"Holy Week" in Antigua, Guatemala

Location: Antigua, Guatemala & Volcano Pacaya

Date: March 2010

Bailey with a local young Guatemalan woman
who is selling her goods
March 2010

I am often asked about the best place we have ever taken our children. I think much of our traveling has served many different purposes.  We've been on many relaxing, service, sight-seeing, educational, and fun trips.  Our kids are pretty well traveled, so if you ask them about our most adventurous trip they would tell you it was when we visited Guatemala in March 2010.

Our family visiting an old friend of Trent's when he served
as a missionary in Guatemala City over twenty-years ago.
March 2010

At the time Trent's parents and his older sister had been living in Guatemala teaching English at a school in the city of Chimaltenango, about a 25 mile drive from Guatemala City.  Our destination city was Antigua, which wasn't too far from Chimaltenango, and was a great home base for us.  Antigua is also known for its religious rituals during Semana Santa (Holy Week).  Semana Santa is  the week leading up to Easter, and that was precisely the time we were going to visit Grandma and Grandpa.

Trent as a missionary teaching a family in the
mountains of Guatemala.
March 2010

 We were  thrilled about visiting Guatemala to show the kids how people live in a third world country.  We were also excited because this is where, as a nineteen-year-old, Trent had served a two-year mission for our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

Antigua, during Semana Santa, March 2010

Antigua is a beautiful old city with a large town square, and the cobble-stone one-way streets lead to  great restaurants, like some of my favorites Caffe Mediterrano and Cafe Condessa.  However, during Holy Week the entire city transforms.  There are so many traditions that are celebrated by the Guatemalans as they commemorate the crucifixion, and celebrate the resurrection of our Savior.  We had the privilege of witnessing the traditions of these very humble people.

The beginning construction on an elaborate sawdust
 carpet in the streets made by parishioners, and even
business owners of the city.
March 2010 

Some of our group, Clay, Lexi, Leah, Bella & Trent,
 posing in front of a carpet in Antigua
March 2010

During the week prior to Easter the locals create detailed carpets called "Alfombras de Acerrin" that adorn the processional route on the city streets. These carpets are made from sawdust, flowers, sand and other varieties of materials that are only temporary art creations.  All week long there are processions that roam up and down the city streets.  The processions are what my kids call "sad parades" in which hundreds of purple-robed men carry large floats called "andas" that bear statues of Christ with a cross.  Following behind are more "andas" with women dressed in black carrying the Virgin Mary.  During these processions they are stomping all over the beautiful carpets of sawdust.

This is a procession of the purple-robed men that are
carrying a large wooden casket (not easy to see in this pic)
with Christ holding a cross on top.
March 2010

The streets are packed and Leah was easily getting lost
between being in the parade and being a spectator.
March 2010

I am not exaggerating when I say that these processions can start as early as 5:00am and go until midnight.  There is also an ominous chanting that goes with them so it is a little eerie.  Our hotel, the Soliel, was a great little two bedroom suite that fit all eight of us quite nicely. We put our four girls in one room, Trent and I had the other, and our two boys were out on the couches in the living room.  I found this website, www.aroundantigua.com to be very helpful finding information on this little European type town in Central America.

A picture Trent took of Antigua in 1991 when he was a
missionary

While we were down in Guatemala we decided we wanted to hike a volcano.  The Pacaya volcano was only about a forty-five minute drive from our hotel.  My in-laws found a guide through a travel agent in Antigua, and began planning a day-trip and hike to the top of Pacaya.  This volcano is at the height of 8,420 feet.  Since it is an active volcano, complete with boiling lava, it was an exciting adventure for the kids.  We began our excursion by meeting our guide at the hotel.  Some of our group loaded into a van he had brought with a driver, and our guide jumped in our van so we could accommodate our family of eight, Trent's parents, and his sister with four of her kids.

Clay on the horse trail ready to get to the top of Pacaya
March 2010

Our group arrived at the foot of Pacaya at about 10:00 am.  We had decided to ride horse back up the trail as far as we could before getting off to walk the rocky, shale path up to the top.  When we arrived at the foot of the volcano there were about ten different stable guides trying to get us to choose their horses.  Of course they all had their most beautiful horse on hand to show us what magnificent creatures we would all be riding.  It was a mad house because they really didn't mind luring one of our kids onto the back of their horse to show us they were ready to get started on the trail.  Before we had even negotiated any pricing I was finding my kids getting on horse back ready to get started.  This was nothing like I have experienced with my children before, so I hadn't had a chance to tell them not to get on the back of any of the horses until Dad had negotiated a deal.  Soon Trent and our guide had a reasonable price for ten horses (five of the kids would have to double up with adults or older kids) and we finally got everyone mounted on their horse and ready for the trail.

This was Clay riding his horse, Smokey, that was
being led by his 8-year-old handler Miguel.

Being a country girl, and having ridden horses all my life, I was ready to take the reigns and get started.  However, it was not going to be that kind of horse back ride.  Each of our horses, some not as fat and beautiful like we had seen when we arrived, were led by a handler.  We each had our own Guatemalan varying in age, from from what seemed like, eight to seventy-eight, leading us up the trail.  At first I was annoyed, but then I was grateful when I looked behind me to see my son Clay, who was eight at the time, trying to speak to his little eight-year-old horse handler, Miguel.  There was a combination of Clay's limited Spanish, and the other boys limited English.  We rode in a long line of horses up a steep trail with hikers coming down, some on horseback, but most of them on foot.

Bella couldn't be any happier having the great opportunity to be a cowgirl
Mt. Pacaya, Guatemala March 2010

Grandma & Grandpa Kimball both riding with one of the twins
 on the front side of their saddle
March 2010

It was a beautiful ride with lots of vegetation.  Soon we came to the the clearing of where the volcanic shale began, and our horse ride would end.  We all got ourselves unmounted and with fifteen in our group we got ready for the climb.  We had already seen stares from many Europeans who saw our group of kids and voiced their opinions that the climb would be too hard on them and that we should just turn our horses around and go back to the base.  I couldn't help thinking that most of my kids can climb to the roof of our house without breathing hard so I knew they were misjudging this group of monkeys we had brought with us to Guatemala.  At the time my children were; Colton, 14, Bailey 11, Clay 8, Lexi & Leah 5, and Bella was 3.  Though it could be rough on Bella we knew her thirty-two pounds frame could easily be carried if the going got too tough.

All ten of our kid climbers
Kimball Cousins Unite
March 2010

When we began our physical climb to the top of Pacaya, it was a pretty clear trail but made up of a lot of shale rock that was a little slippery and sharp as glass.
*Tip#1 Always pack a pair of jeans for each family no matter the destination.  We thought it would be hot in Guat the whole time we were there, so I had only packed shorts or light capri pants for my kiddos.  Little did I know we would be hiking a volcano made of glass-like rock!

The only boys on the climb, Colton & Clay
Mt. Pacaya March 2010

Our guide was the sweetest and dearest little Guatemalan.  He brought along another guide, who spoke almost no English, to follow our group to make sure we all stayed together.  On this particular day we only came across about ten other hikers so sharing the trail was easy.  The kids loved the hike, and like I had guessed, they didn't find it nearly as difficult as I did.

The top of Mt. Pacaya and the bubbling lava that streamed down
the backside was amazing to see so close
March 2010

When we arrived at the top of the volcano we could see about a 10-foot hole at the top where lava was rolling down the backside of the mountain.  Standing about twenty-five feet away we could feel the penetrating heat of the molten lava.  It was amazing to see this thick lava rolling over the rim and the bubbles just barely popping at the top.  Colton and Clay couldn't stop throwing rocks into the mouth only to watch them land on top as if they were going to float and then slowly be consumed by the lava.  It wasn't anything they could have ever learned in a classroom.

Lexi, 5,  is so proud of herself at the top of a volcano
March 2010

Bailey at the top of the mountain holding her
marshmallow roasting stick that was sold
by local children at the base
Mach 2010

Our guide was so sweet he pulled out marshmallows and long whittled sticks that he'd purchased from the children at the horse stable, so we could have a very unconventional marshmallow roast.  The only problem was to get closer to the rim we each had to, one-by-one, hug the side of the volcano and pass  about a ten-foot ledge.  All of us were reluctant to get any closer.  We could already feel the heat and didn't want to take any fool hearted chances.  But the guide in the back was like a little sherpa that was about four feet tall and equally four feet wide.  He was all muscle and felt very comfortable on this precipice.  He led us one by one over to the rim to roast a marshmallow, and feel the true heat of this magnificent volcano.  We didn't let all of the small children go over but most of the adults did and the sherpa put Clay on his back and he went over too.  It was an amazing experience.

Leah, so proud of her scrapes
March 2010

Our way down was faster but scarier due to the shale rock that was always giving way under foot.  Both of our guides at this time had two of the children on their backs, while Trent and his father took turns with some of the other kids.  We only had one fall from Leah who scraped her knee and an elbow.  She came up smiling from the fall and was rather proud of her scrapes for the rest of the trip.  Of course this could have been avoided if I had dressed my kids properly for this adventure.

Trent coming down the bottom part of the trail
with Bella, 3, on his shoulders
March 2010

At the end of the shale our horses and their handlers were there to greet us and they had a simple lunch of pre-made sandwiches, chips and bottled waters for us to enjoy.  When our lunch was finished we each mounted our steed, and rode that uncomfortable ride back down the rest of the volcano Pacaya.  At the bottom we could see other tourists getting bombarded by stable masters as they started their ascent.  Our kids looked out of place with all of their bright colored clothing, and fresh clean faces.  After this adventure they had new found friendships with their guides, a hike to an active volcano,  and they were starting to get a  real feel of the life of these Guatemalans.

Some of the children that were selling the marshmallows at the base
March 2010

A picture of Mount Pacaya during its eruption
 May 27, 2010

*Tip #2 Always check these attractions on-line, www.volcanoexperience.com, before trying to attempt a hike like this.  On May 27, 2010 Mt. Pacaya erupted and a lot ash rained down on Guatemala City and Antigua. That was less than sixty days after this excursion. The Guatemala City airport was closed for two-weeks following the eruption.
*Tip #3 Also, I should warn that sometimes there are burglaries on hikes like this one.  Most of the time if you have a guide and a larger group you will be left alone.  However, do not travel with lots of cash or credit cards during day trips.  Leave that stuff back at the hotel in a safe.  Most of the time these are just desperate people trying to feed their families and so cash is all that they desire.  Be safe and travel in numbers or with locals to avoid situations such as these.  

The Most Romantic Trip...Napa Valley

Location: Napa, California
Date: August 2012 

I consider Napa to be the perfect couple's excursion. The rolling hills, manicured with rows and rows of vineyards, the excellent blue skies, perfect temperatures, and gentle breezes that resonate peace and tranquility make this a place of healing for both the mind and body.

A vineyard in Napa

Recently my husband, Trent, and I headed back to Napa.  (I say "back" because I grew up in Vacaville, a town just 18 miles away, but this trip was unlike the hundreds I had made during my adolescence.)  Since we were going home for my high school reunion in Vacaville, I decided to stay in Napa to outweigh a semi-stressful event with a relaxing and romantic getaway.

The Carneros Inn and Resort
August 2012

The Carneros Inn and Resort
Leaving Texas' 100 degree heat also sounded heavenly, so we headed off to Napa just two weeks ago to really discover it for the first time.  We flew into California and headed to our hotel called the Carneros Inn and Resort.  This was in the midst of beautiful vineyards and even had its own farm and orchard, so I truly felt we were communing with the earth and soil.  It felt good to this old country girl from Vacaville (literal translation, Cow Town) to get back to my roots.  Each of the rooms at this lovely, little place stand alone, so it really was like visiting our own personal cabin/farmhouse.  From the corrugated tin roofs and wood siding, it looked like a little farmhouse.  The exception being when we entered our little one room/one bathroom suite since the inside was beautifully simple with a touch of modern luxury.  The linens, indoor/outdoor shower, outdoor tub for two, and a personal fireplace in the room all led me to the quick conclusion that this was going to be a fabulous weekend.  More on this Plumpjack Resort can be found at www.thecarnerosinn.com.

Our suite, Haire #6, Napa
August 2012

We arrived at our resort very late after dinner with some friends from Vacaville.  When we pulled up, I did not know what to expect, unlike a lot of the chain hotels and resorts, where you basically have an idea of what you'll be getting.  I was surprised to recognize the resort as the same place I had had dinner for my Winter Festival dance in high school.  Of course that has been ages, and the night of the dance I had only known we had gone to Napa for dinner, so I never knew I had visited Carneros as a teen.  Since it is so beautiful lit up with string lights and the indoor/outdoor restaurant, it is no wonder it is a vision I have held onto for over 20 years.

The Perfect Day
Okay bare with me.... I am now about to describe my perfect day during this wonderful weekend away.  I don't want to sound too sappy, but it truly was perfect.

After our wonderful breakfast of eggs benedict and pancakes all made fresh with many of the resort's own homegrown ingredients, we headed out to discover Napa.  Trent had already booked a "mudslide" spa treatment up in Calistoga which is about a 45 minute drive north through this beautiful landscape.  I didn't mind driving because we had the top down on the car and the breeze whispering in my ear.  (Do I sound sappy yet?  Yes, it was that great!)  Tip #1-- If you don't know what you want to do or what is available in the area, then call your concierge at the hotel you are staying.  They can usually help plan a day or activity and usually know which ones are the best.  That is how Trent found out about his one.

Trent in Downtown Calistoga.  I love this guy!
August 2012

Mud City
Calistoga is known as "mud city" since it has the perfect combination of old volcanic ash from Mount St. Helena located just seven miles away, and the healing waters of the natural "Old Faithful" geyser found right there in Calistoga.  This mud supposedly has great healing properties, but let's face it, we could have been smearing good ol' regular mud on ourselves, we didn't care as long as it felt amazing.

Solage Resort 
When we arrived at the Solage Resort in Calistoga, we were ushered through the usual spa routine: go to the locker room, change into a robe and slippers, and meet outside in the co-ed waiting room where, of course, we were given a variety of herbal teas and cucumbered ice waters to wait out our time until our treatment started.

Our treatment room and tiled bed.
Try and notice the shower heads in the ceiling that we could turn on when we were ready to clean off.
August 2012

The Mud
Soon we were greeted and escorted to the mud bar where we choose an essential oil to be included in our mud.  I chose a citrus type boost that would give me some energizing properties, and Trent got the lavender for de-stress/muscle soothing.  Once our mud was mixed right before our eyes, we headed to the application room to rub the mud all over ourselves in a heated tiled room that was fit with shower heads coming out of two walls and overhead of the tiled lounging bed.  I really liked that the mud was mixed right before my eyes.  I have had a mud bath submersion procedure done back when I was in high school, and had saved all my babysitting money to enjoy such a lavish luxury, and though that was fine for me back then.  I worry now about who may have been sitting in that mud bath before I came along.  I didn't want other's germs, and so, though this wasn't a submerged bath it was still very soothing and my skin felt just as smooth as my first experience 24 years ago.)  Once our mud had dried and we showered off, a knock at the door signaled that it was time to move onto the next step.

Our geo-thermal mineral water baths
straight from the hot springs.
August 2012

The Waters
Straight from the solagecalistoga.com website in which this mudslide experience is described "the second step involves a relaxing and rehydrating soak in a luxurious oversized tub- featuring geo-thermal mineral water from our own spring."  Basically a relaxing soak for 25 minutes with some great bath salts again made from our essential oil of choice.  With another tap at the door it was on to the next step.

No this is not an advertisement for the spa, its Trent getting his zen on...
August 2012

The Rest
Trent's picture says it all.  You'd think this was from a brochure, but I couldn't help but take a quick pic once we got situated in these awesome chairs.  We were basically shown to these gravity free chairs, wrapped ourselves up in a robe and blankets, and were given head sets that were in-sync with the chair to vibrate with different pulses of the relaxing music.  It was bliss for all senses.

Me with no make up feeling very relaxed after our treatment.
August 2012

I will say I could call myself a connoisseur of spa treatments and this was one of my favorites because it included my husband, it was very relaxing, and it varied from the usual run-of-the-mill treatments.

Village Bakery in downtown Calistoga
August 2012

Old Faithful of California

By now it was 12:00pm and we wanted to walk the main drag of Calistoga and grab some lunch.  When I was a girl my mom would buy cheese and french bread and we'd find a park (usually over in Sonoma) and feel like we were in Italy or France for the day, of course I wanted to recreate this experience.  We grabbed a great lunch at Village Bakery and took off to have a picnic at the Old Faithful Geyser of California.  This natural phenomenon erupts every 30 minutes and is smaller, and a more intimate setting than that of the Old Faithful Geyser located in Yellowstone.  This is one of only three Old Faithful Geysers in the world, so it was well worth the time.

Old Faithful Geyser of Calistoga California
August 2012

The cost to see Old Faithful was $10 for adults and $3 for kids 3-12, more info at oldfaithfulgeyser.com.  It is an older park in California and doesn't look like it brings in much revenue so don't expect anything fancy but the staff was very kind and helpful.  Right next to the geyser there are a bunch of picnic tables where Trent and I set up our bakery feast.  Within 5 minutes of us being there it began to blow and so we were able to watch it twice during our picnic.  They also have some exotic goats and llamas (I wasn't too interested in seeing) so we did have the faint aroma of farm life near by.

A petrified tree stump at the Petrified Forest
August 2012

The Petrified Forest
Once we left Old Faithful we followed the signs for the Petrified Forest.  I'm embarrassed that I've never realized how close this forest was since I had never visited it while growing up.  You'd think this would be a no brainer for any mom and I was a littler perplexed at why my mom had never brought us here and then I saw this sign and realized why....

Hikers beware!
August 2012

Ok so here is the run down of the petrified forest.  Basically 3 million years ago when Mt. St Helena erupted the ash and lava came running down into the valley and coated everything in its wake.  Over all these years certain trees that are on display were transformed from wood to actual stone.  If I was a scientist I could explain in much clearer than this but basically there are about 23 sites, at this exhibit, that display these stone like trees laying on the forest floor.  Now to embarrass myself fully--there are no standing up petrified trees, as I had imagined.  There is not a forest full of petrified trees standing up to walk through.  (Thanks Hollywood for giving me a false visual all these years.)  It was interesting and it was a perfect 25 minute walk through a beautiful part of this forested valley. More info at www.petrifiedforest.org gives a much better explanation, the costs, and hours of the park.

Castello Di Amarosa and vineyard
August 2012

Trent is such a trooper posing for all my pics
on this romantic weekend away
August 2012

Grape Juice Anyone?
Of course I think the main reason I've never really experienced Napa Valley is because I don't drink alcohol.  With over 350 wineries in the area it can be a wine enthusiasts dream with so many tastings and so little time.  I have however, always been curious about the process of distilling grapes and even the harvest, and the whole process, so Trent and I decided to spend some time of our perfect day visiting a winery to learn more about it.  The Castle Winery, Castello di Amorosa, had been referred to us and we thought it would be fun to visit a castle.www. castellodiamorosa.com

Trying to get a decent picture with the low lighting in
the wine cellars.
August 2012

Modern technology meets the age old process of wine making
August 2012

This Winery is relatively new and took 15 years to construct.  It is shown in the Adam Sandler movie "Bedtime Stories" and truly does look like its been in the valley for hundreds of years.  The architect even thought it would be funny to make some of the castle look like its survived a battle and some of the bricks are missing from a top turret.

The war ridden turet from some terrible war this castle
 had engaged in with the city of Sonoma. :)
Castella di Amarosa, August 2012

Our tour took us through many of the 107 rooms in the castle, it even has a mock torture chamber, and into the cave of the hillside where much of the wine is stored for aging and distribution.  We walked through rows of thousands of wine barrels, tried taking photos that would show up in the low lighted rooms, and enjoyed learning about the wine making process.  At the end of course, there was a full wine tasting in a beautiful underground room in which Trent and I tasted some wonderful, smooth, sweet but not too tart grape juice.  When we told the gentleman next to us that he could have our share of the real wine he was only too delighted to take us up on our offer.  Here we ordered 12 bottles of this luxurious grape juice to be sent to our home in Texas for a nominal fee of $15 so we can open up this special juice at Christmas this year.  It really was just that good.

The Girl and the Fig Restaurant
August 2012

The Girl and the Fig
Our evening ended with a short drive up to Sonoma where we dined right on the town square at a restaurant called The Girl and the Fig.  It was in an old home or business building from the 1800's and offered a fresh fare of food.  I thought it was all delicious except for the chocolate covered figs that we ordered for dessert.  Not my favorite. www.thegirlandthefig.com

Reunion with with high school/middle school/elementary buddies.
August 2012

I hope this helps in planning your  excursion trip to Napa Valley.  We really did have such a romantic time and it was healing for both our mind and body.  It also reminded me to be more grateful for the things I have around me including where I live and the friends I've had, and have, in my life.  Since it was also my high school reunion trip I will include a pic of some of that fun.  Where is the most romantic city you've visited?  I'd like to know so I can start planning my itinerary or at least put it on my bucket list.

"Begin by discussing with your eternal companion 

how much time you need together

 to strengthen your marriage, 

to demonstrate the love you have for each other. 

That is your first priority." 

Elder L. Tom Perry
lds.org

Around the World, Part 2: Operation Koh Samui

Location: Koh Samui, Thailand
Date: March 2012

View of Koh Samui, Thailand
March 2012

Prior to this trip, my only exposure to the island of Koh Samui came from "Meet the Fockers."  Luckily, we had a chance to go there, and my eyes were opened to this beautiful island, which is much more than just a funny location in a movie.  Here is more of our "Around the World" trip that we took in March.  

Trent on our hike at Na Maung Safari Park
March 2012

On Wednesday, March 8, we landed in Koh Samui and took tenders over to the island.  When we arrived, there were many local taxi drivers and excursion agents trying to get anyone and everyone off onto one of their tours.  (*Tip here!-- Don't just go with the first driver that tries to get your business.  NEGOTIATE!)  Trent found drivers that would take our group of 14 to the Na Maung Safari Park, a 15-20 minute drive, for $12.50 each.  We usually like to make our own adventure and don't always do the excursions offered by the boat because we’ve found we can save money.  In this case, we found the information about the Na Maung Safari park online, and the boat didn’t even offer an excursion here.  We were excited because the kids really wanted to ride an elephant and this was the place to do it!

Getting our $10 pictures with these wild beasts
March 2012

The park was in good shape for a third world country.  It had many things to offer, and there was no cover charge to get in.  At the front of the park, there was a tiger and a jaguar chained up with a line of tourists waiting to get their picture taken by these amazing creatures.  Clay chose to get his picture with the tiger, but we waited to watch a few others in the group get theirs, so we could make sure the tiger was docile enough to get up close and personal with.  Though I do hate to see animals locked up on a chain this way, it was incredible to get close enough to touch this animal, and I do realize this is a way for these people to feed their families.  For $10 each, we were able to pet the tiger and get our photo with him.  When the tiger tried to look over his shoulder at us, the handler would knock him in the muzzle to have the tiger look away.  At one point while I was petting the tiger's back, and he was knocked by the handler, the tiger did a low murmured growl that shook through his body.  That was my cue to move on.  I was done.

Bailey choose to get her picture taken with the baby tiger and feed her a bottle of milk.  It was precious and really looked a lot like a kitten with the exception of his huge paws.  This also cost $10 just for a picture. 

Bailey & me riding Solomon our elephant
March 2012

The most amazing thing about the park were the elephants.  They had 28 that lived there, and once again, all the tourists were lined up to ride them.  Trent and Clay got on one elephant, and Bailey and I got on another with our mahout (elephant handler) riding up on the ears of the elephant (yep, that would be the forehead!).  We rode peacefully along as our huge beast ate giant bamboo leaves and moved to the commands of our mahout named Tuck.  Tuck shared that our elephant's name was Solomon, and he was a 45-year-old Asian elephant.  He was a dark charcoal grey with orange-tinted splotches of freckles on his face to distinguish his elephant breed.  We roamed around the park for about twenty-five minutes on the back of Solomon, and at one point, our mahout jumped off and had us move off of the bench saddle they had strapped on Solomon's back and we rode up on his neck and shoulders. Can I just mention that I did get a little bit panicked here?  What if Solomon tried to make a break for it?  It was so interesting to feel the thick skin of Solomon and feel the bristles of his hair under our skin and to think about all of these animals living on this island in the middle of the China Sea.  Tuck took lots of pictures of Bailey and I, but we were separated from Trent and Clay and their elephant so we didn’t get to enjoy it as a little family.  By the end of our ride, we felt like Solomon was an old family friend, and Tuck told us how prestigious it was for him to have become a mahout.

Momma & Baby at the Elephant Nursery
Koh Samui Thailand, March 2012

At the end of our ride, we said farewell to Solomon and headed up to cool off at the waterfall in the park.  On our way, we saw the nursery where there were two baby elephants that were three- and six-months-old.  They were absolutely precious, and one even sucked the mother's teat as we watched and fed the mother bananas we had purchased.  (Though there was no cover charge at this park, everything had a price!  To feed the elephants some bananas, we had to pay a few Bhats though they did accept dollars as well.)  The baby elephant made us all wish we could just take one home and keep it in the backyard but seeing the size of their mamas made us realize that was just our childish dreams surfacing for a moment.  

Our beautiful waterfall taken from the bottom of the 2nd waterfall
Koh Samui Thailand, March 2012

We paid $3.50 each for a ride up to as close as we could get to the waterfall without having to hike too much with the kids.  I felt this was a smart choice since there was plenty more hiking in front of us.  At the first waterfall, there were lots of tourists all trying to get in and get cooled off from the heat and humidity that was engulfing us.  With a little refreshing splash, we were ready to hike up to the next waterfall which was about another 10 minute walk up.  We stayed on the path that was clearly marked with ropes and cutouts of the mountain and made it up to the next waterfall where there were less tourists and a little more water to splash around in.  My only regret was having only one water bottle with us that was quickly gone by the time we had gotten to the first waterfall. (*Tip-- Bring water on hikes - even if you're hiking a waterfall!  It's hard to hike thirsty when there's so much refreshing water is running by your feet.)

Bailey swinging between waterfalls
March 2012

At this second waterfall, there was a swing that the kids had fun swinging on, and we all climbed the rocks that formed the natural pool.  There, we took a nice dip and cooled off from the sun.  I was the first one back on the trail to head back down, and while I was waiting, I saw a little bench I probably wouldn’t have noticed had I not been waiting on the others.  

The bench where I found our little Thai guide waiting for us
March 2012

There sat a little Thai man in very shabby clothes who didn’t speak any English at all. (Okay, he could speak about three or four words.)  All he said to me when I noticed him was "secret pool" as he pointed up to another trail that was even more primitive than the first.  By then, our group was starting to assemble, and Clay saw the Thai man and heard what he said as well as another French couple who decided to follow this Thai man.  Clay looked at me and I gave my approval, so Clay started following the Frenchies along with the Thai man up the smaller trail to continue up.

Want to cross this bridge?  You can decide when you get there! ;)
March 2012

Because the second waterfall had only been a 10 minute hike from the first, I assumed this “secret pool” would be just as close.  When everyone had finally gathered, I told them I was going up with Clay and soon Trent, Bailey, the "O" family, and I were all headed up.  It was a very treacherous trail.  There were ropes but fewer than the other trails, and this trail was much steeper than the ones previous.  We kept going, taking few breaks to catch our breath and wishing for water, but we continued up.  About 3/4 of the way up, we ran into some other Americans coming down, and they gave us hope that we were almost to our goal and that it was well worth it.  

Our "secret pool" that wasn't so secret with the little Thai guide telling everyone about it
March 2012

After about 30 more yards, we finally made it to the "secret pool" and our Thai guide disappeared behind a rock to change into his "swim trunks" he had hanging on a tree.  We all started to get into the water, but we soon learned that our guide could also say "No" and "Yes."  We soon got “no, no, no” as he came out from behind his changing rock in the most dreadful sheer swim Speedo I had ever seen.  It looked like something made by a shipwrecked person living on a deserted island, and it gave very little to the imagination.  I was satisfied that his front was covered, but as soon as he turned aroundm the girls started to snicker since we could see the torn fabric holding on trying to cover his bottom but not doing a very good job of it.  We had a good laugh, and then our guide dove into the pool proving how deep the water was.  Once he was in, he gave us the “yes, yes, yes,” and we all started to get in and cool off.  He swam us over to a little cave in the pool and grabbed a rope submerged in the water that we used to pull ourselves into the cave and through the waterfall that rained down in front of it.  He was a funny little guide since he kept pushing us all into the cave as though it was a huge cavern though there really wasn’t space for us all, and then he gave us the sign for wanting to take our picture. 

Clay posing with the beautiful view from the
top of the mountain down to the ocean
Thailand, March 2012

He showed the kids where they could cliff jump into the pool and we all enjoyed the cool crisp water that rejuvenated our tired soaked bodies.  The view from our pool was also amazing since we were so high in the Koh Samui jungle that we could see a landscape of green out before us stretching out to the ocean.  It really was one of the most enjoyable moments of my life only to be clouded by the fact that my other four kids weren’t with us to enjoy it too.  

At that point, it was time for our descent and since one of my flip flops had broken on the way up the mountainside, I had the pleasure of trying to navigate down with only one shoe.  I know I do this every time.  As my sister, Kym, would say, I hike in banana peels!  It is especially stupid since I own a great pair of Keens that I have officially dubbed as my waterfall hiking shoes but that I forget to bring every time. 

The "banana peels" I tried to hike in - not a good idea
March 2012

We did make it down and had our taxi drivers waiting for us at the bottom to take us back to the boat.  We gave our Thai secret pool tour guide a hefty tip for leading us on our wonderful excursion, and the kids encouraged him to use it on a new bathing suit, but in a country like this, I'm sure that is last on his list of essentials.  

One more rope swing we found on our way back down
the mountain side.
Koh Samui Thailand, March 2012

Back on the boat, the Brits didn’t like that we had come back on with only our bathing suits and cover-ups, and one even rolled his eyes at Clay and turned to his wife and said, “He could have at least put a shirt on” which made me laugh that a shirtless 9-year-old boy in his swimsuit could cause such disdain to a grown man.

Our boat, The Aurora
March 2012

That evening was a formal evening, and though they are not my favorite, it was nice to dress up and see our group looking so smart at dinner.  Since my converter for my curling iron didn't fit into the plug in my room, I had been unable to curl my hair so I did my best to look presentable, and we ended up having a great evening dining with friends.