Bangkok... With Friends and Family

   So I left off with my brother and I leaving on a train to Bangkok, and that is where I will start this blog post. The train was an overnight train, so we arrived in the morning. When we got there we took our bags straight to the hotel that my mother was staying at (which is where we were staying as well), and then I went off with my brother on a small tour of Bangkok. We stayed out all day and night, and didn't come back until the next morning. It was one of the most fun times I have ever had with my brother...

Like I said, we went on an overnight train. Luckily my brother and I got the bottom bunks.

The first thing my brother and I did was go to meet one of his friends who was also in Bangkok. While we waited for her we took a swan boat out in the park... 

That is my brother's friend on the left. That day we also went to some temples.

My brother's friend explaining about the Buddhas (even though I should have known better seeing as I have lived in Thailand for the past year).

My brother and I at the famous reclining Buddha.

My brother took me to a bar that was on top of one of the tallest buildings in Bangkok. There he proceeded to get a COKE for me...

    After the sleepless night, I went straight out with my mom. I was tired, but I knew I would be of great help to her if I went with her to be a translator. We went out for a little shopping at a local market, basically all that morning. Then I got some free time; I spent it with one of my Thai friends. That evening my brother was scheduled to leave. So my brother, his friend, my mother, her friends and I all went out with another one of my brother's friends to a nice dinner before he left.

My mom's friends, my mom, and me before the meal.

Everyone together at the meal before my brother departed.

   My brother, being my brother, had to make hasty goodbyes at the restaurant, and he almost had to run out to get to the airport on time for his flight. After that, we all said goodnight, and my mom and I went back to get some much needed sleep. The next day we basically spent entirely at the Rotary International Convention. It was great; it gave me a chance to meet people from around the world who work with the organization I am a part of, and of course it gave me the chance to meet all the exchange students from around Thailand.

This was the entrance to the convention center where the Rotary International Conference was held.

This was the opening ceremony. It kind of reminded me of the Olympics.

This Thai exchange student will be coming to my district in Illinois next year. 

Whenever we had our blazers on we would be like a magnet for photographs. Everyone wanted a photo with us.

   The next day my mother and I started out at the convention, but we decided to take the afternoon off and travel with a fellow exchange student in Bangkok.

A picture of me and my mom in front of the most famous temple in Thailand.

My fellow exchange student that went along.

We even took a nice boat tour. I think we just enjoyed the relaxing time.

   That night we headed back to the convention hall. We were going to go on a dinner cruise with some other Rotarians. We had some problems, but in the end it all worked out. And in the end I got one of my favorite pictures with my mom from it.

I think this picture speaks for itself.

    The next day was the day my mother was scheduled to go home. We spent the morning and afternoon packing and relaxing. Then at night, my Thai exchange friend and his family picked us up and we went out for a nice dinner. They then proceeded to take my mother and me to the airport.

They were a very nice family, and I think my mother enjoyed the meal.

My final goodbye with my mother. I will see you soon mom, just one more month (I hope she reads this...).

    After the airport I went with the family. The next day I went to the Rotary International Convention for the closing ceremony. Afterwards I went on my last trip with my fellow exchange student. We went to Rayong, a southern city in Thailand. We spent a few days there, stayed at a nice resort, and went to a few gardens.

An elephant show at one of the gardens.

This was a cool garden, because they gave free samples...

Having fun at the resort swimming.

O yeah... And we did Paintball!!!!!!!!!

   This was the first time I had ever played paintball. For all of you who have never played, well I won't tell you if it hurts or not (try it first). For all of you who have played, you know. And you also know how much fun it is.

    As for the end of the trip. Well it was the last time for all of us to be together. There was a lot of tears, but we were rushed so much (because we didn't know when buses were going or anything) that no one got pictures. I will miss all of my fellow exchange students, and I hope to see them all again one day. 

   Now to look forward. I have one month left. I have school, time with friends, and hopefully a little bit more traveling. But to be perfectly honest, I think this one month will be the quickest I have ever lived. I can't wait to go home and see friends and family, but I am also reluctant to leave the easy life style I have here. O well, in the end I will have to go home anyway. Look for more posts, as I still have a little under a month left...