and there are things that stay with you for a lifetime

An old time friend Matt and his lovely wife, Ads - have taken a year off to be in Chiang Mai. Helping out in an amazing centre call Gateway - and from the moment i heard of it, there was a nudge and curiosity that couldn't be ignored.

So after the many invaluable passing of information; the date to visit them was set in early June.

Just before i left, the card from my pastor & his wife read 'Be open to what God is teaching you..' and that particular sentence was just amplified the whole time i was there.

The trip this time was more than just being a tourist. I felt that whatever that will come out from this experience was something i needed to know, to hear or to feel.

And know, hear and feel i did.

So, here's the people i met, some of the places i went that challenged, inspired and change a little bit of me somehow.

BEFORE it all begin. the local departure entourage :)

the men of the family

the little sis



and the first place i went to besides the airport in the city of Chiang Mai..

arrived on Sunday and straight-away sat in for church.

chart, som and ads


the sisters; nit and chart..


the walking street

after weds Bible study..the interns and may and jyap

the lovely kook

tay who dreams of being a chinese teacher & seems to be destined for it as her name could already double for a chinese surname :)

the tenacious and unwavering renu

the ever-entertaining co-founder of Gateway, Meiy.

Chris who's the other co-founder; the amazing food connoisseur and an all rounder go-to person on anything Thai. getting to know her and her heartbeat for God and Thailand was everything i needed to hear and much, much more and as much as she has inspired me, kinda just realised i have no photo of her at all. ah well! next time ;)



my constant companion, noot

the girls

the mirians ;)


Mr & mrs Gab Tsen

the chinese village visit with fam, another staff of gateway

the girls riding brilliantly at the back of the 4WD









AND on the day i left..

was glad that the girls could come to the airport to drop me off. it was just before dropping them in school, which explains the uniform






and last but not least...the power couple and the amazing host and hostesses who totally went all the way to make this trip happen for me..

Matt and Adelene, with both whom i am utterly grateful







and i found the perfect spot for coffee lovers right here on the hilly grounds of Pai ;)


AND in case you haven't got it already....i am soooooo glad i went!