One Week Away

A little about my trip:

-I'll be gone 87 days

-I am going to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and the Philippines. Although I have nothing beyond the first 3.5 weeks planned out, so my itinerary is wide open to change. 

The beginning:

     I have immense luck to be greeted by a familiar face in an ultra-unfamiliar city: Bangkok. Megan Arabian (!!!) who has been on her own global journey for a while now, is meeting me at Take a Nap Hostel in Bangkok!!. We're headed the next day to an island a couple hours outside of the city by bus. The island is Koh Samet. Look it up, it's tiny. We'll chill on the beach, catch some sun and surf. I'll desperately need to catch up on my tan next to the gal who's been in Australia for months. 

     After we depart (sadly) via bus or train I'm going North first to a temple outside of the city of Chiang Mai called Doi Suthep. Bangkok is Thailands biggest city: population 9 million people. Chiang Mai, the third biggest: population 250,000. Im doing a Meditation retreat there for seven days at Doi Suthep, a golden temple on a mountain side above the city. With the retreat I hope to become grounded in Thailand and incredibly present for the upcoming adventures. Once I'm all calm and zen Im going straight into one of the craziest parties in Thailand: Songkran. Thai New Years! In traditional ceremonies they bathe Buddha statues in holy water. On the streets, it's a three day water fight and in Chiang Mai where they celebrate it extra crazy, its a five day party. After the temple that will be different! But awesome! 

     After that, I do not know where my feet will take me. My plan now is to head into Laos and make my way from north to south, then cross into Cambodia and fly out of Bangkok to The Philippines. But we will see. I have a return ticket on June 21, which is probably a good thing.

Beach on Koh Samet

Buddha Statue at Doi Suthep

Temple at Doi Suthep