For Xmas we went to stay with our friends Alison and Joesph and their 3 lovely girls Jo, Caroline and Sarah. They have a nice condo with pool right in central Bangkok where we stayed for a few nights before travelling by luxury van to Koh Chang, a small island around 5 hours from Bangkok. We stayed a smallish resort called Grand Cabana http://www.grandcabanakohchang.com/and a fab time was had by all.
The kids are close in age so they all got on well and kept each other amused. We went elephant trekking on Christmas day and ended up in the water with them :) and went on a speed boat for a snorkeling trip. We also saw a bit of the island by scooter - it is very beautiful a bit developed and busy in some places but then under developed in others.
There were a lot of empty places - apparently they are down by 50% 0n visitors from last year. Lonely beach was my favorite place and where I would stay if we went again - WE went back to Bangkok for new year and watched an amazing fireworks show from our friends balcony which was taking place directly in front of our building . Off home today :( to WGNRR board meeting and then film making and job hunting.
Time to move on and find a better paid position so that the kids can go to international school. Going back to the UK is of course an option but would be a retrograde step career wise .....have applied for jobs all over the world, Thailand, Washington, Geneva, NY, Jordon and of course the Philippines but all with good financial packages ....so have no idea where we might be this time next year.
As for the film making Marc and I have been recruited to make a film with an awarding winning Filipino director Brilliante Mendoza and french actress. We play hostages and will spend 3 weeks filing at various locations around Luzon. The film will be entered in the major film festivals next year - so who knows possibly a trip down the red carpet :) Watch this space
