lucabeccarelli

Arriving in Bangkok, I waited in the airport for the rest of the group to land. We took an hour long bus ride to our hostel in the city, Nappark. With this being my first experience in a hostel, I was a bit nervous as to what it would be like. But when we got here, all the anxiety disappeared because the place is so nicely kept and clean. Also, we've met so many friendly people from all over, and it's entertaining to hear everyone's different accents and stories. Exhausted from the day of traveling, we rested before Jen showed us around the city. We walked around Khao San Road- a busy area with restaurants, bars, and plenty of vendors. Unlike Koh Samui, the vendors here are very persistent and even yell at you when they ... read more

Today, we got picked up by a jeep at 8:00 AM. We arrived at Namuang Safari Park where we were led through an extensive tour. First, we had the opportunity to ride elephants. Initially, I was very excited about this because I love elephants! However, thinking about the stress that the tourists put on their backs every day took away from my enjoyment. I asked our guide what type of elephants they are and basic questions like what kinds of food they eat and where they sleep. In simple English, he was able to tell me that they're Indian elephants that have lived between 30 and 40 years. He told me that they eat bananas and cocoa leaves. However, he was reluctant to tell me where they sleep... but perhaps he just couldn't understand my question ... read more

On Wednesday the 30th, we woke up very early to meet our 8:00bus which took us to the ferry. Getting on the boat, we were greeted by friendly Thais who served us a small breakfast (a banana, a croissant, and a hot drink). Then we rode on the boat for an hour until we reached Ang Thong National Marine Park. At the first stop, Koh Mae Koh, we got out and hiked up some very steep stairs to see a beautiful lagoon called the "hidden lake." The lagoon was a stunning teal blue- the pictures I'll include cannot give it justice. After hiking back down, we boarded the boat for a lunch of chicken and potatoes with a peanut sauce, rice, mixed vegetables, and pineapple. The boat then brought ... read more

After a 10 hour layover in Bangkok, I finally landed in the Koh Samui airport. From there, I took a taxi to Lamai Coconut Resort which is right along the shore. The director, Jen, kindly showed me to my bungalow in the dark. Since I arrived at night, I couldn't see the ocean, but from the roar and the mist, I knew we were very close. I settled in, unpacked my bags and met my roommate, Emma who goes to school at Miami University in Ohio. We bonded over our past travel experiences and common interests. We also share similar career goals in allied health and supplementing international work. Emma is studying nursing and would like to spend time in developing countries. I am studying Physical Therapy and would also enjoy the opportunity of volunteering internationally ... read more