Although I was sad to leave Chiang Mai and my sweetheart of an elephant, Boonpuk, it was time to hit Thailand’s famous beaches. So off we went to Phuket!

* We stayed at the JW Marriott Resort, which was simply amazing! The grounds are blow-your-mind gorgeous! The resort is located right on the ocean and has three pools, several restaurants, and an amazing spa with outdoor rooms. We shared a two-bedroom unit with a kitchen, so we could cook meals at “home.”. Unfortunately, the ocean is too rough for swimming, so we spent many hours at the pool.

The resort's grounds were stunning! My feet lounging by the pool, and Keri collecting shells on the beach.

* The hotel was pretty isolated, so we took a taxi one day to Patong Beach, which is the closest one where you can swim in the ocean. The beach guys will set you up with chairs and umbrellas for about $3, and you can also rent boogie boards, windsurfing boards, etc. While I was enjoying the ocean breeze, I indulged in a 45-minute foot massage with fresh, cold aloe. It was dreamy and only $7.

The view from my chair at Patong Beach, a guy giving his dog a ride by scooter (love it!), and my cooling aloe foot massage. Aahhhhhh.

* Just by luck, we happened to go down a little street and came across an incredible ceramic shop called Siam Ceramic Handmade. It was filled with beautiful hand-painted ceramics, and I bought a few coffee mugs to bring home as souvenirs. We spent about a hour there with the family that owned it. They shared their photos and stories about the tsunami. Wow! (And not a good wow.) They lost three stores in eight minutes when the tsunami struck! The amount of destruction, death, and cleanup they endured is beyond comprehension.

The family showed us photos of the store after the tsunami. The store as it is today, and Keri, Kara, and me with the lovely family who owns the business.

* Fantasea Show—One night we went out for dinner and a show. The performance was absolutely beautiful and featured elephants, tigers, lots of dancers, incredible costumes, music, and gorgeous set design. If you want to go to a traditional Thai dinner show, this is the one! It’s great for both kids and adults!

Finally, you can take the girl away from Ped, but you can’t take Ped away from the girl:

These beautiful handmade bags, of course, caught my eye, and my sweet beach feet in my sweet Cydwoq sandals.

Tomorrow, our final destination: Bangkok!

After our lovely visit with the Chuns in Singapore, we left our gracious hosts and headed to our next destination, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Guess what, Ped fans? Ped means “diamond” in Thai!!! I love it!

The next few days were more fun than I could have imagined! Here are a few highlights (again, two asterisks indicate a must-do):

* Baan Orapin—We stayed at this wonderful bed and breakfast, which is both centrally located and well-maintained. The people there are so nice, and they serve a great breakfast out by the pool. Also the staff offered great suggestions on what to do during our visit..

The King of Thailand on a Chiang Mai billboard, and breakfast by the pool at Baan Orapin.

* Two fun restaurants: 1) The Riverside Restaurant, which is within walking distance of the B&B; and 2) the Whole Earth Restaurant, which is a tuk tuk ride away. Both have lots of choices and offer wonderful Thai and Indian dishes.

* Night Bazaar—This lively spot is also a short walk from the B&B and offers a range ofThai crafts.

* Foot Massages ($6) and Thai Massages ($14)—a MUST in Thailand! If you have never had a Thai Massage, watch out! They will stretch and move your body like it’s never been stretched and moved before!

* Sergeant Kai of Chiang Mai Tours was our guide for a day, and he turned out to be both a great guy and also a true resource for getting to know Chiang Mai.He took us to the Tiger Kingdom. I went in with the baby tigers, but the big ones were very intimidating!

Keri and I played with the tiger cubs, while Kara and Angela bravely petted the adult cats.

**Sergeant Kai then took us to the Doi Suthep Buddhist temple. A jewel on the hill, this temple is not to be missed! It’s a 45-minute drive to the top of the hill by car, and the view once there is breathtaking! Painted with 22kt gold, the temple and stupa (which holds the relics) are amazing. We arrived at sunset, just as the monks began their evening chanting. A resident monk blessed us and sent us on our way endowed with sacred bracelets and luck. The drive back offered a stunning view of the city of Chiang Mai.There were also cute dogs everywhere because the monks feed them! (Lulu and Ella were happy to hear this.)

The gold-painted Doi Suthep temple, Keri with the monk who blessed us, and the hilltop view of Chiang Mai.

**Patara Elephant Farm —This was absolutely the best day of the entire trip! Pat, the guide and owner of the farm, was extremely informative and explained the farm’s mission is to preserve and maintain a breeding program for the protected elephants. They assigned me my own elephant, Boonpuk, and I became responsible for inspecting his health and also for feeding, cleaning, bathing, exercising, and swimming with him that day!

I took Boonpuk for a bath, but the elephants decided we needed one, too!

We spent nine hours with the elephants at the farm and in the surrounding area. The elephants are so gentle, and I discovered the truth behind the saying “memory like an elephant’s”! After just half an hour with Boonpuk, he knew who I was and watched me all day. I rode him for hours and even swam with him. I truly fell in love with this gentle giant!

Keri, me, and Kara on our elephants. Boonpuk and I commune  on the rocks after our swim, while Keri enjoys a dip with her elephant.

Patara is altogether different than other elephant “rides” that merely offer a quick 20 minutes on an elephant’s back. It’s a life-changing experience! It is the one thing you must do while in Thailand! You can even stay overnight at Patara. (To learn more, see the Patara reviews on Trip Advisor.)

Boonpuk and me—a match made in Thai heaven!

Tomorrow, on to Phuket!

I returned from my glorious two-week tour of Southeast Asia last Thursday, and, whew, only now am I getting back up to speed with all things Ped. But I know a lot of you are curious about my trip, and I’m eager to share the highlights. It was such a blast(!!!), and I have so much to say that I’ve decided to break my travelogue into four parts—so check back everyday over the next few days to get the complete scoop on where we went and what we did.

First stop: Singapore, where the Chuns hosted us in their gorgeous 18th-floor apartment.

Angela, me, Florence Chun and daughter Emily, Keri, and Kara, plus the spectacular view from the Chuns' apartment.

Here are the most memorable things about our stay in Singapore (a double asterisk means it’s a “must-do” if you visit):

** The Singapore Flyer is a gigantic, new Ferris wheel that fits about 15 people in each “pod.” Once aboard, you’re treated to a spectacular 360-degree view of Singapore.

Looking up at the wheel and out from our "pod."

*Au Jardin by Les Amis restaurant in the Singapore Botanical Gardens is a gorgeous restaurant set in the trees. Not only is the food spectacular, but the presentation is also top-notch. Go here for your fancy dinner in Singapore!

Just looking at that dish makes me drool!

**Shangri-La Hotel—Dad and Angela stayed here back in the early 1990’s. The hotel and pool area are stunning! The buffet dinner is also amazing—so fresh, with everything you could possibly want or even imagine. I hope to stay here next time we visit.

The lovely lobby and pool at the Shangri-La.

*Sentosa Island is a resort area that’s very close to Singapore. It has beaches (not great), rides, a luge, an aquarium, and restaurants. The best part for me was the hanging gondola ride back into Singapore, which provided gorgeous views of the area.

Keri and Emily goofing around and petting a pink dolphin on Sentosa Island.

*Paragon Shopping Centre—Normally, I don’t like malls (and in Singapore, they are everywhere), but this one had my favorite Japanese store: MUJI. I first discovered Muji in Paris in the Marais, and I love how it’s filled with home gadgets, organic clothing, and fun little objects.

*Food Republic—Located on Orchard Road (a major shopping street, this food court has every imaginable type of Thai, Malay, Chinese, and Japanese food! Fresh smoothies are huge there! My favorite was the watermelon freeze (yum).

Strange desserts at the Food Republic, and the happy travelers with our hosts post-meal.

Also, here are two practical bits of advice if you’re heading to Singapore:

*Make sure to buy a SIM card for your phone at 7-Eleven as soon as you arrive. It makes calling home to the US much cheaper! (By the way, there are 7-Elevens everywhere!!)

*The Singapore dollar is high, so don’t buy too much here. Instead, wait until you get to Thailand, where everything is much less expensive!

Check back tomorrow, Ped Fans, to learn how I fell in love with an elephant in Chiang Mai, Thailand!

Dayna may be off having high tea in Singapore and riding elephants in Thailand, but Ped’s blog must go on! Laura, here, standing in for our fearless leader and bringing you great news: the latest shipment of Mia Zia loveliness has just arrived at Ped! Inspired by all things Moroccan, Mia Zia  is renowned for its way with tassels, stripes, and wonderfully woven textiles. Everything the company produces treasures is a delight to see and touch!

Here are a few of Mia Zia’s latest things that have everyone at Ped HQ swooning:

It’s as if Mia Zia took everything that’s good about summer and infused it into this fresh and playful Fiji scarf! The hand-printed stripes and tassels are so zesty! They make us want to kick up our heels and dance down the beach! (Maybe that’s what Dayna’s doing…)

MIa Zia’s crinkled silk scarf is luxurious and sophisticated without sacrificing its sense of fun. Silk is one of those wonderful fabrics that offers warmth in winter but remains airy and breathable in summer. Pretty as a scarf. Pretty as a shawl. Pretty as a sash wrapped around your waist!

Of all of Ped’s Mia Zia treasures, the Parisian Market basket, modeled on traditional baskets women take to bazaars throughout Morocco, may just be our favorite! This tightly woven raffia beauty is HUGE, which means it’s ideal for a day at the beach or a trip to the farmer’s market—or for catching everything you forgot to pack in your main suitcase when you’re bolting out the door to catch your plane. No matter what kind of a rush we’re in, those Mia Zia tassels never fail to make us smile!

So, why not add a little Moroccan spice to your life with Mia Zia?

Ped fans, I am SO EXCITED!!! Tomorrow I jet off with my mom, sister, and niece for a two-week vacation in Southeast Asia! Do you know I have never taken 14 consecutive days off in my life??? After leaving San Francisco, we’ll visit Hong Kong, Singapore, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Bangkok. My mom (technically my step-mother, but I love her with all my heart) grew up in Shanghai, and she still has friends and family throughout Asia. For instance, in Singapore we’re staying with her nephew, who is the head of Hasbro Toys! We four gals have so many fun things planned: riding elephants, visiting temples in Chiang Mai, kayaking, and just chilling on the white sand beaches in Phuket. I promise to take lots of pictures and tell you all about it once I return!

So, you may be wondering what Ped things I plan to take on my big adventure? Well, here are few items that will definitely go on the trip:

1) Cydwoq’s Mint bag:

Not only is this bag beautiful, but it’s also large enough to hold everything I want to have on hand for the long flight: a couple books, a magazine or two, a sweater because I always get chilly on the plane, toiletries for freshening up, and a change of clothes, just in case my checked bag takes a vacation without me (please, no). Also, the Mint will make a great shopping companion when I hit the streets to hunt for souvenirs.

2) Jutta Neumann’s Kim sandal:

When you’re going to spend a lot of time walking in hot weather, you can’t beat this easy slide for comfort and versatility. Jutta’s craftsmanship is legendary—her all-leather sandals are molded so they feel custom-made for your feet. And the Kim’s design—so minimal and chic—looks fantastic with literally everything! 

3) Jamie Joseph’s Sea Coral Necklace:

I don’t know about you, but I hate fussing with jewelry when I travel—but that doesn’t mean I want to go without. So, I’m planning to put on (and never take off) this Jamie Joseph necklace. I love how the tiny diamonds sparkle from within the crevices of the oxidized silver “coral”! And it’s a necklace I don’t have to think about—I’ll wear it sightseeing, swimming in the ocean, out to dinner (have I mentioned the great food we’re going to eat?), and everywhere else! 

I hope the next two weeks bring you as much fun as I’m about to have! I’ll miss Terry, Lulu, and Ella, but just think—soon I’ll be here:

Courtesy of J.W. Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa