A week and a half ago, June 23, was our 2nd year anniversary. [I cannot believe it's already been that long!] We've really been trying to save money as we are taking some trips soon. So Jonathan and I talked about it and decided that we'd just do a short weekend trip to Bangkok to celebrate - which is still really awesome. I mean, we're in Thailand!
So after school on Friday, we went home to pack for our one night stay in Bangkok. I pull out my backpack and Jonathan says matter-of-factly, "you should probably pack for 3 days." What?! Ok, he didn't have to tell me twice! And then he adds, "I am bringing my tennis shoes and swimming suit, you should too." My mind was turning... where are we going? What will I need sneakers and a swimming suit for? Rainy season is in full swing now and I knew that all the beaches in Thailand were having horrible weather all week. I tried not to pry, but as we got onto the vans to take us down to Bangkok I couldn't stop asking Jonathan what we would be doing! I'm just one of those people who HAS to know. But I gotta give credit to him, he kept it a tight secret. Although he did indulge me and say that we were going to Bangkok, but that it wasn't our final destination.
We got off the van at Victory Monument and I proceeded to find the entrance to the BTS station so we could go to our usual little bed and breakfast near Siam Square. But then Jonathan flagged down a motortaxi and asked him to take us to the Amari Watergate Hotel. WHAT?! We had been to that hotel once before - for the LDS Church District Conference - and let me tell you, that place was nice. Jonathan slyly mentioned to the reception desk that we were celebrating our anniversary and they bumped us up to an Executive Room on the top floor of the building! It pays to travel during the low season :) I think that was the nicest room I've ever and probably will ever stay in. The hotel also dropped off some gourmet chocolates and macaroons for our enjoyment. Hah! I definitely could get used to traveling in luxury.
Here's the view of Bangkok from the 34th floor.
After we dropped off our bags, jumped on the bed for joy, and thoroughly investigated all the complimentary items in our room, we caught a taxi and went to this DELICIOUS Italian place. Well, it did take forever to get there (infamous Bangkok traffic), but it was well worth the wait. Legitimate Italian-style tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella pizza, home-made pasta, grilled salmon, and crème Brule and coconut icecream for dessert. It was phenomenal! Ah! Food just makes me so happy. And we were delightfully fat the rest of the evening.
The next morning, Jonathan still wouldn't tell me where we were going! Super frustrating. We headed back to the vans at Victory Monument and Jonathan finally divulged our destination - Kanchanaburi. YES! We went there for like one day during our orientation, but we have wanted to go back so bad. It is so green and beautiful and so much to see! I did not see that one coming. I was thrilled! And I had the 2.5 hour van ride to let it all soak in.
Here it is! Phra Tat Cave. Jonathan wasn't able to take too many pictures inside because we happened to be with a group of people that rushed all the way through. But it was a gigantic cave! You kind of have to crouch down to get inside, but after that, it was the largest open-roomed cave I have ever been in! It was gorgeous.
Then we had to race down the mountain to the nearest little vendor with a roof because it started to downpour. We got stuck there for a while because the mountain was very steep and our rented motorbike basically didn't have any brakes. That would just be asking for a disaster. But as it always does, the rain cleared up and we went down to see the Erawan Waterfall. The reason why it's so well-known is because it is so beautiful and so big! It should actually be called the Erawan WaterfallS - seeing as there are seven tiers. And it's like a 2 mile hike from the first tier to the seventh. We didn't realize that the park closed at 3:30 and because of the mid-day downpour, we were already a little behind schedule. We so badly wanted to get all the way to the top so we basically ran up the mountain. Stopped at each tier for a second, took a picture and continued upward... until we were halted by the closing ranger guy at the fifth tier. I was so disappointed. We were SO close! I begged him, we only want to take a picture, but no dice. And then we were really depressed because we realized that we now didn't even have time to swim in any of the waterfalls. And we were GROSS. Jonathan turned right back around and raced down the mountain to try and get ahead of the guy closing up all the waterfalls so he could take a dip. I was so mad that I didn't even try haha. But as it turns out, we made it to the second tier and did have time to jump in. We actually had time for a super nice swim! At least 20 minutes. It was perfect, with the exception of the jumbo-sized fish that wouldn't just "nibble," but would vacuum-suck to your ankles. Ulgh! I couldn't stand that feeling. So I had Jonathan give me a piggy-back ride out of the pool haha. One of the many perks of having a husband.
On our second (and last) day in Kanchanaburi, we took the motorbike up towards the Sai Yok area and went to see part of the WWII historical railroad. We had already seen the actual "Bridge of the River Kwae" but there is this beautiful part of the railway that bends and curves into the side of a little mountain. It took us a while to find this place, but it was very rewarding. You can even walk on the train tracks themselves, and that almost gave me a heart attack. Number one because parts of it are being held up only by wooden stilts, and number two, it's still an operating railroad. If a train came by, we'd have to jump off the tracks, and in some places that meant down...very very far down. Not to worry though, they assured us the train goes very slow. And lucky for us we made it out with life and limb.
Then finally our last stop and the highlight of our trip, the Tiger Temple. What to say? We got to see tigers, pet tigers, and even walk a tiger on a leash! It was awesome. You basically take some pictures with the tigers, walk to another area, take some more pictures, and then go to the last canyon area and take more pictures. Sounds mundane, but I mean, they are TIGERS. Haha. Just look at them, they are so beautiful and majestic. Especially in person, it was surreal.
(See the link on our facebook for more pictures of tigers and bears on Jonathan's flickr).
As we were waiting in line for pictures at the last area, Jonathan saw a sign for playing with bear cubs. And my heart stopped. Jonathan was JUST asking me earlier that morning if there was anywhere in the world where you could play with baby bears! (Bears are his favorite animal) And here it was. Destiny. He asked if we should do it even though it wasn't in our budget. And I was like, "if we don't do this, you will regret it for the rest of your life." He definitely agreed so we ran out to the entrance of the temple, withdrew some money from the ATM and raced back just in time for the last time slot. Usually the time slots are only for 15 minutes, but I guess because we were the last ones, we got to feed and play with them for like a half an hour! AH!!! I can't even describe it. They were almost like little humans, just sitting there taking a bottle, crawling up onto our laps and cuddling. They even started sucking our arms! It didn't hurt, it just felt weird. (Well, it kinda hurt when they would yank down your arm with their claws haha) But it was SO cute.
What better way to spend our anniversary than exploring the mountains of Thailand, swimming in a world-famous waterfall, petting tigers, and playing with bear cubs?! But more important than just doing cool things, is that we are doing them with each other. Some people say as the years pass, you naturally celebrate more and more... I think it will be hard to top this anniversary haha. But there is no need! If I am with my husband, I am a happy girl. No matter what we are doing.
Here's to our first two years of marriage - and many, many more to come!
