Krabi, 6 Dec (Day 2)

I awoke the next morning with a dry throat and a dull ache in my temples. I felt as if I had a hangover without the nausea, and my ears were ringing from the aftershock of loud thumping from the dance floor on the disco... but of course, that would have been nearly as awful as what I was suffering from. This. Damn. Earache.


The good news was that the extreme pressure (explosion) had abated and all I had was... the ear ache. I still felt slightly tipsy... with imbalance, so while the husband opted to go swim and run, I opted to lie by the pool.

Hunger pangs hit so I ordered a bfast and coffee for myself

There was a passing shower as I sat under the umbrella... but thankfully, the skies cleared and we headed for a meal by the roadsides, then hit the beach. The afternoon was packed with nothingness as we laid by the beach and I received the much kneaded massage. We also had a late afternoon snack of grilled corn.

Personal chef grilling corn

The discovery of some vertigo meds made me (& the husband) so happy, as I popped them along with panadol to aid with the suffering. We headed to the restaurant for our dinner.

View from our dining table

The husband picking out our dinner

Waiting for dinner

Yum.

That pretty much ended our first full day on the island. I know it sounded as if I am whining while on holiday, but I must say that I was truly uncomfortable. Is it age that is making me so unable to bear with pain? I think there may be some truth in that, but I also know that despite my pains, I did go through the day and thankfully, we had major nothingness planned anyway. It would have been horrid to have to sacrifice any major activity, but I guess skipping alcohol for the day was a small price to pay to regain my sanity (and the husband's).


Good night world, oh go away already damn pains!

Going off on our holidays - respectively

My dear parents brought the children on a cruise. This translated into days of fun for the children, and also a window period where the husband and I were both free to travel on our own. We jumped at the chance, of course and planned our own holiday. On that Monday, we started it off with lazy breakfast and packing at home, then after incessant nagging "is it time?" x 1,000,000 times, the kids were finally shipped off to the parent's. 

All ready to ship off!

After they left, the husband and I finished preparing for our own set-off... and it was the sweetest thing to receive an image update from the sister. The BIL had offered to send the parents and children off for their cruise.

BYEEEE!!!

The husband and I took our time to hit the airport, eat a meal, walkabout to replenish on toiletries, medicine (panadol, I felt like I needed it - oh boy, did I need it - but more on that later), coffee.. we even had time to try out the germ-infested OSIM massage machine. Just as we reached our gates, we heard our names being announced. Oops, last passengers on-board!

Leaving on a jet plane!

Now some months back, we realised that a friend and their children (playmates of our children) were going to be on-board the same cruise. It was very nice to receive updates from this friend, to see that the children had caught up.

Friends on-board the same cruise

Happy in their special bed!

Receiving such happy updates made me truly happy, and the husband and I were able to tune out and get comfortable on the flight to Krabi, his our happy place.


I have no pics from that day after we landed, but we spent the flight there safely (I was totally stuffed and snorty which resulted in me being truly unwell).. we were on-board with a class of French children going on an overseas excursion and there was so much chitter-chatter (even though you cannot see them as they were all short in the chair). An amusing sharing, is that when we landed, there was a wave of wheeee and some children even put their hands up in the air when there was slight shaking of the plane upon landing. Hilarious!


Due to my stuffy head/nose/ear, I dozed on the plane, I dozed on the car ride to the hotel... and though I made it to dinner (we located our only favourite restaurant) ... I fell asleep pretty early. My ears were so stuffed it brought an amazing pain and ache to my entire head, which felt like it was going to explode. I awoke in the middle of the night - it wasn't that late in reality - to find the husband still awake, and barely tolerating with my whining that my head was truly, truly going to explore.


Somehow, I made it back to sleep, not without an irritating, disco-thumping-eruption going on internally.


I made it through the night nearly unscathed (do not scorn my headache!) and truth is, it's now a week and I'm still living with the ringing in my right ear. The pain in the head is gone though, and I guess that's something that is so unbearable, the ringing is nearly normal to me now. I'm on meds which hopefully will help ... but yes, this wrapped up the first day that we said goodbye to the children and embarked on our respective travels.

Charlotte's web

It's been ages since the children watched a play and I promised them to a show. We found a show and a time that we could make it and attended Charlotte's Web.

How sweet do they look!

Truth is, even I'd forgotten the main storyline since it's been a long time since I last read the story, and I did a refresher two nights before we caught the show. I read them the story so that both they and I will be somewhat familiar with the story, and absorb the story better.


The show was quite entertaining, and the best parts must be the ones where the actors went off-stage and ran amidst the crowds. The children all squealed with delight, how lovely. 

A week in the sun, sea and sand

The husband and I went on a couple holiday. Happy that we managed to clock time for us this year. It happened at the tail end, only now in December, but thankful that we managed to do so anyway.

A great pictorial encapsulation of Us on this holiday

There was a lot of eating, resting, reflecting that took place and it couldn't have happened at a better time. Will write more of it, hopefully soon.

Symbol of love and hope

I am loved.

Flying to another planet

Overheard, a conversation between J and the husband.


J: Papa, I am flying to Neptune
Husband: Oh, then where next?
J: Ok, maybe Mars...


They were whispering, as I was in the room and un-fun Mommy will scold if anyone is caught talking; but I heard enough to know that this was not the first time they had played this game before, and then sometime later, when I got up to use the loo, I peeped at the boy to see this:

Someone had fallen asleep mid-flight

I smiled and marvelled at how much he has grown, at his intelligent conversations and inquisitive nature. I can imagine him pretend flying... until he fell asleep with his arms still open mid-flight.


This morning, I had an adult conversation with my 7yo. I asked her what she does when she feels sad, and she tells me that she will play, or 'go to my room and take deep breaths' - that made me smile because I don't know if she actually does that, but I have definite dished out that piece of advice to her before. She hugged me when I asked her to and I know that I am loved. I do not need to be told.


What are the true gems in life? Do we need the downs and sadness so that the norm seems so much better? Perhaps a timely reminder to evaluate what is most important in our life; how much of our lives do we control, or allow others to impact?

Winding down 2016 - a month to Christmas

Things have been hectic.I know I keep saying it, but it is true. Work has been busy, our schedules have been packed with activities and this year, I feel more overwhelmed by everything everywhere than actually feeling like it is nearly Christmas.


So when I was home and able to set the tree up with the family on this wet, cool, lazy Saturday evening, it felt right and I was reminded of the things that truly matter, who anchor me; a reminder to not sweat the small stuff (too much) and to be thankful.

Strength in unity

Our tree is up

I'm ahead of schedule this year and am all done with my gifts. It feels awesome to see the tree lit up and I cannot wait for my mood to match the time of the year. It's truly time to wind down, count my blessings and welcome the new year.


In a few days, it'd be December already and no matter how rough the year has been, I wish to be reminded of the lessons and walk away stronger than before. What a ride, 2016.