It’s about time we put some words to writing as three weeks have passed since we first entered Thailand. From lounging on long tailed boats to spinning fire on the beach with friendly locals, this country has had us wrapped up in eye-opening and life changing experiences.
We first went to the lively city of Bangkok and showed up at our hotel, ironically, in bright yellow shirts from the night train before. “Are you dressed for the king?” we were asked. We were then told everyone dresses in yellow on Mondays for the king and wears pink for the queen on Tuesdays. Guess we fit right in! In checking out the city, we realized that every business seems to have a “spirit house”—a mini palace-like statue on a pedestal where people bring offerings of food and beverages in exchange for good luck. Common offerings include full bottles of Fanta, flowered leis, and snack-sized rice dishes.
One of the main attractions of Bangkok, Kohsan Road, is backpacker heaven. This street is flooded with wholesale markets selling everything under the sun, delicious Pad-Thai street food, & a lively night life that spills out into the streets. We soaked up our only night there and headed the following evening to the beaches of Phuket we had heard so much about.
Phuket is home to amazing scenery, and the sights are just as impressive above water as they are below. We both dove right in to the opportunity to get certified for scuba diving, as the dive shop was on the first floor of our hostel. We spent the first day learning how to breathe underwater in a swimming pool with 40 lbs of gear, and then the following two days were spent open water diving where we experienced weightlessness and learned how to equalize (to stop that painful burning in our ears from the depth). Justin also jumped, literally, at the opportunity to bungee from Thailand’s biggest jump at 200 feet.
Up next, Koh Phi Phi – famous for the world’s perfect oasis Maya Bay, as featured in the movie The Beach. This small island is inhabited by many young travelers that originally came for a few days and have since stayed for months! We quickly realized why because there’s no need for cars as the beaches are never more than 5 minutes walk and the outdoor adventures are endless. Some of our best experiences were relaxing on long tailed boats, cliff jumping, spear fishing, spinning fire, thai boxing, and dancing on the beach at half moon parties.
One place, the outdoor Hippies Bar, had an interesting twist to musical chairs. Each round contestants, including Kristin, had to scour the crowds for particular objects and avoid being the last to sit back in the chairs. Kristin was successful in the first few rounds finding a cigarette, lighter, and room key but when it came to a bottle of water she was out. Let’s give her some credit—it was at a bar. The contest ended with an unbelievable retrieval of socks. Honestly, socks…at the beach?
The next night we were introduced to fire spinning and live Thai kickboxing. Local spinners were in the zone as they whirled flaming fire balls on the beach, each rotation in sync with loud techno music. They then brought out fire limbo and giant fire hoops. We participated in both, and escaped with minimal burns. Just kidding. Next, we headed to Reggae Bar to watch live Thai kickboxing. 
The Thai men in the ring gave each other no mercy—with their only gear being a helmet and gloves. This made for quite a performance. Audience members were then allowed to participate, and you guessed it, Justin was quick to jump in the ring against a friend we had met. His patented move was the head-lock to pass time.
The following day, we rented a long-tailed boat headed for Maya Beach. We stopped in the cove just outside to traverse our way up to a 40 foot cliff jump. After peering over the edge to see just how high it was, we had to steady our nerves, position our feet on the jagged rocks, and leap off. Trying to show off, Justin did a bellyflop. Just kidding. But, the adrenaline rush was well worth it. Getting back to the boat, we realized our guide , Tuk, was nowhere to be found. He later emerged from the water with snorkel, spear, and several dangling fish. We then “took a stab” ourselves at spear fishing, and watched our friend Ez bring in a catfish.
ON TO RAI LAY, Thailand!
Although it was hard to leave the laid-back yet happening vibes of Ko Phi Phi, we knew there was more to explore in Thailand; so we headed to Rai Lay. 
This small beach, surrounded by jagged cliffs is notorious for rock climbing and was only accessible by boat. When we first arrived, we had to wade through knee-deep water for about 50 feet. It was quite the balancing act; with heavy bags on our back and steadying our feet with flip flops on. Hours later, we saw the tide pull out 30-40 feet from the beachside restaurants and shops. This low-tide/high-tide is a daily occurrence and is most interesting when it appears flood-like, as the water seeps up to the steps of those same shops.
Our adventures on Rai Lay consisted of a trekking experience, rock climbing, and a Full Moon Celebration. As we went through a beachside walkway, we stumbled upon a sign for “The Lookout” and what seemed to be a beaten, yet vertical path up the side of the cliff with a couple on their way down. Asking if it was worth the view, they explained, “Of course! But, there’s no way you can do it in flip flops”. Thankful for their advice, we weighed the options: to try it or not to try it, and quickly decided: 
“’Lookout’, Here we come!” It was a challenging climb, as our flip flops often slid on the wet red rock, but the view was unbelievable. The Full Moon later that night gave great reason for big parties on the beach, as well as ceremonial offerings in thanks for providing the bountiful sea. Locals sent lit floating candles to send into the water as well as sent fire-filled kites into the sky.
We hate to think of leaving this stunning and stimulating country, but...
the finale in SINGAPORE awaits!!
