About Me

Hello, I'm Eileen, the author of this blog.

This blog began as a chronicle of our boating adventures aboard our motor vessel, Mai Thai—the inspiration for the blog's name. For 25 incredible years, she was our home, our adventure vessel, and the gateway to countless unforgettable memories. We recently sold her, a bittersweet milestone in our journey.

Mai Thai, a 37' Jefferson trawler, was powered by twin diesel Cummins engines—yes, a "stinkpot," as sailboaters like to say—but she got us where we wanted to go... fast!

The name Mai Thai is a playful twist on the Polynesian cocktail "Mai Tai," which means "out of this world" in Tahitian. Once upon a time, I had a gig as a bartender, and our last name is Thai—so mvmaithai seemed like the perfect fit.

Ironically, while we enjoy cocktails and wine, they don't return the favor. Like many others of Asian descent, we experience what's known as the “Asian flush.” Just one drink turns my face red, makes me itchy, and sometimes... well, it's not pretty. That’s why Mai Thai was a dry boat—safer and a whole lot more pleasant!

Although our boating chapter has ended, our love of travel certainly hasn't. Today, I share our travels, photography, and adventures from Florida and beyond.

Mai Thai anchored in Sarasota

Taking pictures on the beautiful TN River

I’ve written articles for Latitudes & Attitudes, Living Aboard (which eventually merged back into Latitudes & Attitudes), and the now-shuttered Yahoo! Voices. 

As a Yahoo! Travel Contributor

I’ve also shared our adventures on our blogs (mvmaithai and tenchired) and YouTube channels mvmaithai.

When I'm not writing, you'll usually find me cooking, gardening, taking photos and videos, birdwatching, or volunteering with the horticulture team at the Florida Botanical Garden.

Thanks for stopping by—I hope you'll enjoy coming along for the ride!