{"id":7,"date":"2025-10-14T17:15:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T10:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.shama.com\/?p=7"},"modified":"2025-10-17T15:22:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T08:22:51","slug":"a-home-for-all-paws-included","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.shama.com\/?p=7","title":{"rendered":"A HOME FOR ALL, PAWS INCLUDED"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

 How love, loss, and three little dogs led one couple to find a new kind of home at Shama Yen-Akat.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For Thitinad, the journey began in grief. When her father passed away from COVID-19, the family home in Bang Na became unbearable\u2014 every corner filled with memories too heavy to bear.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI once walked past the laundromat I used to visit with Dad,\u201d<\/em> she recalls. \u201cI just broke down in tears.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once known for her bright smile, she found herself hollowed out, unable to stay among the shadows of the past. Every street corner seemed to whisper his absence, each familiar place an aching reminder of what she had lost.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her partner, Pawarisa, suggested that a true change of environment might help. So they left the house behind and began moving from hotel to hotel, three Maltese dogs in tow\u2014Kimi, Akradecha and Mata\u2014 searching for somewhere to feel at peace.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t that the hotels weren\u2019t perfect. They were. The sheets crisp, the service polished, the butlers always on hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that was the problem. \u201cSometimes perfect protocol can make you feel a bit off,\u201d<\/em> she admits. \u201cThey\u2019d send a plate of chocolates when something went wrong. It looked flawless, but it didn\u2019t feel human.\u201d <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And for the dogs, the struggle was greater still. Most hotels treated pets as an afterthought: sealed windows, no balconies, restrictions in lobbies and restaurants, even separate entrances to avoid \u201cdisturbing\u201d other guests. Walking through the back entrance while other guests strolled the lobby freely left them feeling unwelcome, even diminished. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was like being second-class citizens,\u201d <\/em>says Pawarisa. \u201cWe couldn\u2019t share the same spaces with everyone else.\u201d  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One evening, driving through Bangkok, the warm glow of Shama Yen-Akat <\/strong>caught their eye. Unlike the faceless towers they had been drifting through, this one looked alive, almost beckoning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few days later they checked in, and everything changed. Here, the balconies opened to sunlight and birdsong, the \u201ckids\u201d could watch the world outside, and the staff welcomed them with genuine affection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe dogs are happy here,\u201d <\/em>Thitinad smiles. \u201cAnd when they\u2019re happy, we\u2019re happy.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This was the turning point. For once, the couple didn\u2019t feel like temporary guests; they felt part of a community. The staff weren\u2019t just service providers\u2014they became friends, remembered names, asked after the dogs, and offered sincere apologies instead of rehearsed gestures when things went wrong. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat sincerity means more to me than a silver tray of chocolates,\u201d <\/em>says Thitinad.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The excellent location mattered too. Shama Yen-Akat was close to expressways, near shops and restaurants, and highly convenient for Pawarisa\u2019s work. They tried different room types, finally settling on the smallest\u2014because that was where Kimi, their eldest girl, slept best. For Thitinad, the pets\u2019 comfort always came first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Over time, what began as a refuge became something far deeper. Thitinad brought small treats for the staff, picked up Burmese words to connect with some team members, even helped a new security guard manage incoming cars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her earlier doubts slowly faded away. Would neighbours pry, as in a condominium? Would the pets be treated as a nuisance? Would hospitality mean protocol instead of compassion? Each fear was quietly erased\u2014not with grand gestures, but with small, genuine acts of kindness.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt other hotels, when I checked out, I just settled the bill and drove away. Here, it would feel like leaving family.\u201d  <\/em>says Thitinad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even today, though they could easily afford to purchase a house, the couple have no desire to move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bonds they have built, the comfort of the community, and the joy of seeing their pets so content outweigh the appeal of owning bricks and mortar.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lesson is clear: true hospitality isn\u2019t measured in flawless service or luxury. It\u2019s found in the everyday\u2014 sincere smiles, patience, and the reassurance that both people and pets are truly valued.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two years on, Shama Yen-Akat is no longer simply a residence. For Thitinad and Pawarisa, it is sanctuary, community and home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in the heart of bustling Bangkok, where countless lights glow in the night, one shines brighter\u2014because it holds their story.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Guests <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For two years now, Thitinad Dardarananda <\/strong>and Pawarisa Udomthanapat<\/strong> have called Shama Yen-Akat<\/strong> home. With their three beloved Maltese\u2014Kimi, Akradecha and Mata\u2014they\u2019ve found not only comfort, but a community of staff and neighbours who feel like family.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Shama Yen-Akat<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tucked into one of Bangkok\u2019s peaceful yet central corners, Shama Yen-Akat<\/strong> feels more like a friendly community than a hotel. Stroll to nearby caf\u00e9s, explore leafy lanes with your pet, or retreat to spacious apartments designed for comfort. Here, city living comes with warmth, ease, and a genuine sense of home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Heartmade<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heartmade<\/strong> is a storytelling series by ONYX Hospitality Group<\/strong>, created to celebrate our guests and the moments that make their journeys truly special. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each story shines a light on real guests \u2014 their kindness, resilience, and memories that stay long after check-out. Because these stories aren\u2019t just about our hotels; they\u2019re about you<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 and the heartfelt connections that make every stay unforgettable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

 How love, loss, and three little dogs led one couple to find a new kind of home at Shama Yen-Akat. For Thitinad, the journey began in grief. When her father passed away from COVID-19, the family home in Bang Na became unbearable\u2014 every corner filled with memories too heavy to bear.   \u201cI once walked past […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-heartmade"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.shama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.shama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.shama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.shama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.shama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blog.shama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26,"href":"https:\/\/blog.shama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7\/revisions\/26"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.shama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.shama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.shama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.shama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}