After three nights in Vientiane, we took the overnight train to Bangkok. We enjoyed the heat, the chaos, the traffic, the pollution but also all the amazing food! It was so hot that we opted to spend most of the time indoors. We went to the malls. We watched a film. We sat at cafes. We ate a lot and shopped a bit. But we did go to Song Wat and Lumpini Park under the blazing sun!
For our last night in Bangkok, we moved to a nice airport hotel for our early flight back to Helsinki the next day while Daniel headed to Osaka on a midnight flight. Our last dinner together at the hotel was perfect so I’m really going to miss all the great food in Bangkok and especially the fruits. At this point, I’m not sure if I will be able to return to Phnom Penh and Vientiane in the near future. But I’ll be back in Bangkok for sure for the food! It was a perfect family holiday. And I’m happy that we did it. Thank you, Phnom Penh, Vientiane and Bangkok!
You can find the Phnom Penh, Vientiane and Bangkok journal here on Instagram.
After three nights in Phnom Penh, we flew back to Bangkok and took the overnight train to Vientiane. The train ride was smooth and easy that the next thing we knew we already arrived in Vientiane!
Spending time in Vientiane was what I was looking forward to the most in this trip. I’ve been back to Phnom Penh and Bangkok many times for work after we settled in Helsinki in 2015. But I’ve never been back to Vientiane. And I love Vientiane and really enjoyed living here. So it was a wonderful time to be here after 11 years. We also stayed at a fancy hotel. It was well located, clean, spacious and the breakfast was amazing. I would say it was the best breakfast I ever had at a hotel and guess how many hotels have I been!
The first evening was spent walking by the riverfront and just trying to capture the many changes that happened in this city since the last time we were here. There were more traffic, tall buildings and lots of activities by the riverfront. And they actually built an amusement park which took away the serenity that I used to experience while watching the sunset here in the past…
The next day we visited Pha That Luang and a bit of souvenir shopping before walking towards the house we used to live. The house remained the same with the bamboos and coconut tree that Ari planted growing well. It was also lovely to see our landlord still strong and healthy, like the time stood still. We reminisced the past together and they said they always remember us every time they look at the coconut tree!
For dinner, we went to the restaurant where we frequent while living in Vientiane. Did their food change or was it my tastebuds? Because somehow, I really can’t imaging myself enjoying their food in the past!
The next day, we revisited MAG Laos and COPE to be reminded of the past and all the suffering this country underwent. We also visited the old market and the new mall. And on the way back to our hotel, we saw this beautiful, old, very rugged cafe. Vientiane has changed a lot but its charm remained the same.
For the evening, Ari and I went to watch the sunset while the boys met up with their friends. We found a beautiful and peaceful place and I was happy!
The next morning after another delicious breakfast, we slowly packed our bags and checked out of the hotel. We were trying to avoid the heat so we stayed at the lobby and at a cafe to wait for our overnight train. So after three nights, we headed back to Bangkok for the last leg of our trip.
June came and it was the time for our family holiday. Last year, we spent 10 days on a camper van and drove from Helsinki all the way to Senja in Norway. This year, we decided to go even further. To Asia to be exact to visit Phnom Penh, Vientiane and Bangkok. It was in December when we started reminiscing about our time living in Asia. Little did we know that in a couple of months we will go ahead and buy flight tickets. It took almost 12 hours to reach Bangkok from Helsinki. We arrived before 6:00 in the morning and it was a joy to be back in Bangkok as a family after 11 years. The airport was just the same with no significant changes. We sat around for almost 8 hours waiting for our flight to Phnom Penh. We went to the food court and enjoyed some Thai food and before we knew it, it was time to board the plane.
We arrived in Phnom Penh and the airport was not the same airport where we first landed in September 2001. We recalled how small, dark, chaotic and underdeveloped the airport was back then. Now, it was new and huge with so much unoccupied space. We knew there and then that Phnom Penh was not anymore the same Phnom Penh that we left in December 2009.
The hotel van was waiting for us and it took a few minutes to walk to the parking lot. It was so hot that we can’t wait to get to the van for the aircon. The ride was a bit long on a good road, passing by empty lands, lots of construction and unfinished buildings. Somehow, I didn’t know where we were exactly and everything seems very unfamiliar. It was only when we reached the riverfront that I understood our location. The hotel where we stayed was familiar to us but somehow, the place became outdated and in need of renovation. The view from the hotel was amazing though. And as we walked by the riverside that evening, the Phnom Penh we knew started coming back. We walked as far as we could then continued until we reached the Independence Monument. The traffic was horrible and it was impossible to cross the streets without the thought of getting hit! Fortunately, we arrived safely back at the hotel with the help of a tuk-tuk.
The next day we decided to visit the markets. First stop was Lucky Market where we used to buy all our groceries. But the once very busy street was now quiet and Lucky Market has become a bit fancy with products coming from Japan and South Korea. There was really no one shopping there but at least, they still sell the roasted chicken!
Psar Thmey was the next stop. It was surprisingly cool inside and quite clean and orderly. The boys were so happy to find the classic Same Same But Different t-shirts.
Then we went to Sorya and found that the once busy mall was quite empty. Many shops were closed. We recalled how lively this mall was and those times when people were learning to take the escalators and elevators. We ended the day on a revolving rooftop bar to see the ever-changing Phnom Penh. We also celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary!
The next day, we went to Toul Tompong Market. I found the market not as busy as before.
Then we headed to Wat Phnom. The boys used to enjoy watching the monkeys here but now, no more monkeys can be found. The locals told me that they were taken somewhere as they became a nuisance, fighting with each other and attacking people.
Then it was the last mission for this trip and that was to check out all the old places where we lived in Phnom Penh. One turned into a physiotherapy clinic of some sort. The second house was totally demolished and instead a tall strange wall has been built and the last one remained the same but now surrounded by tall apartments.
We ended the day with beautiful fireworks to celebrate the 91st birthday of the Queen Mother of Cambodia!
After three nights in Phnom Penh, we flew back to Bangkok to take the overnight train to Vientiane…
It was the year 2021. During my birthday, I wrote six birthday wishes, including visiting Paris in April. Five years had passed before it happened and just because my family in Canada invited me to meet up in Paris. That was the last unfulfilled wish!
It was such a lovely meet up. They were coming from Vancouver arriving at Terminal 2C. I was coming from Helsinki arriving at Terminal 2F. We were coming from the opposite directions. So how convenient it was to meet in the middle of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport!
It was my fourth time in Paris but it felt like my first time. I experienced Paris in a different way. We took the bus tour and the cruise tour, both I haven’t tried before. And somehow, these experiences made me realised the distances between these attractions. It was also fun to see them from on top of the bus and from the Seine river. The weather was perfect during our short visit. Spring in Paris was so beautiful with mild temperature, blue skies and nature beginning to bloom.
We also visited Montmartre. The last time I was here was in 2021. I still remember climbing the narrow staircase of 280 steps of Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre to reach the dome. The market square occupied by artists before has now been transformed into restaurants. The artists were now pushed to the sides of these restaurants which was sad to see. And in general, Paris was so much more crowded than how it was.
But Paris is Paris and Paris is always a good idea especially when it’s April in Paris. I must say, I will return someday!
You can find my Paris Travel Journal on Instagram here.
We were back in Seoul for the sole purpose of eating Bibimbap and to catch our flight back to Helsinki. We did eat Bibimbap for most of our meals and lots of Banana Milk too. Fun fact was, there was a stamp tour happening in Seoul. So I was able to get stamps for my journal. That was something new for me after being back and I got a souvenir for completing the stamp tour too. So fun! The Mobile Tourist Information Staff were really friendly as they stamp their way to my journal. And the stamps are so pretty!
But the main thing for me in Seoul was to really enjoy the traditional tea houses. I love these tea houses. I love the old traditional atmosphere and the ambience of older people chatting away. There was beauty in them. We also planned to walk the 10 km stretch of the Cheonggyecheon Stream. We did half way and decided that we already did a lot of walking during our two weeks holiday. This time we also stayed at Jongno 3 that was close to both Insadong and Ikseondong Hanok Village. The location was so convenient that even Myeongdong was reacheable by foot. Jongno 3 was also a good place to watch the daily lives of the locals. Streets were filled with food tents and stalls. Many elderly people passing by. Some were drank. Some were sober. People drinking coffee. Some old people pulling their carts full of cardboard boxes, just like from the K-dramas where the heroes help to push. People just going about their day. Just the ordinary everyday life that I enjoyed watching.
Although I’m not a fan of palaces, we visited two this time. First was the Deoksugung Palace as recommended by the Tourist Information Staff because of the Cherry Blossoms there. And since we were in that area already, we decided to also visit the Gyengbokgung Palace to experience seeing lots of tourists wearing the traditional Hanbok. It was fun! But the sun was also blazing hot. I was totally unprepared for it as I walked under the heat of the bright sun. And did you know that under Gwanghwamun Square is a large underground area? I didn’t know that! So that was interesting to explore.
It was hard to say goodbye to Seoul as I bear the thought of not coming back. But let’s see. Let’s see…
We flew to Osaka from Kagoshima because we were picking up a bass guitar. That was all to it. I don’t really like Osaka and its crowds of tourists. And I definitely wanted to go back to Kumamoto once we landed in Itami Airport. But Osaka grew on me. With its chaotic and noisy streets, I found that the city was not anymore as loud as the first time I was there in 2024. I learned to go with it and found different escape routes. However, no matter how much we avoided it, we always end up in Dotonbori! I guess we just had to pass through it to reach our accommodation. But luckily, our hotel was tucked away behind Dotonburi in a quiet residential neighbourhood.
The first escape was a lovely breakfast place down the road. It was run by an older Japanese couple and it had such a retro vibe to it. It was nice and peaceful. And since, we were already in Osaka and it was the Cherry Blossom season, we also planned a day trip to Mt Yoshino in Nara and that was a perfect plan. We took the Limited Express Sakura Liner train from Abenobashi station to Yoshino and the adventure began! We climbed the mountain and saw the most beautiful thing. Waves and waves of different shades of pink and purple covered the mountain. I can’t believe my eyes. It was so beautiful and was surely worth every climb. We also got to taste different food and snacks along the way. It was tiring yet it was so fun!
Another escape was going to Sakai to get some kitchen knives. It was a beautiful and peaceful part of Osaka that visitors should not missed. The river was lined with Cherry Blossoms and pink Camellias. And of course, there was shopping, eating and more rummaging of old vinyl records at Shinsaibashi… Osaka was fun after all!
After 4 nights in Osaka, it was time to fly back to Seoul…
The weather forecast for our three nights in Kagoshima was rainy. There was a light rain when we arrived. But we still took the ferry to Sakurajima the next day. Sakurajima is the most active volcano in Japan and it erupts on a daily basis. Therefore Kagoshima is such a unique place where an active volcano and a city coexist. It was cloudy but we did see Sakurajima up close at Yunohira Observatory which is the closest public point to the volcano. I guess what I didn’t like about this trip was the number of tourists. The Sakurajima Island View bus was so crowded that it was so uncomfortable. But the island was full of Camellias and Cherry Blossoms which was lovely.
However, when we left Sakurajima, the sun began shining. So we had a lovely time at Sengan-en Garden. It’s one of the most beautiful gardens I’ve ever been with Sakurajima in the background. There were lots of Cherry Blossoms and different kinds of flowers. It was just so pretty! We had Shirokuma, a kakigori with a bear face at the cafe and joined a stamp rally too. It was such a fun day!
But the highlight of the trip to Kagoshima was something that I didn’t know about and didn’t plan for. At the station, I saw a poster of a koala at Hirakawa Zoological Park. I didn’t know there was a zoo and I didn’t know that there are koalas. I always thought that I can only see koalas in Australia. But Hirakawa Zoo is one of the first zoos in Japan to breed koalas so I met around 20 of them. Even a baby one! It was my first time and suddenly, my life became complete! Although, it was raining and we missed the entrance gate resulting to a longer walk under our very wet umbrellas, we enjoyed the rainy day at the zoo. There was hardly anyone and we got to spend time with the animals by ourselves, especially the extremely cute red panda. It was the most perfect red panda I’ve ever seen!
After three nights in Kagoshima enjoying the sights, food and shopping, it was time for us to fly to Osaka…
We took the bus to Aso station and then a local bus to reach our Onsen stay for this trip. The place was not as elaborate as the one we had in Kurokawa Onsen. But the Onsen water and the dinner were so much better. And we got to pass by the cutest name of a town – Cuddly Dominion! So cuddly!
It was so nice to be in a small Onsen town surrounded with many beautiful trees and mountains. After using the private onsen, we ate dinner for almost two hours. It was served at our room and it was so delicious! All the ingredients were locally grown and very fresh. It was indeed a heartfelt cuisine! The free flowing spring water at the onsen was amazing. It felt so good to the skin compared to the other Onsens I’ve been. I was so happy that we did this trip. And we slept so well!
We woke up to a beautiful, sunny morning and went straight to the private onsen before heading to breakfast. The breakfast was so good too that after a few hours, we were still so full! We headed back to Kumamoto station and took the Shinkansen to Kagoshima. The train went so fast!
Someone was deplaned from our flight to Kumamoto! We were delayed because they needed to retrieve the luggage out of the plane. In my many years of flying, this was my first time experiencing a deplaning incident. So we arrived in Kumamoto a bit later than expected. It was already dark. But coming to Japan is always about food and the mandatory stop at a convenience store. And so, we did just that with no regrets!
The next day, we walked through the Shimotori Shopping Arcade which was very near to our hotel and had breakfast there. I’m so loving Kumamoto already and its peaceful vibe. There were very few tourists and the locals are so friendly. Kumamon too was greeting us everywhere we went. He was even on top of Sakura Machi! There were lots of Cherry Blossoms and it was just so beautiful!
Besides visiting Kumamoto Castle grounds and Sakura-No-Baba Josain, we also went to Suizenji Jojuen Garden. Suizenji Jojuen Garden is a traditional Japanese garden called a Graceful Garden of Feudal Lords. It was designated as a national scenic and historical site since 1929. It is a very beautiful garden with lots of Cherry blossoms adorning the garden. There were many activities happening too, like making traditional handicrafts.
After three nights in Kumamoto enjoying the food, sights and shopping (including rummaging through hundreds of old vinyls records), it was time to take the bus to Aso for a night at the Onsen…
The last time I left Seoul, I said I’m not coming back. But now that two years had passed, I returned. I still wanted to eat authentic and cheap Bibimbap in a simple setting and I was terribly missing the Banana Milk from the convenience store. So not coming back was not an option at all! But also, flying straight from Helsinki to anywhere in Japan during the Sakura season is so costly. It is so much less expensive to fly to Japan from Incheon. So here we were for a night in Incheon, a short train (next stop) ride away from the airport and really enjoyed it! There were already Cherry Blossoms and it really made me happy. Stepping into South Korea again made my heart full!
After checking in to the hotel, we headed out in search for Bibimbap and the simple restaurant didn’t dissapoint us. The Bibimbap was so good. Pairing it with Kimchi and Danmuji, it was amazing! Then we went to the convenience store next door for Banana Milk and thought that this one night in Incheon was a perfect decision. And not only that, we saw a Bungeoppang stall on the way back to the hotel, making the night complete!
The things I've seen. The places I've been. 