Last Friday evening, I sat in my office at Dream Garden. It was around 6:30 p.m., just as the day was beginning to cool down. I was tired. Really tired. I’d been reviewing reports all day, and my head hurt.
I looked out the window and saw the sunset reflecting over the water. The sky was turning a deep, fiery orange. Beautiful. And I thought: This is why I’m here.
I don’t want a big promotion or a fancy title. I just want peace. I want quiet. I want to help other people find it too.
Today, when visitors come to Dream Garden, they see colorful little houses and well-maintained wooden walkways. They often think we are a big resort company backed by huge investors. But we’re not. This whole place started with just three things: one bicycle, one tent, and a big love for nature.
Let me tell you the real story of how we built this paradise by hand.
The Beginning: Just Me and a Tent
People always ask me, “How did Dream Garden start? Did you have architects? A business plan?”
I laugh and show them this old photo from the very beginning.
Before we had the comfortable A-frame houses you see now, this is where I lived. As you can see in the photo, it was just a simple camping tent pitched on a wooden platform. My bicycle, which I used to get around the property, was parked right next to it.
Those first nights weren’t easy. The platform kept me off the damp ground, but it was hard. The first week, mosquitoes ate me alive. My back hurt from sleeping on the wooden boards. I woke up sore every single morning.
But you know what? When I sat inside that tent and heard crickets at night instead of city car horns, I forgot about the pain. When I unzipped that tent door to watch the stars instead of checking my email, I slept better than I had in years.
I realized something important: happiness doesn’t come from expensive furniture or luxury hotels. It comes from peace. It comes from slowing down.
Nature Heals Everything
Running a small resort is stressful, I won’t lie. Some days, the water pump breaks. Other days it rains when we have a full booking. Plans fall apart.
But every single evening, nature gives me a gift that makes the hard work worth it: The Sunset.
When the sun goes down here, the whole world turns golden orange. As you can see in the picture, the water reflects the light like a perfect mirror. Everything glows.
In the city, when the sun sets, people just turn on more artificial lights and keep working. But here at Dream Garden, when the sun sets, we stop. We sit. We watch. We breathe.
Sometimes, the sun looks like a giant ball of fire sinking into the horizon.
And other times, the sky turns a soft, dreamy pink over the tall grass.
I built this place so other people could experience this, too. I wanted to create a space where you can sit by the water, watch the light dance on the surface, and remember how beautiful life really is.
We Built This Place with Our Hands and Hearts
We never wanted Dream Garden to look like a concrete hotel building. We wanted it to feel natural, like it grew right out of the earth.
That’s why we use local materials. That’s why we built things by hand, like our signature heart-shaped gate.
This gate is made from dried straw and bamboo. It creates a perfect photo frame with the trees and sunset behind it.
If you look closely at the bottom of that photo, you will see a sunflower growing. Every time I see it, I smile. That sunflower is exactly what we want for our guests. We want you to arrive tired and leave blooming with energy. Bright. Happy. Alive again.
The Dream Garden Experience Today
While I loved my tent days, I know our guests prefer a little more comfort! Today, you don’t have to sleep on a hard wooden floor.
We have built extensive wooden walkways that float above the grass and fields.
These paths allow you to wander through the property during the golden hour, surrounded by nature but keeping your feet dry. Whether you are walking to your room or heading to the water to watch the sun go down, the view is always open and wide.
Tips for Your Visit to Dream Garden
If you are planning to come disconnect with us, here are a few tips to make your trip perfect.
1. Timing is Everything
The best time to be on the wooden walkway is between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM. This is when the light is best for photos and when the heat of the day has cooled off. Don’t miss it by staying in your room!
2. Disconnect to Reconnect
We have Wi-Fi, but we encourage you to pretend we don’t. Bring a physical book. Bring a journal. Do what I did in my tent days—listen to the crickets rather than your notifications.
3. Pack for Comfort
Dream Garden is a nature resort. While our rooms are cozy, remember that you are in the countryside.
- Clothing: Bring light, breathable fabrics.
- Footwear: Sandals or easy slip-on shoes are best for the wooden paths.
- Essentials: A good bug spray is always smart for the evenings near the water.
A Final Thought on Slowing Down
Dream Garden started as my personal escape—just a tent and a bicycle—but it taught me that there is another way to live.
You don’t have to run so fast all the time. You don’t have to feel exhausted every Friday night. You can slow down. You can breathe. You can remember what peace feels like.
Whether you find that peace here sitting by our water, or in your own backyard watching the clouds drift by, I hope this story inspires you to take a moment for yourself.
We are always here working in the garden, tending to the sunflowers and watching the sunset paint the sky gold. If you ever find yourself in our part of the world and need a quiet place to rest, you are always welcome to stop by.
Until then, remember to look up at the sky once in a while.
