Thailand - Elephant Riding & 7 Islands Tour in Krabi

March 13-17: We set foot on Thai soil in Phuket and stay overnight in a hotel near the airport. It's already evening and we plan to continue to Krabi tomorrow. Bo organizes a driver to take us there tomorrow and we have Thai food for dinner. With the hot temperatures and the familiar chaos around us, we immediately feel the atmosphere of Thailand. It's a country we are visiting for the fourth time and there is still so much for us to explore...

The next morning, a driver takes us to Krabi. The luggage fills the trunk and the passenger seat. We have to sit on the backseat, five of us. Baby Le is in the middle in the Maxi-Cosi, with one child on each of our laps. It becomes quite cozy on the 2.5-hour drive in the humid heat. Our kids complain about it frequently. When we arrive in Krabi, we check into the 'Uncle's House' accommodation in Krabi Town and we are warmly welcomed by the locals. Baby Le is immediately adored and worshipped, which he thoroughly enjoys. The 'Uncle' himself even goes out to buy a brand new baby crib for our Baby Le, so our little one can truly feel like a prince. When we asked via email beforehand, we were told that they unfortunately couldn't provide one. But when Baby Le displays all his charm in person, the kind 'Uncle' decides to go shopping.

At first, we are a bit disappointed with Krabi because everything is very dirty. Our accommodation is okay and clean, but not in a good location. There is also no real beach in Krabi. The promenade within walking distance used to be very beautiful, but unfortunately, it has seen better days. And yet, everything gradually turns into a positive experience. In hindsight, I believe that you have to arrive in Asia (not just physically) and overcome the initial 'shock'. The kids have fun in the nearby park and go swimming in the water park with Bo, with inflatable castles and water slides. We find a tailor where Bo gets a custom-made suit and Fa gets a new dress. For a seven-year-old girl, visiting the tailor is a big event. We spend a day at the elephant farm and go elephant riding. Later, Fa even dares to sit directly in the front of the elephant. Ma is also very fascinated by the gentle giants. We not only take lots of photos there but also during a day trip to the 7 Islands by longtail boat. It's a wonderful day with breathtaking views, delightful snorkeling and swimming. We end the evening at the famous Railay Beach with a picturesque sunset, have dinner there, and on the way back, we stop to admire the plankton with the longtail boat. Fa and Bo go into the water in the darkness and swirl around with the plankton, creating a beautiful glow. I stay on board with the boys. Lenny sleeps in the baby carrier and Ma is not at all comfortable with the total darkness. In the evening, a storm approaches and we arrive at the accommodation in heavy rain. There, I am pleasantly surprised to find that the Thais had brought in our laundry that we had hung up to dry, so I don't have to start washing all over again. On the last morning, the Thais take us to the ferry to Koh Lanta. We give them our two booster seats that we no longer need. They have served us well in the countries we visited before. However, it doesn't make sense for us to continue to carry them around in Asia. And so, the kids at 'Uncle's House' might be the most safely chauffeured children in Krabi ;-)