THAILAND

A few months ago, while Facetiming my family, my dad mentioned that he had a 7-night stay at a Marriott Vacation Club that was set to expire in May. He suggested that I use it in Singapore when I see Taylor. However, as we had already planned our trip and would be moving around too frequently to stay in one place, I had to decline the offer.

Ava, Callie, and I were in the midst of planning a possible Japan trip for the Fall but had not found any locations for the vacation club that would work with what we wanted to do. This led us to brainstorm various destinations in Europe and Asia. Surprisingly, we all agreed on Thailand!

Immediately, Gavin and I began the process of booking our plane tickets. It took us 12 hours to finalize our plane tickets due to our determination to find the cheapest options. We decided to fly into Bangkok before heading to Phuket, opting for one-way tickets with different airlines to save money. Booking five different tickets via a third-party service, we encountered some challenges as some websites were in Chinese and our credit cards were flagged for suspicious activity. After numerous attempts and calls to the banks, we finally managed to secure our tickets, and our sketch flight websites worked out because we both made it to Phuket! Gavin and I flew on different days each connecting through Korea and spending a night on the Bangkok floor. We will do anything for a vacation!

With a detailed itinerary in hand, thanks to Serah the concierge, we first headed on our much-anticipated activity in Thailand. THE ELEPHANTS! The elephant sanctuary is a place known for providing ethical experiences with these magnificent creatures. Before interacting with the elephants, a local guide taught us about the harsh realities of how elephants are used for riding, physical labor, and entertainment in circuses or shows. Hearing about the resilience and the memory of these animals despite the cruelties they endure was eye-opening. The guide emphasized that our presence and contributions at the sanctuary would help support the rescue and care of more elephants.

Our first task was to prepare food for the elephants, a fascinating experience as we learned that they consume a huge amount of food 600-1000 lbs daily, eating various plants, fruits, and sugar cane. The opportunity to feed the elephants directly was my favorite! With a simple command of "bonsai" prompting them to open wide for a treat. I loved hearing them crunch the sugar cane in one bite. Witnessing the physical marks of abuse on some of the elephants, such as torn ears and burn scars, resembled the suffering they had endured. This was heart-wrenching to see. Gavin and Callie were also kissed by an elephant!

Following the feeding, we changed into our swimwear for a mud bath with the elephants. The mud served as a natural cooling agent for the elephants. As we bathed them we were given only two instructions; not to get any mud in their eyes and to watch out for our feet so they accidentally wouldn't get stepped on. I felt connected to the elephants during this bath. After, we moved to a pond to rinse off the mud, enjoying playful splashes from one of the guides and witnessing the elephants enjoy the water. One elephant laid down and thank goodness nobody got crushed flat as he went down. We couldn't believe how carefree and relaxing this experience was. Nobody was shadowing us watching every move. Rather we could interact freely with the elephants in a way that was comfortable for us.

The last thing we did was shower them clean and participate in a cooking class. We enjoyed tasty Thai food under the warm sun. This experience left me in awe of these magnificent creatures and increased my awareness of the importance of their well-being. It was a day filled with learning, compassion, and unforgettable moments spent with some of the most beautiful animals we had ever encountered.

That evening, we stopped to walk along the beach at our hotel, where we were treated to a breathtaking sunset. While admiring the vibrant colors I couldn't help but notice a struggling fish washed ashore by the tide. The fish's teeth were quite fascinating. It was my first time feeling the warmth of the ocean as I dipped my toes in. Definitely the warmest ocean I have ever touched.

After enjoying the sunset, we headed back to the hotel to watch the fire knife show in the lobby. The performers wore intriguing masks that added a bit of horror to the performance, leaving us slightly spooked. We topped off the evening with a satisfying meal at the hotel cafe before calling it a night. I had the most amazing curry! And the hostess reminded us of the Asian aunty in Freaky Friday. Really big smile and is incredibly friendly. In fact, we can't stop mentioning how kind everyone is. Thai people genuinely care about everyone.

After a day spent in the intense heat and humidity, returning to our air-conditioned hotel room was a relief. The housekeeping staff had even left a charming elephant-shaped towel creation as a centerpiece on our table. This made me so happy to see after learning all bout the elephants!

The next day began early as we headed on our journey to Phi Phi Islands. Once arriving to Thailand I realized I had been mispronouncing Phi Phi all along, mistakenly giving the "Ph" the "f" sound, when in actuality, it is pronounced as "Pee Pee" islands. Personally, I think I prefer the pronunciation "Fee Fee" islands. Upon arrival, we were ushered into a waiting room where breakfast was served, and gradually, other tourists began to fill the room. The room quickly became packed with fellow travelers, all set to explore the famous Phi Phi islands. A kind Thai woman attempted to provide us with instructions for the day, but unfortunately, the language barrier left us unable to comprehend her words. It felt like she was speaking underwater, as all we heard was "wah wah wah wah wah." Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, we joined our group outside and met our guide, Bobby. He was a chipper small guy full of energy and delight. He inquired if we had understood the instructions given earlier, to which we shyly admitted we hadn't, dreading the idea of enduring another lengthy ordeal our group insisted on a recap, and not till after that, our adventure began. I didn't listen too hard because I wanted the day's adventure to be a surprise!

The journey to our first stop took just over an hour, allowing us to enjoy the warm breeze on the boat. On board, we admired the vivid blue waters surrounding us. The sight of the magnificent Phi Phi islands greeted us, which are towering green rocks/mountains that sit on crystal-clear water. This place was bustling with activity. Choosing to forego the long-tail boat ride at our first stop, we decided to spend our time swimming instead. However, our first plunge into the water was not as refreshing as expected, as Gavin announced that the water temperature was a cool 92 degrees. As we swam, we couldn't help but chuckle at the tourists in their vibrant red swimsuits, tirelessly posing for the perfect picture. It seemed as though they spent the entirety of their 30 minutes at each spot focusing on capturing the ideal shot, missing out on truly experiencing and appreciating the beautiful surroundings. One particular woman on our boat seemed to have hired her own private photographer. He had a drone hovering above her and a selfie-stick video camera catching every second of her day. After lunch, we saw the drone fall in the water... I don't think she was happy her footage was lost.


We visited several island viewpoints and swimming spots before docking at an island for lunch. After enjoying a delicious buffet meal under the scorching sun, our guide Bobby then led us to Monkey Island. Despite his prior instructions not to inquire about the monkeys' whereabouts, who were most likely perched up in the trees out of view, Bobby humorously called out "Monkey Monkeys" and quipped, "See? No monkeys!" And just like that, we rode away from Monkeybeach. After snorkeling time we had relaxing free time on the beach on one of the islands. The multitude of tourists on this island was jaw-dropping. With boat after boat lining up alongside each other. We were amazed as our boat expertly maneuvered into a tight space between two others at the dock. The beach felt akin to "Nim's Island," and we were tourists getting off the Buccaneer ship. We relaxed and enjoyed the sandy shore, till Bobby's voice rang out, calling us back, to the boat. We bid farewell as the boat pulled off to bring us back to the Marina. We chose the wrong side of the boat to sit on because we were getting splashed with salt water every few minutes. We had a great time splash zone or not!

Among all the stunning locations we visited, Maya Bay stood out as one of my favorites. This beach was truly a sight to behold, with pristine white sand and mesmerizing turquoise waters nestled in a small bay, by breathtaking rock formations in the background. Despite the beauty of the crystal-clear waters, we refrained from swimming as Bobby had cautioned us about the presence of sharks in the area.

Our next big adventure was to Khao Sok Lake, a tour I was most looking forward to. We were picked up in a private van and driven to the lake for three hours. The vans were equipped with luxurious leather seats, mirror-like ceilings, and vibrant lights, making the ride feel like a Vegas club. It was an unforgettable experience. We stopped at 7/11 for breakfast and found ourselves loving the 15-cent muffins.

We met our guide, Tony, who was kind and professional. He wore a polo shirt tucked into his pants and closed-toe shoes, giving off a warm and welcoming vibe. We thought he was dressed way too warm for the occasion an found ourselves wanting to tell him we wouldn't judge if busted out his swimming suit. We had him all to ourselves, which was a huge bonus. Khao Sok is a massive man-made national park that is truly breathtaking. We took a long-tail boat ride through the park, marveling at the stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains. The experience was unlike anything we had on Phi Phi islands - we had the vast lake to ourselves, with no other tour boats in sight.

We spent hours exploring the park, and our first stop was a cave where Tony expertly guided us to discover hidden wonders. As we climbed up the loose dirt to the front of the cave, we saw baby bats flying around us. Ava was less than thrilled at this part. We also spotted glittery spots on the wall that looked like diamonds, but as we got closer, we realized they were actually spiders. One of them was as big as Tony's hand! He said the big spiders are the same kind they use in the Harry Potter film.

As we ventured deeper into the cave, the air grew hotter and stuffier. We were all sweating profusely, but Tony's slow pace and thoughtful commentary made the experience enjoyable. We saw beautiful stalactites hanging from the ceiling and loved the relaxed atmosphere. We also ventured into the jungle where Tony pointed out various plants and insects for us to see!

The best part of the long-tail boat ride was the breeze. With temperatures soaring at 110°F (43°C) and humidity at 96%, we were grateful for our headbands that kept us cooler after soaking them in water.

After seeing more stunning rock formations we took a short nature walk with Tony, who pointed out various plants and insects. Tony was really going above and beyond to make sure we saw all the cool things. We stopped for lunch at a table set for five, with an amazing spread of fish, noodles, curries, and rice. The kindness of the people we met was truly heartwarming.

After lunch, we tried to cool off in the water but found it wasn't much cooler than the air temperature. We used our life jackets as chairs while floating around the swimming spot. The water looked like a barber shop floor, with tiny black hairs about the length of leg hair - we joked that someone had just gotten a haircut! We dried off from the hot air on our way back to the car, enjoying our wetsuits for once.

When we returned to the car, Tony told us it would be around 150°F (65°C) inside. We took almost three hours to cool down on the drive back to the hotel. I couldn't believe how hot this country is! We were grateful that all of our activities involved water and breeze from the boat.

We thanked Tony at the hotel and were greeted back by a gentleman with a big smile and a round hat at the hotel. He did a little heel tap twice, and my mom greeted him with "You look so good!" - which he did! We loved his evening greeting each night after that.

We took a break from tours for a day to enjoy the resort's amenities and pool. The heat was unbearable, so we opted for a relaxing day by the pool instead of participating in the outdoor workout classes. However, the water was just as hot as the outside temperature, making it difficult to cool off. We tried out the kiddy slide, but it was shallower than we expected, and we ended up getting slammed to the ground or falling face-first. One turn each at the slide was enough.

In the afternoon, we headed to Phuket Town to visit the Big Buddha, riding in a luxurious van once again. We covered our legs and shoulders before climbing the stairs, and from the top, we had a breathtaking view of Phuket Town. On our way down, we passed by a few elephant sanctuaries, and I couldn't help but think about how wrong it was to ride elephants, especially if you are a super large person.

Our next stop was a Thai massage. Having seen The Amazing Race in Thailand multiple times, we knew that the road block often involves a massage. We were told that Thai massages can reduce anxiety and depression, increase flexibility, and even make you feel more awake. At $8, it was an experience we couldn't pass up. We had the sweetest girls in pink attend to us, washing our feet before leading us to a room with five beds and a change of clothes. I was surprised by the size of the pants they gave me, but the lady worked her magic by folding it in a way that secured it on my hips. During the massage, we could hear the girls chatting and laughing in Thai, and when they asked Callie about something, she kindly answered. They were fascinated by my mom's six kids and kept calling her "Big Momma" throughout the session. Gavin's massage therapist was tiny but put all her muscle and strength into his massage, and he said it wasn't too intense. As the massage therapist's skilled hands worked out the knots in my muscles, I found myself feeling the pressure of each move. I let go of my tension and focused on my breath, allowing myself to fully relax and let the Thai massage work its magic. The intensity of the massage was almost meditative, and I felt my mind quieting as I concentrated on the sensation of the therapist's fingers working out the kinks in my body. We enjoyed some herbal tea and the friendly smiles from the staff after our relaxing massage.

Later that evening, we visited the cutest cafe my mom and sisters had been to on Sunday. The whole place was decked out in flowers - everything from the walls to the ceiling to the tables and carts. It was so adorable and fun! I've had my fair share of Pad Thai on this trip.

After dinner, we enjoyed shopping around Old Phuket Town's streets. We all found some lovely treasures, including miniature ceramic elephants that were so cute. Gavin and I bought seven! We walked around buying clothes, bags, dresses, food, and pearls. What was shocking was how hot and sweaty we still were despite the sun being down. In some shops, I had sweat dripping down my back and head. But it's just what you experience when you shop abroad. We didn't let the heat stop us. I'm glad I had my sisters and mom to shop with on this trip!

Our last day in Phuket was filled with adventure as we headed out for out James Bond island tour. We gathered at a local home, where we enjoyed some toast and listened to our guide, Patrick, give us instructions for the day. Patrick was a cheerful and charismatic guide, and we were all excited to see what the day had in store.

Our first stop was a small island off the coast, where we spent some time relaxing and swimming in the blue waters. We were careful to watch out for huge jellyfish that were swimming around, and we even saw some washed up on the shore. As we swam, we watched groups of tourists riding inflatable banana-shaped tubes behind jet skis. While it was an entertaining sight, we couldn't help but think that the ride wasn't worth the price.

After our beach time, we boarded a small boat and paddled around the caves and cliffs. This was a beautiful spot, and the gentle men rowing the boats were happy to see us arriving. Our guide pointed out various rock formations, saying things like "Elephant," "Turtle," and "Lion King," and we would nod in agreement as we saw each one. We found this James Bond tour to be much less busy than Phi Phi islands, and it was practically just our boat out at sea.

Patrick played some boping music as we sailed across the blue lake, and he had a rule that if you were last on the boat, you would get ice water dumped on your head. None of us thought that was a bad punishment, and we enjoyed each time the bucket was dumped on us.

We loved how kind the boat crew was on this tour. If we got off the boat for anything, we would return to see our belongings neatly laid out or folded. These people were going out of their way to make sure we were comfortable. I felt every ounce of their love and care.

After lunch, we visited a floating village, where we ate at a huge dining hall with an abundance of food. The servers were dressed in long white sleeves and pants, and just looking at them made me hot. I was sweating out of control at this place. Gavin checked the temperature and it was 110 degrees. We walked around a few stalls of the floating market for a bit before feeling overwhelmed by the heat and lack of interest in the shops.

As we made our way back to the boat, a lady grabbed my mom's hand and put a pearl bracelet in it, saying "Mam please buy something." This market was breaking out hearts. The only thing that looked appealing was a popsicle to cool us off. We saw a young girl playing outside her home on a tarp with mermaid and Superman dolls, and the simplicity of her life was very touching to see.

Next, we visited Ice-cream Cave, where the rocks looked like ice cream hanging down for the ceiling. Our guide Patrick walked right into the cave shirtless and shoeless. For the first part of the cave tour, we had to climb up top using an old thin ladder made of tree branches. Patrick gave it a shake before climbing up to make sure it was steady, and then he instructed us to follow him. Tell us to "place our left foot" "right hand here" then "duck and walk fast." Half of our group opted out of climbing and waited at the bottom while the rest of us scaled the ladder. From the top, we could see the cave formations up close.

The cave was beautiful, and Patrick continued to lead us through it, pointing out various formations and making jokes along the way. One girl was too short to reach the steep step to get down to the next level, so Patrick lifted her down onto his forearm. We were all amazed by his strength and his belief that anyone could do this walk around the cave.

The last part of the cave tour involved squatting really low to get to the next opening. Only six of us decided to attempt it, while the others again waited outside. As it turned out, this part of the cave used to be used as a burial ground long ago. Patrick showed us tally marks on the wall that represented the number of bodies buried there. I was hoping to see some old bones but instead only saw more bat's flying around.

The tour did include a visit too James Bond Island, the famous beach with its iconic rock formation. Despite not having seen any James Bond movies, I recognized the beauty of this spot. When we arrived, we were greeted by vendors selling souvenirs. We joked about who would come all the way to James Bond Island just to shop. However, to our surprise, my mom ended up purchasing a beautiful pearl necklace from a kind vendor. We were also surprised to find that credit cards were accepted on this remote island. As my mom shopped, Callie, Gavin, and I decided to swim out to touch the rock formation. The water was shallow, filled with weeds and soft mud. We had to be careful not to rub against the plants and dirt as we swam in the water.

After leaving the cave, we headed to another island to watch the sunset. This is when we realized that everyone else on the boat was a couple except for my mom and sisters! We spent some time relaxing on the beach until Patrick came over and took pictures for us. He posed us in silly ways and told us exactly what to do, and we were all laughing by the end.

It was a fantastic day filled with adventure, laughter, and beautiful scenery. We left Phuket feeling grateful for the experience.

Bangkok!!! 

After saying goodbye to Phuket, we packed our bags and flew to the bustling city of Bangkok. I knew that if I traveled all the way to Thailand, I couldn't miss out on visiting Bangkok. The city lived up to my expectations in some ways - hot, dirty, crowded, with terrible pollution, and very busy. As we traveled through the city, I enjoyed watching the locals zoom by on their tuk-tuks, filled with all kinds of goods and passengers.

Our first stop was the Bangkok Temple. My mom had booked an endowment session as soon as she purchased her plane tickets. The temple was just dedicated in the fall. But it stood out as a beacon of light in the midst of the city's chaos. It felt comforting and familiar, like a piece of home away from home. During our session, my mom shared that she had met the first member of the Church in Thailand, baptized in December 1967. His journey and witnessing the progress of the Church in Thailand was truly remarkable. Our temple experience was wonderful! Filled with kind workers, lovely artwork, and a sense of simplicity that was truly enchanting.

Callie performed baptisms, while the 4 of did a session. We marveled at the beauty of the temple grounds illuminated at night. It was definitely a worthwhile trip to Bangkok just to experience the temple.

That evening, we explored a night market, taking in the sights and smells of Thailand. Riding in a tuk-tuk was the last experience we had on our list while in Thailand. We found a friendly driver on the street, and he was very eager to have us hop in his tiny cart. As were getting in he said, "hurry let's go." The thrilling ride through the bustling streets of Bangkok brought huge smiles to our faces. We ended up being dropped off by Wat Arun, hoping to catch a glimpse of the temple lit up at night, but unfortunately, we only saw a small view through a fence. Despite that, the tuk-tuk ride was absolutely worth it. Gavin, on the other hand, opted for a motorcycle grab ride back to the hotel, much to our surprise!

We bid farewell to my mom, Ava, and Callie that night at the hotel as we all prepared to fly back to the USA. It had been a wonderful trip with the most amazing people.

Gavin and I had a final day to enjoy in Bangkok before our flight back to Hawaii. We started the day slowly, as Gavin was recovering from a viral infection. In the afternoon, we braved the intense heat to visit Wat Arun and the Grand Palace. The scorching sun seemed to trap us in the city's heat as we explored both temples. After seeing enough, we sought refuge in an air-conditioned mall for some ice cream. The bustling mall market was overcrowded, a clear violation of fire code. After some sweet treats and people-watching, we made our way to the airport.

Our Grab driver had miniature Spider-Man figures all over his dashboard, which provided a lighthearted moment during our ride. He mentioned that the heat in Bangkok that week had been record-breaking and sadly, 30 people had died because of it. As we left the city behind, I reflected on the beauty of the experiences I had in Thailand. Memories of the trip would stay with me forever. Thailand, I will never forget you.