In 2016, I asked for the year to be good to me. Fresh out of a terrible relationship, I remember getting ready to go out thinking tonight everything changes. I mean that’s what New Years is about right. The magic of the new year where everything becomes a thing of “last year.” I told myself that THIS year Im going to commit to me. I’m going to be selfish and the whole year I’m going to do things for myself. I had a trip planned with a friend to Thailand in less than 20 days and I was ready to take on the world.
Truthfully, I drank pedialyte the whole day to avoid a hangover. I got dressed. Took a picture and a friend and I headed to uptown to celebrate. I cheers Happy New Year’s after the count down and chugged the free champagne then we would head back home. When ordering an uber the surcharges were out of control. My friend came and got us, and this 2016 we were waiting on started!
Off to Thailand
On January 20th, 2016, I headed on an adventure that would change me for my entire life. You see so many things happens for me years prior for me to even be going on the trip! We flew from Dallas to LAX with Asiana airways and then took the long flight to South Korea and finally landed in Bangkok! Found transportation to our hotel to start our journey. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a welcome drink (hot tea of some sort) and a warm. The best part was the welcome bar with all the goods! We showered and committed to exploring Bangkok the next day!
Bangkok had so much culture and variety. There were people in the markets selling insects, fish, meat and all types of food & tuk tuks switching from lane to lane. We found a tuk tuk driver who decided he would take us around for the day. We did a river tour followed by shopping and a fish pedicure. For me, I don’t think I believed I was in Thailand until I put my feet in water and fish ate my dead skin. It wasn’t the act, but I was at the mall entering looking at others order their meals, laugh and explore while I was sitting admiring, smirking, reminiscing with my feet in a literal fish bowl. This was the first of many new experiences!
Missing the flight
The following day, we arrived at the airport at 6 am to board our flight to Krabi only to find out that in Thailand on the ticket, the top is the arrival, and the departure is at the bottom. Of course, we missed our flight and immediately needed a plan B! We headed to go have whiskey and Krispy Kreme donuts while we tried to figure it out! We called multiple places, searched google, emailed and got everything set up! Some hours later we started our journey. Once we landed in Krabi, we would find a bus to the boat, which led us to another bus, then a ferry to Koh Phangan. All very complicated! We arrived after the sun was down and were escorted to our rooms. We dropped our bags and headed out.
First Encounter
We couldn’t lock our door, so a guy (my husband) from across the way came over and helped us figure it out. We missed the full moon party in Koh Phangan by one day, but enjoyed kababs and learned to breath fire. Not really learned. A man poured gasoline in my mouth and said breath. Ahaha. It was quiet an experience, but I accepted what 2016 was bringing!
The following day, it poured, so we could not take the zip lining excursion. I headed to the front desk to get all things set up. I came back and sat and talked on the phone with my friend. The guy from the day before waved at me from his patio and came over to talk. He asked if I would be outside for a while. I nodded my head and continued my conversation. 15 minutes later he came back. We talked and my friend, him (Robin) and I headed to bar hop. We talked about culture, life in Germany versus America and cheers with Chang beers. It stopped raining and we headed back to the resort. Robin headed on a boat to another island. We exchanged phone numbers and that’s where our love story began!
Thailand Adventure
The next day, we did an all inclusive zip lining adventure with lunch. Due to the rain we missed out on the cooking experience. Koh Lanta was our next stop! In Koh Lanta, we started off with laying out on the beach and relaxing. We walked the beach, watched the sunset and enjoyed the day in the sun! Koh Lanta is a relaxing place to read and take the island in. We took a boat to Koh phi phi, which was my favorite island!
Speaking of boat, when traveling to Thailand, I would suggest to use a back pack for your clothes. This amateur traveler used a vintage hard suitcase and lugged it all over Thailand. It made the travel days long! Koh phi phi was filled with coves, fish soup, scuba divers and views from every corner. Bobs booze cruise took us into the coves and allowed us to sip a drink in the middle of all the beauty!
We stayed in a hotel without wifi in the room and had to travel with long-tail boat to get there and back. If you want to go to Koh Phi Phi, make sure your accommodation is on the main island. There are day trips from other islands to Koh Phi Phi, if you are not someone who wants to be constantly on the move! The island was pure beauty!
Krabi was our last stop in the islands. I walked around the city and soaked in the trip. I wrote a letter to the boy I met for a couple of hours in Koh Phangan. Plot twist, I married him that year. We flew back to Bangkok. Got a hotel with a washer and dryer to do laundry! Ordered room service and chatted about our two week journey!
My advice:
If you venture off to Thailand: try new things, explore, pack a backpack & meet new friends. Do NOT let someone pour gasoline in your mouth, travel with a suitcase without wheels, or let experiences pass you by!
At the end of the day, 2016 was a life changing year for me, and I cannot wait to share all of my experience this far & make new ones with each other!
Wife, Daughter, Sister, Friend and the best HYPE girl. In 2016, I went to Thailand and met my husband. Literally, in Koh Phagan, I not only fell in love with this wonderful man, but with all things TRAVEL! February 2020, I started telling my story! I am so HAPPY you are here! LET’S GO ON ADVENTURE!
