As a reward for basically knowing (not all completely, but all mostly), their 80 catechism questions David promised the girls a big adventure outing. We did remind them that this was all made possible by MeiMei (baby sis), otherwise we would not be in Bangkok!
We decided to try the much touted 'Kidzania', an expensive, but hands-on creative play for kids, to very literally act out grown-up jobs: auto mechanic, airplane pilot, fireman, vet, McDonalds worker (not kidding), Japanese restaurant chef, magician, theater show, Delivery person. And this was not just your card-board box set up. Each activity was sponsored by a real name-brand restaurant or brand of whatever it was they were doing. They spent 4.5 hours at this place, entertained the whole time, and loving it.
Let's back up a bit and start the day's adventures. In the morning they went to get their teeth cleaned, and both girls did fantastic! They came back for a little snack and to start their next adventure.
They left the guest house around 11 a.m. to get to Siam Paragon Mall and eat Yaki Soba. Paragon's Asian Food court is amazing, and their Yaki Soba is the best! I called them around 12:30 just to make sure I had David's correct phone number, as we planned to meet up at Outback steakhouse for dinner, just two malls over from Paragon.
David said Sophia has a story tell you (this is never good). This is what she said: 'we were on the train and then went to the escalator, and it started going really fast, and daddy had both our hands, and the bao an (guard, in Chinese), was running to turn it off, it was crazy'. David confirmed that indeed their was a real and dangerous mishap with the escalator, it started going double/triple speed and everyone was having to jump on and off (the line up to get on was fairly long, so people didn't realize it until they were already queued with no where else to go). Yes, the guard was frantically trying to stop it. I was so amazed he told me he did not see anyone fall, or get hurt. And all I did was praise God that I was not there with Tobin, we surely would not have been so stable! Later on when Tobin and I did take the sky train and go the exact same way to meet up with them, that escalator was still shut down and mechanics were working on it.
I asked the girls if they were scared, they said it was fun!
Back to Kidzania
These pics were all taken on David's iphone, and it was dark in this place, so none of them are very good.
You start at a very real looking bank (CIMB sponsors this, a real bank here in Thailand), you get a check and cash it here. At some places you pay your 'money' and at other places you make money.
getting their checks cashed.
Next they made real hamburgers at McDonald's. Yes, another real sponsor, logo was everywhere. The beef or pork (whichever you choose), was already cooked. They washed their hands well, and then added all the toppings.
After learning how to do it, they washed their hands, if their hands were not dry they were made to go re-dry them.
then they put onions, pickles, ketchup etc. on the burger and top it with a bun, wrap it up, and get to take it home (I ate if for lunch today, a normal McDees burger).
Next, the fire station. Training always happens first, at every event.
dressed and ready, they really got on the truck and it really went to the 'fire'.
They used real water hoses with water shooting out to put out a 'two story' building fire (not real fire).
Next, they learned how to change a tire. Now, this could prove useful! David said they did it from start to finish.
The Vet station. Acting like real doctors, with real stethoscopes, they learned how to treat pets.
Delivering a package!
Becoming Magicians. Both girls said this was their favorite part of the whole thing.
Sophia showing her magic.
Bella made these flowers appear...
In between they also went to the theater, where they could have participated in the show if they wanted, both opted to watch instead, it was some version of 'The Little Mermaid'.
Next, they became Japanese Sushi Chefs, making real sushi (David said that Sophia was concerned about 'what can mommy eat, is she allergic?' So sweet. I am very allergic to shrimp and who knows what other kind of shellfish). David ate this for lunch today, it did include crab meat, probably imitation, but who knows. He said it was great!
We have actually made Sushi as a family before, it is fun!
The last thing they did was go into a mock cockpit. Sophia said it was not what she expected, but still enjoyed it. Parents were not allowed inside that one....
They had a great day, and it was well deserved. Tobin and I walked up to get a taxi to the skytrain, then walked a ways to get up to the train, and then walked even more (through 2 malls) to get to Outback to meet up with them around 5: 30. He was a trooper with all the walking! We had a wonderful meal (David and I split a burger, the kids split a kids' rib meal, and we all shared the bloomin' onion). Our seat overlooked a park and a picturesque view of part of Bangkok.
Then we walked our half mile (at least) back to the sky train for home!
