Life in Aiston's Shoes: Christmas in Cambodia and Laos

Hi Ace:

We're pretty lucky we get to spend our holidays in such cool places. This year, we traveled with Lola and Tito Ryan to Siem Reap in Cambodia and Luang Prabang in Laos. We were outside every day - hiking, biking, boating, temple-seeing and just plain exploring. And you absolutely loved your different modes of transport - airplanes, tuk tuks, bicycles, boats, kayaks, elephants and the Daddy/Tito Ryan express service. As usual, you were the best little adventurer we could ask for as you missed naps, often had late nights, tried new foods, slept in different beds, saw lots of curious faces and sat in the backpack and the airport for long stretches at a time.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Nong Khiaw, Laos

--By Tuk Tuk--

--By Backpack--

--By Boat--

--By Elephant--

--By Bicycle--

--By Plane--

This was your second and third new country to visit and you marvelled at everything. You asked questions, made observations, introduced yourself to people, and charmed the socks off other tourists by sidling up to them so they would eventually give in and let you play with the digital devices we did not bring on the trip. You met a real elephant for the very first time and the photos of you coming face to face with her are absolutely heart-flutteringly gorgeous.

And these were some of our most favorite family shots:

Ta Prohm, Siem Reap

Preah Ko Temple, Siem Reap

Sunrise in front of Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Tad Sae Waterfall, Laos

Being silly on top of Phu Si Hill, Luang Prabang

Here are some Aiston-isms from the trip:

* Staring at the TV that the lovely hosts at Hanumanalaya would turn on just for you anytime (much to our annoyance)

* "We're in the tuk tuk with Mr. Lei?"
* Squishing your face inside a plastic menu holder at Peace Cafe Community Center

* Pretending to talk on the phone:

Aiston: "Lola, it's Papa Tim."

Lola: "Hi Papa Tim, we miss you. Aiston, he says he misses us."

Aiston: "He's sad?"

* Building campfires with Tito Jeremy and Shayde and Dad, playing house and locking doors in all the temples; oh, and running through the cordoned-off section of ancient ruins in front of a huge crowd of people

* Taking care of a pretend Baby Angel while boat-riding with Dad back from the floating village, and feeding her chocolate ice cream

* Playing giants in Ta Prohm, and then pretending to be the tour guide, complete with microphone; also photo-bombing families trying to get their "Tomb Raider" shots

* Singing Christmas carols on the tuk tuk

* Talking incessantly about riding the elephants and then promptly falling asleep to the rocking motion within minutes after our ride began. Now that we're home, you like to pretend you are the Mahout.

* After already ordering dinner:

Aiston: "I have pizza for dinner?"

Mom: "I already ordered you pasta. You said you wanted noodles."

Aiston: "I make the pizza, o-tay?"

Mom: "Okay."

Aiston: "No, Mom, I eat it for REAL!"

* "I have pinecone (i.e. pineapple) juice, please?"

* Pestering guests at meals; most people just welcomed you right in and talked and played with you, even offering for you to stay with them for awhile as we ate dinner or sipped wine. There was one exchange where a family told us to go ahead and enjoy our meal and they'd just chuck you in the pool if you became a problem. You overheard this and exclaimed, "No! No pool! No throw me in the pool!"
* Trying to join in the Christmas caroling with the local kids during Christmas Eve dinner. You were so curious. Something sad that happened after we went to put you down for bed the same night was when Trumpet had to be air-lifted to the hospital. We walked into our hotel room and Trumpet's insides were scattered all over the floor. When we found him against the wall, we knew it was a rat that had snatched him from your bed. After picking him up, we saw that his entire face had been chewed off. When you saw your beloved friend in that condition, you were beside yourself with grief. You looked so sad and so scared for him. We sent Trumps back to Manila to be taken care of by the doctors and you kept wondering if he would be okay. A proud parenting moment for your Mom and Dad was when we realized you had also been bit by the rat a couple of nights prior - that it had been in your bed and by your face. We were so worried you might have Rat Bite Fever, but it turns out, all was fine.