A Thai Christmas

Vancouverites dreaming of a rare white Christmas were granted their wish this year. But these two residents of the home to Canada's most expensive real estate couldn't be happier missing out on the white stuff.

Christmas is always a non-event in this Buddhist country, but it is even more so this year with so few tourists around.

Typically, there are expat get-togethers, special dining events and poinsettias everywhere. There are none of these things in evidence this year. We tried to reserve spots at a special Xmas dinner only to find out had been cancelled due to a lack of response.

And so we started our Ch4istmas Saturday with a card exchange followed by a stop at the JJ Market where we bought two almond croissants. They were a perfect breakfast accompaniment to the Bailey's spiked coffee, which is one of our Xmas traditions.

Brenda then made a call to her friend Marie in Calgary, where it was 10:00pm on Christmas eve.

We spent our afternoon lounging by the pool at Kad Suan Kaew and will go out for a nice meal at a restaurant to be chosen later.

Calls to my daughter, Vanessa and my sister, Dena, will be made after dinner, which will be early morning in Ottawa.

There is no snow on the ground, no chestnuts roasting on an open fire and no sleigh bells jingling, but we're having a holly jolly Christmas nonetheless.Read more