Katelin-Jane : Marathon Honeymooners

I realized that I did an entire post on our dreamy wedding but not on our dreamy honeymoon!! But for real, it was DREAMY! Be prepared for TONS OF PICTURES!
The Bear and I had a month long honeymoon in Shanghai, Beijing, Guelin, and Phuket Thailand! But I am getting ahead of myself, let's go back to the beginning.

Leading up to our wedding day the Bear would not tell me where we

would be spending our first night together as husband and wife. He is

ALL about surprises and me? Not so much, I like to have it all planned out.

So I was really antsy, but he wouldn't give in and tell me.

Here we are leaving the reception

Saying goodbye to my Dad!

And we were off!! Now I knew we were not staying at any of the "conventional" places in SLC because our families were already staying there! We had family at the Grand America, Marriot, and Hilton, so I was kind of left thinking, well what else is there in SLC?

We began to drive towards the capital building, up beautiful

historic streets and I was VERY curious.

When all of the sudden we pulled up to

THIS! A gorgeous, historic, Bed and Breakfast over looking downtown SLC!

I was so excited, it was just my style.

We stayed at "Inn on a Hill" for two nights before we caught an early morning flight to Shanghai.

The View from our room!

Highlights from Inn on a Hill:

1. Ordering pizza at 2 am on our wedding night because we were STARVING, we keep it real kids.

2. Running in to Logan's parents while walking around downtown the day after...what should have been awkward was just downright hilarious, love those cats!

3. Breakfast in Bed! so fun.

Well then it was off to Shanghai, we were so spoiled and got to fly business class! Yummy food, endless movies, and a bed?? Thats my kind of flying!

We arrived in Shanghai and were greeted by Logan's Parent's Driver Goo. Yes they have their own personal driver. I should probably explain that The Birds have been working in China for a few years, Logan's Dad works for Abbott Nutrition so there were LOTS of perks we got to experience thanks to my wonderful inlaws. It was just too fun!

We spent 5 days in Shanghai alone at The Bird's apartment at the Ritz Carlton and had fun exploring some of Shanghai and adjusting from our Jetlag.

We did some shopping, got foot massages (my favorite), ate yummy foods, and went to the Shanghai Zoo!

Yes I am feeding a bunch of leemers here! I am a HUGE animal lover so it was a dream

come true for me. I love the little guy sitting next to me.

Then it was time to head to Thailand, our "official" honeymoon.

We stayed at the J.W. Marriott and it was just to die! Just one dreamy day after another!

Some of the highlights of Phuket:

1. The scenery, it was beyond beautiful

2. Riding elephants in the Jungle! So fun, also we had a baby elephant roaming the property at our hotel and he came up and grabbed my head with his trunk!! Such a stinker.

3. Thai Food, seriously, American Thai doesn't compare, it was just beyond, thanks to a family friend who suggested a local joint that we literally ate at every day.

4. Lots of Russians, seriously, it is like their vacation spot, it made me laugh to interact with Russians again.

5. Just me and my Bear spending down time together, everything about our honeymoon was so special.

After a week in Thailand it was back to Shanghai where Logan's parents had arrived back to as well.

It is always a blast to hang out with the Birds and this was no exception. Paige knows the city like the back of her hand and took us to all the best places to get clothes, jewelry, ginger jars, antique things, we were so spoiled!

For two weeks we partied in Shanghai and made side trips to Guelin (I know I am spelling that wrong), and Beijing!

Highlights:

1. Guelin--we took a boat down the river to get to our destination through what Logan describes as "Avatar Land" because of all the amazing pertruding mountains that jet straight out of the water.

We stayed at the swanky Shangri La hotel and rented scooters to see the sights!

2. Ventured 2 hours up a mountain (by vehicle) to see the rice patty fields! One of the most amazing landscapes I have ever witnessed. We had an amazing authentic Chinese meal there cooked by a local family.

3. Beijing--The great wall of course, it was mind blowing, thats all I can say.

4. Paige came with us on that trip so that was EXTRA fun.

5. Went to a famous "Peking Duck" restaurant and ate ourselves silly, it was beyond delicious.

6. Did more shopping of course, I do believe its what the three of us do BEST.

7. Roger took us to an amazing Tibetan restaurant in Shanghai that blew my mind, the decor was as equally fascinating as the food, afterwords we walked on The Bund taking in all of Shanghai.

8. Went to painting street and bought some original pieces of art for the house we will one day have

9. Treat Street in Beijing--basically a bunch of very "exotic" foods. Tarantula, seahorse (what we chose to try), starfish, you get the idea.

10. The Forbidden City, it was a dream and I still can't believe I went there! Amazing.