I am feeling a little better today. Last night was really hard. I stayed up all night, which seems to be my new pattern since Trek died. I organized some pictures from the last couple of days of our travels and I went through some of Trek’s pictures-I love looking at his sweet face. I also spent hours trying to find us a rental house/apartment in Thailand.
back in Thailand! right off the bus from Laos
they got to sit by the tuk tuk driver since our luggage took up the back
cruising the busy city streets
We would like to rent a house for 3 months here in Thailand and are really excited to take a little break from fast travel and settle down for a little while. Jarrett needs some time to finish up his first book and I would like to focus on more homeschool time with the boys. We both want to immerse ourselves in Thai culture and language for a time to make some relationships and have a little community in our lives.
We thought we found the perfect place here in Udon thani. It had tons of fun stuff for the boys to do and was only $300 a month. But Udon thani is a concrete city full of shopping and the nearest nature attraction is 1 hour away. We tried to make the city life work for the last 3 days, but in the end we missed the outdoors and sunshine.
So I stayed up researching monthly rentals in any city in Thailand, it was a pretty wide net, but I think we found a place. We have been told by 2 different families that if we liked Vang Vieng (which we do sooo much!), we would also like Pai, Thailand. We found some properties online and are going to head to Pai to check them out.
The last 3 days in Udon thani have not been for nothing. It has been a nice break and really fun for the boys to have some good ol’ electronic fun and we all enjoyed some yummy food in the A/C.
an escalator! the boys were so excited to be at the mall
toys!
2 brothers at the mall showing us their pet bug
yummy Thai mall snack-fish sausage with cheese! (i think i just threw up a little in my mouth)
buying their own ice cream cone-9 baht (33 cents)
more delicious food court options
roast duck-bill and all
super fun place place at the arcade-$2 for 45 minutes of fun
I thought these were so fun, you would find them all over the arcade room, put in a coin and drive them around and just leave them where they stopped when your time was up
bumper car fun!
we lucked out because the man in charge of this ride got tired of watching the boys and just left to go work on a machine, so they played in there forever when it was only supposed to be for 5 minutes
We are headed to Pai tonight-can’t wait to hopefully find our new home!
Thank you everyone for all of your kind comments and love and prayers you have all sent these last few months. They mean so much to us and encourage us to know that Trek did matter to other people besides us. He is so beautiful and the sweetest little boy, it warms my heart to know how much he is loved.
Now that looks like so much fun!
it was really fun and nice to be in a city for a couple of days:)
I wonder if Amercian food looks as hilarious to others as theirs does to us!
Love the grins on both the boys! They are luminescent, aren’t they?
yes the boys are sooo luminescent-i love it:) I wonder too about the american food!
He definitely mattered to many people. I honestly think of him at least once a day! I am so excited you are going to Pai. I’ll be waiting to hear your thoughts on my second favorite town:)
thanks Mary, that is so sweet that you think of him. and I have a good feeling about Pai, i am so glad for your advice:)
Hugs to you mommy. I know I can’t begin to imagine the struggle you must face daily to keep going when you just want to get lost in your dreams of Trek. I think you are very brave. Trek was amazing and your family (the spirit of your family) is something that just sucks me in. I so enjoy following your journey. Trek did matter. Trek does matter. Keeping going. Stop and get lost in your memories when you need too. You are doing an amazing job.
thank you so much Elizabeth for those sweet words of encouragement and love. It is hard not to get lost in his memories-they were all so magical-xoxo
I know ya’ll will find the perfect place. Trek has it all picked out just hoping you find it…Keep your head up and all will be perfect! Love ya’ll so much.
I agree, i know our new spot will be a very special space for us-xoxo
Ok Conner looks sooo grown up to me! aaah! I miss your boys soo much! Their smiles are soo pure and full love life! What a cool play place, especially those balls they were riding on round and round:) All of it looked so cool! I’m excited that you are headed to a place that you feel will be perfect to settle down at..I know it will be wonderful I have a good feeling;) Still thinking about each of you constantly and sending love. Love you!
ps…that food looked sooo good, especially the bird!;)
those balls were sooo fun! i wanted to do them, but i think i would have gotten in trouble or broke it:)
What a fun play place! The boys looked like they thoroughly enjoyed it:) And the mall food options were pretty interesting – I think I would just go hungry! Hope you find an amazing place in Pai – love and miss all of you!
bahaha, oh mama, i know you would LOVE some fish sausage!
Pai, Thailand is an amazing little town. I am also from Hawaii and I saw a lot of correlation between the two when I visited Pai a few years ago. I hope you find what you’re looking for in a home!
thank you Cate! we have heard such good things about Pai, we are very excited:)
Two bucks? That kinda fun costs way too much here and the kids can’t drive bumper cars either. Gabriel was just looking at the pics and flipping out. Loving you all from CA
haha, i wish Gabriel could come and play too! it was really fun:)
Oh man that looks like the coolest mall eva! I LOVE that you just let them run up the escalator:) Hope you find a beautiful peaceful place to call home, think of you often.
it was a nice break from the “boonies”. and i laughed when i read your note about the escalator-hehe, yes they LOVE escalators!
Glad you’re feeling better. Know that Trek will remain in the hearts of anl
Glad you’re feeling better. Know that Trek will remain in the hearts of a lot of people..even those who only know you through photos and this blog. We love your baby boy so much and constantly think about him. I wish my kids could’ve met and played with him.
Best of luck in finding a place. Much love.
i wish they could have played together too! thank you for letting me know how much he means to you-xoxo
Trek “mattered” to more people than most adults do in a long lifetime!! I’ve thought about Trek and your family every day since a Facebook friend mentioned your blog to me about 2 months ago. You all and your adventures are the first news I read about each and every morning here in Indiana!! I have coffee with you every morning, Chelsea!
My point being, there’s a reason for your lives and for Trek’s life as well because I know that you all have made me better for having known about your deep love and special family life, and I’m just one little person!! So, take heart, this life has meaning, You Matter, and you inspire many more people than you know…
Much love and happy wishes,
Mama Mary
wow Mary, what a kind message. It made me smile that we have coffee together every morning:) thank you for your encouragement-much love, Chelsea
Pai is a really beautiful area. I’ve never stayed for long periods of time, but it seems very communal. When you go somewhere for dinner or a drink, it seems like everyone knows each other. The mountains and nature around Pai are gorgeous. I hope you find a great house there.
thank you so much Emily, we have heard amazing things about it, we are very excited!
Looks like an amazing mall….duck bill snack anyone? Also, I doubt you can find a cool play place like that in the States ~ too many “rules”! I pray you find the perfect home soon. Clark and I are in Port Aransas with his family this weekend & I went walking on the beach this morning. Trek was on my mind the whole time…..I even removed my Embrace Life bracelet and took a picture of it on a piece of driftwood covered with clams. I will upload it later. Lots of love, hugs & kisses!
have fun with Clark-I can’t wait to see the picture-thank you for loving my baby so much
I think of y’all every day!
LOVE that you guys are going back into nature. Nature is so inspirational and healing. I’m looking forward to Jarrett’s novel!
thanks Lacy, it is sooo inspiring! I can’t wait for his novel either, i cry everytime i read parts of it b/c its so good!
Hi! I would like to ask you if there is a direct bus from Udon to Pai vice versa… im going to pai and then to udon… so a feedback from you will be much appreciated =)
Hello! you will love Pai:) So, there are no direct buses from Pai to Udon thani. The only way to get to Pai is to take a mini bus from Chiang Mai and vise versa. Pai is high in the mountains, on a little windy road, and only mini buses can fit. At the Chiang Mai bus station you can buy tickets to Pai (and vise versa), the mini buses leave every hour, maybe even every half hour. Once you get to Chiang Mai you can buy an overnight bus ticket to Udon thani:) good luck and have fun! Chelsea