For spring break this year, we took the little Stockdales to Phuket, Thailand.  It is nice, but sounds more exotic than it really is.  The best comparison would be Panama City, Florida.  While the beer is cheaper than Singapore, it’s not as cheap as the USA.

When you go to Florida, you stop at ‘Crazy Dave’s Alligator Farm’.  In Thailand, you stop at the ‘Siam Elephant Safari’.  They are the same.  However, if Thailand also had alligators I’m sure they would let you ride them as well, it just might cost extra.

When we were planning the trip, the little Stockdales had two non-negotiable requests.  A beach and the ability to ride an elephant.  ( See above pictures for confirmation of our compliance. )  However, after witnessing other little tourist girls walking around, that list added a requirement.  The little Stockdales wanted their hair beaded.

Hair not being my specialty, I figured it would take about 45 minutes. Mrs. Stockdale increased the estimate to 2 hours. Since there were only two ‘bead women’, the little Stockdales were beaded in shifts and it took over 3.5 hours.

Luckily there was a Reggae Bar in front of the bead place.

Nothing says cultural Asian experience like listening to Bob Marley and UB40 over and over and over and over and over and over and over again in a Jamaican themed bar with an American, Australian, and British flag hanging overhead while having your kid’s hair braided.

Since we were there over three hours, I had to get the bartender off his bench a few times.

Overall, I think the Stockdales had a fairly good time.  I just hope there isn’t a place to bead hair if/when we ever go to the Great Wall.  If there’s not, I’m certain there will be a tailor and a guy selling meat on a stick from a cart with chickens running around it.  I’m doubting there will be a reggae bar, but it wouldn’t surprise me.