The Smilo Squad

The Smilo Squad Mum life, travel, food & fitness ���
Jaipur-based, exploring India & beyond
Wanderers, unapologetically ourselves
Join the imperfect journey �

The monsoon rains have had us mostly tucked inside since we arrived, so my camera roll’s looking a bit sparse. Honestly,...
16/09/2025

The monsoon rains have had us mostly tucked inside since we arrived, so my camera roll’s looking a bit sparse.

Honestly, it’s a welcome change — after 18 months of constant adventures, settling into a slower pace at home feels just right. These gentle days give us space to catch up, reset, and enjoy the simple moments that make home feel special.

Still, that spark for exploring never disappears.

Sharing some favourite Jaipur snaps from our last visit—each one a little reminder of the adventures that are waiting.

I am looking forward to revisiting these places and discovering even more corners of Rajasthan & beyond in the coming months.

Winter here is truly something magical, and it’s one of the big reasons we found our way back. I can’t wait to share it all with you.

Just 10 minutes into this climb, I was already struggling with the seemingly endless steps to kick off the trail. But o...
15/09/2025



Just 10 minutes into this climb, I was already struggling with the seemingly endless steps to kick off the trail. But once we got past that, the view took my breath away.

Along the way, we got lost, found our way back, and soon realized what goes up must come down—honestly, the way down was tougher on the knees than the climb up.

We all made it though, trekking around 10km from Moon Gate to Station 5, where we got to sip tea with the insanely fit locals (no pics because I was still recovering from the stairs and just enjoyed the rest). Then through the forest, onto the Tar Road, through the Botanical Garden, and back. It might have been even more, thanks to our unexpected detour, but if you asked me to do it again… I’d say yes in a heartbeat.

I’m not much of a trekker, and at the time, I was pretty out of shape. I hadn’t worked out in over two years. This was definitely outside my comfort zone. But with a little push from M and the boys, I gave it a go—and I’m so glad I did.

Over a year later, it remains one of my favourite memories.

The lesson? Sometimes stepping outside your comfort zone—into the things that scare or challenge you—is exactly where the magic happens.

Life in August ✨️3 countries in a month 🇻🇳 🇲🇾 🇮🇳 & we celebrated two birthdays amidst it all.Not all of it was soju & du...
31/08/2025

Life in August ✨️

3 countries in a month 🇻🇳 🇲🇾 🇮🇳 & we celebrated two birthdays amidst it all.

Not all of it was soju & dumplings. Some of it was flight delays, overpriced airport food, and the endless cycle of packing–unpacking–packing again. New beds, new currencies, new everything.

And doing it with kids who aren’t little anymore, but not quite grown either — is a wild stage of its own.

Still, we showed up. We laughed, we argued, we learned. And we made it through, together. With no regrets.

We thought chasing the world was the adventure… but what if the real story only begins when the suitcases stop moving?

It’s Friday, and I’m not cooking. Not meal-prepping. Not even pretending. 🔥🍜Tonight’s dinner? Dry Pho — broth on the sid...
25/07/2025

It’s Friday, and I’m not cooking. Not meal-prepping. Not even pretending. 🔥🍜

Tonight’s dinner? Dry Pho — broth on the side, noodles, herbs, sauce, and crunch all separate. Basically a deconstructed Pho, and honestly, I’m obsessed. If you’re ever in Saigon, hit up Mama Pho — or just order it on Grab and thank me later.

There’s Soju ready to crack open, a stack of seaweed snacks from GS25 (bless the elevator gods — it’s literally two floors down), and probably something weird… because when you go to an Asian convenience store with your tween, you’re bound to walk out with something they saw on YouTube and MUST try. 😅

Is anyone else skipping the stove tonight? What’s your go-to lazy dinner? Drop it in the comments — I might need inspo for tomorrow. 👇

22/07/2025

Accidentally walked into a VinMilk store… and walked out a full-blown dairy devotee.

Ice cream? Check.
Probiotic shots? Double check.

Vietnam, your milk game is next level — and honestly, I’m questioning every supermarket dairy aisle I’ve ever known.

This place is a dairy-lover’s playground and I am 100% here for it.

Have you ever been inside a dedicated dairy store? Or is this just a Vietnam flex? Tell me everything 👇

19/07/2025

Street-brewed. Slow-dripped. Sweet, strong, and unapologetically bold — just like Vietnam itself. 🇻🇳☕

There’s something sacred about watching Vietnamese coffee come to life curbside:

- a metal drip filter
- condensed milk over ice
- scooters zipping by

It’s not just a caffeine fix — it’s a moment. A rhythm. A ritual. And yes, it’ll ruin all other iced coffees for you. You’ve been warned.

Plot twist: This week was meant to be about momentum. Instead, it was about mid-stay apartment moves, botched bookings, ...
18/07/2025

Plot twist: This week was meant to be about momentum. Instead, it was about mid-stay apartment moves, botched bookings, and me saying, "It’s fine" with the energy of a woman not fine.

But hey — we’re still standing. And more importantly, we’re still sipping.

So here’s to a fresh Friday reset:
✨ Travel plans back on track (somewhat 🤪)
🍸 Cocktail in hand
📱 Content queue slowly rising from the ashes

If the relaunch got a little bumpy — thanks for sticking around anyway. The flavours, the rambles, the slightly chaotic magic? Still very much coming in hot.

Happy Friday. Sip slowly, crave boldly — and do yourself a favour: throw on the new Bieber album - it’s straight 🔥

~ M ✨️

Three posts. One honest pivot. And so many of you showed up with open hearts. Thank you.Yes, this is a brand. And yes, t...
13/07/2025

Three posts. One honest pivot. And so many of you showed up with open hearts. Thank you.

Yes, this is a brand. And yes, there’s a content strategy. But underneath all of it — it’s just me. Figuring it out in real time, building something that finally feels aligned.

This space has held a lot of versions of me. But now, it finally feels like one I want to grow into. To everyone who read, shared, messaged, followed — thank you.

There’s so much more to come: slow recipes, curious reflections, wine-soaked ramblings, and stories that don’t quite fit anywhere else.

And if you’re new here — welcome in. The table’s being set. The wine’s already poured. And the dumplings? Always in abundance. Stick around — it’s about to get tasty.

Some days, this life feels wild in the best way —Basketball courts in new cities, street food that blows our minds, and ...
05/06/2025

Some days, this life feels wild in the best way —
Basketball courts in new cities, street food that blows our minds, and hikes that push every limit.

But other days?

It’s dragging the kids through online schooling when no one’s motivated.

It’s hearing “no” more than “yes” when pitching your heart out.

It’s showing up to the gym anyway, sticking to the routine, even when it would be easier not to.

This isn’t just a long holiday — it’s our version of real life. One where the grind still exists, just with new views.

We’re not chasing perfection. We’re building something better — one sweaty, stubborn, sweet step at a time.

✨ If you’ve ever dreamt of doing life differently — follow along. It’s not always easy, but it’s absolutely worth it.

Selamat Pagi Kuala Lumpur! 🇲🇾A year ago, this was where it all began — the start of our big adventure. Now, it feels lik...
26/03/2025

Selamat Pagi Kuala Lumpur! 🇲🇾

A year ago, this was where it all began — the start of our big adventure. Now, it feels like we’re coming home. KL has this magic… the energy, the food, the people — it just pulls you in. Round 2, let’s do this! 🙌

Have you ever been to KL? What did you love most? 🌍

❤️

Jaipur… this isn’t goodbye. It’s a “see you later.”What was meant to be a quick stop to catch up with friends turned int...
22/03/2025

Jaipur… this isn’t goodbye. It’s a “see you later.”

What was meant to be a quick stop to catch up with friends turned into 8 unforgettable months. The chaos, the colour, the sounds, the smells — Jaipur pulled us in and refused to let go.

The hardest part? Leaving the people who made it feel that way. True friends are the ones who feel like family, and saying goodbye is hands down the worst part of travelling. But this isn’t the end — we’ll be back.

Oh, and the adventure doesn’t stop here… The Xeno Foodie Blog is launching! We’ll be sharing all our adventures from Round 1 and everything still to come in Round 2. This is just the beginning… ✈️

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