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I couldn't be happier about my experience in Thailand. I was with a great group of people and I saw some of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen.

No one is allowed to be crabby in Krabi.

Traveling in a group can be risky. Everyone's always got their own agenda plus the lack of "alone time" can lead to crankiness. I was so happy to be with Elizabeth, Carinne, and Nick though. I even cried one night because I was so happy?

I think we got the most out of the country in the two weeks we had. After New Years in Bangkok (one that'll never be topped, so much so that I may be going to bed early next year) we experienced Chiang Mai in the north. The elephant trekking and tigers were such a magical experience. After that we island hopped.

Smiling tiger | Cobra | The grounds of our hotel in Chiang Mai

We started in Krabi. I would compare Krabi to Laguna Beach. It was a beautiful coastline with a calmer more mellow city. We tried to accomplish as much as we could in each city and I think we did a great job. We were all about the activities, which is key for me. Our first morning we hiked 1,273 stairs to see a big Buddha at Tiger Temple. We rinsed off at our hotel then got picked up by Kohp. Kohp was our rock climbing guide and new best friend.

"Box Money up to you"

Rock climbing outdoors (and not just outdoors, but an island in Thailand) was rad and a new experience for all of us, except for G.I. Joe Nick. We invited Kohp to join us for dinner and let him choose the spot. I'm pretty sure lightning stuck the power line across the street from the restaurant while we were eating... It was the perfect touch.

Perfect seat for a little monkey.

After Krabi we took a ferry to the island Koh Phi Phi. If Krabi was Laguna, Koh Phi Phi would be Tijuana. It's not that it was necessarily dirty or sketchy like Tijuana, it's just all bars. The town is just cramped streets/alleys. We felt like the old parents that went home early because all the bars and restaurants were too loud and busy. However, the small islets around Koh Phi Phi were unbelievable. We booked a day boat trip that takes you snorkeling and to a bunch of the islands (including Maya beach where The Beach was filmed). That day was one of my favorites. The color and temperature of the water was unreal.

Bamboo Island | Monkey Beach | Maya Beach | Viking Cave

The following day we ferried back to Krabi and had a private SUV drive us to the gulf coast of Thailand. The drive was really nice because we got to see a bit of the country, but also a little painful with a hangover.

The next island was Koh Pangan. I don't know what city it can be compared to... Santa Cruz? Koh Pangan is known for their full moon parties and mushroom shakes. An island that openly sells psychedelic drugs brings in a lot of hippies. We planned on being there for the half moon party (figuring it would be just as cool of an experience and less crowded). We rented motorbikes in the morning and cruised around all day. Seeing a new city on two wheels is my favorite way to explore. Unfortunately we had a minor accident. A cab was dented as a result and they were really trying to scam us/ get way more money out of us. Luckily we had Dad (aka Nick) to take care of us and handle it.

While Nick was in the bathroom we organized the drinks.

We made it back to our hotel and had some drinks to take the edge off. We planned on going to the half moon party that night, but lo and behold we're getting old. We stayed on the beach and had our own party. Big, crazy parties with strangers is loosing its appeal. Is that what you call maturing?

For the final leg of the trip we stayed on the island of Koh Samui. Koh samui was comparable to Waikiki? I don't really know what city to compare it to? It was so beautiful and laid back yet had all the modern amenities. I mean we had Pizza Hut for dinner the first night (the vegan's doing). The hotel we stayed at in Koh Samui was by far the nicest place we stayed. Dad totally planned that and saved the best for last. Oh yeah, did I mention Nick literally planned the ENTIRE trip for us (yes, I'm planning on marrying him). We had an amazing two bedroom villa with our own jacuzzi. It was the perfect end to an amazing two weeks.

Scuba diving | Temples | Lanterns | Dinner on the beach

One of the best parts of Koh Samui was the scuba diving. Elizabeth, Nick and I signed up for a discovery dive off of the island of Koh Tao. Nick and I have never dived before, and Elizabeth's recently gotten really into the sport, so it was really special to do this together. Our guide was an Austrian named Dan. He gave us all the basic info then we went into the water for some exercises (safety exercises, not water aerobics). After that we headed down about 36 feet. It was one of the coolest experiences. We were down there for about 40 minutes then came up for a lunch break. Dan told us that we were the best group he's ever had (we're winners and naturally great at everything we do?). On the second dive we were all so comfortable and had a blast! Something I will definitely do again soon.