Happy Birthday Mom!

Every July 12 wonder | wonder | women's Bhakti goes on a retreat for her birthday, to reflect and replenish for the coming year. This year is a big deal because she celebrates her 70th!

Matching Marimekko for London summers

Happy birthday Mom!! We've had so many fun adventures together, I wanted to post some pictures of us around the world. Like my memories, the pictures aren't chronological, but they paint a picture of our life together even when we live in separate countries.

4th of July and early birthday party, 2018

In 2018 I came over for a joyous New York summer to celebrate your birthday. We celebrated Pride, visited family, watched the fireworks over the water, made lots of art and ate lots of good food.

With Tito Charles in Thailand

2015 was the last year my grandparents could easily travel abroad, so my aunt and uncle arranged a big birthday party for Lolo on the beautiful Koh Yao Noi island. The whole family was there, all the way down to great-grandkids. We learned batik painting and wreath making, swam in the pool bar and our villa pool, drank ice-cold coconut water and mango shakes, and took pictures of the setting moon in the early morning. I wish I could have woken up at the same time as Mom though! 

With Tita Daday in Georgia

In 2018 we flew down to the beautiful state of Georgia to visit Tita Daday who is an artist and historian. We had so much fun going through her journals and family research.

Together at the Art Gallery of Ontario

Earlier that month Mom and I went up to Canada to visit some friends and family, but also to spend a few days in Toronto and see exhibitions by First Nations artists. Toronto is a great hub for Indigenous artists and artisans and we were so excited to see contemporary artists and illustrators making a name for themselves.

Having al fresco lunch in Central Park

So many of wonder | wander | women's precious memories are set in New York. NYC was the first city to feature in this blog, as Mom first conceived it when I was over for a long visit in 2014. We've written in it together ever since.

Seeing Hamilton!

Watching plays and performances, visiting museums, walking city and town streets, taking pictures and selfies...for people who live apart most of the year we really love making the most of our time together!

At the London Eye

My home city of London also holds lots of memories for us. No matter how long we live the city life, we still love being tourists and enjoying the sights as if we've never travelled before. Tour buses, neighbourhood coffee shops, gardens and parks are all new and fun to us.

Christmas pajamas

Of course holidays are our favorite time to be together. Often schedules don't mesh, or seasonal ticket prices can go through the roof, but we try to see each other at special times like birthdays and holidays. And special occasions are a good reason for dressing up, especially in matching outfits.

Celebrating Halloween 

Even in the lonely and stressful pandemic years that separated many loved ones, we found ways to celebrate together and enjoy ourselves. Discovering filters was hilarious! New Year and Halloween were extra fun and colourful.

The best times are when we are in a special place having exclusive mother-daughter time, doing only our favourite things and eating only our favourite food, making memories just for us.

Resorts World, Manila 

Happy birthday Mom! Here's to many more years of memories. I love you so much!