FAMILY BOAT RIDE OUT OF A PRIVATE BEACH
FINDING JOY IN FEEDING THE ELEPHANT AT THE SANCTUARY
THE LUXURIOUS BELMOND NAPASAI IN KOH SAMUI
As I let go of my own lantern, I silently vowed to create more family moments like these. to my husband, listening to the chatter of the kids, and just feeling free and present. It may have been the greatest gift of all. On our last night in Koh Samui, my family surprised me with a birthday feast prepared by the resort’s chef and served in our own private dining room. Platters of spring rolls, curries and stir fries were passed around. The lavish dinner was topped off with a smorgasbord of coconut-infused sweets. Everything was fresh and popping with flavour. What a very special evening it was – one filled with great conversation, laughter and gratitude. When we returned to Chiang Mai, the staff of Le Méridien welcomed us back as family. We wandered around the city, stopping for amazing foot massages you can find on almost every corner. We gorged ourselves on delicious street food, including pad thai and deep-fried bananas, and sat down for an afternoon snack of mango sticky rice
© BELMOND
© LOIS ALTER MARK
STREET FOOD IN CHIANG MAI
– my husband’s new obsession. We bought local artwork at the night market and got to fulfill another of my bucket list items – ushering in the new year at the Lantern Festival, where teamwork was the key to sending our paper lanterns into the sky without setting them on fire. We talked about our hopes for the year ahead and, as I let go of my own lantern, I silently vowed to create more family moments like these. After the kids left on New Year’s Day, Michael and I spent a night at Four Seasons Chiang Mai in one of the private residences. In a perfect world, this is where we’d live. It felt lush and spiritual – the perfect spot to decompress. We relived our trip, marvelling at the fact that no one had argued or complained. Although we had gotten to experience many big moments, we realized the real highlights were the small ones – watching the kids and their partners all bond together and seeing everyone gain selfconfidence as we stepped outside our comfort zones. Travelling to new places and trying new things cemented our connections in deep, intimate ways and gave us memories that, like the elephants, we’ll never forget. We all agree we don’t want our Thailand trip to be literally a once-in-a-lifetime trip. We want to make it a regular occurrence. I can’t wait for our next adventure together. Vacations® • Spring 2022 • 35
