Koh Tao, Thailand

At 8 p.m., Tianna and I took our bags and walked from Nap Park Hostel in BKK to Lomprayah (a travel agency). We hopped on the night bus that we booked earlier that same day.

Double decker.

"Hope our bags don't fly off!"

After about 20 hours of travel including the bus and the ferry to get from mainland to the island, we arrived. But "arrived" is a loose term. We got off the boat had a moment of really not knowing where we were or what we were doing. (I had at least one of these moments daily in Asia.)

We didn't know where to stay, so I literally pointed to a spot on the map, and our taxi driver took us there. AKA some guy with a  pick up truck who instructed us to sit in the bed of it.

Turns out the place we pointed to on the map was the Coral Grand Diving Resort.

We lucked out because it was amazing! There were tons of bungalows (as seen here) and this is the practice scuba diving pool. I am so disappointed that I didn't get any photos of scuba diving, but I tried it and it ranks as one of my favorite experiences of my life. I spent a morning in this practice pool, then a group of us hopped on a boat and headed out. A few people I met on the boat were getting their diving licenses, and a few of us were doing "fun dives," where you don't have to do any studying, prep, etc. It's a one-day dive. After doing our two dives that day, though...I REALLY want to get my license. Life underwater is amazing! Being able to breathe that far under the surface is incredible. Magical. None of the animals mind that you're down there...I recommend this experience to everyone!

A stone's throw away from our bungalow was this view. (Also... Two weddings happening at once? Still not sure what was going on here)

 

 We went walking down the beach for dinner one evening and came across a group of guys having a huge cook out. They had fish, chicken and veggie kabobs to grill, with salad, corn and a baked potato. It was one of the tastiest meals with the added perk of having your toes in the sand while eating! 

Speaking of toes. $10 USD for one hour of someone massaging my feet...irresistible! 

Coral Grand's unofficial mascot who was always hanging around. Hi Henry!

Animals everywhere.

Tianna and I went hiking and exploring and caught a ride up to Dunsit Buncha View Point. We had dinner at the restaurant overlooking the water, and stayed to watch the sunset.

Dinner with a view!

Cat's life

I don't think I've ever seen an infinity swimming pool until this day, but it was INCREDIBLE. It was supposed to be for guests of the Dunsit Buncha resort only, but no one was there and I couldn't tear myself away from the view. So I lounged on a chase and took a few photos.

Sorority sisters, college roommates, world travelers, friends for infinity! 

Walking back to Coral Grand from Dunsit Buncha, we made a lot of stops just to see what was around. This was another neat waterfront restaurant we stumbled upon.

Instead of having a night bus on the way back, we had a night ferry. 

Oh, English in Asia...

Bangkok, Thailand

I don't remember what this temple is called, but it has the largest cross-legged Buddha in Thailand sitting inside. 

Here it is. You can see our guide pointing at the Buddha – she was explaining that when Buddhists come in to worship, they bring their hands together and touch their head to their hands. Then, they bow their heads/hands on the ground three times: The first time to respect the Buddha, second for the teachings of the Buddha, and third for the monks. 

To help put the size in perspective

In the back of the temple was something that looked like pick up sticks. You shake the cup of sticks until just one comes out onto the floor, then keep whatever number it says on the end of the stick in mind. Then you throw two wooden blocks and if they land on opposite color sides, that number is your chosen fortune and you turn around to read it off the numbered paper. If you have the same colored sides, you start over. Also, if you don't like your fortune, you can give an offering and turn the bad luck away.

Another pretty temple

The Grand Palace 

  The Grand Palace still 

 Most of the buildings that comprise the Grand Palace are covered by tiny, colorful pieces of glass 

Then you walk down the street and are surrounded with views like this. Wildly varying architecture with a steady mix between royal, decaying, new, and old. 

My friend Joey and I on the 63th floor of  the Lebua Hotel, where The Hangover 2 was filmed. Amazing views and incredibly expensive drinks.

Amazing jazz music and the ultimate view 

We were fearing for our lives on the way back to our hotel. Our Tuk Tuk driver drove SO recklessly. Really, everyone there drives terribly, but it seems so much safer when you're in the comfort of an enclosed taxi with a seatbelt on. (Also, there are no open container laws in Thailand which Joey found really entertaining)  

 90 percent of Thai men become monks at some point in their lives. It's a HUGE part of Thai culture.

The abundance of 7-eleven's blows my mind to this day.

Thanks, 7-eleven, for providing me with multiple healthy and nutritious meals (half sarcastic, half not)

 Nap Park--one of my favorite hostels I've ever stayed in. Very clean, homey and friendly, with mostly people in their 20s staying there. Nap Park makes it easy to make new friends.

Including this guy. Say hi to Chris!

 Chris, a few other people we met, and myself wanted to climb this skyscraper that was abandoned in the 90s due to the Asian financial crisis. Unfortunately, they're in the middle of working on it again and police are aware of tourists trying to climb it, so there was high security and we couldn't get inside.

Chris introduced me to Khao San Road, arguably the busiest, craziest, most bizarre street I've ever walked down in my life. It's nightlife on crack.

Strange scooter passengers...

Is this even safe?!

Street food. To die for.

My old college roommate Tianna came to Bangkok for a few days before we left for the beach in Southern Thailand. While we were in BKK, she wanted to see Wat Pho, which has the a huge Reclining Buddha statue (it represents Buddha passing into nirvana).

Tianna and I!

Walking around Wat Pho

Another Tuk Tuk experience: This sign warns passengers to keep their belongings between their legs instead of on their arms, as it's really common for people on scooters to snatch purses.

 The amount of mango I ate in this city was borderline unhealthy.

 Mango. Everything.