The Tulip garden in Rayong

You probably know that kind of week — the one that fills you with purpose yet quietly drains your energy too. There’s joy in it, of course: seeing students make progress, finishing a lesson that finally feels right. But by the time Friday arrived, I could feel both pride and tiredness sitting together, like two old friends sharing a cup of coffee.

And now that the weather has turned colder — you know, that kind of chill that makes you reach for a blanket and a warm drink — I can’t help but think back to warmer days in Rayong, where tulips bloom under the Thai sun, bursting with colour and light. It’s such a beautiful reminder of how different places and moments can hold such different kinds of energy.

I visited this place back in July, thanks to a recommendation from a local — remember the woman I mentioned in my last post, My Cosy Escape in Rayong? The one who runs the little food cart outside the 7-Eleven? While I was waiting for my food — ผัดกะเพราหมูสับกับไข่ดาว (p^hàd gà-p^hrāo ^hmǔu-sàb gàb k^hài dāow = Stir-fried minced pork with holy basil and fried egg) — we started chatting about places to visit nearby, and her eyes lit up as she told me, “You should go see the tulip garden — it’s beautiful and not far from here.” I didn’t expect to hear about tulips in tropical Thailand, but her enthusiasm was contagious. So, of course, I had to see the Flora Exhibition Hall for myself.

When we got there, the place was already buzzing with life. Cars were lined up in a neat little queue, everyone waiting patiently for their turn to enter the car park. The air was of that weekend excitement — families chatting, people snapping photos before they’d even stepped inside. At the entrance, you stop to collect a visitor pass from the staff before driving in. I remember looking down at mine and thinking the number looked lucky, so I decided to try my chance and bought a lottery ticket with it later that day. No win, unfortunately — but it still makes me smile when I think about it.

On the way into the glass dome, there’s a small garden filled with lush green ferns and a gentle waterfall cascading down the rocks. The air was cool and fresh, with that earthy scent of damp leaves that always makes me feel instantly relaxed. Ferns have always been one of my favourite plants — I even have many of them growing in my front garden here in England. I remember standing there for a moment, just listening to the sound of the water and feeling the soft mist on my skin. It was such a lovely surprise — a quiet, peaceful prelude before stepping into the dome itself.

And then, stepping into the dome felt as if I had quietly crossed seasons. Outside, the air was warm and familiar — the kind of tropical heat that wraps around you like a silk scarf. But inside the dome, everything changed — the air was cool, crisp, and scented faintly with flowers. I remember wrapping my arms around myself in surprise at how cold it was — so, make sure to wear a jumper or a long-sleeve top.

Before me stretched rows and rows of tulips in full bloom — pink, red, yellow, white, and even delicate purple ones, standing tall as if greeting every visitors with a quiet smile. For a moment, I just stood there, talking it all in, a little amazed that such a sight existed right here in Rayong. It felt like a touch of England had somehow found its way into Thailand’s warm heart. There was something almost magical about it — that unexpected meeting of climates, colours, and cultures — and it made me slow down, breathe deeply, and simply be in the moment.

What amazed me most was not just the beauty of the flowers but the impossibility of it all. How could these delicate tulips, children of the cold, bloom so gracefully in a tropical province? Then I learned that the garden was powered by cold energy from the nearby LNG plant — an innovative use of waste energy to create a living, breathing art form. I found that so inspiring — a symbol of how technology and nature can dance together beautifully when guided by creativity and care.

I wandered slowly through the aisles, breathing in the cool air and feeling a quiet sense of awe. There was something magical about seeing Thai visitors wrapped in jackets, smiling and taking photos among tulips, as if we had all travelled together to another continent — without even leaving our home country.

Thinking back to that day now — as I sit here wrapped in a blanket on Sunday evening — I realise how much that visit still lingers with me. The Flora Exhibition Hall in Rayong was more than just a pretty place; it’s a quiet story of transformation, of how beauty can bloom in unexpected places when we care enough to make space for it.

For me, it serves as a metaphor for what life often teaches me — that contrasts can coexist harmoniously. Warm and cold. Effort and rest. Work and wonder. Just as those tulips thrived in a place they were never meant to grow, I’m reminded that we, too, can find our own version of bloom wherever we are planted. So tonight, as the cold settles in and I slow down for a brand-new week, I find a gentle comfort in that memory — of colour, calm, and the quiet miracle of tulips in Rayong.

If you ever find yourself in Rayong, take a detour to this tulip garden. Step inside and feel the temperature drop, the colour rise, and your heart open. It’s a place where Thailand meets Europe — and where the ordinary turns quietly extraordinary. It’s definitely a small adventure that will stay with you long after the petals have faded.

As always, thank you for dropping by my blog. Have a cosy night, a great week ahead — and see you in my next post.

With all my heart, 💛 — Urai