The Land of Thai

So within Adam’s and my obsession with the beach we found ourselves in a position last April where we could go to Thailand! Adam served a two-year mission there from 2001-03 and absolutely loved it! Since we have been together (married for three years) he always talks about Thailand and how he wished I could experience it. I for one could not have pointed out Thailand on a map but knew they spoke Thai. Since the exposure he has created, my interest was peaked. Especially when he spoke of how breathtaking their beaches are! I think that is what won me over! We went with a group of nine (including Adam and I) with the Architecture school of UGA. Adam had already graduated and I have never attended UGA myself, but it all worked out.

We traveled all over the country and attended classes given by Thai professors of Thai universities. I was like a study abroad, but more hands on. The focused of the trip was to incorporate sustainable gentrification among different areas through their universities. In doing such, we actually sketched ideas and built them ourselves! It was great to see the action being taken in activating our ideas! Not to mention the communities loved it! It was interesting how we made it all work, especially with Adam being the only, THE ONLY person in our group that spoke and wrote any Thai, not to mention FLUENTLY!

Here is a video of us walking the streets in Chaing Mai

We were in the country for two months and finally at the end of our trip, the last ten days were dedicated to the beach! We went from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi and stayed there the remainder of our trip. The beaches ARE breathtaking! It was amazing to be on the other side of the world on an exotic island in the Pacific! And it was even more amazing to enjoy this experience with my best friend, Adam!

Here is a video from the top of the island.

While we were with the group, we made a few friends, but also dealt with some folks I hope I never see again! Among the students was a cute girl named Liza, who actually had been in some of Adam’s undergrad science classes. She’s a sweet girl from southern GA who I grew very close to over those two months. It was great to meet someone who I had a lot in common with and made the trip a ton of fun (in a girly way). Mine and Liza’s favorite thing to do was shop at all of the night bizarres! Cheap cheap cheap!

Adam’s sister Amanda (or usual travel buddy) came out for about two weeks and saw the sites and took on the task of super shopping with me! Needless to say, I came home with tons of souvenirs, but my favorites were my Tod’s purse I got for like $40 ($1000+ in US) and my Fendi sunglasses for $6 ($150+ in US).

All together the time we had there was great and will never be forgotten. Between the crazy taxi rides, the crazy food, the crazy language, the cocoa yen (iced hot chocolate, mmm!) and the amazing sites, I hope to return with Adam sooner than later!

This was my usual routine of cocoa yen for all three meals…did I mention Adam and I lost like 15 lbs each?!

This was the fanciest cocoa yen we had at some pseudo-Italian restaurant in Chaing Mai

This is what Adam lived off off the entire trip, banana roti, kind of like a crepe, but India-style!

This is what most of the basic Thai dishes looked like. Mostly a broth base with noodles and veggies.

And here is a video of us eating lunch at a local mom and pop soup house.

We also attended a fancy dinner where traditional Thai dancing was performed! Adam joined in the dancing!

Here are some videos from that visit.

The Thai people are mostly Buddhist and there are tons and tons of gold temples all over the country!

The landscapes and vegetation there were amazing all over, too!

Did I mention the economy is wacko and there is lots of poverty in the cities?

Lots of nasty stray dogs everywhere, too!

In Bangkok there is a river that runs behind the city slums called the Khlong where everyone basically throws their trash into it and uses it as their sewage system. For some reason the faculty at one of the universities thought we Americans would want to experience it first hand, and so we rode a “trash boat” down the Khlong.

The people of Thailand are very hospitable and generous, especially when Adam would converse in Thai with them. They always wanted to know if you had eaten and if you were still hungry.

My only problem with the Thai ways was the common toilet. Very different there, where they call them “squatters”, and for a good reason! These I don’t miss!

One of the best parts of our trip was our visit to the elephant conservation hospital. We even rode one!

Here is a video of us on our ride!

In our own time we also taught English in a public school

And we worked at an animal hospital. I guess word got around that Adam was going to med school!

Here are some videos of our visit to the animal hospital

Here’s a video of the baby tiger crying in his little bed…sounds just like a baby! I think he was hungry!

I hope to go back soon! With his dental class, Adam may have to opportunity to go back to Thailand in the next couple of years with Operation Smile (a volunteer dental program)!!! Until then, I have my memories, photos and the Thai food cooking skills of my husband!