Returning to Thai Roots

Okay, come on, guys, let's get in. NARRATOR: Sopa Macny leapt at the chance to return to her homeland. SOPA: I was born in central Thailand and moved to the Detroit area when I was seven years old. This feels great to be back here. Now I'm back after 30-something years. Look at all these high-rises and all these cars. NARRATOR: Now she and husband John are struggling to find a house that fits in a country that suddenly feels foreign. So, the kids will have to go through the outside to get to their rooms at night. Yes, they'll walk across here. You got the entrance to this bedroom here. You've got a second bedroom over there. JOHN: We're definitely not gonna be swimming laps in it, but there's a lot of room to be able to play. It doesn't look like there's a yard here. NARRATOR: Find out if these fish out of water sink or swim... when "House Hunters International" goes to Pattaya, Thailand. We got to find a house soon. This is too small. [ Doorbell rings ] -- Captions by VITAC -- Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC. That one looks to have an open floor plan, like you're looking for, you know? John and I met about 20 years ago in the Detroit area, and we married within six months of our first meeting. And since then, we've moved several places. With 12 relocations under their belts, John and Sopa Macny have never found a place that felt like home. So when his company wanted to set up an office in Sopa's homeland, it felt like fate was stepping in. Thailand was always on our radar because of my heritage, and when this opportunity came forth, we just jumped on it. With John's work requiring a fast move, they packed up their lives, booked a hotel, and endured the grueling 9,000-mile flight from Mississippi to Thailand. Interception! But they're quickly finding hotel life to be a tight squeeze for a family of five. We got to find a house soon. This is too small. We've got to get our kids out of the hotel. So, finding a house is the utmost priority. Sopa's hoping her children will warm up to life in Thailand. JOHN: It's important for them to see other cultures and other lifestyles as a child, so, when they're growing up, they have a different appreciation for the cultures that they'll meet along the way. This feels great to be back here. I hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I'm enjoying showing it to you. Located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 100 miles southeast of Bangkok, Pattaya is a beach resort city popular with tourists and expatriates. Originally, Pattaya was just a quaint little fishing village, and in just a matter of 25, 30 years, this little fishing village, Pattaya, has exploded into a vibrant world-class city. NARRATOR: And with the booming growth has come increasing demand for luxury homes. CLAYTON: This year, we've done more rentals to expats than we have any other year. NARRATOR: But after being MIA from her home country for so long, even Sopa's struggling to fit in. I can't believe all that's going on in Pattaya. Look at all these high-rises and all these cars. SOPA: It's not exactly the Thailand I remember, of course, but the people, the culture is still what I remember. Well, what can we do for you guys? Well, we need to find a house. We need to get out of the hotel that we're in very quickly -- five of us in there. It's a really tight spot. What can we look for in a home for you? Well, our budget is $3,500, $4,000 U.S. Four bedrooms -- We need at least four bedrooms. At least three bathrooms. A yard -- We have three kids. And then, an absolute must is a pool. Finding a nice house with a large swimming pool will not be difficult. Your budget is plenty high. You're in the luxury-accommodation bracket. You can get just about anything you want, pretty much -- Good news for you. You don't have to budge that budget. That's right. That's right. Why don't we go ahead and head out and take a look at these homes? All right. Great. This is definitely executive-level house hunting. It may be difficult for them to choose the one they really like. NARRATOR: Excited to work with a budget that can buy the best of the best, real estate agent Clayton Wade starts east with a home that offers plenty of space for family fun. CLAYTON: Now, this one's a little bit over your budget. It's $4,300 U.S. a month. JOHN: Okay. It's a little above the budget that we were looking for, so hopefully we can do some work there. This is very nice. It's a nice open-air lounging space here and a huge pool. That is a lap pool, no doubt about it. SOPA: Yeah, it starts from there and goes all the way. It goes the whole length of the house. It's beautiful, but it's not tropical Thailand. It's almost English garden-type. But it has the accents of Thailand with the palm trees. Yeah, you're right. Your kids are gonna flip over this, I guarantee you. It's a nice, big space. I like the way that it's actually separated a little bit from the pool. SOPA: Wow, John, huge kitchen. Look at all the cupboards. Nice kitchen. Very nice. I like the island. Very nice. I love the countertops -- the brick. It's rustic, and it goes with the ceiling themes. It is a little dark, though. There is a couple of windows, but those windows are covered from the outside, so there's no direct natural light at all into the kitchen. CLAYTON: This is a big master bedroom. It's a huge master suite. And actually, the natural light in here is pretty good. There's a lot of windows. You're surrounded by windows. It's nice being up on the second level. I think you do get a lot more natural light. And all the trees right outside the windows. Now, that feels a little more southeast Asia. Okay. I think that John likes this house. He loves the pool. The style, he's pretty neutral. He can live anywhere that's comfortable. JOHN: This isn't the exact style that she set out looking for. She looked for something a little bit more Thailand-feel, so hopefully she's gonna make the right compromises to end up with the best home for us. Oh, this is very nice. Wow. And while you're sitting in the tub, you got the nice view outside. CLAYTON: Isn't it nice? When you put it all together, there are a lot of nice touches in this house. I agree. This is the way to the other bedrooms, Clayton? Yes, we've got two bedroom suites across here. Oh, I don't know how the kids are gonna feel about going outside to go into their rooms to go to bed. That's a negative to this house, no doubt about it. Absolutely. In fact, it's a little, you know, uncomfortable for me, as well, knowing that they're not in the main house. There's a lot of space. It's a big house. It's got the big yard, too. There are a few concerns, though. Yeah, it is a little bit dark. You got to walk outside, obviously, to be able to get to the other bedrooms. That's a little bit of a negative with this house. Oh, wow. Look at this space. This is a big bedroom. Yeah. Actually, Clayton, I think this room has more closet space than the master does. I can store all my winter stuff here. You don't need any winter stuff here. [ Laughs ] CLAYTON: It's got the nice sitting area off the bedroom. It's a good space. Still, the issue, though, you know, about going outside to come to the bedroom -- That's probably the biggest one in my mind right now. Yeah. NARRATOR: A sandy surprise... Very tropical and lush, and it's maybe five minutes' walk to the beach. ...could be the key. JOHN: Being close to the beach was not one of the things that was on our wish list, but being able to have a home close to the beach is fantastic. Thanks, Clayton. NARRATOR: Crammed into a small hotel, the Macny family is looking for an escape. Hello. Welcome to Silverlake. You are...? Sopa Macny has returned to her native Thailand with her family. But she's discovering a changed country. Hello. [ Conversing in Thai ] Welcome to Silverlake Vineyard. When I remember, as a child, it was just a very long beach with a couple of dive shops and some papaya salad stands. We created Silverlake Vineyard about 7½ years ago. We grow grapes for both table grapes and wine grapes. Right now, it has high-rise condos, the shopping is magnificent, and the beachfront is not what I remember it, but is very alive and vibrant. People think that grapes don't grow in this part of the world, you know? So, this is a new latitude type of wine. We should be harvesting around January, February, and March. Come on in. Welcome to one of our greenhouses. I'm very excited to be able to have the opportunity to reconnect with the culture. This definitely sparks some inspiration. And now when we have visitors over, we can serve Thai wine with dinner. With Thai food. Thanks so much, Dennis. Thank you, Dennis. Appreciate your time. You're all very, very welcome. You really enlightened us. NARRATOR: Sopa's anxious to get back to her roots, but she's struggling to find that authentic Thai vibe that she remembers. It's beautiful, but it's not tropical Thailand. It's almost English garden-type. But for John, the backyard alone is worth the house's awkward layout and overbudget price tag. I like the way that it's actually separated a little bit from the pool. With their big budget, Clayton Wade expected an easy task. But he's struggling to match Sopa's antiquated ideals with a modern world. So he tries a traditional Thai home to the southwest, hoping it will feel more like the country Sopa recalls. Here we are -- Viewtalay Marina. And as you can see, everyone's enclosed with their own private walls -- very tropical and lush, and it's maybe five minutes' walk to the beach. This is a lovely 5-bedroom home, 5 bathrooms. JOHN: And how is this home relative to our budget? This one's $4,000 U.S. asking. Okay, very good. Shall we go in? Okay, great. Being close to the beach was not one of the things that was on our wish list, but being able to have a home close to the beach is fantastic. Wow. Look at this, John. Oh, wow. I love the Chinese antiques. CLAYTON: Yeah, isn't this wonderful? Clayton, does everything come with it? Absolutely. This is how you move into this home. This is it. This would be the home you'd live in. I like the wood floors because it's softer. It's not like walking on tile all the time. The traditional Thai style of this house with the added Chinese antiques actually is my favorite style. We've got a full European kitchen on the left, and we've got formal dining over here on the right side. Isn't that lovely? And all the wood accents. I love wood. This is one very nice European kitchen. What a beautiful backyard. Tropical. It's a good-size pool. We're definitely not gonna be swimming laps in it, but there's a lot of room to be able to play and be able to play with the kids in the pool. Well, we'd have to always play in the pool because it doesn't look like there's a yard here. The backyard is not family-friendly at all. The foliage is nice, but I feel it's a little overgrown and unkept. CLAYTON: This is the second bedroom. The master's even larger. But you're gonna love this room, as well. JOHN: Is that a terrace out there? Yes, it's got its own outdoor terrace. Oh, this is pretty. Wow. Is that a different house? Yeah. That's the neighbor's home, yep. That's a little bit close for my liking, that's for sure. The balcony and the walk around the home is gorgeous. But there is the concern that we're very close to our neighbor, as well as that balcony right over the pool. It's a little tempting for 6-year-old Nolan to daredevil off of, so maybe that's not a good family feature. Look at these ceilings, huh? That is a beautiful ceiling, and the skylights up there. Nice, tall windows. It's a good view out here, too, out the front. Right. So, what do you think overall? I don't like that there's not a yard. The pool is nice. When I walked out that door and I realized that the neighbor was there, that was a tough one for me. We are getting all the bedrooms that we're asking for. There is no place for the kids to play in, but it is within our budget. This house has a tremendous yard, huge swimming pool. It's a little bit over your budget. It's $4,900 a month. That's more than a little. NARRATOR: Will a stunning backyard outweigh the cost? Wow. This is gorgeous. Look at the etchings. NOLAN: It looks like a stadium. JOHN: It does. A giant lotus. I've always dreamt of coming back and introducing my kids to the culture that I grew up in. No, Nonie. Yep. It's not exactly the Thailand I remember, but the nuances, the feeling, the people, the culture is still what I remember, and I'm very excited to share it with my kids and my husband. You got the flowers? Okay. I'm hoping that this experience just opens up our children's eyes that there are different customs, because the world is getting smaller and smaller, and it's important for them to see other cultures and other lifestyles. The children are going to give us a really hard time about handling the culture and the language and learning new things. But I think once they get over that hump, they're gonna be so grateful that they got this opportunity. NARRATOR: After struggling to connect with house one... It's beautiful, but it's not tropical Thailand. It's almost English garden-type. ...house two felt more like home. What a beautiful backyard. SOPA: Tropical. But Sopa wants her kids to feel comfortable, too. It's a good-size pool. We're definitely not gonna be swimming laps in it, but there's a lot of room to be able to play and be able to play with the kids in the pool. Well, we'd have to always play in the pool because it doesn't look like there's a yard here. There is no place for the kids to play in, but it is within our budget. NARRATOR: Clayton Wade thought a large $4,000 budget would make this search a breeze. But he's having a rough time balancing Sopa's desire for a traditional Thai home and the kids' need for space, so he has no choice but to blow the budget and take the Macnys away from the beach. This house has a tremendous yard, huge swimming pool. It's a little bit over your budget. It's $4,900 a month. That's more than a little. I wanted you to take a good look at it 'cause it's really, really nice. Oh, it's got to be quite a haul then. It's fabulous. It's fabulous. I'm excited about this. Let's take a look, huh? Come on, guys. Nice. Look at the pool. As soon as you walk in... I'm going to the pool. CLAYTON: Isn't that spectacular? That is. When you walk in, that's the first thing that your eyes are drawn to is the backyard and the pool. Look at the screens. You don't see houses around here with screens very often. I like that. Keeps the mosquitos out. It's a nice yard. It's a good size. It's not overwhelming, but yet there's room in the back Absolutely. Right back there, and the water feature off the back wall. Is this a lap pool, John? Definitely this could be a lap pool. It's a great family home. Good choice. SOPA: This is what Thailand is about. It's definitely a tropical paradise back here. CLAYTON: This is a designer kitchen. I love the clean lines and the surfaces here. It's nice light surfaces, too, that makes the house that much more open and airy. Is this a wine fridge? Wine fridge. You've got your espresso. This is gonna be a tough house to beat. It is the budget, though. It's significantly above our budget, and that's gonna be a concern. Isn't this gorgeous? This is a master. This is a master bedroom, absolutely. Wow. You have access to the pool, and the sala is right there, and a little private Zen garden. Again, lots of windows, a lot of natural light. This is beyond my expectations... Look at the vanity. Double sinks. SOPA: It really stretches our budget, but I hope I can talk him into it. Well, guys, you've seen another fabulous home. I love it. It's a clear decision for me, you know, but there's a lot of things that we have to consider. It is over our budget, but it's a nice home... very much. We do. Is there one we can eliminate to make this easier? I think so. Well, the obvious elimination -- first elimination -- is... NARRATOR: Sopa's desire to reconnect with her home country has made escaping their cramped hotel room more difficult than her husband, John, expected. What are we gonna do? We need a house. Make a decision quickly because I want to get out of this hotel room. At $4,300 a month, house one is over their $4,000 budget and has the backyard of John's dreams. I like the way that it's actually separated a little bit from the pool. But it doesn't match up with Sopa's vision of Thailand. And the design is hard for them to wrap their heads around. SOPA: This is the way to the other bedrooms, Clayton? CLAYTON: Yes. I don't know how the kids are gonna feel about going outside to go into their rooms to go to bed. That's a negative to this house. NARRATOR: At $4,000 per month, house two is on budget, is close to the beach, and has the Thai vibe Sopa's seeking. The traditional Thai style of this house with the added Chinese antiques actually is my favorite style. But it isn't family-friendly. Well, we'd have to always play in the pool because it doesn't look like there's a yard here. House three seduces Sopa with a roomy backyard for the kids. It's a nice yard. It's a good size. It's not overwhelming, but yet there's room in the back for the kids to play. However, John's balking at its budget-busting price of $4,900 a month. So, overbudget, but doable and magnificent home. I never said "doable." So, we need to get out of this hotel. We have to make a decision. They were three great houses. But is there one in your mind that we can eliminate right off the top? Well, the obvious elimination -- first elimination -- is... Viewtalay. There's no yard, there's no extra space for an office, so let's just take that one right off the list. Okay. So, that leaves us Sedona Villa and Santa Maria or... La Casa Verde. They both have the bedrooms that we need, but you loved the Sedona village house. It's got the open concept that we want, the garden, the pool. It's beautifully decorated. To me, that's the perfect house. But I know that we have to consider the kids and the budget. It is way over our budget. But if you look at La Casa Verde, I think that that's a house that we can really all feel good in. Okay. The big pool, the yard -- It's a good house. It's got a lot of pluses. So, can we make a decision? The obvious choice is La Casa Verde. I mean, it's an amazing house, and we'll be lucky to have it as our home, and I think the kids will be really excited. I think they will, too. Should we go tell them? Let's go tell them. In the end, the perfect backyard trumps all. It might be a smidge over budget, but ecstatic children are worth the extra cost. See Buddha Mountain there, you guys? You can get a better view over here. Honestly, I feel like I have to pinch myself sometimes because I can't even believe I'm able to be back here and live the dream. You want to see the dragonfruit? I have access to all the things that I grew up with -- the fruits and vegetables, the lifestyle and the culture. You want some mango? Going through this journey with my kids and seeing how they're responding to the things that I responded to as a kid, it's pretty cool. I guess that was good. Nolan ate most of it. Everything coming full circle. [ Gong sounds ] JULIA: Coming. The house is working out great. The kids are getting all the space that they need. Excellent. Oh! [ Laughs ] SOPA: The big concern we had was going outside from the main house to get into their bedrooms, and surprisingly, they've adjusted. We made the move because of a great opportunity to be able to come to Thailand, expose our children, have a great job opportunity, and in the end, it has worked out perfectly.