My Aunt Nan and I in front of \240the mango tree that has been a constant living fixture—a reminder of resilience and abundance. She still makes fruit after all these years.

Aunt Nan, me and Rob

These stairs…

AGong’s bureau. As a child I was fascinated by all the compartments and seeming endless places to put things.

Family photos in the living room.

My dear, sweet grandparents… no longer here in this house, in this place. I am the memory keeper, for our shared time together.

Photo of my dad, grandpa, grandma and aunt Nan circa 1961.

Fai and Proud (the organizer)

The restaurant is called Sarnies. Fusion of Italian and Thai 😋. Tuna marinated with fish sauce, etc.

Clams linguine with Thai kick

Pepperoni Pizza, ja

Pumpkin Ravioli Thai style

Aui, Fai, Nada, Proud & Tippy (the hippy)

Gabriela the goddess arrives right in time to move on to the next venue.

Coincidentally, Tee, also an ICS alumni is singer for the band playing that night!

Thank you Proud, for organizing!!

Honoring good ol’ days and making new memories 💜

Rob at an expat bar off Sukhumvit. He’s a bonafide legend in Bangkok now 😂

Saying goodbye… for now

Proud pointed us in the right direction and showed us the new local shortcuts. So much has changed since I’ve been here. The old standby landmarks still exist, but there are so many new malls and tricks for getting around. This shrine can be viewed from the BTS walkway, which one can use as an elevated sidewalk.

After getting reacquainted with this area and letting Rob see a sneak peek of Bangkok, we stop at Beer Republic to get a refreshing drink and a plate of delicious Thai style wings.

On the way back, we stopped at the food Emporium grocery store. Like a Fresh Market - Thai style. Check out all the different kinds of potato chips! 😋

There was a small shine to Queen of England set up on the BTS. Thailand has its own monarchy. It has never been colonized by any European country, but there are many influences from Britain.

After a bit of delay in the morning we start off to Wat Pra Keow, Shrine of the Emerald Buddha.

On the way there we can see much of the Bangkok skyline as the destination is across town towards the river. There’s a lot of money invested in Bangkok’s often wacky, whimsical architecture.

It need not be said the structures are impressive and beautiful, please enjoy the photos…

The mirror mosaic covering this whole structure is absolutely breathtaking.

History of Siam, I believe, is painted all around on these walls. I want to know more about this mural, in particular.

Thai merpeople!!!

Dawg Bua - Lotus Flower

The monkey gods are diverse in skin tone… I like.

Just rocking my side pony-eh!

From the ancient traditional, to the new…

This one picture says it all 😅 Nakhon Sawan (region or city of Heaven) Soi #1. Somethings never change, wah.

The weather has been holding up quite nicely so far, too.

I want…

This, on the BTS sky train

Then on to Central Embassy shopping mall to meet Gluay my cousin and have an air conditioned fancy Thai food court experience.

Rob with a bowl of rice noodle soup with pork and ‘Luuk Chin. Check out the chopstick skills!

‘Awl Swuan’ (oyster fried in tapioca batter). I had three times in 3 days… 😃👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Bangkok is full of beautiful photo opportunities. Gluay is a talented photographer as well!

Yellow building in the distance is the family business building and condos, where we are staying.

We are sure to be in Thailand now!!

My dad giving greetings before the meal.

This is just an appetizer 😉

This wonderful woman Auntie Yong has been working with my family as long as I can remember.

With A-Nan, my dad, mom and Auntie Amput.

My very generous A-Pichai, his daughter Tanyathon, her husband Earth and A-Pichai’s son Ong.

My dear Uncle Pichit who takes care of everyone.

With Cousin Ten

Cousin Ek

Cousins Mai and Tip (and little niece).

Paul and Natalie, my first cousin, cousins Kaew, Gluay and Am+.

My dear Auntie Toy-Go

With her sweet children, Taan and Toon.

So many Aunties!! 6 in this picture, alone.

So many cousins! All dear to me, na ja.

A little gecko was in the bananas

We took it outside to leafy refuge

First on today’s itinerary, family factory tours. Greennut is our first stop… if you’d had wasabi peas or other pea snacks from Asia, odds are you’ve had Greennut!

The process is meticulous for sure.

Final product… I think this is the spicy version. So good.

Ready for distribution laew, ka.

On to Kanom Sakol rice cracker factory! I wanna dive in, don’t you?!

200 Metric Tons of rice made into delectable shapes, textures and flavors per month, wah!

Afterwards, we have a lovely lunch by the river.

Getting to check off a bunch of items on the list must eat list! Soft crab, with young black pepper. So hot… so good!

Tom Yum Gai (chicken), spicy, pungent… perfect.

Grilled prawns with Nam Jim+.

Fried fish three flavors 😋

The ubiquitous, but unforgettable Moo Satay. This restaurant… did it really well! Mong Dou Reuy (boat watching) Restaurant in Ayuttayah.

On to the elephant rides. I just want to feed them…

200 Baht for a bucket of snacks.

Sugar cane, bananas, cucumber, corn and special vitamin packs

Look at this cutie!🥰

And check out this ham, wah.

How can I resist?

Thank you, you beautiful creature, ka.

She says I should visit more often 😌

Cute little guy…

Afterwards, met up with Saranya, also a former ICS student. What an impressive woman she’s turned out to be. We were so focused on catching up, almost forgot to take a picture, wah.

We enjoyed lunch at Rodniyom (trendy taste). Checking more dishes off the must eat list. Below, Pla Dooh and Kapi (roasted shrimp paste) sauce.

Yum pla Douk Fooh, spicy, limy, crispy catfish salad-another favorite of mine 😋

Rob ordered Tom yum goong 🦐very good choice! Shown here with pak boong.

Polished off with a Cha Yen.. and all is right with the world. Sorry, no picture… already drank it.

Made It to the Samui airport, which has lots of last-minute shopping opportunities and mosquitoes 😅. Perhaps Rob is smiling because he sitting by a fan.

I am already reminiscing about a wonderful three whole days on the island. It’s been 17 years since I’ve visited this part of Thailand. Lots of water under that proverbial bridge!

We actually changed our flight to be earlier so I can visit with some more friends, especially from ICS Bangkok. Here is Erin, who taught music when I taught art. Even though she stayed in Thailand and I left, we so much in common now.

Some Covid floating around, so we take precautions. Tests are cheap here! Should’ve bought more. Duh!

After dinner, we visit Proud’s condo building. Check out this view. OMG!!! Rob is not so keen on Heights but I could stay up here all night!!

Bangkok at night 🥰

Catty… in Bangkok at night…🥰

There’s an infinity pool!!! I think this is 43 or so floors up. Wow 🤩

The next day I visit ICS-Bangkok Bang-Na campus. I did not teach at this campu, but I recognize the students in the yearbook in the lobby!

Wait for it…

It’s Micah! 🤩 alumni turned staff member and my welcome committee.

Visited with Karen, who is now Middle School Principal. Also saw Sheila and Stephen, but no photos.

Cool art in the hallways 😌

I ran into some more old friends. It’s literally like yesterday. Sweet BeBe!

And beautiful Gae. I’m getting teary 🥲

After visiting the campus, we grab lunch at a random street vendor. So good, so inexpensive!!

At B2S (Thai stationery store) they are selling Tabi to hungry customers. Kinda like how there’s snacks at the checkout lane at Michael’s.

My fave dessert snacks… just happens on the last day in BKK.

I visit my grandparents home before heading to airport. Left corner was my bedroom during various times in my life.

Jasmine flowers growing outside

AGong’s chair

I drew these from photos. My grands were kind enough to display it in their home. 😊

My AGong

My dad receiving special accommodation from the King for getting best score in anatomy in the country. 🤩

Going through photos and found this gem. My AGong was fun, more than anything. Serious about God… and light hearted with most other matters 😁😇😂

My AMa. Yes, she spoiled me.. sated me with sugar cubes she lifted from restaurant tables. She showed me I am unconditionally lovable.

This was on the fridge… I need to look up Isaiah 16:5

Cucumber stuffed with pork and mushrooms. So good… and the placemat reminds me of the islands.

Generations in photos…

Last dinner in BKK. Makes sense it would be here, at my grandparents dining table. 🥹

At the airport, this ad reminds me why I need to go home to Asheville… my beautiful Thalia. Or we can just move here and she can be a model. 😅

All right then… we have our passports and tix…saying goodbye

Seoul Incheon airport has Dunkin’

Seoul from the sky… ridiculous

Sunrise over US soil

25 hours later, landed safely in Asheville.