June 20, 2007
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Travels!
Hey budskies! I finally had a minute to share some of our Asia trip photos!
KOH SAMUI, THAILAND
Koh Samui is a small island off the eastern coast of Thailand. The only things I knew about Koh Samui before we went there was that it was one of the islands shown in the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio. We decided to go since the Four Seasons had just opened a new resort and we love the Four Seasons! We had so much fun - partly because we didn’t have any expectations as to what it would be like. It was just a vacation on a whim.
The Four Seasons Koh Samui opened in Feb. 2007. They built all of the villas into the landscape and left almost all of the vegetation and trees intact. I loved our villa…it was really huge, private and clean!
We just relaxed most of the time – sleeping, eating and lounging all day. The days we got out we got massages, rode an elephant, visited a waterfall and explored the town. That’s it!
Our mahout (elephant driver) was like my brother from another mother~ he loved taking photos!! Not only did we have an amazing time with our elephant (Domboon)…we got tons of photos and videos!
I love this photo~ it reminds me of how magical everything was!
I’ve been to Hong Kong before but this time around I was really interested in learning more about the people, the culture and the history. I liked learning about the complexities of how Hong Kong operates as a special administrative region of China – the overlap of communism and British influences. Hmmm…sounds sorta dorky. I got to meet a lot of interesting people though and I loved exploring! We loved it so much we were thinking of ways to move there for a bit…
Hong Kong was all about eating and shopping! Thanks for your suggestions~ I got to eat lobster with cheesy sauce & garlic shrimp and lots of random street food…I got to shop at nice dept. stores and not so nice street vendors…we got a bunch of tailor-made suits & shirts…all fun!
My trip to Hong Kong wouldn’t have been the same without my new awesome friend, Linnet. We actually met through Xanga when she responded to a question I posted about Hong Kong. We started writing each other and she so graciously offered to show me around since she lives there. We ended up hanging out almost every single day - it was that fun! Although we had never known each other before…when we met I felt like I was just meeting up with an old friend. It turns out that Linnet’s hubby actually went to b-school with Andy and they knew each other~ what a small world! Linnet is amazing~ there were so many things I admired about her – her language skills, her beauty, her kindness – but the thing I admired most was her faith. I feel that because she’s such a blessed person she has the gift of inspiring others. Thanks so much to Linnet – for showing me the real Hong Kong, for the cute gifts (esp. the Havainas flip flops), for helping me shop, and for inspiring me in my faith.
Another stop on our Four Seasons tour! We got upgraded to one of the top suites…but then we actually liked the suite we were in before better so we downgraded!
My law school buddy, Dave, just moved to HK so I got to hang with him. People mistake him for Hiro from Heroes…hehehehe! He was so nice~ making time to meet up with me. We went to Shenzen, China with Linnet. It was fun!!!
Got upgraded from business to first on Cathay~ yippee!
Back to reality. At least Bella was waiting patiently for us!!
Comments (54)
I’m so jealous you can go on such amazing vacations on a whim! Don’t you just love the elephants? After visiting Thailand, the elephants just grew on me. I think they’re adorable!
the food looks delish..i’m hungry now..lol
looks like a great trip! i haven’t been to either city/country but would love to visit one day.
look at you… living the high life… fancy resorts, first class, you go girlie! i missed your posts and am you’re back!
the pictures of you guys riding on the elephants reminded me of indiana jones and the temple of doom, hehehe!
the food in hk is so good huh? i loved it when i went there!
yay for the update! ~ your trip looked AWESOME!! visiting so many beautiful places and eating great food ~ those hk food pics look delicious!! how lucky were u guys to be upgraded to first class on such a long flight btw?
bella looks so adorable in the last pic. it’s like she was really waiting for you, all patient and lady-like. but i know better!! she was prob doing 5 feet jumps in the air all over you from so much excitement. hehe
So awesome that another xangan helped you out. And your friend does look like Hiro!
How in the world do you get upgraded at the hotel and the flight? People are always saying they’re offered an upgrade and I don’t think it’s ever happened to me.
boohoo. Looks like you had a wonderful vacation! I really want to go through Asia with my husband but he’s afraid of the international social climate still. I bet Bella was ecstatic to see you guys come home. 
My co-worker’s neighbor was giving away a 1 year old purebred bolognese yesterday (otherwise would have taken him to an adoption group) and I soooo wanted to bring him home but my husband already forbade me to get a 3rd dog so I told other co-workers and one them decided to take him.
it all looks so nice. i just may have to make asia the next destination for my vacation.
you must’ve done a lot of shopping at IFC if you were at the four seasons in hong kong. its a good thing you’re not here this week though – it’s ridiculously humid!
wow thailand and HK looks amazing! you stayed at such beautiful hotels, i would stay there all day =P. was it scary riding on the elephant? and you took such beautiful shots of the trip! btw, bella is adorable =).
Beautiful pictures. The villa in Thailand looks amazing. I haven’t been to Thailand in almost 10 years. It looks like Thailand might be my next vacation destination.
wow wow wow! beautiful pictures! and sounds like an amazing trip. i hope to visit thailand and hong kong someday too. when i do, i’ll have to ask you questions.
it must suck to come back to reality, but how nice must be to be greeted by bella at home!
awesome pictures! it makes me want to go on another trip…funny, I have the exact same picture of myself with Ronald McDonald in Thailand!
wow amazing pictures! looks like you had tons of fun!
Awesome pics! It looks like you and DH had a great time.
looks like you had a fun relaxing vacation!
hi~ came across your xanga page through chris choi’s (i thought you were someone else ’til i saw your pics!), and i just HAD to comment b/c i just back from being in HK for 4 weeks and i LOVED it there! isn’t it such an amazing city?! did you get a chance to shop at the landmark? that’s where i was working while i was there… i hope i get a chance to go back!
Wow, the pictures are so beautiful! The food looks yummy! You guys look so happy and bella and the other dog pictured are so cute! Isn’t it sad when you have to leave your dog at home. We were sad that diggy missed our wedding and our honeymoon. we would have brought him. hehe.
WOW!! looks like you had a blast! the food looks yummy.
we MUST get the girls together again. coco misses miss bella…
It looks like you had a great time…my vacation all revolves around food, I put more research on the places to eat and what to eat than I do any of the other touristy stuff. And your friend does look exactly like Hiro, he could use it to his advantage…see if he can swing some free stuff or invites to clubs.
yay! it’s working now =)
the elephant photos are so awesome! i’ve always wanted to visit thailand – especially phuket but koh samui looks even more peaceful. i’m not a big fan of four seasons but your hotel at koh samui looks gorgeous! i’m in love with your private swimming pool. isn’t it so nice to come home and have a car service meet you rather than flagging for a taxi? but nothing beats coming home and seeing sweet bella’s face!
ryc: thanks for the birthday wishes! =)
wowsers!!! everything looks so beautiful!!! it totally makes me want to get up and go! and yes, how do you get all those upgrades?!?! LUCKY you!!! your friend does look like Hiro..hahaha. i’m glad you had such a great time and that you’re back!!! bella is such a cutie!!!
Man, can I ride with you guys next time? You and your hubby know how to travel! Awesome pics btw… ;op
hi~ Beautiful pics! Goh samui looks amazing! looks like you had a great time!
hey sis!! awww i loved riding an elephant – its a neat experience. that is soo cool that you met a friend thru xanga and hung out w/ her every day in HK! that food looks sooo good. at least u can get good asian food in LA, i cant really get that much good food in KC, boo! wow ur friend dave really does look like the guy from Heroes!! hahaha! i miss u girl! r u gonna come to KC in august??????
what a wonderful life. i might meet a xanga friend too, she’s hooking me up with some cheap event tickets. xanga is wonderful. i think i should get it for life!
gorgee-o-so, skippee! Thanks for sharing pics, I love seeing other people’s vacation pics. Your honeymoon was to die for! I’m a bit envious bc we had such bad weather on our honeymoon in St. Lucia and the Sandals resort we stayed at was just ‘ok’. Of course it was nice bc it was our honeymoon, but wow, nothing like Koh Samui!!!!! Neat-o. And isn’t it amazing to find friends on Xanga? I’ve met girls from NYC through Xanga and they were so nice to my friends and I when I went to visit a few years ago. Love them to this day, even though we barely know eachother.
Write more!
It looks so surreal!! Miss you! and yes we shall have lunch soon~ I’ll shoot you an email chica bonita!
it looks like you guys had an amazing time!! the pics are so pretty and the food looks so incredibly yummy
i’m getting the travel bug just reading your entry.
ryc: i know, wicked was soo cute!
dang! looks like you had an amazing time!! and wow. it was so nice of linnet to show you guys around. travelling is definately better when you have a native showing you around.
I’m so happy you posted pictures! I was so curious about your trip and I can’t believe I haven’t had a chance to catch up with you earlier. You and your internet friends, your so lucky to have had a wonderful tour guide in HK. And the hotel in Koh Samui looks awesome!! I can’t wait to go on vacation.
living in hong kong at the moment… shopping is pretty good here but these days you have to act fast. there are so many mainland tourists and they buy EVERYTHING! sigh… it used to be so much easier back in the day!
i LOVE all these pictures! It looks amazing! You guys are SUCH a cute couple!!!! And that’s SO cool how you met up with a fellow Xangan in real life! That’s awesome!
omg i so jealous!! it looks like u guys had such a wonderful time!!
You guys look great!!! My husband and I are going to Costa Rica after our wedding next month. First class is definitely the way to go!! (:
the place you went to looked pretty! LUCKY! ridding elephants looks fun!
Delilah
Hi Jenny!!! I had so much fun with you too! You are one of the sweetest girls and so easy to get along
I’ll probably make another run to shenzhen between now and September (when we go to LA), so let me know if you want anymore dvd’s or bags. Which reminds me… have you been using any of the gazillion bags you got here in HK? Miss you! We’re off to Taipei this weekend!
Oh, and I’m sending you a package this week! Sorry I’m so slow…!
looks like an awesome time in thailand. i ought to try that when i am in asia next time.
wow! your pictures are awesome. i can’t believe you got to ride an elephant!! that looks like the highlight. ^^
ryc: thanks! let me know if you’re ever interested. please do send referrals! i love custom work. and thanks for sharing your pics! hope you have a wonderful time in Asia:)
haha.. u’re right!! prim and proper at the start of the night.. on the ground throwing peace signs by the end. hehe. and thank u for the comment on the dress. i think it’s pwetty too!
Thanks, its nice to know someone cares! Dogs are the hardest animal to lose, i think.
Delilah
Thanks, its nice to know someone cares! Dogs are the hardest animal to lose, i think.
Delilah
random ~
wow beautiful pics. xanga friendships forevah!!
Yay, you’re back! How was your vacation? Looks like you guys had a ton of fun. Thailand and HK look so amazing and omg the food pix!! YUmmm!! I’d love to visit those places some day, especially HK. Glad you’re back, Bella must have missed her mommy.
nothing interesting to update! haha… Married life …. is now…. routined… work, eat, sleep. haha
I wanna go on a trip.. =( your pix are incredible… =)
your trip looks amazing! I will definitely review the iphone when I get it!
AWESOME POSSUM!!! LOVE THE PIX! great that you found a new friend in linnet and so happy you had a fun time in hk! our friends live there too but instead of showing me around for my 1st trip to hk, she went to bible study every day instead. hello! whatever. i’m so glad you had a great time!
i think you two are such a cute couple! 
oh also forgot to tell you that she hadn’t seen me since i was in the hospital in tokyo!!!! she came and visited me there… that’s how she treated me on my first trip to hk! hello! wonder what she would’ve done if i had died. still gone to bible study. hahahhaa
of course she’d go to bible study!!! better to be a hypocrite, right? sigh. oh yea, also of course i don’t have any hard feelings about this!!! 
wow ive never rode on an elephant before. the dog is so big compared to you! looks like such a wonderful trip you had.
Thanks for sharing your Asia pictures! I went to Thailand and HK last summer and loved both countries! And Bella is so darn photogenic!
What a cutie!