Category Archives: inspiration

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

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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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The Quiet Side of Koh Samui

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The birds rustled in the trees as the water lapped quietly along the shore. Life was good on the quiet side of Koh Samui.

Lipa Noi Koh Samui

Our last trip to the island found us staying on the very busy and chaotic Chewang Beach, absolutely the party side of the island.

With our return to Thailand, we were researching islands, and we originally looked in another direction. Koh Chang. Koh Lanta. Koh Lipe. So.Many.Options.

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The Magic & Color of Chiang Mai Street Life in Photos

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Chiang Mai is undoubtedly one of our favorite spots in the country, in part because of the vibrancy and color of her markets and day-to-day life lived in the streets.

Thai street vendor

Here are some of our favorite scenes discovered on our latest trip to whet your appetite for a Thai adventure of your own.

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What We Ate in Chiang Mai

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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

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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

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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

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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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Awana House ~ Chiang Mai

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Awww, Chiang Mai’s Awana House Guest House. What a find. When we were plotting and planning our Thailand trip, we considered heading back to Lai Thai House, where we have stayed several times in the past. Although Lai Thai is a lovely option, this time around we wanted a fresh stay within the old city walls for our time in Chiang Mai.

Awana House

We wanted something in a great location, with comfortable guest rooms and places to lounge, with a lot of local Thai charm. We found it in spades at Awana House.

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