JPY
Aloha and welcome to my blog everyone. Today I just want to share a little update about how my vacation break is going so far — just a simple heart update from my trip.
My journey started with a very long travel day — almost a full 24 hours from Seattle — but overall it was a comfortable and smooth flight, all things considered. For such a long plane ride, I really can’t complain. I rested when I could, watched a little, and kept reminding myself that each hour brought me closer to home.
Long travel always sounds difficult when we talk about it, and yes, it can be — but when your heart is excited to see your family, it feels lighter and more meaningful. By the time I landed, I was tired and a little out of travel shape, but very ready to walk out of that gate and find my family. And then I received the sweetest surprise welcome.
From Winter Cold to Tropical Heat
After a long plane ride, I finally arrived — and the first thing that really hit me was the temperature difference. It felt almost funny. When I left, it was about 35 degrees, and when I landed, it was close to 90. That is a big jump for one day.
You can feel it right away — the warm air, the humidity, the brightness — it wakes you up instantly even when you are tired from travel. My body was still in travel mode, but my senses already knew I was back in a completely different environment.
That sudden change — from cold to heat, from quiet airport focus to lively family energy — is always a shock at first, but also part of the feeling of coming home.
The Sweetest Surprise Waiting at the Gate
When I walked out and looked around, I saw my sister Thi and her husband Ball waiting — and then came the moment I will not forget. My little niece Alita and my nephew Tee Noi ran straight toward me with the biggest hugs.
Before I could even adjust my bags or say anything, they were already wrapped around me. That kind of welcome goes straight to the heart. All the tiredness from the long journey disappeared in seconds. Children don’t plan welcomes — they just feel them. And that is what makes it so special.
Rayong — A Few Quiet Days by the Sea
After a warm welcome at the airport, we headed straight to my sister’s house with about a two-and-a-half-hour drive ahead of us. We stayed there the first night so everyone could rest a little before continuing our trip. It felt so good just to sit, talk, and be together again after such a long journey.
On the very same day I arrived, my mom and Tee Noi had also just completed a long 10-hour van ride from the north to my sister’s house, and my sister Kim traveled there together with them as well. We all reached the same place from different directions, tired but happy — and that made the reunion feel even more meaningful.
The next day, we packed up and drove to the beach town of Rayong for a few quiet days by the sea. This way, Thi and Ball didn’t need to take too many days off from work, and we could still spend real time together as a family. Rayong gave us exactly what we needed — slow mornings, warm air, sea breeze, and simple time together.
Simple Joyful Days in Rayong
Our days in Rayong were simple and happy. We spent most of our time between the beach and the hotel pool, letting the kids play as much as they wanted. They swam, splashed, built sand piles, and laughed without getting tired. Watching them enjoy every minute made the whole trip feel light and easy.
We walked along the shore, felt the strong sea breeze, and sat together watching the waves. Some moments were playful and noisy, some were quiet and peaceful. We took photos, played in the water, and didn’t worry too much about schedules. It was not about doing many activities — it was about being together. For me, it was exactly the kind of break I needed — sun, sea air, family voices, and time to just be present.
After our beach days, we drove back to Thi’s house and spent the night there again to rest and recover from all the activity and travel. The next step of our plan was to check in at the hotel, where my mom and the kids were especially excited — because of the pool and the water park area waiting for them.
Fun Family Time at Grande Centre Point Space
After a day of rest and recouping from our travel back from Rayong, we checked in at Grande Centre Point Space so my mom and the kids could really enjoy some play time together. This part of the trip was planned especially for them, and it turned out to be one of the most fun and memorable stops for all of us.
The moment we walked inside, it felt like stepping into another world. The whole hotel follows a space theme, with curved hallway tunnels, glowing ceiling designs, and hanging light structures that look like floating stars and planets. The colors shift between soft gold, blue, and purple tones, especially at night, which gives everything a calm and slightly magical feeling. Even walking through the lobby and corridors feels like moving through a futuristic space station, but still comfortable and welcoming.
The biggest highlight for us was the pool and water park area. There are colorful water playground structures, spray features, shallow splash zones, and a lazy river where we could float slowly together. The kids were excited from the moment they saw it. They climbed, splashed, floated, and laughed without getting tired. Watching their faces and hearing their laughter made the whole place feel even brighter.
There are also outdoor activity spaces and playful corners where the kids can explore and move around freely. It’s not just a hotel stay — it feels like a family playground built into a resort. I chose this stop not for luxury, but for shared memories — and it gave us exactly that.
Time Flies When Hearts Are Full
We stayed here only two nights, but when you are having a good time together, time always seems to fly so fast. It felt like we had just checked in, and suddenly it was already time to pack again.
The kids had taken ten days off from school, and Thi and Ball arranged their work schedule so we could all share this time together. I really appreciate the effort behind that. Family time does not happen by accident — it takes planning and care.
Now it was time for the next part of our journey — heading to my mom’s hometown, the place where I was born and where I went to college before I moved out to the city for work. That chapter of my life led me to meet my husband, and later my path continued to Hawaii. Today, we are living in Seattle for the moment, though we may move back to Hawaii again in the future.
Going back to my hometown is not just another stop on the trip. It is going back to where my story began.
Back to My Mom’s Hometown — Where My Story Began
From Thi’s house, it took about a 10-hour van ride to reach my mom’s hometown. We arrived late in the evening — everyone was very tired from the long day on the road, but also relieved and happy to finally be there. When we reached the house, there was not much talking left — just showers, simple food, and rest.
The next morning, we started taking care of the things that needed to be done — small errands, family matters, and local business that can only be handled in person. Trips like this are never only for vacation — they are also for responsibility. And of course, one of the most important things I always do on every trip back is visit the people I love and grew up around.
Over the years, I have learned something very real and very humbling — each time I come back, there are fewer elders than before. Some of the grandmas I used to help when I was a child are no longer here. Some of the aunties I saw almost every day while working alongside my mom are now gone. These are the people I watched work hard every day of their lives. I grew up seeing their discipline, their strength, and their work ethic. Without knowing it at the time, I was learning from them.
Because of that, it has become my personal mission to go and visit those who are still here — to sit with them, talk with them, and let them know they are remembered. Many of them are local people who worked hard their entire lives. When I stop by to visit, sometimes they feel shy about hugging me because they are still in their work clothes and feel dirty from the day’s labor. But that never matters to me. I tell them not to worry, and I hug them anyway. Love and respect are more important than clean clothes. A surprise visit and a real hug are sometimes the best gifts we can give each other.
Walking the Market — Still the Same Girl
After all the running around and visiting the people I love, I also spent time at the local market with my mom. Many of her friends sell food, vegetables, and home-grown products there. This is one of my favorite stops every trip — simple, lively, and full of familiar faces. As I walked from table to table, something funny happened again — the same thing that happens almost every year. At first, they didn’t recognize me. They looked up politely, not quite sure who I was.
I greeted them with a wai — the traditional Thai gesture of respect, with hands together and a small bow — and they looked at me once, then looked again more carefully. You can almost see the moment of recognition arrive. Then their faces change, and they say my name with surprise and laughter.
It happens like this year after year, and I actually love it. Why? Because it tells me something important. Even though I have lived in America for almost twenty years now, I never try to dress or act differently when I come back home. I come as I am. Simple, comfortable, the same at heart.
It feels good to know that even though my life has grown, even though I have had opportunities and success, I am still the same girl who ran around these places many years ago when I was a child. And that is something I never want to lose.
A Day at My Mom’s Fruit Farm
Today I spent the whole day with my mom at her fruit farm, and this is always one of the most meaningful parts of my trip home. She grows so many kinds of fruits — everywhere you look there are small trees, young branches, and green fruits forming under the leaves. Some are still tiny and smooth, some already heavy and hanging low, and some wrapped gently by leaves to protect them. She knows every row, every tree, every plant like they are her children.
We walked side by side through the fields while she showed me what she planted, what is growing well, and what still needs more care. I helped her drag the hose from one area to another, watering plant after plant under the warm sun. We stopped often — sometimes to pull weeds, sometimes to check the soil, sometimes just to talk. The ground was dry in some places, soft and muddy in others, and you can smell earth and green leaves everywhere.
She still works so hard every day. Seeing her there — hat on, sleeves down, hands busy — reminds me where my work habit comes from. I learned discipline and responsibility not from books, but from watching her and the people around me work like this since I was a child.
We walked so much through dirt and mud that by the end of the day my poor shoe finally gave up and came apart. We laughed about it. I told her only at her farm could I work hard enough to lose a shoe in one day. It was a simple day — no decorations, no special plans — just walking, working, talking, and being together. And honestly, those are some of the richest days of all.
Back to My Shells at the End of the Day
It has been a very long, full day for both me and my mom — walking the farm, working side by side, talking, laughing, and just being together. My body is tired, but my heart feels full. Days like this remind me where my strength comes from and why I never forget my roots. I truly had such a great time with my mom today, and this is exactly my idea of a real vacation — not only resting, but reconnecting, helping, walking the land, and being close to the people I love. This is how I recharge my heart and my energy.
Now it’s time for a little quiet break for myself. I feel like sitting down, taking out my shells, and creating something new. Even when I am far from my work table, the shells are still part of me — they follow me wherever I go.
My mom smiled and joked with me tonight. She said, “You helped me all day — now let me see if I can help you with your shell work… if I can even see those tiny shells at all.” Then she laughed, and we laughed together. And that’s how I will end today — tired hands, a happy heart, and a few shells waiting for me to turn them into something beautiful.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and spend this part of the journey with me. It truly means a lot. I’m looking forward to finishing this new creation and will add it to my website when I return. If you happen to visit again later, I’d be very happy for you to see it.