Lipa Lodge~ The Perfect Spot to Stay on the Quiet Side of Koh Samui

I turned the corner and immediately knew I was in heaven. This was it. This was the reason I love the tropics so much. Well, at least one of them!

Fresh fruit juice

We wandered to the breakfast buffet to find the most stunning display of freshly squeezed juice. Their colors were a reflection of the stunning scene awaiting us on the deck. The bright yellow sunlight glistened on the turquoise water in the bay. Soft green palm trees swayed in the breeze above the white sand beach. The orange shades promises of the sunset to come.

Orange. Pineapple. Guava. Mango. Which juice would accompany breakfast this morning?

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What We Ate in Chiang Mai

The line was long, but the tantalizing aroma of slow roasting beef broth wafted in our direction, giving us the endurance to forge ahead. Blue Noodle Beef & Pork Bowls were destined to be!

Beef noodle bowl

Eating almost anywhere in Thailand is a guaranteed success. As one of the world’s most popular cuisines, from high-end restaurants to street vendors and everything in between, a meal in Thailand is amazing.

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Elephant Nature Park ~ Chiang Mai

I admit it, the first few times in Thailand, we did it wrong. With better knowledge over the years, highlighted by a visit to the Elephant Nature Park, we no longer ride elephants while visiting SE Asia, but instead spend our money contributing to organizations that advocate for them.

Elephant Nature Park

Seeing these majestic creatures living in harmony with their handlers and volunteers is so much better than contributing to possible abuse.

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Thai Akha Cooking Class Chiang Mai

My mouth began to water as the spicy aroma of frying egg rolls filled the air at Thai Akha Cooking Class. Everyone gathered around, grouping closer, as our fearless leader showed us the correct direction to roll the wraps in the hot oil. With absolute certainty, I knew this would be an afternoon to remember.

After our amazing street food tours in Bangkok, we knew we wanted to do a cooking class in Chiang Mai, and the Thai Akha Cooking Class was our pick. What a fantastic choice!

Thai appetizer

Having taken over a dozen cooking classes in the past, I can wholeheartedly verify this was easily the best I’ve ever experienced.

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Hiking the Monk’s Trail

Having been to Chiang Mai several times, we were eager to try some new activities and hiking the Monk’s Trail was high on our list.

Monks Trail

Wat Phrae That Doi Suthep is always a must visit when we go to Chiang Mai, but this time we wanted to start our day with the hike to Wat Pha Lat to get some steps in nature before heading further up the hill.

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Did You Enjoy Your Story?

Some years ask questions, while other years answer them~ My question to you: Did you enjoy your story?

You may be thinking, “But my story isn’t over yet”. We get it, neither is ours, and yet in our pursuit of a life less ordinary, we spend hours each year discussing where we want this road to take us. And those answers help direct us along the right path.

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A Chef’s Tour food tour of Bangkok ~ A Must Do!

It’s well-known that we’re big-time foodies, and the chance to do A Chef’s Tour food tour of Bangkok was a must-do for our latest trip to Thailand.

Fried Fish

After doing food tours in several areas of Mexico, we thoroughly looked forward to embarking on a similar adventure in Bangkok. With Asian newbies in tow, we also wanted to introduce them to Bangkok street food with the help of a local guide. After some research, A Chef’s Tour got the most positive reviews for what we were looking for.

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