Ahhhhhh..... Family Vacation!

After the SEAARetreat, we took an overnight train across Thailand to Chiang Mai, to spend four relaxing days in Chiang Mai at the Juniper Tree, a resort for Christian missionaries/workers. We had our own Thai-style, wooden-stilted, two-room "cabin" to sleep in, and meals were served family-style in the main dining hall, where we got to know other workers over delicious Asian and Western food (and more amazing, homemade bread!). We swam in the pool, read, watched Veggie Tales, ate ice cream, went to the Maesa Elephant Camp as a family, and to the mall on a date as a couple. In other words, in was a wonderful vacation!!

Here are some excited, first-timers on the overnight train. After settling in, we watched a DVD on the laptop, and once our beds were made up, tried to sleep as much as we could with the many stops and starts of the train over the 13-hour trip.

Our first-class cabin was cozy, with two bunk beds which were about 30 inches wide. Juliana and Ryan were on the top bunk, with Bethany and Kai underneath. It wasn't the most restful night!

At the Juniper Tree, Juliana and Kai loved to play on the slide in the indoor play area of the dining hall.

Visiting a guinea pig on the property. It made us lonely for Dad/PaPa Umble. : )

The opening elephant parade at Maesa Elephant Camp, about an hour away from the resort.

The elephants were taught to paint with a brush held in their trunks, and were really good artists (for elephants)! Paintings were on sale from 1500-6500 baht ($42-$185). And the highlight was getting to actually ride an elephant for a half-hour, up-and-down-hill trip! It was a really fun experience, except that I was afraid Kai would fall out of my arms on the way down - he kept slipping off my lap due to the steep incline. Thankfully, no mishaps!

And a taste of Lancaster County in the Central Airport Plaza in Chiang Mai, Thailand!! On our date (Thanks, Debbie Coats!) we found an Auntie Anne's Pretzel shop and indulged in sweet, buttery goodness. Mmmmmmm!
-Bethany