From Break to Breakthrough: Mystie’s Journey Through Vietnam & Thailand
When I created Moonglade Travel, I knew I wanted our journeys to go deeper than passports stamps and photo ops. I wanted to create space for women to exhale, reconnect, and discover something new inside themselves while exploring this big, bold and beautiful world.
That’s exactly what happened for Mystie when she joined us on our recent group trip to Vietnam and Thailand this summer. She stepped onto this journey with an open heart, and some bold curiosity and what she found was more than a getaway, it was just the breakthrough that she needed.
Her story is personal, powerful, and such a beautiful reflection of why I do what I do. We’re honored to feature her as a guest writer (a passion that was reignited on this trip) on our travel blog. I hope Mystie’s story inspires you to take the trip, lean into that “yes,” and see what’s waiting for you on the other side.
With gratitude & wanderlust,
Shanell Varner
Founder + Travel Coach, Moonglade Travel
Mystie’s Story
Healing in Motion: My Wellness Journey Through Thailand and Vietnam
Moonglade Travel invited me to step beyond the itinerary—and into myself. After months of seeking emotional clarity and grounding practices, I embarked on a Southeast Asian journey through Vietnam and Thailand not just to see the world, but to return to it with new eyes. Each destination became a mirror, a whisper, a lesson.
Transformational Travel in Vietnam
Vietnam didn’t just welcome me—it whispered to me.
At sunrise, I joined others in the slow, deliberate movements of tai chi. The air was soft, the light golden, and in that rhythm I felt something shift. It wasn’t just exercise—it was prayer in motion. Each breath, each gesture, invited me to be fully present. I didn’t know what I was searching for, but in that moment, I stopped searching. I simply received. Hanoi wrapped me in warmth—ancient stories stitched into silk. There, amid a culture that reveres both resilience and rest, I met the parts of myself I didn’t know were waiting. The village life spoke in quiet truths.
I met people who didn’t speak my language, yet somehow understood my heart. Their lives were simple, but not lacking. They showed me that gratitude isn’t about abundance—it’s about awareness. They weren’t chasing what the world calls “more.” They were honoring what they already had. And in their peace, I saw my own reflection—someone who had been afraid to name what she felt, but was finally ready to feel it. Walking with Intention and Letting Go to Receive are the lessons I learned here. You cannot chase peace. You must invite it. I did just that. Vietnam showed me that sacred and ordinary are not opposites. They dance together.
“Each breath, each gesture, invited me to be fully present. I didn’t know what I was searching for, but in that moment, I stopped searching. I simply received.”
Luxury + Cultural Travel in Thailand
Thailand—Where Flavor Meets Blessing
If Vietnam was a whisper, Bangkok was a joyful shout. The streets pulsed with energy—motorbikes weaving through alleys, vendors calling out their specials, the scent of lemongrass and grilled meats trailing behind me like incense. I didn’t come with a checklist, just an open heart and an empty stomach. And Thailand delivered. From sizzling pad thai to mango sticky rice that tasted like sunshine, the food was unforgettable. It wasn’t just delicious—it was generous, like the country itself. Somewhere between bites and massages, I got my ombré eyebrows done—for a fraction of what it would cost back home. Call it self-care or travel savvy, but it felt like a small luxury wrapped in adventure. And then there were the temples—ornate, golden, humming with reverence. In one, a Buddhist monk blessed me in a way I’ll never forget. He dipped a carved wooden staff—something between a log and a wand—into water and gently tapped my shoulders in a motion that felt almost knightly. No words were exchanged, but the gesture spoke volumes. Peace and prosperity. I didn’t ask for them, but I think he saw the longing written on my face. I received the blessing like a benediction, a sacred pause in the middle of the bustle.
“Peace and prosperity. I didn’t ask for them, but I think he saw the longing written on my face. I received the blessing like a benediction, a sacred pause in the middle of the bustle.”
Transformational Travel Reflections
Lessons That Travel Leaves Behind
As my car wound through the streets of Bangkok heading to the airport, the rain behind me was relentless—thick sheets cascading from the sky like grief that hadn’t yet found its words. But then, just ahead, a rainbow arched across the skyline. Not above me. Not beside me. Directly in front of me. It was surreal. Behind me, the storm. In front of me, promise. I didn’t need a sermon or a signpost to interpret it. That rainbow was a whisper, a gentle reminder that even when the downpour feels endless, there’s a covenant waiting on the other side. It was as if the Spirit was saying, “Keep going. I’m already where you’re headed.” I didn’t just explore countries—I explored calm, courage, and clarity. Behind me, the storm. In front of me, promise. Now, back in Charlotte with sheets freshly washed and a welcome meal planned, I carry these lessons into every room I enter. My Moonglade journey wasn’t a break. It was a breakthrough. If you’re longing for renewal, Moonglade Travel doesn’t just book trips—they open pathways. Your next destination might be the doorway inward.
With grace and gratitude,
Mystie Carpenter Pulliam
Listen to Mystie share more on the With Love, From Travel! Podcast
What part of Mystie’s journey resonated with you most? Let us know in the comments below.
Now, It’s Your Turn to Experience Travel That Transforms
Mystie’s story is one of many breakthroughs that happen when you choose intentional travel. If you’ve been craving a shift — spiritually, emotionally, or simply in the way you see the world — Moonglade Travel is here to guide you there.