beach, and I gathered shells and pieces of coral for souvenirs!

 Thank you, Thailand for an AMAZING honeymoon!

We celebrated, we relaxed, and have already began planning our return!

Someone once told me Thailand was MAGICAL and I couldn't agree more!

H O N E Y M O O N ! Part 2: Elephant Trek Excursion

We have a great travel agent in Shanghai, Michael.

When booking our honeymoon with him, I mentioned it was going to be my birthday while in Thailand.

He set up an elephant trek for us and told us to have fun!

It sure was interesting!

 Our Thai Elephant Ride!

She was 53 years old!!!

We rode through the jungle foothills where the ranch had rubber trees to help support their elephant business....

 The 'driver' asked if I scared easily and if I'd like to climb up onto the elephant.

She took our camera, told us not to tell her boss, and it would be very nice if we tipped her something....all while having my camera around her neck.  When she got off the elephant, I told Brandon he best run after her if she takes off running! 

The last part of the elephant trek included see baby elephants!  Yay!

They were 4 years old and as you can see, VERY friendly!!!

Phi Phi Island Excursion next!

H O N E Y M O O N ! Part 1: Thai Life

We've just returned from our honeymoon!
Might have been 11 months late but we wouldn't have had it any other way! 

THAILAND is AMAZING!

We arrived at night after flying from Shanghai > Hong Kong > Phuket.  We awoke the next morning to a gorgeous view at the Karon Grand Beach Resort, headed to breakfast, then lounged on the beach all day to celebrate my 30th birthday!!!

A birthday surprise in our room, "Happy Birthday Ms. Diana" !

 

We rented two chairs ($6 for the entire day!) right in front of a beachfront bar!

I had a special birthday cocktail - fresh coconut and rum!

 

My handsome cabana boy ;)

 

And for our entertainment, locals would walk up and down the beach trying to sell bags, wallets, watches, belts, swimsuit cover-ups, and snacks....notice the corn here too!  What is it with Asia and corn?  I just don't get it...

 

Just a walk down the beach was a local restaurant where the dress code was swimsuits and no shoes!  We visited a few times during our stay.  Chairs in the sand with the surf coming right up under the tables - amazing!  We had delicious Pad Thai, crab fried rice, local Singa Beer, and even got local one day with a full fish!  Check out his smile :)

The resort had two great pools - an adult only infinite pool and one for families (but with a swim up bar where we are below!)

The town of Karon was a quick walk from the resort with several restaurants, bars, street food, temples, and massage places.  We even braved the 'fish pedicure' after a few drinks our first night.

 

 

Temples - twice a week there was a night market selling goods and more street food beginning in the evening and lasting on into the night!  Beautiful colors against the blue sky!

 

 

B made a friend at the temples....we've had a ton of shots so figured these strays can't have much that would bother us!

 

Notice I could not relax my feet!  Toes are curled under!

It felt like your feet falling asleep - pins and needles....

B had one fish that was a biter! 

 

 

B's first foot massage EVER!

We payed $24 for both foot massages (including tips) for an hour massage!  AMAZING!

When not wanting to walk back to the resort, we would take a taxi back, a 'tuk-tuk' in Thailand.  All had open windows, an open back door, and lights and music playing - super fun!

 

 

 Our last night we had drinks at the Route 99 bar - Volkswagon van turned street bar - and lots of fresh street food:  crab, pork, chicken, yum!  We'll eat the street food in just about any country but China!  And B found yet another friend on the street!

 

 

Stay tuned for Honeymoon Part 2:  Excursions!