The Life of Sophia Ysabel

Stationary in a Bangkok street It wasn't the first time I'd visited Bangkok. Since it was populated with visitors from all around the world, I was mentally prepared with the fact that it was going to be crazy in traffic. I'd been through all of that before in the very same place. But when the taxi driver steered the wheel, it put us into a very difficult position.  We were in a messy traffic jam. And being in the traffic jam made me realise something. I wasn't actually mentally prepared for this at all. The condition of the traffic jam I'd seen in front of my very eyes were far more worser than the traffic jam I'd vividly imagined in my head. Outside of the vehicle were motorcycles revving, and cars bleeping their horns nonstop. All of these noises were muffled, and strangely, I felt safe in the car from all the hecticness outside that was starting to brew. As if a miracle, the vehicle was slowly moving forward... And that meant we were getting closer to meeting...

The *overpriced* car ride... The car ride to the golf resort had been a hazy memory. For the whole journey , I rested my head on Ninang's shoulder, eyes narrowed from being engulfed in darkness with only the lights of passing cars and streetlights guiding the taxi driver's sight. It wasn't until then that when the driver helpfully loaded our luggage onto the concrete, I realised this wasn't no ordinary golf resort I'd pictured in my head. Eastin Thana Golf resort was far more larger, spread out, and oddly comforting and inviting rather than the intimidating Nina Hotel accommodation I'd stayed in at Hongkong.  I bit back a groan as I dragged myself to the hotel, Mum and Ninang checking us in. I maintained a facade that shown that my bones aren't gonna snap in half if I take another flight again, when really, the case was otherwise.  I don't even know if I'm gonna make it to the hotel room at this point. And where do I go??  As if heaven-sent and the c...

~ DAY 3 ~ January 5th, 2025 >  GINGER FARM kitchen at ONENIMMAN Chiangmai It took me a moment before realising that the ginger farm Ninang was mentioning was not in fact all about ginger. At a glance, if you see the words "ginger farm" at a location, your initial thought process would have been ginger farm = a farm that's thriving with ginger plants. But that wasn't the case. We stepped into the entrance, and by doing so, that also meant stepping into a restaurant. It was an open space area, spaced out with woven chairs and wooden tables, which held the ONE NIMMAN restaurant. This ginger farm is not just ginger. There's a restaurant and even animals! I phrased these words in irritation, almost as if I was angry to myself. What was I thinking... thinking it was just a ginger farm...  " Ah- Hallo! Have you guys... made a reservation for today?" A lady with a heavily-thick Thai accent gestured over to us, her grin soft and gentle. I stared at Ninang, Mum...