The Travel Zen of Cai

life

  • I Call It Belonging

    Met him in 2023,Engaged to him in 2024,Married in 2025. I went to Thailand without knowing I would eventually meet someone.I had a plane ticket home.I had jobs waiting for me.But I stayed. A month later, I met him,In an… Continue reading

  • Unbridled Memories

    Of all the animals, I feel closest to the horse. Something about them never really left my heart. Maybe one reason is that horses were already part of our lives when we were kids, long before we grew into teenagers… Continue reading

  • Eating Clean in a Greasy, Tempting World

    You walk into a restaurant with a plan. You tell yourself, “I’ll eat clean today.”Maybe a salad. Maybe grilled fish. Something green. Something responsible.Then the menu lands in your hands. Big glossy photos. Bold fonts. Descriptions that don’t just list… Continue reading

  • Cooking Adobo to Impress vs Cooking to Improve

    I remember the first time I cooked adobo for my husband. It was during that honeymoon stage where everything felt like a movie scene and I wanted to impress him with even the simplest things. You know, prepare food before… Continue reading

  • Orchid Lovers’ Escape at the United States Botanic Garden

    Coming from a tropical place, I’ve seen plenty of flowers in my hometown and in other provinces. When I worked in Thailand, I lived near the Chatuchak Plant Market, where a wide variety of floral species were sold and displayed.… Continue reading

  • Is This Really Me? Meeting the Real Self

    Have you ever once stopped midair while you’re about to do something and suddenly asked yourself the question- “Is this really me?”That pause, which came without warning, made you rethink the decision you desperately wanted to carry out just seconds… Continue reading

  • We Came in the Same Year, We Left in the Same Year

    Sometimes, when I close my eyes, I can still picture the school in Thailand as if I were standing there again- the sunlight spilling through the open-air corridors, the hum of students echoing from the courtyard, and the faint smell… Continue reading

  • What Really Happens After the “I Do”

    The prince kisses the princess, and an uproarious cheer rises from the crowd. Fireworks burst across the sky, brightening the place and heralding the couple’s promising future. The image slowly fades, the romantic background music softens, and… “And they lived… Continue reading

  • Golden Lights and Rustic Nights at Craft 1945

    You will never get bored exploring Baguio City. As someone who spent years in the City of Pines, I would say that it’s a place of endless adventure, especially the suburbs. When it comes to restaurants and coffee shops, you’ll… Continue reading

  • A Peaceful Stay at Ayothaya Riverside House

    In 2023, I took a solo trip to Ayutthaya, Thailand-a decision that turned out to be one of the most peaceful and memorable travel experiences I’ve had. I booked a stay at Ayothaya Riverside House, and it became more than… Continue reading