My Story
The date was March 27, 1990 – the first day I stepped foot on an airplane. It was my first time flying, and it was a long flight: Saigon to Bangkok to Tokyo and finally to Houston, where I have called home since.
I didn’t travel much as a kid. OK, that’s an overstatement. I didn’t really travel. Up until I was 21, I only took two more trips by air: one to California at 12 and another one back to Saigon at 18. Traveling wasn’t easy as it is now. Our family mostly did road-trips once or twice a year. At 21 after graduating from college, I decided to make a trip to Europe before starting my first professional job. 5 weeks spent exploring Europe, I was infected by a travel bug and haven’t been cured since then!!
Who I am and What’s different about my blog
Hello, my name is Y-An. Welcome to my blog, where I share my travel experiences and stories, tips and recommendations. I’m not a travel expert; I don’t travel or blog for a living – I was a software engineer for many years and now a product/business analyst. However, I believe everyone’s travel experience is unique, so there’s always an interesting story to share and to learn from.
There are so many travel blogs and vlogs out there. What’s so special about my blog, and why should anyone read it?
Well, I honestly believe everyone has a story to tell, and I can’t say whose story is better. Mine tells about my experiences alone. And if while reading you find similarities in your travel preferences or are interested in my story/experience, then let’s say we have the same vibes. We are a family of 4 with the oldest kid in college and the youngest kid in elementary school. We travel as a family (either just the four of us or with even more extended family members) so you’ll mostly find recommendations fit for family-travel, catered to my kids’ ages.
I have been asked by my readers to write about fashion, some even asked for my suggestions on outfits for an important event. I am flattered by the requests. However, I am no fashion expert so perhaps there will be no article on fashion alone. But I have included some of the travel fashion recommendations in some of the articles. It’s a challenge to dress well while traveling since you basically have to live out of the suitcase for days or even weeks. With most airlines charging for baggage, minimal packing is the way-to-go these days. So this is an aspect that I don’t find in many travel blogs.
Another feature that is rarely seen anywhere else: my blog bilingual in English and Vietnamese. No, one is not a complete Google-translated version of the other! So far, all but one article was written in both languages to serve both English-readers as well as my fellow Vietnamese.
99% of the photos used in the blog were captured either by myself or my husband. A co-worker once requested that I write about photo tips. My photos were captured by phone. My husband uses DSLRs. Perhaps there will be articles on such topic. So, as noted here, I do take requests! So if there’s a place or topic that you’d like me to share, leave me a comment or send me a message. If I have visited the place or have knowledge on the topic, I’ll be more than happy to share my take on it.
When I named my blog “Making Memories”, I’m not only referring to the memories we make on our travels as a family; this blogging journey is also part of making lasting memories. I believe that experiences help us grow and memories help to shape who we are as individuals by allowing us to connect with significant moments and people in our lives. Essentially, memories are a reflection of our lives. So even if you don’t or cannot travel much, I hope you can travel through my blog and remember the feelings when you travel virtually with me. If you’re a frequent traveler, then I hope you can find inspirations for your next trips through the experiences I share. So if you feel intrigue, then let’s hop on, let me give you a ride and let’s take this journey to grow and make memories together.
Inspirations…
“Life is a journey and memories are the souvenirs we take along the way.”
Unknown
“The best things in life are the people we love, the places we’ve been, and the memories we’ve made along the way.”
Unknown
“To move to breathe, to fly, to float,
Hans Christian Andersen
To gain all while you give.
To roam the roads of lands remote,
To travel is to live.”
“The Fairy Tale of My Life”
Making Memories 