The Travel Zen of Cai

Thailand

  • 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

  • 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

  • My First Taste of Pad Thai

    When it comes to food, I’ve always been a little cautious- sticking to what I know and love. My husband, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. He’s the kind of person who gets excited about unfamiliar dishes, bold… Continue reading

  • Lessons & Life Between the Philippines, Thailand, and the U.S.

    Baguio was my beginning- a city wrapped in pine-scented air and early morning fog. I remember walking home as the sun came up, the streets quiet after another long night shift. On weekends, I swapped graveyard hours for exam rooms… Continue reading

  • The Stray and the Spirit House

    It was one of those slow, golden afternoons in Bangkok- the kind where everything feels suspended in heat and soft hums. I had just left Chatuchak Park, legs a little tired, brain mildly buzzing from sunlight and stillness. I wasn’t… Continue reading

  • Basking in the Misty Nook of บ้านสวนสาทร Baan Suan Sathorn

     As my feet touch the ground, I sniffed the air as if to imbibe the positive energy that this Land of Smiles radiates. I scanned my surroundings to see familiar faces but  was overwhelmed with the throng of people moving… Continue reading

  • Strangers, Stories, and a Floating Flower

    It was Loy Krathong Day in Thailand. I had just arrived a few months prior and had no idea what the festival was about or how people celebrated it. I remember just being happy because classes were suspended in celebration… Continue reading

  • Chatuchak Park: An Oasis in the Midst of the Concrete Jungle

    One of my most memorable experiences interacting with nature happened in Thailand. In the heart of bustling Bangkok, Chatuchak Market is a magnet for tourists, especially on weekends, when the crowds swarm the countless stalls. But if you’re looking for… Continue reading

  • It All Started with a Cup of Coffee

    Self-discovery doesn’t always start with big decisions – sometimes, it begins with coffee. Before I finally left my home country and I was still in Baguio, I wasn’t searching for anything in particular. But with each café I wandered into,… Continue reading

  • Is it Worth it?

    There’s something about the thought of traveling internationally that stirs a mix of excitement and anxiety. The packing, the paperwork, the long airport lines – at first, it all feels like a mountain to climb. I’ve had my fair share… Continue reading