Being a Tourist

Since we had traveled all the way to Thailand, we decided to experience a little bit of the country before returning to the desert.

Keira and I tried out the fish tank.

Unfortunately for Keira, my feet had a lot more dead skin than hers, so they basically ignored Keira's feet.
.

We saw some beautiful things

and some interesting things

We took an ATV tour into the mountains.

We got a chance to look for shells.  

It was Keira's very first time, and she loved it! 

The other three have only had two other opportunities 

(South Padre in 2009 and the Indian Ocean in 2010)

It was like treasure hunting for all of them.

No segregated pools here.  All of our kids got to swim together for the first time in a while.

Sunsets are something to treasure, no matter where we are.

This was what a taxi looked like in Thailand.

Caleb, Keira, and I got up at 4:30 one morning to ride in one of these to an elephant sanctuary an hour and a half away.

We had a good time, but on the way home, I could tell some people had had a long day and were exhausted.

Keira was born in Africa, but she doesn't remember any safaris we went on, so she was very excited to go on this night safari.  She loved seeing the giraffes and zebras the most.

Maybe one day she'll get to return to Africa and see some of those animals on the savannah during the daylight hours.

LIfe in a Taxi (Vol 7)

"Life in a Taxi" is where I chronicle some of the interesting interiors of taxis I ride in. 

This is definitely a first.  It kind of looks like suede.

A Toyota toupee for the dash board...

Plastic only on the visors???

A fuzzy back window

For previous posts of "Life in a Taxi," go to these links:  Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3, Volume 4, Volume 5, Volume 6

Life in a Taxi (Vol 6)

"Life in a Taxi" is where I chronicle some of the interesting interiors of taxis I ride in.

(As you may have guessed, taxi rides were a large part of our life before we purchased a vehicle.)

 This made me think of a car seat for kids.

This material shimmered in the sun and reminded me of snake skin.  Plus, how can he drive with the seat leaned back so far?

 More snake skin.

Here is another one like I've shown you before...probably watching TV while he drives.  EEeek!

 This seat cover is sewn to the head rest.

This one was actually impressive and normal (for me).

For previous posts of "Life in a Taxi," go to these links:  Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3, Volume 4, Volume 5

Where's my Car?

When I go to the mall, this is what I'm faced with when I come out with my groceries.

Rows and rows of white cars.

This is after-school pick up at Karis and Caleb's school.  

White cars everywhere!

Even the beige taxis melt into the white.

I went to the crosswalk to take pictures, and every time I snapped...white, white, white.

Granted, there are the occasional dark ones, but after living here, I think I've realized something.

No one wants a dark car because the summer sun would make each vehicle more of an oven than it already is.

So, I have two things that help me locate my car:

1) The blessing of a "clicker" to unlock my car, which causes the lights to flash, which I use quite often.

AND 2) Doug put a small Texas A&M decal on the back window, which I'm guessing is a one-of-a-kind find in this country.

Here's to always being able to find my vehicle. :)

Life in a Taxi (Vol 5)

"Life in a Taxi" is where I chronicle some of the interesting interiors of taxis I ride in. 

Most of these pictures were taken before we bought a car last year; however, we still have to take the occasional taxi when we need to go two different directions at the same time.

For example, we have the nicest taxi driver in our neighborhood.  When Doug was teaching an English class at the same time that I was taking a language class, and the girls had to get to dance class, I would ask the taxi driver in our neighborhood ahead of time if he could take the girls at such and such time, and he always made time.

Keira helping me with groceries.

Nice fabric for winter...not so much for summer.

The netting that goes over the backs of the front seats to hold the fabric seat covers on.

For previous posts of "Life in a Taxi," go to these links:  Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3, Volume 4

Life in a Taxi (Vol 4)

"Life in a Taxi" is where I chronicle some of the interesting interiors of taxis I ride in.  

However, we recently bought a vehicle, so the posts may be fewer and further between.  I still ride in taxis when Doug has the vehicle and I need to get somewhere, but I won't be riding in them as much.

I thought it was interesting that he taped his controls.  Still not sure why?

To be honest, I couldn't believe there wasn't ANY covering in this car! 
And his seats were made of fabric!
This guy likes living on the edge!

This reminded me of the tatting my great Aunt Hertha used to create.

To be honest, the first thing I thought of when I saw this in the back window was the text book Hagrid assigned for his students to read in the "Care of Magical Creatures" class in the third Harry Potter movie.

It was a hairy textbook that had eyes and teeth and bit things.

It was better than imagining it as an Ewok's fur or part of Chewbacca's pelt, because that would mean that they were no more, and that would be sad.

For previous posts of "Life in a Taxi," go to these links:  Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3

Life in a Taxi (Vol. 3)

Welcome to "Life in a Taxi."  

If you want to see the previous posts, you can see them here:  Vol 1, Vol 2

We always feel blessed if the taxi drivers run the air condition in the summer or the heat in the winter.

It doesn't always happen.

No seat covers in this one.  Impressive.

 Furry grey and black.

Nice fringe on the dashboard.