Filipina Mama & Daughter Diaries — Healing Journey in Thailand
Hi everyone,
This morning in Chiang Mai felt softer than the others — quieter, slower, almost like the city itself was still waking up. The air was cool, the streets were calm, and the temples stood in stillness, holding centuries of prayers within their walls.
Today’s plan was simple: a morning walking tour to visit temples, find breakfast, and soak in our last full day here. No rushing. No strict itinerary. Just presence.
🌅 Quiet Streets, Shrines, and the Rhythm of Morning
As we walked through the Old City, we passed small shrines tucked between shops and homes — offerings of incense, flowers, and whispered gratitude. The stillness felt sacred.
Massage signs lined the streets:
200 baht for 30 minutes
300 baht for 60 minutes
You truly can’t go wrong here.
Like I shared in my previous vlog, every Thai massage we tried — even the randomly chosen ones — was good. The techniques vary from therapist to therapist. Some focus on deep stretching, others on pressure points, others on slow rhythmic movements. It feels personal, intuitive.
Yesterday’s massage was 300 baht for 60 minutes, and I felt every stretch in the best way. My body, carrying stress and healing, seemed to exhale.
Verdict:
You’re not paying for better massage quality — you’re paying for ambience and environment.
🌿 Healing in Small Ways
I’m still dealing with a psoriasis flare and a lingering rash. The heat, humidity, and travel have stirred my skin into protest. But healing shows up in unexpected places.
In Chiang Mai, I simply walked into a pharmacy, showed them my rash, and they gently handed me hydrocortisone cream. No fuss. No judgment. Just care.
It’s getting better.
Healing isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s a quiet improvement you notice only when the itching stops.
☕ Coffee Date with Mom
We stopped at Starbucks for our morning drinks.
- Me: Salted caramel cold brew
- Mom: Café latte
“Is it good?” I asked.
She nodded, smiling. “Yeah… salted caramel.”
Making memories with my mom in small moments like this feels just as meaningful as any grand adventure.
She wore the Japan shirt I gave her. She looked happy. Independent. Like a solo traveler in her own right.
🍳 Breakfast Near the Gate
We found a cozy breakfast spot near Tha Phae Gate, one of the historic entrances to the Old City.
Hotel breakfast: 250 baht per person
Local café breakfast: ~300 baht total for both of us
We chose the café — and it felt like the right decision.
- Thai breakfast plate with eggs, sausage, toast
- Pancakes with mango for Mom
- Coffee and conversation
Simple. Filling. Enough.
Mom played Mahjong on her phone while eating, completely content. I watched her and smiled. These are the moments I want to remember.
🚶♀️ Walking Toward Temples
We continued our walking tour toward the temples. Shops were still closed, their metal shutters painted with murals and elephants. I’m still hoping to find a Buddha statue and a small elephant figure to bring home — not just souvenirs, but reminders of this peace.
Mom walked ahead of me, faster than usual.
“Ang saya mo na, Ma,” I teased.
She laughed.
I’m her tour guide now.
💭 A Reflection: Healing Isn’t Linear
As we approached the temple grounds, I felt something heavy and honest rise to the surface.
I’ve been traveling for almost a month — the Philippines, Bangkok, Chiang Mai — hoping I would return home 100% healed.
But I’m not.
Maybe I’m 50%. Maybe 60%.
And maybe… that’s enough.
Healing isn’t a destination. It’s a practice.
I’m learning:
- I can’t control everything.
- I can’t expect people to meet needs I haven’t expressed.
- I can choose myself without guilt.
- I can love my mom without expecting her to show love the way I imagine.
This trip isn’t perfect.
I’m not perfect.
Our relationship isn’t perfect.
But it’s real. And I’m here for it.
🛕 Temple Stillness & Letting Go
Inside the temple grounds, the world quieted again. No entrance fee. No crowds yet. Just open space, incense, and the soft echo of footsteps.
Maybe healing is this:
Standing in a place older than your pain and realizing you are allowed to let go.
I don’t have to control everything.
I don’t have to be fully healed to keep living.
I don’t have to wait to become whole before choosing joy.
💛 A Moment with Mom
“Did you take lots of photos, Mom?”
“No.”
“So you can share to people?”
“You’re taking pictures,” she said.
She’s right. I am.
Because I want to remember this version of us.
Not perfect.
Not fully healed.
But together.
🌿 Chiang Mai: A Place That Holds You Gently
There is something about Chiang Mai — its temples, its quiet mornings, its slow rhythm — that feels like a hand on your shoulder saying:
You’re allowed to rest here.
Maybe I’m not 100% healed.
But if I have to heal anywhere, I’m grateful it’s here.
With my mom.
With my breath.
With this moment.
—
Thank you for walking with me.
Filipina Nurse Practitioner Diaries — Mama & Daughter Healing Journey 💛
Day in the life of a Filipina Nurse Practitioner 
Leave a comment