Where Everyday Life Feels Easy
“My daughters loved living here so much that we decided to stay for another year.”
For Aya Hamaguchi, that simple decision says everything about her family’s experience at Shama Lakeview Asoke Bangkok.
Aya moved from Japan to Bangkok with her husband and their two daughters, aged nine and six, when her husband’s work brought the family to Thailand. Introduced to Shama by a real estate agent, she was immediately drawn to the residence’s welcoming atmosphere and beautiful surroundings. What she did not expect was how quickly it would become part of their everyday life.
“My daughters loved it here so much that we decided to ask to stay for a second year,” she says with a smile.
For Aya, it is not just the comfort of the residence that has made the difference. It is the people.
“The staff are always smiling,” she says. “Even when we cannot understand each other, they always try to communicate. They use Google Translate, gestures or whatever they can. Because everyone is so welcoming, my daughters have become confident enough to talk to people, even if they do not speak the same language.”
Those simple, everyday moments have helped the whole family settle into a new country with ease.
One familiar face the children especially look forward to seeing is a member of the security team at the entrance. Every day, he greets the family warmly and chats with the girls using gestures and the little Thai they are learning. After school, he often walks them back from the school bus to the residence.
“It is mostly body language,” Aya laughs. “But the children always come home holding his hand.”
The family’s days have naturally settled into a comfortable rhythm. Each morning, the Japanese school bus collects the girls from Shama. While they are at school, Aya enjoys strolling around the neighbourhood, shopping and having lunch at Terminal 21. At weekends, the family often heads to nearby Benjakitti Park, where they enjoy spending time outdoors together.
Living at Shama has also given the family opportunities to experience Thai traditions through community celebrations. Songkran, Loy Krathong and Christmas have all become special occasions that the girls eagerly look forward to.
“The decorations are always beautiful,” Aya says. “I like taking photos and sending them to my friends in Japan.”
Her daughters especially enjoy joining the festive activities and dancing together with everyone, creating memories that have become part of their life in Bangkok.
Looking back, Aya feels grateful that her children have had the opportunity to grow up surrounded by a different culture.
“It makes me happy that we can experience another culture and live in a different country,” she says. “Because everyone welcomes us with a smile, my children are not afraid to speak to people, even when they cannot communicate perfectly.”
When asked whether there is anything she would improve, Aya pauses for a moment before laughing.
“Sometimes housekeeping forgets to replace the towels,” she says with a smile. “But that is really the only thing I can think of. Everything else is totally ok.”
For Aya, those small moments are easily outweighed by the warmth she and her family experience every day here at Shama Lakeview Asoke Bangkok.
What began as a temporary move has become a year filled with familiar faces, shared celebrations and simple routines that make life feel easy. For the Hamaguchi family, Shama is more than the place where they live. It is where they have found a welcoming neighbourhood, discovered new experiences together and created memories they will take with them long after they return home.
Explore more: Shama
Story: Sue Rattanamahattana • Photography: Prattana Samransuk, ONYX Hospitality Group
ABOUT HEARTMADE
Created to celebrate the 60th anniversary of ONYX Hospitality Group, Heartmade is a series of heartfelt stories inspired by the people who make every stay memorable, from dedicated team members to cherished guests across Amari, OZO, Shama, Oriental Residence, as well as our spa and dining brands.
Through personal memories, meaningful connections, and moments of genuine care, the series celebrates the warmth and spirit of hospitality that have brought people together for six decades. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from the Heartmade series.
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