Cave Exploration in Thailand!
June 17, 2025
Day 10: After enjoying some much-needed sleep and showers, we woke up refreshed and ready to conquer our next set of activities: rappelling and rock climbing! We started the day with a wonderful breakfast that fueled us for the adventure ahead. Once packed into the vans, we headed back into the mountains, where we received our harnesses and a demonstration on how to properly rappel. But before we could descend, we had to reach the top! A steep hike tested our endurance, but the stunning views made it all worthwhile. At the top, a 300-foot descent into a cave awaited us. Charlie courageously volunteered to go first and helped calm everyone’s nerves. One by one, we were clipped in and began our journey downward. Gates impressed us all with her speed and skill, and many others pushed past their fears. Sophie, Jenna, and Walter showed tremendous courage and determination. We are so proud of them! After everyone completed the rappel, we hiked down to enjoy a delicious lunch, fueling up for the second half of our day: rock climbing. There were three routes along the cliff, and our guides even taught us how to belay one another! With climbing shoes on and harnesses clipped in, we got started. Tanner and Parker were incredible, tackling all three routes with both speed and skill. After such a full day, we were definitely feeling sleepy. We made our way back to the hotel, relaxed for a bit, and then headed to the night markets for another amazing dinner. Gyoza, smoothies, dessert waffles, skewers, and more made for a perfect meal. We ended the day with a wonderful Moonup before heading to bed.
Day 11: Today brought a special treat: a traditional Thai cooking class! Our guides picked us up in the morning and explained what was in store. We split into two groups, each given a shopping list and some essential Thai phrases to use at the local market. After practicing together, we packed into the vans and headed off. At the market, the groups dispersed to find their ingredients. Shelby led her group with confidence, using her Thai phrases to buy what was needed. The market was vibrant and full of fresh fruits and vegetables! To celebrate a successful shop, our guides let us use the leftover budget for a treat. Elise opted for a Thai tea, inspiring many others to follow her lead. We then drove to a nearby village, where local women were ready to teach us the art of Thai cuisine. We got to work chopping herbs, cleaning fish, and preparing banana leaf boats. Once lunch was ready, we all sat down to enjoy the meal we had created. But we weren’t done yet-dessert time! We made mango sticky rice in three teams, and when it was finally served, everyone was raving about how delicious it was. With full stomachs, we returned to the hotel for some downtime before setting out to explore Chiang Mai further. There was one thing left on our city bucket list: visiting temples. We threw on our long pants and headed downtown. Bram and Wright definitely won “best dressed” with matching elephant pants and shirts. We hopped in and out of temples, snapping photos in front of the gorgeous architecture and colorful designs. Dinner requests were clear: burgers. We found a great spot that served up a taste of home-fried chicken, okra, corn, and burgers. After dinner, we returned to the markets with shopping on our minds. Woods and Sam picked out lots of great gifts, both for themselves and for loved ones back home. We ended the night with perhaps our most heartfelt Moonup yet, led by Bram and Elise.
Day 12: After being constantly on the move, we welcomed a slow morning and slept in. We headed to a nearby coffee shop, where many students enjoyed Thai tea, coffee, and waffles topped with Nutella and bananas. Back at the hotel, we packed up our things and made our way to the airport. After checking in, we had lunch, passed through security, and boarded the first leg of our travel day. A short flight brought us to Bangkok, where we grabbed some snacks and prepared for our final flight to Krabi. Once we landed in southern Thailand, we headed to our new home for the rest of the trip and settled in, excited for our first day of scuba diving. We love this group so much and are incredibly proud of how close they’ve become as we enter the final chapter of our adventure!
With love, Lucy + Charlie
Villages, Vegetables, and Vibes
June 14, 2025
Checking in from Thailand! We’ve been on the move since everyone landed in Bangkok, so let us catch you all up!
Day 2:We were eager to meet everyone at the airport and couldn’t contain our excitement once our group was complete. The group gathered at baggage claim, and we were off-ready to start the adventure of a lifetime! After satisfying our hunger with some pizza, a Moondance staple, we had our first Moonup of the session, where we got to know each other, and bonds started to form right off the bat! After two long days of travel, we all showered and had an early night. We can’t wait for all the activities ahead!
Day 3:Today brought another travel day, but we couldn’t start without a delicious breakfast featuring Thai noodles, rice, chicken nuggets, eggs, bacon, and some amazing fruit. The vibes were high, so we decided to keep the energy going and walked over to a nearby 7-Eleven. The shelves were lined with thousands of Thai snacks, drinks, and merchandise-everyone agreed it was awesome. After perusing and making some tough decisions, we walked out content with our choices. Of course, we had to do a haul and taste test of everything we bought! Tanner’s candy that tasted like Coke was a fan favorite, and the Thai Red Bull was also popular. We packed up our things and played some hacky sack to pass the time before heading to the Bangkok Airport. After clearing security and finding our gate, we had some time to play games and get to know each other more. We played psychiatrist, where Sophie was a pro, and wow, did the group have fun on the plane! An hour later, we landed in Chiang Mai with stomachs grumbling. We dropped our bags off at the hotel and headed out to find some authentic Thai food. After devouring many plates of fried rice and lychee sodas, the jet lag hit everyone, so we took much-needed naps. Waking up refreshed, we hopped in the pool and played multiple rounds of Marco Polo, where Wright thrived, tagging people left and right. After showering and getting ready, we walked downtown to the night markets, where there were booths galore-shirts, jewelry, wooden figures, bags, and everything you could imagine! There was a whole area dedicated to food, and everyone was excited to try as much as they could. Elise, Parker, and Walter joined forces and split crepes, Thai dough balls, mango, and lychee drinks, which they raved about. Many opted for gyoza, which the ladies fried right in front of us! Lucy, Shelby, and Sam decided it was some of the best dumplings they’d ever had. Walking back to the hotel, we passed many temples, awed by their size and beauty. We bought some cool elephant pants, which we can’t wait to wear inside the temples when we return to Chiang Mai. After showering and having a wonderful Moonup led by Parker and Jenna, we found ourselves in deep sleep, following a long but amazing day.
Day 4:Another incredible day awaited us, and it included everyone’s most anticipated activity: Elephants!!! We met our guide for the next week, Uncle Chai, and drove up to our next lodging in Mae Win. We were so excited that we barely looked around and hopped right back into the vans to head to the elephant sanctuary. The guides gave us all colorful knit shirts, and we practically ran down to the river, where the gentle giants were waiting for us. The sheer size of the elephants left us in awe. We couldn’t believe we had the opportunity to stand so close to such incredible animals. Our guides led us-and the elephants-up to an open area where we could hand-feed them pieces of pumpkin. You should have seen the smiles on everyone’s faces; we were having a blast! Walter was everywhere with his camera, taking stunning pictures of the elephants, and Charlie’s favorite elephant was the toothless one! After feeding the elephants for a while, we hiked back up to an overlook, where we devoured a feast of fried chicken, fried rice, veggies, sticky coconut rice, and some of the best mango we’ve ever had. We also had the most beautiful view as we ate our lunch. After letting our stomachs settle, we created elephant medicine to give them, which included bananas, turmeric, ginger, and other essentials. We mushed all the ingredients into giant bowls, wrapped them in banana leaves, and tied them up. A fierce competition broke out between the boys and girls to see who could make the medicine faster. The boys finished quicker, but our guides decided that the girls’ wraps looked much cleaner, thanks to Gates’ perfect wrapping technique. Walking back down, we resumed feeding the elephants their medicine, and it was quickly gone! The guides even showed us a trick where, if they said a word in Thai, the elephants would kiss us. We were belly laughing when the elephants kissed Sam! Seeing how dirty they were, our guides decided they needed a bath. So what did we do? We jumped right in with them! It was crazy seeing these elephants swimming alongside us. We showered them, and many of the elephants sprayed us with water out of their trunks! After saying a sweet farewell to our new elephant friends, we climbed back into the van and returned to the hotel, where showers and rest were waiting for us.
Day 5:Our days just keep getting more exciting! Today’s big adventure was a hike leading to our cultural immersion section. We had a fan-favorite breakfast of chocolate waffles, pancakes, eggs, overnight oats, and, of course, fruit. After fueling up, we headed to the trailhead, but not before stopping at a market. We walked around the stalls filled with fresh vegetables, fruit, and even live fish! This stop served as a nice warm-up for our legs, and we eventually made it to the beginning of our hike. We arrived at a small village, where we were invited into a home for a weaving lesson by a local Thai woman. Gates and Wright even gave it a try! Uncle Chai showed us around and pointed out past projects completed by Moondance groups. We even recognized a few names on the walls! Finally, we started our climb uphill, where Shelby and Sam, our LODS, kept the vibes high. Throughout the trek, our guides pointed out various flora and fauna, and we were amazed by their knowledge. We came upon a giant vine, and our guides showed us how to swing on it. Of course, we all had to take turns swinging back and forth-it was definitely the funniest water break! We continued until it was time for lunch, where Uncle Chai handed out banana leaves filled with chicken fried rice. We also feasted on mangoes, bananas, and watermelon. The fruit here has been a group favorite! We got back on the trail and enjoyed amazing trail talks, discussing potential college decisions, stories from home, and riddles! When we finally arrived at the Karen Village, we met our host family for the next few days and settled in. We played dozens of games in the nearby field-hacky sack, tips, birdie on a perch, and our very first veggie-off. After working up a sweat, we walked down to a stream with a small waterfall. Parker took the first leap and absolutely loved it! A few others followed suit, and we eventually came back to shower before our first delicious dinner in the village. The night ended with a few intense rounds of Bananagrams, where Elise showed off her skills and knowledge. We hit the hay and prepared for what was next in our adventure around Thailand!
Day 6:The next morning, we were up early with the roosters! Our slow morning gave us the chance to drink coffee and admire the beautiful scenery around us. We walked down near the school and met with the contractor, who instructed us to build a fence around the school. We worked hard carrying concrete posts and loading them onto trucks. Shelby took the initiative to dig many of the holes that would hold the posts. After a well-deserved lunch break, we continued working until around 3 p.m., when we headed to the school. We met many of the children and took a tour of their classrooms. Afterward, we spent the rest of the afternoon playing with the kids on the playground, which turned into an epic soccer match! Woods befriended many of the children and played several rounds of tag. A rain shower cooled us off, and we walked down to a small local market where we bought treats for the whole group. It was a great end to a great first day of work. At dinner, Bram and Tanner tried the spicy sauce with local Thai peppers without flinching, while the rest of us scrambled for water! We ended the night with a few rounds of 3-on-a-couch, filling the village with laughter. Eventually, we made our way to bed after a heartfelt Moonup.
Day 7:Another day in our new favorite place! We woke up and immediately got to work finishing the fence we had started. Most of the morning was spent loading and unloading the concrete posts, and music kept the energy high! After a quick snack break, we continued working until lunchtime. After a delicious meal from our host family, we walked down to the rice fields to help with planting. We all agreed it was one of the best experiences of the trip! With mud between our toes, we knew we’d get dirty. Jenna was the first to jump in and covered herself head to toe in mud! We all laughed at our different planting abilities, with Woods and Elise shining as the experts. Walter and Tanner even took the initiative to push a heavy tractor around the fields to prepare for planting. After getting mud everywhere, we walked back up to the house, washed off our legs, and immediately headed back down to play with the village kids once school let out. Gates found the friend she had made the day before, and there were many games of tag, swinging, and badminton! Once all the kids left for the day, we broke out into a 7v7 soccer game. It went on until it was time for dinner, but I have to shout out Wright’s soccer skills-no one could stop him! Another long, eventful day sent us to bed early, and we could hardly wait to do it all again for one final day.
Day 8:For our final full day in the village, we were tasked with completing the fence we started on our first day. We had tuna sandwiches for breakfast, which filled us up for the big day ahead! We walked down to the school, met up with the others, and spent the next hour and a half finishing the fence for the school! We all celebrated, and the girls even walked down for a “hot girl walk.” A nice rain shower cooled us off as we enjoyed lunch and spent the afternoon relaxing, playing many card games. Later that afternoon, we walked up to the formal soccer arena and had our best soccer match yet! Tensions were high between the teams, and we were tied until the last minute, but one team came out on top with the final goal. We all shook hands and laughed at the plays made during the game as we walked back down to enjoy a traditional ceremony by one of the elders of the village before dinner. He blessed us all and wished us good fortune and happiness as we moved on. The dinner afterward was a feast! We couldn’t help but dig into the amazing Thai food prepared for us by our gracious host family. The night ended with one of our favorite Moonups yet, and we went to sleep feeling very grateful for the time we had shared in the Karen Village.
Day 9:Today, we finished the trekking and cultural immersion section of our trip by hiking out through the thick Thai jungle. We said our goodbyes to our hosts and loaded up the vans, which drove us to the trailhead. The rest of the morning, we hiked through beautiful terrain until we eventually reached a massive waterfall! Parker and Sam rushed in, with many others following soon after. The cool waterfall refreshed us after our morning hike, and we dried off before eating another wonderful meal beside the falls. We continued our trek out of the jungle when we were unexpectedly met with a rainstorm! That didn’t deter us, but it did add an extra challenge, as the trail became a slippery mess. With careful steps and a few slips accompanied by booming laughter, we finally made it out of the rain with muddy legs and rain-soaked hair. To finish off our afternoon, we headed toward bamboo rafting! The sun reappeared to treat us as we lazily floated down the river. Shelby, Woods, and Gates creatively named their raft “The Thai-tanic!” Sophie and Elise even said it was their favorite activity so far. It was definitely an afternoon to remember, but Lucy and Charlie weren’t as excited when they saw a snake swim right in front of their raft! The guides treated our group to watermelon popsicles, and we headed back toward Chiang Mai, where showers were waiting patiently for us. After cleaning up, hanging out, and running to a nearby 7-Eleven for snacks, we went out for a delicious dinner together. We couldn’t help but feel so thankful for how close our group has become and the memories we’ve created so quickly on this trip. To celebrate, we treated everyone to ice cream! It was an amazing end to the first section of our trip, and we left with a newfound sense of gratitude, love, and curiosity for this wonderful country we’re in. Next up: rock climbing!
With Love,Lucy + Charlie
We wanted everyone to be able to say hi, so here are some shout-outs from your awesome kids! Also, Happy Father’s Day to all of our amazing dads out there, we love you all so much!
Elise: Hey mom and dad I miss you!! I’m having so much fun! This group is amazing. Happy Father’s Day dad I love you! Give everyone a hug and kiss for me especially the kitties!! And I’m starting to think we need to reconsider the chicken thing… anyways can’t wait to see you! Andrew I love and miss you so much! Can’t wait for Hu Hot! Give Indy, Rocky and Gizmo so many kisses for me! Im totally gonna be more tan than you! Love you all and miss you so much!!
Shelby: Hey fam I miss you sooo much, but you might have to drag me out of here! Happy Father’s Day Daddy, thank you for all that you do for me and for sending me on this amazing trip! I love you both! Give Oakley Josie and Roxie kisses for me! Pick me up with Auden and Bailee please! Xoxo
Sophie: Hiiii Mom and Dad + the Twins!
I miss you guys so much and can’t wait to see you guys! I’m having a great time here and don’t think I wanna leave:) also happy Father’s Day Dad! I hope you got my card,Make sure to tell everyone I miss them! Love you!
Gates: Hiiiii family I miss y’all so much! I’m having an awesome time! Dad, happy Father’s Day I love you so much! Tell Anna and everyone I say Hi and that I miss and love them. P.S. y’all might have to drag me out of this place
Parker: Hi Mom and Dad + various family and friends! I miss y’all!!! I’m having an amazing time and the group is awesome! Happy Father’s Day Dad, I love you so much! Don’t miss me to much! See y’all soon!
Bram: Hey Mama and Dad Ao miss y’all so much. I’m having a great time it is amazing here. Sorry I’m missing Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day. I love y’all.
Sam: Greetings from Thailand, I miss you all so much but not that much because I’m having so much fun. This country is awesome and we all need to come back together sometime. Happy Father’s Day to J Mahn, I hope you have a great day and can’t wait to celebrate together in the Bahamas. Love you all so much, Sam.
Walter: hey mom and dad!!! I’m having so much fun and can’t wait to tell y’all all about the trip. Thailand is such an awesome and new place and I think y’all would really like it. I’m trying to take lots of pictures but I’m also getting in lots of pictures too. I will have a lot to show y’all. Don’t worry I’m looking for a keychain to add to my collection. Happy Father’s Day Dad!! I’ll bring some cool stuff home that I think you’ll enjoy. See y’all soon love you.
Woods: Hey Mom and Dad! I am having so much fun in Thailand and have tried so many new things throughout the first week. I never would have believed that I would swim with elephants, but it was so cool and exciting! We have taken so many pictures and I cannot wait to show them to you when I get home. I hope you have had fun and I miss you so much! Happy Father’s Day Dad! I love you so much and can’t wait to see you soon!
Tanner: hello parents. Thailand is so fun and I’m having a great time. Happy early Father’s Day pops I wish I could be there and I love you so much. I hope you like the present in the driveway. Say hello to the pups and tell Harper and salam that I love them for me. I love y’all so much. See y’all in a little bit!
Wright: Hey Mom and Dad, I miss y’all a lot and hope you are having fun in St Bart’s and Anguilla. I have had a good time doing service in a rural village; however, I’m insanely sweaty every day. I did get to play soccer which was fun. I’m excited to go more south where we will scuba dive and get to sleep in bed with air conditioning. I’m currently back in Chiang Mai and about to explore temples and rock climb. I love yall so much! Happy Father’s Day Dad! And happy early birthday Mom!
Jenna: Hey fam I miss y’all so much, but I don’t wanna come home. Happy Father’s Day Dad, you are genuinely the best, and I love you so much.
Safe Arrival in Bangkok!
June 7, 2025
Hello Thailand Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has arrived safely! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure! Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next week! This will allow you to follow along with the trip. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
