First things first — a big thank you to my cousin Best and his lovely partner Ying for helping me out today. Couldn’t have managed without them. Afterwards, the three of us ended up at Tormorn Café for a late lunch.
Every time I’m back, I slip into the same routine: wandering around, testing out new cafés and restaurants, always on the lookout for that perfect spot where I can settle in, feel at home, and maybe get a bit of work done. I’m not here to give food reviews — taste is far too personal for that — but for me, the atmosphere is what really matters.
My downfall, though, is always Teh Tarik. Without fail, I gain nearly 10 kilos in two months when I’m back. Three or four cups a day and the scales don’t stand a chance. Still, it’s one indulgence I’ll happily own.
Tormorn itself has a charm I really enjoy. The colours outside give off a touch of Spanish vibe — bright and inviting — and once you’re in, it’s the sort of place that makes you want to linger a little longer.
All in all, a good afternoon: family, friends, and a café that feels just right. And yes — the Teh Tarik is worth every extra kilo.
และนั่นแหละค่ะ…คือจุดเริ่มต้นของวันที่แอนยังยิ้มอยู่ทุกครั้งที่นึกถึง
เพื่อนชาวสเปนของแอนสองคนคือ Teo กับ Maria ชวนแอนไปร่วมเทศกาลที่ชื่อว่า La Romería de San Isidro ที่เมือง Cartaya ซึ่งตอนแรกแอนไม่ได้รู้เลยด้วยซ้ำว่ามันคืออะไร แต่ก็คิดแค่ว่า เอ้า…ไปลองดู! และมันกลายเป็นวันหนึ่งที่แอนจะไม่มีวันลืมเลยจริง ๆ
หลังจากแอบ Serch Google และฟัง Teo and Maria ก็ได้รู้ว่า La Romería คือเทศกาลแสวงบุญที่มีรากมาจากศาสนาคริสต์ค่ะ โดยในเมือง Cartaya นี้เขาจะจัดขึ้นเพื่อเฉลิมฉลองนักบุญที่ชื่อว่า San Isidro Labrador ซึ่งเป็นนักบุญอุปถัมภ์ของเกษตรกร
Saint Isidro เป็นชาวนาธรรมดา ๆ ที่มีความศรัทธาแรงกล้า และเชื่อกันว่าเป็นผู้ปกป้องชาวไร่ชาวนาให้มีพืชผลดี น้ำเพียงพอ และชีวิตเรียบง่ายที่มีคุณค่า
ในงาน Romería de San Isidro ที่เมือง Cartaya จะมีการจัดประมูลแบบดั้งเดิมที่เรียกว่า “Subasta de la Vara del Santo” ซึ่งผู้ที่ประมูลได้ในราคาสูงสุด จะได้รับเกียรติให้เป็น “Hermano Mayor” หรือผู้ถือไม้เท้าศักดิ์สิทธิ์ของนักบุญ San Isidro ในปีถัดไป
🌾 My First Time at the Romería Festival in Spain – Horses, Flamenco, and the Kindness That Made It Feel Like Home
Sometimes, the best things in life begin with a simple question like:
“Do you want to come to the Romería with us?”
And just like that… it became one of those days I still smile about every time I think of it.
Two of my Spanish friends, Teo and Maria, invited me to a local festival called La Romería de San Isidro in the town of Cartaya. At first, I had no idea what it was about, but I thought — why not? Let’s go see what it’s like!
And honestly, it turned out to be a day I’ll never forget.
🐎 Like a Scene Out of a Cowboy Movie
The first thing that amazed me? Horses everywhere! From little kids to adults, everyone was riding horses — and not just casually, but with flair!
The women wore beautiful ruffled flamenco dresses, and the men had on jackets, wide-brimmed hats, and riding boots. The style was elegant and timeless — it felt like stepping into a movie set.
Me? I didn’t dress up at all, to be honest. I’ll admit, I had that “I should’ve prepared more” moment — haha! So I made a mental note that next year, if I get to come again, I’m going all in with the outfit… maybe even learn a bit of flamenco dancing!
💃 So… What Is Romería?
After a quick Google search and some explanations from Teo and Maria, I found out that La Romería is a traditional pilgrimage festival rooted in Christianity. In Cartaya, it’s held in honour of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers.
Saint Isidro was a humble, deeply devoted farmer, believed to protect fellow farmers with blessings of good harvests, sufficient water, and a simple yet meaningful life.
One of the traditions at the Romería de San Isidro is an auction called the “Subasta de la Vara del Santo” (Auction of the Saint’s Staff). The highest bidder earns the honour of becoming the Hermano Mayor — the one who carries San Isidro’s sacred staff the following year.
This person plays a central role in the religious processions and ceremonies throughout the festival. It’s considered a great honour within the community.
A few examples:
2022: Rocío Pereira García won the auction for €9,100 (approx. 360,000 THB)
2019: The Álvarez-Custodio family won with a bid of €9,200 (approx. 365,000 THB)
But the magic of Romería isn’t just in its religious roots. It’s about coming together — families, neighbours, friends — riding together, sharing meals under the trees, singing, laughing, and simply slowing down together in a way that reminds you of how life used to be.
🍷 Inside Teo’s Family Tent
But here’s the thing… the vibe was amazing. Everyone was laughing, teasing each other like close siblings. Some came over to say hi, even if we couldn’t understand each other perfectly. They offered snacks, smiled warmly, and just… made space for me without needing to say anything special.
What really helped was that Teo speaks excellent English, and he kindly translated whenever things got too fast or there were local expressions I didn’t know. It made me feel included, not left out at all.
I just sat there, sometimes joining the laughs, sometimes just soaking in the moment
It reminded me so much of Thailand. Thai people are like this too — warm, easy to approach, generous with snacks and smiles, even with strangers.
It may not have been my home, but it felt a lot like home.
💛 A Thank You for the Beautiful Friendship
Before I end this blog, I really want to say…
“Thank you, Teo and Maria. Thank you for being such amazing friends, for your kindness, and for making Spain feel like a second home to me.”
Moving countries can sometimes feel lonely in ways you can’t quite explain — but friendships like this make everything warmer, effortlessly.
🚗 P.S. If You’re Thinking of Visiting… It’s More Than Just Golf!
Right now, I’m in Andalucía, a southern region of Spain. Many people know it for its golf courses and sunny weather all year round.
But honestly, there’s so much more to see here — charming little villages, historic towns with Arab-Spanish architecture, peaceful forests, and of course, traditional festivals like the Romería I’ve shared with you today.
If you’re looking for something beyond golf and want a truly local experience — something off the beaten path — my team and I also organize custom tours around Andalucía. :)
I’ll be writing more blogs soon about what makes each town so special, but if you’re curious and want to start exploring now, feel free to reach out 💛
Just wanted to say how nice it was having you and Faneva over. So great to finally meet Faneva—such a sweet and funny little one! Had me smiling the whole time. Hope you’ll pop by more often—it’s always nice having a good catch-up. Take care, and see you soon in Stockholm!
ดีใจมากที่ได้เจอกันนะ!
ดีใจมาก ๆ ที่ You กับ Faneva แวะมาหา ได้เจอ Faneva ครั้งแรกก็น่ารักและตลกมาก ๆ หวังว่า You จะแวะมาหาบ่อย ๆ นะคะ ไว้เจอกันอีกทีในสต็อกโฮล์ม!
Ville bara säga att det var så härligt att ha dig och Faneva på besök. Äntligen fick jag träffa Faneva för första gången – så söt och rolig! Hoppas att ni kommer förbi oftare. Vi ses snart i Stockholm!
First time playing a full 18 holes with my 54 handicap—what an experience! 🏌️♀️⛳️ Played with some really nice people and even managed to win a little prize—didn’t see that coming There was a special challenge on each hole, and today I won the straightest drive on hole 5! Our team also finished 5th out of 15 teams—pretty happy with that!! Big thanks to my awesome trainer, Christer, for all the tips and patience. Now I’m super motivated to keep practicing and get better! And hey, if anyone’s up for a round of golf in Spain, just hit me up! 😉
The weather was amazing today — sunny and about 28 degrees, just perfect. 🌞 We couldn’t resist, so we went out for a round of golf... but with a twist: only use the driver! 😂 Yep, every shot, even putting! It was total chaos but so much fun. Some shots actually turned out okay, some... not so much. 😆 But honestly, with all the sunshine, fresh air, and getting a bit of a tan, we didn’t even care about the score. Such a fun day. Can’t wait to do it again — maybe next time with a driver and a putter? (Or maybe not!) 🏌️♀️☀️
As someone who has lived abroad for many years and who cares deeply about cultural understanding, I felt the need to share my thoughts on something that has gone viral in Thailand last week.
A controversial video involving Siranat “Sai” Scott—a Thai-Scottish marine conservationist—recently made headlines after he was filmed confronting a tourist who greeted him with “Ni Hao.” The moment sparked heated debate across social media, and as a Thai person living in Sweden, I just wanted to share my personal perspective.
Let me be clear from the start:
This blog is only about this one controversial video and the specific situation shown in the clip.
I’m not commenting on the rest of Sai’s work or content—only this incident.
And most importantly: I’m not here to offend anyone or spread hate.
My intention is simply to reflect on this topic from a calm and honest place—and to share my thoughts with kindness and respect.
I Respect Sai and the Work He Has Done
First and foremost, I truly admire the work Sai has done for Thailand’s environment. He studied animation at the California Institute of the Arts and later returned to Thailand to dedicate himself to marine conservation and protecting national parks. That’s something to respect and celebrate.
What Happened
In the video, the tourist greeted Sai with “Ni Hao,” and Sai was clearly upset. Sai later posted a video and wrote on social media, saying:
“To come into Thailand, and not even have the respect to know
the difference between Thailand and China is extremely racist. You cannot plan
a vacation here to enjoy our natural resources and ignore the Thai people who
live in the country. Something as small as saying "Ni Hao" to a Thai
person, it's not only disrespectful to Thais, but to Asians as Asia is not one
Nationality. It would be like me going to England and thinking it was the same
as Russia.”
Now, I do understand where that frustration comes from. It’s true—Asia is not one country, and people often forget that. But calling it “extremely racist” might have been a bit too strong, especially if the tourist genuinely didn’t mean harm.
Some people just don’t know any better. That doesn’t excuse it, but it doesn’t always come from hate either.
I also understand why some authorities felt Sai’s response was too strong. At that moment, he wasn’t just representing himself—he was also representing a national institution. What you say carries weight, and that’s why tone and delivery are so important.
Sai later said on the program กรรมกรข่าวคุยนอกจอ that he wished to demonstrate how to handle a situation like this.
While I appreciate that intention, I still believe there’s a better way to educate—especially when emotions are running high. Even if someone behaves disrespectfully, publicly shaming them, pointing fingers, recording their face, and posting the clip online isn’t always the best approach.
Sometimes, it can do more harm than good.
It might be common in Thailand to share videos of others online, but in Sweden, this is seen as inappropriate and disrespectful—unless you’ve asked for permission and obtained their consent beforehand.
Asia Is Not One Country—But Some People Don’t Know Better
Yes, it’s frustrating when someone assumes that all Asians are the same. But not everyone means to offend.
Some people simply don’t know any better—they may only be familiar with Chinese people, so they assume “Ni Hao” is the appropriate greeting. That doesn’t make it right, but I believe intention matters too.
And in this case, the tourist may not have meant any harm—just poor judgment or ignorance. We’ve all made cultural mistakes before.
As an Asian woman—and a Thai person—I do understand why Sai felt offended. I’ve had people say “Ni Hao” to me before, assuming I’m Chinese just because of how I look.
And just to give more context—in Thailand, people are very proud of their cultural identity. So when someone assumes you’re from somewhere else—especially without asking—it can feel like your identity is being dismissed or overlooked.
Sai compared it to someone thinking England is the same as Russia—and I completely get that. It’s frustrating when someone ignores your actual background.
And it’s not always about being too sensitive—It’s about being seen and respected for who you truly are.
My Own Experience Living Abroad
I’ve lived abroad for many years. And I’ve had people say “Ni Hao” to me, laugh awkwardly, or try to guess where I’m from. Most of the time, it wasn’t meant in a racist way—it was just ignorance or poor judgment.
When I was in Portugal, I even greeted people with “Hola,” thinking they spoke Spanish. Of course, they speak Portuguese—but no one took offence. In France, I’d say “Hi” or “Hello” because I don’t speak French—and people were understanding.
Even in the US, someone once said “Ni Hao” to me in a clearly mocking tone. Yes, I knew it was racism—but I told myself:
“Don’t lower yourself to that level.”
Because honestly—at the end of the day, we’re all human. We make mistakes. We learn. We grow.
I’ve made cultural mistakes in the past too, probably without realising. But what really matters is how we choose to respond when something doesn’t feel right.
If someone says something racist or ignorant to me, I try to pause and think:
What’s the most helpful way to respond?
If the moment feels safe and appropriate, I might say:
“Actually, I’m Thai—just so you know, assuming someone’s background like that can come across a bit rude.”
And I say it calmly, kindly—not to shame them, but to help them understand.
Because some people genuinely don’t know better. And if we teach with kindness, there’s a better chance they’ll remember.
That’s why I always come back to something my Swedish friends often say to me:
“Kill the madness with kindness.” 💛
Kindness shows strength. It shows maturity. It shows that you’re in control of your values—not just your emotions.
Living in Sweden has really shaped how I respond to conflict. People here tend to handle things more calmly—and most of my friends always say:
“Anne, respond with kindness. That’s how you show someone there’s a better way.”
And that’s something I’ve really taken to heart.
The
Problem with Public Shame
Sai later explained in several interviews — for example, one with Channel 3 (กรรมกรข่าวคุยนอกจอ) and another reported by the Thai Examiner (2025) — that his intention was to show others how to handle situations like this.
While I
understand the importance of standing up for yourself and for Thailand, I also
believe there’s a way to do it that brings more understanding — not more anger.
When you point fingers, raise your voice, and publicly shame someone online,
you may lose the chance to actually educate them. It can make people defensive
— or worse, scared to engage at all.
Now, maybe
this is just my way of handling these situations. Maybe for Sai, expressing
himself strongly in that moment felt like the right thing to do. And if he
truly feels that he stood up for something important, then that’s his path —
and I respect that.
But there
was a part of the video where he pointed his finger at the tourist. At the end
of the exchange — after the tourist had walked away — Sai said:
“Try that again and I will have you deported.” (South China
Morning Post, 2025)
To me, that
part felt a little too intense and could be interpreted as threatening.
Realistically, that’s not a power he holds — and when you’re in a public-facing
role, especially at a national park, how you handle situations reflects not
just on you, but on Thailand as a whole.
And this is
where I think it gets more delicate. There are people watching this clip who
may have never been to Thailand. They may not know Thai people personally, or
how warm, respectful, and kind the majority of us are. So when they see someone
reacting with anger, pointing fingers, and threatening deportation, they might
get the wrong impression — and think this is how Thai people treat tourists.
Which,
honestly, couldn’t be further from the truth.
Yes, I
understand that some tourists behave badly and do deserve to be called out. But
at the same time, I believe there’s more power in solving things with calmness
and diplomacy. When you approach someone with respect — even if they’ve been
disrespectful — you stand a better chance of earning their respect, and maybe
even changing their thinking.
And maybe,
if Sai ever has a chance to reflect on this again, I hope he sees that there
might’ve been a gentler way to still make a powerful point — without letting
the anger lead.
I’m
Still Grateful for the Awareness Sai Brought
Even though
I don’t agree with how the situation was handled, I’m still grateful that Sai
raised awareness about this issue.
He reminded
people that Thailand is not China, and that Asia is not one country.And that’s an important message. So for that — thank you, Sai.
Additional
Thought:
The Role of Social Media and One-Sided Judgment
Before I
end this, there’s one more thing I think is worth mentioning — something
we’re seeing more and more in today’s world: The power — and the potential harm — of social media.
When a
video goes viral, it’s easy to jump to conclusions without knowing the full
story.
In the recent case we’ve all seen, the tourist never had a chance to explain or
defend himself.
We saw only a short clip, from one angle, and with no context.
Yes —
people should be held accountable for their actions. That matters.But we also need to pause and ask ourselves: Are we judging fairly — or are we reacting to a viral moment without
understanding the full picture?
Public
shaming online can feel like justice in the moment. But what if the person simply made a cultural mistake, without any bad
intentions? Once a video spreads, it’s almost impossible to take it back.
And now that tourist may carry the label of “racist” — all based on 30 seconds
of footage with no background or explanation.
As someone
who has been misunderstood before, I know how painful that can be.That’s why I believe context matters. Dialogue matters.We don’t
need to cancel people over every mistake. Sometimes, what people truly need is the chance to learn — not a lifetime of
shame.
That
doesn’t mean we should excuse harmful behaviour. But we can hold people accountable without attacking them. And honestly, I think that’s where real change begins when we lead with empathy instead of anger.
I actually have a lot more to say on this — especially about how social media can encourage one-sided storytelling and snap judgments. But I think I’ll save that for another time.
Final
Thoughts
This post
is simply a reflection — my personal thoughts, shaped by my own experiences. I know others may see things differently, and that’s completely okay.We all come from different backgrounds, and we all respond to situations in our
own way.
While Sai’s frustration is totally understandable—and many Thais supported his message—there’s also a large group of people, both in Thailand and abroad, who felt that his tone and method of confrontation might’ve been too intense for a tourist who may have simply made a cultural mistake.
If you’re
travelling anywhere in the world, here’s one small piece of advice:
"Take five minutes to learn how to say “hello” in the local language."
It shows respect — and it’s such a simple way to build a better connection. And if you’re ever unsure, a kind smile and a simple “hello” is always a safe
and respectful start.
Let’s keep
the conversation open.
Let’s listen more, assume less, and lead with kindness.
No Tour Guide, No Plan—Just a Goat and a Good Story
Today I went out for a walk, just to get some fresh air and enjoy the quiet countryside around here. I wasn’t expecting much—just some sun, some silence, and maybe a few birds. But what I got was way better.
While wandering down a small dirt path, I suddenly saw a man in the distance with a staff in hand and a bunch of goats around him. Yep, I had just stumbled upon a real shepherd. I smiled to myself and thought, “Well, this is new.”
Even though I can barely speak Spanish, I waved and said, “Hola.” And to my surprise, he smiled and started talking to me. I think he was telling me something about his goats—or maybe the land—but honestly, I only caught a few words here and there. Still, I just nodded, smiled, and let the moment happen. Sometimes, understanding isn’t always about language.
Then came the best part: he let me milk a goat! 🐐✨
He actually taught me how to do it, step by step. At first, I thought, “Easy!” But oh no—it’s way harder than it looks! My first few tries were awkward (and probably annoying for the goat), but eventually, with a bit of help, I managed. And I couldn’t stop laughing. It was such a random, wholesome moment.
What I loved most about today wasn’t just the goats or the milk—it was being in a place that isn’t crowded with tourists. It felt real, raw, and peaceful. No fancy cafés, no lines, no noise. Just me, the land, the goats, and a kind shepherd who let a stranger from another world share a piece of his day.
And honestly, this is something that would never happen if I was traveling with a tour guide or on a tight, scheduled trip. I’m so happy that I get the chance to truly experience a place, stay longer, and connect with it in a way that goes beyond being just another tourist. It’s moments like this that make all the difference.
Sometimes the best experiences come when you least expect them.
First things first — a big thank you to my cousin Best and his lovely partner Ying for helping me out today. Couldn’t have managed without them. Afterwards, the three of us ended up at Tormorn Café for a late lunch.
