March 16, 2011

On this Sweet 16 day, Grandma and Grandpa Sailor are anchored in Nai Yang Bay. We’re going to be here for a while, maybe until May. Here’s a map of Phuket Island (which is in Thailand). Can you see the airplane? That’s very close to where we are. And yes, we see and hear lots of airplanes everyday.

These days, we also see lots of jelly fish. Normally there are none, but lately they are a bit of a nuisance. Today we will see if we can count 16. When you were in PEI, did you ever see 16 jelly fish in one day? Are there any jelly fish in Alberta?

To celebrate today, we rented a motorcycle and went to Boat Lagoon Marina to join some friends for a yummy Thai food lunch. While we were there, Grandpa bought 16 stainless-steel fasteners for CanKata. Then, when we came back to CanKata, we had a very special Sweet 16 snack: 16 M&Ms, 16 peanut pieces, and 16 raisins. We wonder what you did on this special day.

Grandpa, Grandma, Mike, Rosie, Ray, Judy, Irene, Rolf and JJ

4 times 4

Dylan and Laura and Tehja and Tate

If doubled up would equal 8.

If you took that 8 and doubled once more

You’d get the same as 4 times 4.

And what do you think that number would be?

It’s Sweet 16, as sure as can be!

4+4+4+4

Is a number that we truly adore.

It’s 4 times more than the number 4,

It’s also 16 – which we adore even more!

                                                     How many Smiths below?

__________________________



These are "operculums" from the Andamans.
They act as doors for some snail shells.
What is 4 x 4?
What is 2 x 8?



February 16, 2011

Our email to Tehja and Taylor on this day:

Happy Sweet 16 Day greetings from the Andaman Islands! We started our day off in a special way: had bbq fish for breakfast. Our friend caught a huge barracuda and gave it to us because they don't eat fish. On their advice, we also kept the "rib" (the backbone and all the bones attached), applied a bunch of salt and pepper, and threw it on the Q. We didn't realize how much meat was on it - it was quite a feast!

We will go snorkelling today, on the search for some Nemo fish. We went snorkelling yesterday and saw hundreds and hundreds of colorful fish, but no Nemos. We are very happy to hear that you are enjoying school and swimming and having lots of fun with your friends. You are such wonderful kids and it is no wonder that you have made some great friends. We hope your Sweet 16 day was sweet.

All our love and at least 16 big kisses,

Grandma and Grandpa Sailor xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

CanKata in the Andamans (India)

Grandpa Sailor fishing in the Andamans.

Grandma Sailor snorkelling in the Andamans.