Hua Hin :)

So about 2 weeks ago now, we went to a resort called "Hua Hin", which was AMAZING. I think that my favorite part was the free breakfast buffet... that had almost everything you could imagine in it... from crepes to eggs to cereal... it was almost heaven for me :) The beach was beautiful, the pool huge, the beds comfortable... I love not having to pay for things :) It's all good if your parents are paying! :D Love you mom and dad!!!

This. Is. The. Best. Swinging. Chair. EVER!!!

Alex demonstrating his hypnotic powers on harmless babies...

Alex the parrot :)

The lovely beach :)

"BKK"

So... s'up with all of you people?

I. Am. Bored.

And I haven't really done much... yesterday we did... NOTHING!!! I know righttt? That's sooo exciting. I edited a couple pictures on Picnik.com though...

Anyways, next weekend we're going to a resort... so expect a post and pictures then. :)

See ya!

Sarah

Tiger Temple part two!

"The Sign" that lied to us. We drove another

10 or so minutes before actually arriving...

We had to buy my dad a shirt so he didn't

upset the tigers... NO RED OR ORANGE

ALLOWED...

Imagine my surprise to see a pig!!! It made

me happy :D

A turtle eating pumpkin???

Haha, we had to walk through here and Hannah

says, "Sarah, where are the tigers?" So, me

being me I said, "Waiting to eat you."

It's a Bhuddist temple. Enough said.

Water buffalo "chewing their cud".

Finally! The tigers!!!!!!!!!!!!! They were sooo

cute! They're 5 months old and we got to

pet them :)

Ha ha my hand was in Martha's picture so

she was mad... I think.

Another baby!

The babies parents...

I didn't know that tigers liked water... they

are cats after all...

Walking to see the big tigers in a canyon.

Our first view of the big tigers.

I think he wanted to eat me.

Isn't he gorgeous?? I love tigers now.

We paid $30 to get a family picture :)

Walking the tigers back to the cages.

We stopped afterwards to get food and ice cream

that was 15 baht ($0.15).

I love Thailand!!!

For more pictures, go to my mom's blog- sevenfarmers.blogspot.com.

Swa ti ka!

Sarah Hirschi

Tiger Temple part One...

It's not what you think. We did not worship at a Bhuddist temple. We simply visited the tigers that happen to live at the Bhuddist temple. No, we did not get mauled. No, Adam did not freak the tigers out. (Now I'm starting to sound like Kelly :)) It was really cool! I loved sitting right next to the tigers as the people took pictures for us.

More when I can upload the pictures!!!!!!!!!!!

Swa ti ka

Sarah

adopt your own virtual pet!

Snake Farm Visit and the Fish Feeder Machine

So, one day last week, we were bored and so we decided that we wanted to go somewhere. (My dad was at work). So, we looked at the options, and decided to visit the snake farm. We didn't really know what to expect... we knew, of course, that there would be snakes... but other than that? Not much. So... we drove the 45 minutes into downtown Bangkok, and paid our entrance fee, which, surprisingly, was very cheap. It was 350 baht, which in American money is about $10. 85. Hannah and Adam were free... that might have helped a bit. So, we walked in, and were ushered to a theater, where we were just in time to see a venom extraction. They took the snakes and had them bite this funnel that had a plastic covering over it, and you could see the venom dripping into the vial at the bottom. They use the venom for studies at the hospital, which was right in front of the snake farm. When we were done, we walked through, and saw at least 30-40 snakes. So, we walked up some stairs and what did we see but some snakes in cylinders. Hannah thought they were alive and right away asked, "How on earth do they feed them!?" Uhh Hannah? THEY'RE DEAD. So, my mom made us take pictures in front of them... I know you all want to hear about me holding a python... We went back at 2:30 for a show where we saw live cobras and other snakes set loose on the ground. Then, I was standing on the edge of the crowd, so the guy said... "Hey, you, come down here." He didn't really give me a choice. He asked if I had any last words to say to "those I had arrived with"... I didn't... the picture of me laughing is when that happened. So then, he had me look into a corner, and they brought this snake a wrapped it around my shoulders. So, I know had a python around my neck, which apparently "never bites peoples". I lived to tell the tale, and so did my sisters. When we got back, we went to Villa, our neighborhood grocery store. Outside it is a fish feeder machine, which feeds into the lake. If you're lucky, you'll see the HUGE fish in the lake... or not. More pics later!!!

New Layout and Monsoon Season...

So, how do you like the new layout?! Many many thanks to Kajsa Ryne for designing it!!!

So, I've experienced monsoon season first hand. When it rains here, it pours BUCKETS of water. At least once a day without fail, you hear distant thunder that grows closer. Then, about 30 minutes later, the sky goes all dark and it starts pouring. If you walk about 3 feet outside, you're drenched. It's a pretty beast storm :). The whole rest of the day it's really nice. Thank goodness it didn't rain our whole first week, but now it rains almost every day.

So, what's new? Well, we got our air shipment in, and it's nice to see some of that stuff that I haven't seen for 2 months... There are actually some books to read! Yesterday I read the Overton Widow by Glenn Beck and I actually liked it. It was kind of hard to understand, but I think if I read it again I can solve that problem.

So, in Seattle, we went to Deseret Books, and for all of you 1st warders out there, you know that picture in the YW room of the girl in the armor of God? I found a picture of that and I bought it!!! :) It made me soooo happy! I also found some pencils that had Joshua 1:9 on them, so I'm going to use those at school.

Well, that's all I can think of for now...

Swa ti ka!!

Sarah

Nichida Thani

Well, we're in our house and our air shipment is coming tomorrow (Monday for us). Our house is HUGE. Way bigger than any house I've ever really been in. All of the bedrooms have huge walk-in closets. And they each have a bathroom... I wish I had my own camera. I get one for Christmas... if "Santa" can find a "cheap" Canon one at a shopping mall. I miss the States. I'm not saying that it's not nice here, I love it here!!! It's just hard adjusting. I still haven't really registered that I'm here to stay. School starts a week from tomorrow. We're testing and buying uniforms this week. Bleh. They have a really good smoothie shop here. It's called the Twist, and though the smoothies are pricey, they're very good. We have 3 pet fish. I guess you can call them pets. They, Dragon, Mud and Splat, live in a small pond behind our house. Two, Dragon and Splat, are Japanese coi. I don't know what Mud is. I DIDN'T NAME THEM. We might get a golf cart. I drove one yesterday :) It was fun! I wish our bikes were here. They'd make 10 minute walks into like 3 to 5 minutes rides.

I've got to let Emma or Hannah on now, so Swa ti ka until next time!!

Sarah

Picture of us in a Tuk tuk!!!

Well... what else do you want to know? How about the six star hotel??

So, we're in a 1800 sq. ft presidential suite. Plus another adjoining room. Yeah, I know!!! There's a family room with a baby grand piano, a huge view of Bangkok, a huge bedroom, a huge bathroom with a jacuzzi, a dining room, and a kitchenette. From the window right now, we can see horse races!! Thailand is amazing.

We spent 3 hours yesterday... swimming in the HUGE pool.

We get the keys to our house on Tuesday!!!

Well, Martha wants a turn so I'll write more later!!

Swa ti ka

Sarah

Tuk Tuk Rides In Bangkok

So we spent most of Saturday riding around Bangkok in these little cart things called Tuk tuks that would be TOTALLY illegal in the US... but they're really fun :) I'll post pictures soon... but for now I'll try to explain them... they're, like I said, little cart things that you drive around in. They have a seat for the driver, and then in the back, they have another seat that can fit around, oh, 3 people? So, imagine this. 6 people plus a huge chunky baby carrier. Get the picture? It was really squished in there. :) There are a billion of them all over! Well... not a billion but a lot. They sit at the curbs of shopping malls and other large gathering places and try to get people who need a ride to go in their tuk tuk. I'll post more in a minute...

Goodbye America!

So... when we left Midland it rained... almost as it Midland were crying because we were leaving. :) And now it's raining in Seattle... I don't think the USA wants us to go. :D

Well... I've had a great week and a half. We've visited grandparents and great-grandparents and cousins. I almost wish I could live in Seattle. Not really, though.

So, how are all of my friends in MI??? Drop me an email or a Facebook message, because I'm really bored.

(If you don't know my email, it's villisikka@gmail.com)

Emma is making me get off now... so I'll try to write when we're on the plane :)

Swa ti ka

Sarah

We're very very busy and we've got a lot to do...

It's true, we are very very busy. My last full day in Midland, MI for a long while is today. Sad, but true... I'm flying out to Seattle, WA to visit cousins and grandparents and great-grandparents. I must say that I'm kind of excited to go to Thailand. :) My last day in the USA is July 21... I've got to go now... we're staying in the H Hotel!!! It's super nice :)

Swa ti ka,

Sarah