The day began in the quiet pre-dawn hours of Phuket, as we packed up our memories along with our suitcases at the Hyatt in Phuket. By 5:30a, the girls were up, and our little adventure to the airport began with a tuk-tuk ride to the lobby. The roads were quiet, a stark contrast to the bustling day that awaited us.
Upon reaching the airport, we had a brief wait before check-in, but soon found ourselves in the familiar comfort of the lounge, enjoying a breakfast that mirrored our family’s diverse tastes.
The flight to Chiang Mai was uneventful, but the real adventure began upon landing. A short drive brought us to our Airbnb, only to be met with a 90-minute wait. It was a test of patience, but also a reminder that travel often comes with unexpected pauses. We sat outside waiting for the host to respond, for AirBnB support to respond, but nothing. After 45 minutes we decided to move to a nearby cafe and wait there. Mosquitos biting us, hunger, and tiredness got to us. But we held strong and didn’t explode.
During that downtime, I was able to find information about a local flower festival at P.A.O. Park. We debated if we should go and venture out. However, it was the last day of the festival and decided to rest for a few hours before venturing out.
I am glad we did. Unlike the usual tourist spots, this festival was a true celebration for the locals, filled with mesmerizing light displays and vibrant flowers. It was free, and the absence of tourists made it feel like we were part of a local secret. An event like this in my local San Diego would have been easily a $200 experience. I find that countries that spend money on recreational experiences and infrastructure have happier people. I have a post about Thai people brewing in my head that I’ll write about later.
As we wandered through the bustling fair, the sheer noise and energy were overwhelming but also exhilarating. We were guided by kind locals to the main festival area, where the beauty of the light displays and flower arrangements took our breath away.
Unfortunately Happy L did not feel well. Of course as a parent you think of everything, is she sick, traveler’s belly, or some incoming illness. Luckily she held through and it turned out she was just tired. =)
As the night continued, Happy A’s hunger reminded us of the day’s fatigue. As we walked through the food area of the fair, with food signs in Thai all over, and delicious smells, we opted for the typical and the delicious Pad Thai and mango sticky rice providing a comforting pause.
We ended the evening with a spectacular fountain and fireworks show, a beautiful surprise that made the entire day worth it. Walking back, we felt grateful for the chance to experience such a unique, local celebration. And grateful that we said yes to the experience rather than staying back at the apartment to rest. [but let’s not kid ourselves, sometimes it is better to rest].
