An Adventure is Born: Thailand

In the flurry and chaos of finishing up at Kids College, I never had a chance to write about what was going on during our last weeks, days, and hours in South Korea. And not only have I been lacking the time to write about it, but I've also had very little time to even think about it. Tying up loose end at work, packing up last-minute luggage, and saying goodbye to our colleagues, friends, and students - it had all rushed by impossibly quickly. And suddenly, it was Friday: our last day of teaching, and the next day, our last day in Korea. On Sunday, we were up bright and early, fully packed and anxious. We boarded one last taxi to the bus station, and a bus to the airport, and then, it was finished. By the end of the day, we were in Bangkok, ready to begin our next whirlwind adventure. And that's where I begin this new series.

Together with Tony's parents, we had decided to celebrate the end of our year abroad in Thailand for a family sojourn. Tony and I planned out the details meticulously - from where to stay, how to transfer, activities, even down to which street foods to sample. This trip was a new challenge in many ways: first, we had to accommodate the different standards that come with parents (i.e., no 12-hour bus rides or dingy hostels), but we managed to budget well; luckily Thailand is very affordable. Second, this will be our longest trip yet, a whole month! I'll try to post about what we are up to (but I'm obviously already terribly behind), and you can follow us to see everyday photos on Instagram as well (and with the hashtag #EasternHamorsphere). But for now, check out the highlights from our 10-day visit to Thailand:

Bangkok

We stayed in a modern, trendy hotel that was very clean and chic, a stark contrast to the city in which it's located. We spent our time exploring local temples, enjoying nearby restaurants, and spending some time on the river. Traffic in Bangkok is out of this world - and the public transit makes it even harder to believe. A popular way to get around is by "tuk-tuk," which is like a motorized trike with a caged bench seat in the back. Believe it or not, all four of us fit in one! Whizzing through the streets and slipping between cars was equally terrifying and wholly entertaining. 

Crammed in the tuk-tuk - Please keep all hands and arms inside the vehicle!

We also took a trip in a longboat around the canals to see a side of Bangkok that can't be viewed from the streets. My in-laws, who traveled through Italy in 2013, agreed that Bangkok could be the "Venice of the East;" if Thailand's tourism industry continues to grow in the right direction, it could be just as nice. On Tony's birthday, we spent the evening on a river cruise complete with buffet dinner, drinks, and "live music" - I say this tongue-in-cheek because they simply played original tracks over a speaker while a bedazzled performer lip-synced the words. And, despite the lack of a dancefloor, my insistence persuaded Tony to dance with me, just for a few songs.

Golden Mount Temple

Night views from the river cruise

Chiang Mai

On the first of August, we were off to the airport to fly to Chiang Mai, the "Pearl of the North." And so it was! We all agreed that Chiang Mai was magnificent yet cozy. We stayed in an old-fashioned hotel - think The Shining without the "red rum" - that treated us like celebrities. Our room was upgraded to an enormous suite (I counted five chairs plus a bench, four tables, and a desk). We received fruit baskets daily and were even given keepsakes upon our departure. The customer service was unparalleled!

Wat Doi Suthep Temple

This portion of the trip was jam-packed with adventures and memorable excursions. Our favorites? The night bazaar for shopping, Wat Doi Suthep Temple near the peak of a mountain, an elephant sanctuary, and, for us girls, a Thai cooking class. Tony and I also visited Tiger Kingdom; it was very cool to see the tigers up close and even pet them, but it was very touristy and the enclosures and display of the animals left us feeling uneasy. On the other hand, the elephant sanctuary was incredible and really ethical and authentic. The elephants had been rescued from abusive situations in which they are paraded around and ridden (which is catastrophic for their anatomical structure - and I could see why upon feeling how their spines protrude from their bodies). There were no gift shops or gimmicks; the caretakers were truly there for the well-being of the creatures. It was absolutely amazing to feed the elephants, stroke them, bathe them, and even receive a hug from their strong trunk!

Koh Samui & Koh Tao

After a couple days in Chiang Mai, it was time, unfortunately, to depart. We flew to Koh Samui, one of Thailand's larger and more popular islands. The feel was very tropical and more relaxed than the mainland, and it was a mix of family vacationers and party animals. To our great dismay, our luggage was lost for almost a day, but upon recovering it, we enjoyed time at the beach, fresh seafoods, and tropical beverages. We also ferried to a nearby, more secluded island: Koh Tao. Tony discovered this destination as a desirable location for scuba diving. And since Mom & Dad H are certified and loving their new hobby, we decided we had to go! Tony and I had to take a refresher course in the morning since it had been over a year since our last dive. But it was simple and before we knew it we were in the ocean for our first salt-water dives! We explored a shipwreck from World War 2, checked out a swim-through cave, and saw incredible sealife - an enormous change from our customary fresh-water quarry dives in Pennsylvania. We saw corals, anemones, rays, and tons of fish: parrot fish, butterfly fish, angel fish, trigger fish, puffer fish, and on and on. Now that I've dived in the great blue ocean, I'm bursting to go again!

Before long, our visit was over; the parents were headed home, and Tony and I were ready to embark on our next chapter. We had eaten incredible dishes - pad Thai, curries, Tom Yum soup, lots of fresh fruit, noodles, and on. And now, my mom-in-law and I can recreate these flavors at home since we learned in our cooking class. It was a bittersweet end: we had had loads of fun, but Dad hasn't been feeling well and was ready to return home. Plus, after months apart, three more weeks til we're home will be a piece of cake! Meanwhile, Tony and I were anxious to continue our travels and embark into a new culture. Next stop: Cambodia!