Remembering Thailand

Hey everyone! I feel like I’ve been gone forever, but really it’s been about two days. I’ve been working on some huge changes in my life that I can’t wait to share with you all soon. But as I’ve been working on these changes, and thinking about the life changes I’ve already made, it got me remembering Thailand. Why?

Not because Thailand is the only beautiful, exotic (for me) location in the world. Not because I don’t feel I’ll ever visit someplace like it again. Not even because it was my first big international trip.

I’m remembering Thailand because it fulfilled a dream. I dreamed to venture off to someplace entirely different from my own land, and that’s what I did. And I really believe that anytime we fulfill a dream, no matter how big or small, it builds confidence in us to try our hand at more. I didn’t die snowboarding? Great, let me see how fast I can zigzag through those trees.

So I’m remembering Thailand because I need the power of dreams right now, but more importantly, I need the fulfillment of dreams in mind in order to keep my confidence while I’m shaking in my sundress.

Here are some views from our very steep hilled bungalow, which believe it or not, was not an expensive. This is where we stayed on the Phi Phi Islands before launching off to explore Maya Bay and the scenes along the way.

I was taking pictures at that time with my shoddy waterproof camera, so the image is a bit fuzzy. Don’t ask me why I was using that camera when standing on a mountain.

Maya Bay, and the two hour journey there, was one of my life’s most beautiful moments. The earth is such a perfectly beautiful place.

Do you see the cave? Just makes me want to watch The Goonies all over again.

These rock formations in the middle of the ocean towered over our heads.

Maybe this is strange, but when our boat got up close to one of these giants, I imagined how it might have felt for the passengers of the Titanic who stood on deck as the glacier scrapped alongside the ship. How beautiful and frightening, right?

When touring Maya Bay and the Phi Phi Islands, you can take a larger vessel like the one we were on, or a smaller longboat. Both have pros and cons. I would’ve loved to take a longboat, but for a two hour ride, we decided to play it safe and take the vessel that sold drinks and had restrooms. Good thing too. Both of my friends spent a good deal of time barfing from seasickness in those restrooms.

This is Maya Bay.

As you can see, it’s got incredible emerald views and soft white sand and sea foam green water that makes our hearts swirl. The problem is that there’s lots of people. This lady in the background is wearing a life vest, though I’m 5 foot nothing and the water is hip deep. Most of these people just feel like submerging themselves because the water temperature is all one could hope for. You’ll also have to dodge a few selfie sticks. You can avoid this if you take the earliest tours, obviously.

Walking through the wet streets soaked from head to toe. Why? Thailand New Year, of course.

The Elephant Sanctuary is on the short list of the best times I’ve had in life.

 

Our names in Thai

 

You can check out my post Elephant Sanctuary, Thailand for more images and information from that amazing day.

This monk called us over and gave us free gifts. Homemade cookies!

 

From temples to one hot party!

A night of partying is always a must.

Riding around in tuk tuks.

Motorcycle and scooter parade that I stumbled on when I got lost one day.

 

Meeting new people

My new Thailand made tattoo, just a few hours old.

This hostel was a great opportunity to meet so many friendly and interesting people from all over the world. And it was actually a lot nicer than most of the hotels that we stayed in.

To keep the hostel clean, everyone stacks their shoes outside of the entry. It’s an honor system. I really love this.

Being in the hostel and talking to people from all over gave me such gratitude for all of the awesome people that can be found in this world. There were people taking a gap year, people who quit their jobs and now live on the road exploring one country after another, and others who simply wanted to get away for a while. So many different lives intertwining, so many stories being told, so much positive love being spread.