Summer/Fall 2025

We've been busy traveling and I've been constantly playing catch up with my trip report backlogs over the past few months. I've still got more trip reports to update but it's time for a bi-annual update. Spent 3 weeks traveling around Germany, Switzerland and Middle East in May, followed by 2 weeks in Malaysia, went on an Alaskas cruise in September, family trip in October, and traveled all of November. Here's the photo dump on what's been going on in our lives since May 2025 (when we are not traveling).

4 July 2025 (Fri): Celebrated July 4th with the family at SIL's.

19 July 2025 (Sat): Missed out on grandma's 95th birthday celebration but thanks to cousin Huan for sharing the photos and videos.

2 Aug 2025 (Sat): 'Funcle' and 'funty' time with the nephew. Helped MIL build this toy for Cooper.

16 Aug 2025 (Sat): Celebrated our birthdays with the family playing bowling and arcade games at Stars and Strikes. Got cute birthday cards from lil' Cooper.

30 Aug 2025 (Sat): Video call with family in KL and Penang on big bro's birthday.

4 Oct 2025 (Sat): Attended a lovely southern wedding of hubby's relative with hubby and MIL. Decided to wear my cheongsam since I last wore it at our wedding reception 10 years ago. As if I didn't stand out enough being the only Asian, my cheongsam gave me zero chance to lay low...lol!

8-10 Sep 2025 (Mon-Wed): Training in Orlando

Traveled to Orlando to facilitate the new joiners onboarding and training session. This was a big event so the firm had arranged all ground transportation (buses) for facilitators and attendees.

Stayed at the Orlando World Center Marriott hotel for 2 nights. This hotel is apparently the largest Marriott in the world. Pool view from my balcony. There was even a light show at night.

Had to rush to the 5pm facilitator briefing as soon as I arrived at the hotel. Everyone received a goodie bag with a Stanley water bottle, an electrical pouch, screen cleaner, umbrella and notebook.

It's been awhile since I had to dress up for work...back in my work 'uniform'.

Massive ballroom for 1000+ new joiners from all over US. My journey in the firm began 15 year ago and yes, I'm still here after 15 years. Attending events like this is a good reminder on how far I've come, and it's refreshing to feel the energy and enthusiasm of the new joiners.

Each facilitator was assinged a table to facilitate. The new hires rotated around different tables so I had a different group of new hires each session. 

Had all our 'networking' meals at another big ballroom. 

After facilitating my last session of the training, I left the hotel at 3.30pm and headed straight to the airport. Was surprised I was able to access the United Club lounge in Orlando airport with my Star Alliance Gold status. It was my first time seeing a gelato machine, of course I had to try it out.

Flew 5.5 hours across the US from Orlando to San Francisco with United to meet up with hubby and mom in San Francisco before we embark on our Alaska cruise.

After 9.5 years of hiatus, I signed up for the UAH gym membership again in July. I've been enjoying the group classes with all the retired ladies who were super nice and helpful. One of the ladies said I'm a 'gym rat' now that I go 4-5 days a week with hubby...lol!

Happily using the gym shower after each workout session. I used to come to this gym when I was studying at UAH 17 years ago...it's funny how much remained the same after all these years. 

Gotta keep working on strength, mobility and balancing to maintain it.

Enjoying our no-maintenance 'kid' life...lol!

Some things we bought and got for free. =)

Also sold some fishing gears and camera on Facebook marketplace. It was our first time selling things on FB marketplace and we were impressed with how ChatGPT helped in identifying and pricing things out, and even provided descriptions for the listings. Definitely saved us a whole lot of time trying to figure out prices for all these things.

Other random OCD stuffs...my CC collections, all the Malaysian goodies mom brought when we met up in Alaska, our non-functioning fridged turned into snack pantry, and my Qatar pyjamas collection.

Our rare eat-out when we're not traveling.

As always, wrapping up this post with my weekly meal prep photo collection...

22 & 29 June 2025 (Sun): Pork porridge, mash potatoes, pork loin, stir-fry veggies, brocolli, celery & carrots, cilantro lime rice, pasta.

6 & 13 July 2025 (Sun): Pork rib soup, baked chicken, mash potatoes, stir-fry veggies, mexican rice, pork porridge, brocolli, celery & carrots.

20 & 27 July 2025 (Sun): Chicken herbal soup, baked chicken, mash potatoes, stir-fry veggies, pasta meatball, brocolli, celery & carrots.

3 & 10 Aug 2025 (Sun): Tomyum noodle soup with Spam, baked chicken, mash potatoes, stir-fry veggies, pork porridge, brocolli, celery & carrots.

17 & 20 Aug 2025 (Sun): Chicken herbal soup, meatball pasta, stir-fry veggies, pork porridge, brocolli, celery & carrots, chicken porridge, pork porridge, mash potatoes, 

31 Aug & 28 Sept 2025 (Sun): Chicken herbal soup, baked pork loin, stir-fry veggies, baked chicken, mash potatoes, brocolli, celery & carrots.

5 & 12 Oct 2025 (Sun): Pork porridge, baked chicken, mash potatoes, stir-fry veggies, tomyum noodle soup with veggies and meatballs, brocolli, celery & carrots.

1 & 7 Oct 2025 (Sun): Chicken herbal soup with rice, baked chicken, stir-fry veggies, yellow rice, pork porridge, brocolli, celery & carrots.

Great Smoky Mountains Family Vacation 2025

19 - 23 Oct 2025 (Sun-Thurs): Family Vacation at the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

It has been quite awhile since our last family vacation in 2022, so MIL planned a family trip to the Great Smoky Mountains this year. Tennessee was a good option logistically for our group of 6 as it was within a decent driving distance from Huntsville.

We departed Huntsville around 9.20am and started our 5-hours drive north to Tennessee, passing through Georgia briefly. We stopped at the rest area for our 'highway-sandwich-shop' lunch. It rained slightly on our drive but traffic was pretty smooth. We also stopped by Publix to do some grocery shopping and picked up pizza for dinner before getting to our accommodation at 4.30pm.

Our accommodation for 4 nights - Serendipity Lodge @ Walden Ridge, was a very nice 2-storey cabin in the mountains. Thanks MIL for booking this beautiful log cabin for our 5D4N stay. This modern-rustic log cabin has a huge living room with a large TV and fireplace. There are also two couches and multiple chairs which gave us plenty of options for seating.

The kitchen is fully equipped with everything needed for cooking. There's microwave, fridge, dishwasher, oven, stove, and coffee machine. The dining area had enough seating for all 6 of us. We used the kitchen to make spaghetti and meatballs.

There are 2 spacious decks on each storey with beautiful mountain views. There is plenty of outdoor seating, an outdoor gas fire pit, and a hot tub.

There are 3 king bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms in the cabin. Each bedroom has an ensuite bathroom and a bunk room attached with two twin beds.  One bedroom was in the main level, while the other 2 bedrooms were on the lower level. 

We took one of the bedrooms in the lower level.

The game room is at the lower level with a pool table and 2 arcade games (golf game and pacman).

The cabin had ample space for family fun. We played mahjong with MIL and board games with Cooper. 'Funty' and 'funcle' had fun with lil' Cooper.

Oct 20-21 (Mon-Tues): Dollywood Theme Park

We had 2-day tickets for Dollywood so we split our visit to two days. This was my first time visiting Dollywood and I didn't do any research so I had no idea what to expect.

We departed from the cabin at 9am on the first day and arrived Dollywood around 9.20am. Glad we all rode in one car coz the parking was $25/car. The parking lot was further away from the entrance but they had a free shuttle to take us to the entrance.

We were glad there wasn't any line to enter the park at 9.30am. Just a quick security scan of our bags and scanning our QR ticket. 

This year is Dollywood's 40th anniversary so it's been around for awhile. Hubby and family had visited Dollywood a few times when they were kids.

Started our day riding on the Big Bear Mountain rollercoaster. It's been way too long since I last visited a theme park and rode on a rollercoaster. Realized very quicky that I'm too old for so much thrill...lol! The guys went ahead with the thrill rides on Dragonflier, Mystery Mine, Thunderhead, and Wild Eagle (at night), while I happily volunteered to be the photographer...lol!

I did get on the FireChaser Express rollercoaster at night but didn't take any video. It was my first time riding rollercoaster at night and it was even more chi-kek sitting in the front row.

Aunty Khai doesn't mind riding this froggy thing with lil' Cooper coz I don't have to worry about my phone flying away...lol!

The weather was nice and cool, which made it pleasant to walk around the park.

It was Halloween season and Dollywood went all out with their Halloween pumpkin deco,

We went to the park later on the 2nd day to see the Halloween night lights.

Oct 21: Breakfast at Crockett's Breakfast Camp in Gatlinburg.

After breakfast, we walked over to the Gatlinburg trail for an easy hike. The trailhead was close to the breakfast place so it was convenient to do this hike after breakfast.

This trail was flat and easy, and it also allows pets.

The leaves had just started to change colors. It'd be prettier a few weeks later.

Cooper did a good job walking the trail with us. 'Funcle' helped to burn his energy along the way.

Oct 22: Went to Goats on the Roof which was close to our cabin to ride mountain coaster and played a round of mini golf.

Oct 22: Drove to Foothills Parkway for a scenic drive

...and catch sunset. I was trying out my new iPhone 17 Pro camera and was a lil' disappointed with the 'autoblur' camera settings. I actually liked the photos taken with my old iPhone 13 mini more. Left: iPhone 17 Pro, Right: iPhone 13 Mini.

Beautiful sunset to wrap up our family trip.

Oct 23: Checked out of our cabin at 9.30am and started our drive home.

Made a stop at Mayfield Dairy Farms in Athens for a quick ice-cream stop.