🇹🇭 Thailand

Work, Travel, and Discovery

Thailand became one of those places that entered my life through work but stayed in my memory because of the experiences around it. My first trip there brought me to Phuket, not for vacation but for a training and bootcamp on Fortinet together with one of my closest colleagues. Yet what I expected to be a technical and professional trip turned out to become much more than that. The organizers balanced learning with exploration, making the experience feel less like work and more like discovering a new place with a purpose. Looking back, it became one of the moments that made me appreciate how travel can unexpectedly happen through opportunities you never planned.

One of the highlights of that trip was staying at Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, my first time experiencing a five-star hotel. My colleague and I had separate rooms, which meant I got to enjoy something I rarely experienced during travel at that time—privacy. I still remember entering the room and feeling amazed that places like that actually existed outside movies and advertisements. I also spent time swimming in the hotel’s infinity pool, something that felt luxurious and memorable for someone who rarely stayed in premium accommodations. It was one of those moments where I quietly told myself, “I want to experience more of this in life.”

But Phuket was not just hotels and training sessions. The trip included exploration activities, and one of the most unforgettable was river rafting, which was my first experience doing something like that. It felt exciting, chaotic, and fun in a way that office work could never be. Those small adventures became some of the strongest memories of the trip rather than the actual training itself. Somehow, Thailand became the first place where work and leisure blended into a single experience.

Like most of my travels, I usually feel a quiet sadness before returning home—a kind of separation anxiety that makes endings feel heavier than they should. But this trip surprised me in an unexpected way. After arriving home and settling back into normal life, I checked my bank account and realized our annual salary bonus had already been credited. It was the first time I received that bonus since joining the company. Suddenly, Thailand became attached not only to memories and experiences but also to one of those small life milestones that make adulthood feel rewarding.

My second trip to Thailand happened years later, this time with family—my parents, siblings, my aunt, and her children. Unlike Phuket, this journey centered around Bangkok, and it felt completely different. We rented a van that took us comfortably across the city, making travel efficient and surprisingly relaxed despite Bangkok’s size. Most of our exploration revolved around temples, enormous Buddha statues, and floating markets. I remember being amazed by how deeply spirituality and urban life seemed to coexist there.

Not every memory was glamorous though. During one temple visit, I remember quietly struggling because my stomach had been upset from eating extremely spicy food the night before. Despite the discomfort, I still enjoyed the experience and laughed about it later. One of the most unforgettable moments from that trip was visiting an elephant sanctuary where I experienced riding and feeding an elephant for the first time. It felt surreal being that close to such an iconic animal. Those moments became memories I still revisit whenever I think of Thailand.

Another memory from Bangkok came unexpectedly during one of our lunch stopovers. While lining up at an eat-all-you-can buffet, I received news that my ultimate crush at that time—the person I once considered my TOTGA—was about to get married. I remember feeling a small pinch in my chest for a moment. But surprisingly, the sadness faded quickly. Life moved on, I returned to the buffet line, enjoyed the food, and continued enjoying the trip.

My third visit to Thailand happened again through work when I was assigned to attend a Gigamon Bootcamp. This journey became significant because it was my first time traveling abroad completely alone. At first, it felt intimidating, but eventually I realized how enjoyable solo travel could be. Even though I traveled independently, I still got to spend time and reconnect with fellow Filipinos attending the same training. That balance of independence and familiarity made the experience unexpectedly fulfilling.

Thailand, in my experience, remains a country of heat and humidity. I still remember my mother saying during one of our trips that she probably did not want to return because of the weather. Yet despite that, I personally found Thailand more comfortable than Metro Manila. Bangkok’s efficient MRT system and transport network made moving around easier and more pleasant for such a large city. And while Thailand impressed me in many ways, one thing I still quietly compare to home is the beaches—because for me, the beaches in the Philippines, especially places like those in my own country, remain difficult to beat.

Thailand taught me something unexpected—that not every meaningful journey begins as a vacation. Sometimes they begin as work assignments, training schedules, or ordinary opportunities that slowly become memories. Whether through river rafting in Phuket, temple visits in Bangkok, unexpected news over lunch, or navigating a foreign country alone for the first time, Thailand became more than another stamp in my passport. It became a place that reminded me that discovery often happens when you least expect it.