I’ve been home for two and a half weeks, and it already feels like my trip to Southeast Asia was some kind of dream that happened ages ago. This month has just flown by, what with travel and then recovering from travel, with catching up on all the one million things that I was behind on because of travel, and with running errands and going to appointments and all the little things that add up to make a life.
February is a short month, that’s true, but still I can hardly believe it’s time for Favourite Things already!
Nicole’s Favourite Things: The Southeast Asia Adventure Edition
ELEPHANTS
Right out of the gate, I’m going to talk about elephants. Being around those magnificent creatures was the highlight of the trip – maybe even of my life – to the point that I can barely remember the rest of the tour. I have to go back and look at photos to remind myself that yes, there were MANY other incredible experiences. But elephants!
Such intelligent, beautiful animals. I love them, and it was such an incredible gift to be able to be so close to them and to see their personalities. The young male was particularly funny; he kept shoving greenery and bunches of bananas underneath his tusks, stealthily removing them to eat later. While we were in the pond bathing them, the male’s caretaker said something to him, at which point the elephant lowered his trunk into the water, raised it slowly, and sprayed us. I got sprayed! By an elephant! I did not even know that was on my list of things I wanted to happen in my life, but it was.
Silk and Silver
Cambodia is renowned for silver and for silk, and I love both of those things. We visited a silk farm and watched women weave; it was fascinating and intricate work, and the amount of labour that goes into a single scarf is astounding. I felt a strong sense of duty to support the local economy!
I have loved silver jewelry since I was a young teen, and when we visited a women-run family silversmith business, I had a hard time not buying everything I saw. After all, there’s always room in the carryon for necklaces.
I also fell in love with this little Buddha, who serenely sits on a windowsill.
Watch Out!
On our last day in Cambodia, my beloved Garmin watch died. It just completely and suddenly died, and I was bereft. And then I was bereft that I was bereft, because what kind of spoiled and terrible person is upset about a watch in a country where people are worried about things like land mines and poverty and lack of education.
And yet.
When it died, I realized that I check my watch many, many times an hour. Every time I reflexively looked at my naked wrist I felt sad anew, and then I felt sad for being sad, the snake is eating its tail. The day after the premature Garmin death, we flew to Bangkok, and as it turns out you can buy literally anything in Bangkok. If you can’t, it’s because it doesn’t exist. This is particularly true for technology, and so my husband and I headed for Siam Square mall on our free evening, where I found a Garmin and my husband found a sun hat and mango sticky rice.
This new updated watch is very fun as it gives me all sorts of cheerful encouragement throughout the day. Also I like to say, casually, I bought it in Bangkok. Just going to the mall in Bangkok felt like an adventure; we took tuk-tuks there and back and I did have a thought, as we zipped in and out of relentless traffic, breathing in fumes with the wind in our faces, what if we get in an accident? Well, if we did, I would not be here to tell the tale. Fortunately we did not, and we were able to witness the absolute chaos of one of the biggest malls in Bangkok on a Saturday night. So many teenagers! So many insanely loud people with microphones doing demonstrations of things I didn’t understand! So many interesting outfits! So many girls dressed like anime characters!
Mangoes and Pineapples
Speaking of mango sticky rice! I have never liked mangoes, but I now realize that is because I have always had Canadian imported mangoes, not fresh ripe ones. I could not get enough of fresh Thai mangoes, or of pineapple.
We visited a pineapple farm where I learned how they are grown. When I expressed astonishment, one of my new tour group friends said What, did you think they grew on a tree? and I guess I DID think that. More accurately, I have never once thought about it, which seems strange but is true. Anyway, a single pineapple takes one and a half years to grow, and each plant can grow up to three pineapples in its life. One and a half years! I am in awe of this spiky, crowned crop.
Shine On
Months ago my friend Suzanne (HI SUZANNE) recommended Neutrogena’s Invisible Daily Face Serum with SPF 50 and since I am a huge fan both of Suzanne and of Neutrogena products, I snapped one up later that same day. I will go on record to say that it is the best face sunscreen I have ever found. It’s light and not greasy, and is perfect for the kind of heat and humidity that I experienced in Asia.
I wanted to take a light foundation or BB cream as well, but all my containers felt a little big for the amount of makeup that I wanted. I want to be efficient with the amount of liquids I take in carryon luggage, and so I was intrigued by the tiny tube of Fenty Matte makeup that I saw on sale at Sephora. I think this tiny tube may see me into my grave, or, more accurately, it’s going to go bad before I use it up. It is a VERY high coverage item, so only the tiniest dab, mixed with the Neutrogena serum, is needed for a perfect, matte finish that – and I am not exaggerating here – lasts all day. Now, would I use this matte makeup at home in a dry Kelowna winter? I certainly would not. But it was perfect for the extreme humidity and heat. Even when my eye makeup melted, giving me the look of heavy eyeshadow without ever wearing eyeshadow, my skin stayed perfectly matte. THAT, my friends, is a product.
Outfit of the Month
It was handy that we went to the mall in Bangkok, because as it turned out, I had a pressing clothing need. The next day we were going to the Grand Palace, and my clothes were all, apparently, inappropriate. I had researched clothing requirements going in and I knew that my knees and shoulders needed to be covered much of the time, but what I didn’t know was that at the Grand Palace, “knees covered” only referred to skirts. Our guide told me that my capri-length pants were forbidden, and to just wear long pants. Friends, I did not have any long pants, and when I said this, three women in our group said, incredulously and almost in chorus, Nicole, you don’t have PANTS? followed by three offers to loan me some. I would have taken them up on had I not seen this skirt at an outdoor kiosk at the mall:
I think I’m entering my long floaty skirt era. Once I got used to not stepping on it while going up the stairs, I really loved wearing it. So light! So cool! So princess-like! I wore it to the Grand Palace, with a sleeved tee from the Gap that I bought ages ago, and Skecher sandals, and then I wore it again later that night after my second shower of the day. It was extremely hot at the Grand Palace, and so my clothing was less fresh than I would have liked, but sacrifices must be made in the name of travel. An old friend of my husband’s happened to be in Bangkok for only a few days at the exact time we were there, and so we met up with him for dinner, where I nosily dug into his entire backstory. He is what I would call a free spirit, and has been travelling the world for the past forty years. He regaled me with tales from the first time he was in Thailand, thirty years ago. Malaria and amoebic dysentery featured heavily in some of the stories, and I was here for it. Amoebic dysentery! I guess I ate something I shouldn’t have he said when I asked multiple questions, which feels like an understatement of all time. None of this has anything to do with my new skirt and my new era of long floaty skirt wearing, but it was an interesting night out.
It’s a privilege to travel and a privilege to come home. I hope your month was full of Favourite Things too. Tell me everything. xo
What adventures with elephants, and pineapple plants, and a pretty new skirt. I’m sure you will remember this trip forever.
Thanks Steph, I will for sure!
Elephants are a great favorite thing! I think my favorite thing this month is my back yard–we have native plants so a lot of them are in bloom after a lot of rain, and it’s been so warm this week it’s been a delight to hang out, see lots of birds, and watch the kids play.
Oh that sounds so lovely, Sam! I love native plants, birds, and kids playing!
I love this travelogue, especially the part about the watch. That sort of Guilt is very familiar to me, and now I have a name for it–the snake eating his tail. Thanks!
Nance, thank you. You understand! But it’s like the saying that a paper cut is not a broken leg, but both can hurt. We can be sad about things!
THE GARMIN!!
Like you, I would have sprinted straight to Siam Square and bought one on the spot. No hesitation. You basically don’t exist without a Garmin strapped on. What model did you end up getting?
The other day, when Elisabeth asked what we’d replace immediately if it broke, I saw that you mentioned your Garmin in the comments. I had an instant “HOW could I forget that?!” moment (I only thought of my kettle for some reason…)
Catrina, I FEEL SEEN. I kept thinking “what time is it what is my heart rate where am I” HOW DO WE EXIST WITHOUT THEM?
I got a Vivoactive 6 (I think it’s a 6!) I LOVE it!
I wouldn’t have pants, either. It’s a thing. Floaty skirts forever!
Have I ever talked about how I don’t wear a watch? I wore a watch like a normal person in high school, but in college I had so much time anxiety (am I late? am I too early?) that a therapist told me to take it off. And I did and I’ve never worn one since. This actually really works for me because now I have a whole extra wrist for bracelets.
It was 35 degrees! All my pants were capris! Why would I have packed long pants for such consistently hot weather? And yet everyone was shocked. Well, now I have a nice long skirt so I guess it all worked out.
I remember you saying you don’t wear a watch! I think that’s great! Whatever works, right?
You certainly have a lot to digest and settle back from! I need to appreciate pineapple more knowing they take that long to grow. Crazy..
Same, Judy! I appreciate them even more now!
I feel like nothing in your life or in the lives of anyone reading this will be better than the time spent with the elephants!
RIP Garmin! How long had you had it? I feel like they last forever, but I know what it’s like to lose one. You’re never going to get tired of the “I got this in Thailand” reminder every time that you look at your wrist.
Fav thing in February? It was a busy month! I had a week of travel, a week without my hearing, a week of fake spring, and a normal week.
Birchie, I think I had that Garmin…well, it wasn’t really that old. Maybe 2022? I am pretty sure I was still in Calgary. I guess I do put it through its paces but STILL. Well, this one is very fun and has a lot of features the other one didn’t.
Can I just say that reading your posts is such a sheer delight. All of it. The stories, the details, THE PICTURES OF ELEPHANTS. I mean, how could anything beat that??
I’m so impressed you were able to buy a Garmin in Bangkok. I mean… it makes sense you could, but also for some reason seems tremendously exotic to do so in such a unique location.
Hmm. My favourite thing in February? Probably my “golden day” when everything worked so seamlessly in my life, I had some tremendous downhill skiing… I would like to go back and relive that day this very second because it was PERFECTION!
Oh Elisabeth, that sounds absolutely wonderful!
There are so many tech shops in Bangkok, I think you can buy literally anything there! It’s really a fascinating city!
Did you ever read the novel The White Bone by Barbara Gowdy? It’s narrated by an elephant. It’s fascinating but also heartbreaking. When I was in my early 30s, we swam with dolphins and I count that as one of the best moments in my life. I know conservationists look down on doing things like that but getting up close with another species just pulls at my heart. A whale watching experience in the Salish Sea, where a mother and baby played beside our boat was also awe inducing. You truly feel the interconnection of nature & your part in it.
I did not read that but you can bet it’s going on the list RIGHT THIS SECOND.
Oh jeez I just read the synopsis. Okay, that’s going on my “for later” list! I don’t think I have it in me right now but maybe later!
I have also whale watched and it really is an incredible experience! Some things you remember forever.
How wonderful that you got to spend time with and get sprayed by elephants! I didn’t realize that it takes so long to grow a pineapple, and now I feel like I haven’t fully appreciated how delicious they are. The best pineapple I ever had was in Hawaii. It’s so cool that your Garmin will always remind you of your trip. I love your silk scarf, your silver necklace, and your floaty skirt. I want to be in a floaty skirt era too! Sadly, they’re just not practical where I live.
Michelle, that was my feeling exactly, like I hadn’t appreciated pineapple enough! One and a half years! Holy moley one must be patient to be a pineapple farmer. I am not sure WHEN I will be wearing my floaty skirts, its not like I can wear them gardening or…with Rex, but we will see! I’m sure the opportunity will present itself.
The silver necklace is gorgeous, as is your new skirt. I would have felt naked without my watch, too. That’s awesome that you were able to buy a new one in Bangkok, of all places! I understand about your love for elephants, as I would have felt the same if it had been penguins. Hugging a penguin is on my bucket list!
I have seen pineapples growing in Florida and Maui, but I have no clue how a mango grows. Is it on a tree? I have never met one I didn’t like, but I’m guessing the Thai mangoes were fabulous. Did you even need to peel them?
Bijoux, I did not know you love penguins so much! They are really miraculous creatures, and they have such interesting little lives. I have loved every penguin documentary I’ve ever seen (except the being eaten by a seal part, but I guess seals have to eat too, circle of life, etc.)
Mangoes do grow on trees! All the mangoes I had were peeled by someone else – they were so juicy and delicious!
This whole trip sounds just so amazing!! I need…. more! More pictures, more stories. Please share even more?! Pretty please, with a mango on top? 😉
Oooh Kae, ICYMI https://girlinaboyhouse.com/2026/02/my-southeast-asia-adventure/ – photos and details!!! I will probably have more stories to come though! Travel always yields some funny anecdotes!
omg how did I miss that post??! I typically read your posts in my email and I must have lost it in a mess of unread emails or accidentally deleted it! Yay!! Going to read that…
Wearable souvenirs that contribute to local artisans – so much win. I am really interested in the sunscreen and cover-up that work in heat and humidity (another thing I will buy and never put on my face lol). Who in heck would pack long pants for Southeast Asia?
Well, that was my question too! Why would I ever have thought of long pants?
In the heat and humidity, I totally get why you did not pack long pants, although I would not pack capris either—if shorts are not appropriate, it’s always skirts or dresses for me in the heat. They are so much cooler. We got up close to some elephants in Africa (like yours, they were rescued ones) and totally agree with you. They are amazing. I love mangoes, but I only eat them in the summer when they are in season.
Melissa, I don’t have shorts so it was either capris or skorts, and all my skorts are quite short. BUT NOW I am all about the long floaty skirt. I had no idea how cool they are!
Mangoes! Elephants! My favorites! What an adventure all around, Nicole. I love hearing more stories from your trip.
Thanks so much Maya! xo
I’ve never had any kind of smart watch. Well, I had a Fitbit for a bit, a gift from my company. I hated it. I wore it for a week, and then gave it to my husband, who loved it. I do not want to know anything it can tell me, though I do kind of miss wearing an analog watch. But mine broke years ago and haven’t replaced it and now I have a phone that can tell me what time it is.
However, I’m glad you got your new watch and you are loving it. And yeah, I get feeling weird about wanting something so desperately when there are people in real need. And! I’m glad your bought the pretty skirt. I love my sweaters and scarfs that I got in Paris, I love thinking, ‘This is my scarf that I got in Paris! This is my blouse that I got in Grasse!’
I love that too, J! It just makes the item so much more special because it has all the travel memories attached to it!
It turns out that I don’t like taking my phone out to look at the time! I guess because I’m so used to looking at my wrist.
yes, mango at tropical countries is so different from other places. We have so much mango, from trees, that we frozen bags of them during season for smoothies. If we ever move to a non-tropical country, fruits is what I’d miss the most.
love your skirt! soooo pretty! I never wear long skirt as I’m not tall (5’4) but maybe one day I’ll embrace it too.
Coco, the fruit in tropical countries are just so good! I’m envious of your tree-ripened mangoes!
Wow Nicole- these are some amazing things! The other night on TV these was a commercial for a wildlife rescue and they were showing BABY ELEPHANTS!!! Omg. Did you get to see any babies? I think that would make my life complete.
I love the necklace!!! My daughter is a huge fan of silver jewelry (she hates gold) so she would love this.
I love the skirt, and of course the watch. Yes, it’s fun to be able to casually mention that you got these things in Bangkok!
Jenny, I did see a baby! I’ll post a photo soon. The baby and mother are not allowed to be near guests of the rescue, lest the baby catch something from the people. When the baby is three, it will have the proper immunity to be able to be around people who are not their caretakers. So after the guests leave in the late morning, the baby and mom go with the rest of the herd to feed. But we were allowed to look at them from a distance and omg, the cutest ever.
The elephants would have been the highlight of my trip, too! They are such gorgeous, intelligent animals! I love that you got sprayed by one!
Your flowy skirt looks beautiful! And I am glad you could easily replace your Garmin. I would feel sort of naked without my apple watch and oura ring. They are just part of my body now in an odd way?
I’m so glad you had such an amazing trip! I look forward to some epic travel way down the road when our kids are grown!
Lisa, I totally felt naked. It was such a weird feeling!
You will have so many great trips when you’re in this era – I just know it!
Honestly feeling like I must go on a trip where I can see elephants. All of your favourite things look like things I need. Strangely, my daughter’s Garmin has also just stopped working for no reason as well?? Also, love the skirt!
Anna, how strange about your daughter’s Garmin – maybe it is a conspiracy???
I think you would love this trip so much!
What an adventure! I love elephants; they are so cool. I have been lucky in my life to have seen them several times. When I was a kid, my parents had a resort with cabins and camping etc. and once guy with an elephant stayed the night! He took the elephant out for a walk, and I thought it was the coolest thing! When I was in Africa, we drove around an park, and the elephants would walk right next to our car and they were HUGE. K and I are taking the girls to go to an elephant sanctuary when they come to see me in Thailand, and I know they are going to love it as much as you did!
I am…what. A guy with an elephant stayed the night? How did…what did…my mind is full of logistical questions! How…why…what…
What is wrong with me? I read this last line so wrong: I hope your month was full of Favourite Things too.
I thought month was MOUTH.
Was my mouth full of favorite things? I really had to think about that!
I love the skirt—so flowy and cool, and who doesn’t love a little impromptu shopping excursion while in a foreign country?
I think I would have died to spend that much time up close and personal with an elephant or forty. Sprayed by an elephant is one of those otherworldly things we don’t ever think would happen, but damn, that would be amazing.
Fresh mango is the best—mango salsa is one of my favorite things to put in my mouth.
Your silver pieces are gorgeous; that necklace: SWOON!
LOLOLOL MOUTH
I mean, that could be taken any way at all but of course my mind went straight to the gutter.
Mango salsa! Yum. I bet you get great mangoes in Florida!
I loved reading all of this! You are glowing, my friend. I cannot imagine how fresh and tasty that pineapple was. I don’t like mangoes either! I bet I would love fresh mangoes…
I’m like Engie—I wore watches in the 80s and 90s, and now, no longer. I used to love my watches, so I understand you missing yours.
Kari, fresh juicy mango was SO different from what I’m going to call “Canadian mango.” Picked ripe – it’s a totally different experience!
THE ELEPHANTS. I can’t believe you got to do that! What an insanely cool experience. You exude JOY in every photo, but most especially in the photo with the elephants.
I’m so glad you could replace your watch right away! And now you have a cool story to go along with it.
Pineapple is one of my favorite fruits! It’s so sweet and delicious here.
I can’t believe I got to do it either! It was truly an unforgettable experience.
Florida has such great fruit! Here in Kelowna, summer/ fall is great for fruit, but when I was in Calgary, there was no such thing as local fruit. It’s hard to get a fresh delicious pineapple.
I love love love mixing a tiny bit of tinted makeup or tinted moisturizer into a moisturizer or serum– genius. How fun to go the mall in Bangkok! My dad used to tell some harrowing dysentery stories from Vietnam…
Sarah, was your dad stationed there? I am sure there are LOTS of stories!
Makeup with moisturizer is such a good hack!
Oh, Nicole. I have been so busy this month, but pictures from your trip reminded me of MY trip to Southeast Asia, baaaaaack in the day- 2011. I went with a guided tour and the trip was called “Ancient Kingdoms” We visited Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. It was wonderful but so bloody hot. I will never forget Ankor Wat at sunset.
Oh, that would have been lovely – we saw it early in the day and it was lovely then! I would like to go to Laos one day.
Oh, my goodness, what a lovely, lovely post, Nicole. Like I’ve said before, I appreciate you “taking us” with you on your travels. Your sense of awe and wonder just flies off the (virtual) page.
Thanks Anne!