An adventure of a lifetime
Pictured: Harry and I on our first anniversary at Huan Soontaree, a Michelin-starred Northern Thai restaurant; fresh flowers on the bed at the Rawi Warin, a five-star resort in Koh Lanta; and elephants on the riverside in the Mae Wang National Park.
The culmination of a three year process -- our engagement in 2022 and wedding in 2023 -- our Thailand honeymoon in 2024 was as close to perfection as a trip could be...
We began our travels in our former home of Jersey City. Though much colder than our Floridian blood is now used to, we were warmed by the love of our friends and family over the course of the 2.5 days of our visit. It was a much-needed stopover before our monster 18 hour flight from JFK to Singapore, shortly followed by the 2.5 hour junket from Singapore to Bangkok.
Pictured: At the spot where we got engaged on November 5th, 2022. Captured by Samantha Szekely, December 2024.
Bangkok: The Beginning
Bangkok was a true metropolis. From the rumble of the hoards of motorbikes, to the gleeful shouts of "Sawasdee-ka/kap" from market vendors, our five days in the Thai capital were filled to the brim.
We walked an average of 18,000 steps a day, absorbing the atmosphere of the city through getting lost in it. We saw a Muay Thai fight; explored the alleyways of Chinatown and Old Town; shopped at the labyrinth that is the Chatuchak Weekend Market; gawked at the Icon Siam, a billion-dollar mall with a replica floating market on the basement level; and ate all of the street food we could find (we never got sick from anything we ate in Thailand...and we ate everything!).
Though we tired of the pollution and grinding engine of the mammoth city after a few days, the excitement of the Bangkok was the ideal way to start our three-and-a-half week trip.
Pictured: Harry and me exploring Bangkok Old Town; the Grand Palace; Chinatown at twilight; and a Muay Thai fight at the Rajadamnern Stadium
Chiang Mai: The Middle
Point blank: I could live out the rest of my days in Chiang Mai. From its mountainous jungle terrain, colorful street markets, and generous people, the second largest city in Thailand felt like home.
We began the midpoint of our trip with three days of simply lounging around our riverside resort in the northern suburbs of the city. We rode the creaky hotel bikes around the hilly landscape, stopping at locally-recommended places, eating superb, CHEAP food, and actually acting like we were on vacation and not training for Olympic speed walking.
After resting and recovering, we adventured. We went to both the Sunday Night Walking Street and the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, where we sipped fresh passion fruit shakes, ate a bazillion spring rolls + street meats, and watched traditional Lanna dancers. We hiked the Monk's Trail to Wat Pha Lat, a magical Buddhist temple constructed as a meditation and resting point for monks as they climbed to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a temple that sits atop the highest mountain in the region. We had an extreme jungle adventure, piloting bamboo rafts down a river in Mae Wang National Park, seeing elephants, jumping into waterfalls and visiting the Karen Long Neck Village. We took a cooking class, making a five course Thai meal and learning about the local ingredients and cuisine. Simply put, we lived. Fully.
Pictured: Harry, myself and our new friend, Joy, cooking and eating our homemade Thai meal; Harry and I cheesing in a waterfall reservoir; a peaceful Buddha watches over Wat Pha Lat; and our fearless pilot, Harry, as he guided our makeshift raft over level one rapids.
Koh Lanta: The End
This was the "White Lotus" part of our trip. We stayed at a five-star resort, lounging around in bathing suits and bath robes 98% of the time, as we cooked ourselves in the equatorial sun.
Koh Lanta is an island in the south of Thailand, not far from the crowds of Phuket and Krabi. We pampered ourselves with massages, opulent breakfast buffets, and the salty waves of the Andaman Sea. When we felt like moving our bodies off lounge chairs, we walked to the tiny beach towns around our resort, drinking coconut water and Sangsom (Thai rum) with our toes in the sand. On one occasion, we took a cab (Adam, our driver, was a local historian and taught us the real story of the island, which got electricity and water just 30 years ago) out to the sea gypsy fishing village of Old Town.
The monkeys tightrope walking the popping power lines were the most active thing we saw on Koh Lanta. It was a place removed from the churn of time, and thus the perfect paradise local to close out the trip.
Pictured: Me, walking through Old Town Koh Lanta; a sunset view of our luxiourious resort, the Rawi Warin; Freedom Bar, a Bob Marley-themed purveyor of all things "relaxing;" and some cows chilling beachside.
Would we go back? Absolutely. Is it worth the 3+ flights to get there? Yes; if you're willing to pay the cost of admission. Currently sitting with a sinus infection from hell, I write this newsletter feeling exhausted from our travels and holidays. However, underneath the illness is a real feeling of purpose.
I didn't expect the act of marriage to feel so seminal, so sacramental. I can't help but witness the changes it has ushered into my life. It was a process symbolic of my own coming-of-age. I feel like an adult, and I am truly excited for what that means.
Harry and I are in agreement that our lives will never be "normal," and this process of marriage has felt like a true commitment to OUR life -- the way we want and choose to live it. I don't think anyone can fault either of us with not pursuing our dreams and passions. However, since the upheaval of COVID, that pursuit has felt more aligned with the person I am, rather than the person I thought I should be.
So I start 2025 with an oath to myself and to you all, witnesses and players in our shared journeys, to be steadfast in that honest commitment to being me.
That's all for now. We love you, and wish you nothing but blessings and bounty in 2025!