Goodbye Thailand
June 25, 2025
For the last time, hello from Thailand!! We are so so sad that this trip has come to a close. We have had the best past three weeks with all of your kids and it truly would not have been the same without each and everyone of them.
We had anxiously awaited seeing the elephants for two and a half weeks… and the day was finally here! Everyone was overjoyed and so excited to get to play with elephants! We had a delicious breakfast full of sweet treats (our favorites), like banana pancakes. Then, we had a quick drive over to the elephant sanctuary! They provided us with shirts to wear, so we all got to match! Uncle Chai gave us a quick briefing about the elephants. He explained that the difference between the elephants in Asia versus Africa was the size of their ears! Elephants also cannot sweat, similarly to pigs, so they have to throw mud and water on themselves to keep cool. We made some snacks for the elephants (mashed up rice, banana, and hay), and we could hear them trumpeting from down below. We all ran over to see them running through the water. It was so majestic and no one could contain their excitement! While we switched off mashing the elephant food and wrapping it up in bamboo leaves, Claire made friends with a little orange kitty! It was so cute, and everyone wanted to get a turn holding it. Finally, it was time to walk down and see the elephants! They knew we were coming with food, so they all ran towards us! We had the food wrapped up in tote bags they gave us, and they couldn’t keep their trunks out! Elephants are Emma’s favorite animal, and she had the biggest ear-to-ear grin I’ve ever seen. After feeding them, we went over so they could lather themselves in mud to cool off. Ridley seemed like an elephant magnet, as they would not stop coming straight for her. Call her an elephant whisperer! After they rolled around in mud, and sprayed it all over their backs (and on us), we went over to the river to give them a bath! We splashed them with water and they splashed us right back, shooting water out of their trunks. I don’t think I stopped smiling or laughing the entire morning. After the elephants were all clean, we sadly had to say goodbye to our new friends. We headed up for a great lunch full of bright fruit and delicious chicken wings with rice! A group favorite! Everyone ate silently, reflecting on what a great time we had just experienced. I could truly tell that everyone in the group was so thankful to be here! We wrapped up our lunch then headed out for another highly anticipated activity: bamboo rafting! We threw on some life jackets then split up into groups of three to have a relaxing afternoon on the river. While we were floating down, we passed by even more elephants! This was really shaping up to be the best day yet. We came upon a more intense rapid, and everyone got off the rafts to walk around it-except for Britton! He asked the guides if they could raft him down it, and they said yes! We continued a little further down the river then made it to our drop off point. We got back in the vans, but not before Tyler surprised everyone with Oreos!!!! Although they were a little stale, they were gone in about 5 seconds. There are few things this group loves more than a little sweet treat. We got back in the car for a long drive back to the Chiang Mai city centre. We made it back to our hotel, and the kids hung out in the pool for a little bit, then we decided it was time to head back to Cluck, another one of our favorite restaurants. Everyone had their orders planned out from the minute we told them we were going back, including some good scheming on how to make the most of their allotted budget. We sat down at dinner, and the owner of the restaurant brought over a trivia game for us to play while we waited on the food. Josephine spearheaded the game, reading out all of the trivia questions, and choosing who won each card. It is safe to say we all walked away from dinner with a bit more knowledge! We weren’t done having the best day ever, so we decided to check out the local markets! The kids Thai baht was burning holes in their pockets, and everyone was itching to buy some souvenirs to remember this trip by. The group bee-lined to the fake designer bag stand. The girls had been super excited about this stop the whole trip, and they all came with something in mind to buy. Luckily, Jack took charge and worked out a great bargain for all of their bags. He even ended up making friends with one of the vendors due to his bargaining skills! We ended up with some great shopping hauls! Margot bought an elephant skirt she had been thinking about buying the whole trip! Tallis bought some silly glasses that he wore the whole night at the market! After a few hours of shopping and bargaining, we had to make a very serious decision… where to get ice cream!!! We went back to the ice cream shop that was a group favorite, and to our surprise they had new flavors this time! We cooled off with a delicious treat, then had a great moonup before heading to bed after a long, fulfilling day.
We woke up and fueled up for another great day of activities: rock climbing and rappelling! We had already gotten acquainted with this activity in Krabi, so everyone was excited to fine tune their skills and face some more fears! We started off with a safety briefing, where we learned how to tie a figure 8 knot and put on our harnesses and helmets. They were very thorough, and this definitely relieved some stress from many members of the group. We waited for a quick bout of rain to pass, then hiked up to a small cave entrance and went in for a quick cave tour! We climbed through the small opening, then it opened up to a massive cave! Everyone was amazed by the crystallites that were still being formed! We saw a few bats and listened to our voices echo before climbing back out and moving on to a practice rappel down a 20 foot cliff. Everyone killed it, and we all felt confident moving into the next, more challenging, rappel. We had an amazing lunch of chicken fried rice then split up into two groups. While one group rappelled into the cave, the other group climbed on a smaller pitch inside of the cave. Once everyone in the first group had the chance to rappel, we switched activities. At this point in her rock climbing and rappelling career, Ann Reid was showing off. I think heights are starting to fear her! She aced the rappel into the cave-which stood at 150 feet! It was a daunting task and we were so proud of all of the kids for jumping right in with great attitudes. Tazewell belayed her like a pro, you wouldn’t even know that he had just learned how! Vivi jumped into the harder rock climb, and quickly made her way to the top. The activity was a blast, and everyone was pooped after the day. But that’s how we knew that everyone gave it their all! We brought down all of the gear out of the cave then had a sleepy van ride back to the hotel. We all were covered in dirt from the climbs, so everyone was eager to jump in the shower. We had such a great time at the market last night, and everyone still had a little bit more cash they wanted to spend before going home, so we decided to head back to the night market after dinner. We firstly walked to a local pizza place, where everyone got an assortment of pasta, pizza, and garlic bread. It was safe to say no one walked out hungry. We then went back to the market, this time, as pros. Everyone got the last few items they had been eyeing the night before and then we went back to the hotel for our final moonup in Chiang Mai! Everyone packed up all of their items ready for a great day tomorrow!
Our last day in Chiang Mai! We woke up bright and early for our cooking class! The guides took us into their local market and we bought ingredients to make mango sticky rice, an omelette, bamboo cooked chicken, and pad thai! We split into two groups to get the ingredients from all of the different vendors. Everyone was an immediate pro in the kitchen. We were taught to cook by grandmothers and moms in a local village. They were so kind and everyone was so attentive to them. They also had this amazing Thai tea that poured into our cups blue, but when we squeezed lime juice into it, they turned purple!! Magic before our eyes! While we waited on the chicken to cook, we reminisced on some of our favorite memories from the trip and looked through each other’s cameras. Finally, our creation was ready to eat! Everyone dove into the delicious food and wanted to remember how to make it, so they could bring the knowledge back home. We cleaned up then got in the tuk tuks to head to the airport! We got into the airport and had a snack at McDonalds then got on our flight to head back to Bangkok for our city tour and departure tomorrow. We read, slept, and colored on the flight, and soon enough we were back in Bangkok. Everyone showered and got ready for our banquet dinner!
Everyone was so sad that it was our last day, but excited to spend the morning exploring Bangkok! We piled into a van and drove into the city, straight to the Grand Palace. Our guide, Nina, was amazing, and she took us through all of the different buildings there and explained all of the history. The girls all got matching skirts at the market and they looked super cute. We then explored a gift shop and market then had some lunch. This day was already flying by… soon enough it was time to get back in the van and head back to the hotel to get ready to go to the airport. We all showered and packed our bags then headed over to the Bangkok International Airport. It wasn’t long before everyone in the group was full-on sobbing, not ready to say goodbye. We sent them through security, and even though everyone was crying, we were grateful because it showed what an amazing time we had in Thailand and how close we had all become. Me and Tyler love them all so much, thank you for letting us get to know them!
Bye and thank you,
Caitlyn + Tyler
Trekking, Temples, and Tearful Goodbyes
June 25, 2025
One final Swadeeka from Thailand 1C!
It’s hard to believe our adventure has come to an end. Since our last update, we’ve packed in so many incredible experiences and created memories we’ll never forget.
Our final stretch began with an early morning wake up and an amazing breakfast of passionfruit pancakes, eggs, and fresh fruit before setting out on our trek. Our awesome guides, Luke and Watt, gave us the lowdown on what to expect, handed us bamboo walking sticks, and off we went! We began the hike in a small village, and not long into the walk, we picked up an unexpected companion, the sweetest dog who followed our group the entire way. Naturally, we named him Peeta F(a tribute to our group’s Hunger Games obsession), and he quickly became our loyal hiking buddy.
The hike took us through vibrant rice paddy fields, across a beautiful river, and deep into the jungle. It was no easy climb, steep and sweaty, but the girls powered through with grit, encouragement, and laughter. Every time someone felt tired, the group rallied behind them, and Peeta trotted right along beside us, soaking in the energy and good vibes.
Eventually, we arrived at a stunning lunch spot perched above the rice fields and misty mountains. We dug into a delicious lunch of Pad Thai, pineapple, watermelon, and lychee while Palmer queued up the perfect playlist. After lunch, Luke and Watt led us down to the fields where, in a lucky twist of timing, the locals were actively harvesting rice, a rare sight, as Luke explained, since it only happens a few times a year. We sat on the hill, watching the farmers at work, fully immersed in the rhythm of rural Thai life. SJ and Virginia spent time playing with the farmers’ kids, while Ben flew the drone over the paddies, much to the kids’ delight. Ysonde and Hayes relaxed on the hillside, chatting and taking it all in.
Later that day, we walked into the village and learned how rice is traditionally harvested and milled, a process that really put into perspective how much work goes into the food we eat. Afterward, we made our way to our village campsite tucked away on a mountain farm. The girls settled into their megabeds, and after a homemade dinner from Luke and Watt, we all turned in early, exhausted but fulfilled.
The next morning, we kicked off our first full day of service. Luke and Watt explained that we’d be building six water tanks to help improve water access in a nearby village, and the girls jumped in with incredible energy. With no concrete trucks in sight, it was up to us to mix and pour everything by hand. We formed an assembly line, carrying buckets of sand and rocks, mixing it all together, and laying the foundation. The work was hard, but the girls never backed down. Claire powered through mixing concrete like a pro, while Reeves and AK handled the final pours at the end of the line. Luke, Watt, and the local workers were blown away. They told us the villagers couldn’t stop talking about how fast and hardworking the girls were. We capped off the day with books, volleyball, Skip Bo, and one of the most wholesome dance parties to the Pitch Perfect soundtrack. It’s these silly moments that we’ll miss the most.
The following morning brought more service, and though there was only a bit of work left, the girls dove back in with the same enthusiasm. No one even wanted to break for lunch, they just wanted to finish strong. Music blasting, concrete flying, and spirits high, we completed the tanks in no time. That afternoon, Luke took us to Mae Win Waterfall. We hiked in with the rain behind us and the sun breaking through over the lush hills. When we arrived, we had the whole place to ourselves. We splashed around playing Big Booty, watched Virginia and AK have a hilarious veggie off, and sipped fruit smoothies from the cutest little tea shop nearby. We walked back through the village and bought gorgeous handmade pashminas and bracelets from local artisans. Ysonde broke out the henna kit and Claire’s designs were stunning. Everyone got in on the fun.
We ended the evening lounging, chatting, and enjoying each other’s company. At Moonup, Riley and Ben gifted the girls matching bracelets to remember the trip.
Our last full day together arrived too quickly. After breakfast, we returned to the worksite one final time to dig trenches for the water pipes. The girls knocked it out with teamwork, music, and momentum. As a parting gift, Watt cut wooden planks for each of us to sign and nailed them around the site. Now, our names will always be a part of this project. Back at camp, Luke led a rice planting activity. First, we pulled the rice seedlings, then headed to a muddy field to replant them. And then… chaos. A full blown mud fight broke out, complete with laughter, slinging mud, and a downpour of rain. Truly the best kind of mess.
After cleaning off in the river, we got ready for our final dinner in the village. A local monk arrived beforehand to bless us with bracelets, offering a peaceful moment to reflect on the spiritual side of Thai culture. Then we feasted: chicken skewers, pork, and banana boats cooked over the fire thanks to AK and Hayes. Our final dance party brought the house down. We closed it out with our trip song Lingering Love and then Rivers and Roads, which had us all in our feels. Our final Moonup was emotional and heartfelt as we looked back on the journey, what we learned, and how much we grew.
But we weren’t quite done yet.
On our last morning, we floated down the river on bamboo rafts, the perfect way to soak up the landscape one last time. Then we made our way back to the Riverside Hotel, explored Chiang Mai, and stopped for sweet treats before sitting down for our final banquet dinner at a Michelin rated restaurant. It was a perfect way to wrap things up before heading to the airport.
As the girls fly home, we’re left with full hearts. Thailand 1C was something truly special, a group of kind, enthusiastic, strong, hilarious, and wildly fun individuals who embraced every moment and made this trip unforgettable. We already miss them and can’t wait to hear about the amazing things they’ll do next.
THAILAND 1C FOREVER
🫶🏻🐘 Ben and Riley
Tales From Thailand
June 21, 2025
SWADEKA from Northern Thailand!
We’ve officially made it to a whole new region of the country, and we’re already having the best time. Northern Thailand is completely different from the south, and we’ve loved getting to explore the culture, the mountains, and the energy of this place.
We flew out of Krabi and landed in Chiang Mai, which has a totally different vibe-lush mountains, cooler weather, and a vibrant, buzzing city. After checking into our hotel, which is tucked right along the river, we wasted no time getting out to explore. Palmer and Claire were on a mission for some new reads, so we walked through the historic part of the city to a beautiful bookstore. The walk there was scenic and peaceful, and the bookstore itself was incredible-full of all kinds of books and home to a little orange cat named Monster, who jumped from shelf to shelf. AK, Palmer, and Claire all picked up some new books to dive into.
We kept wandering and passed by a few temples before heading to a farm-to-table Thai restaurant. Everything was made with fresh, local ingredients, and Ysonde and Hayes both tried khao soi, a classic northern Thai noodle dish-and they loved it. We also tried a refreshing blue drink made with butterfly pea flower that looked as good as it tasted. After dinner, we walked through the night market, which was absolutely packed with jewelry, clothes, and all kinds of wild knickknacks. SJ and Palmer had a great time picking out little gifts. Eventually, we made it to the food section of the market where we caught a surprise dance battle and grabbed some roll-it-up ice cream-Claire, Ysonde, and Palmer tried fruity combos that were a big hit.
The next morning, we were up early for a full day of rock climbing and rappelling. After a drive through the countryside, we arrived at Crazy Horse Mountain-named because, yes, the mountain actually looks like a horse. Our climbing guides welcomed us with a hilarious version of Simon Says to get us warmed up, and then we wrote down our goals for the day. Most of the girls said they wanted to make it to the top of their climbs. We split into groups and got after it.
Ysonde, Virginia, SJ, and Claire were pumped to climb and even learned how to belay each other. Claire was especially fired up and crushed her goal of reaching the top. Ysonde, Virginia, and SJ followed with major determination and climbed like pros. Meanwhile, Hayes, Palmer, Reeves, and AK hiked up to their rappelling spot-114 feet up inside a massive cave. They were fearless. Hayes flew down the wall and had everyone cheering. Afterward, we all gathered in a sacred Buddhist cave where monks go to meditate. We paused for a moment of reflection, which was a really special part of the day. Our guides showed us the ancient stalagmites and explained how they take hundreds of thousands of years to form. Claire and Ysonde were especially curious and asked great questions.
Palmer, Reeves, AK, and Hayes tackled two different climbing routes and made it up both. AK and Reeves were so fast as usual. We ate lunch surrounded by green mountains, then headed back to Chiang Mai for dinner at a restaurant called It’s All Good-and it really was. The girls tried Thai dishes they hadn’t had yet, sipped on fruit smoothies, and raved about the meal. We grabbed some coconut ice cream and called it a night.
The next day was another adventure. We kicked it off at a very local Thai market-no tourists, just locals. Since most of the vendors didn’t speak English, our guides gave us a crash course in Thai and split the girls into teams with a grocery list for a meal we’d be cooking later. They had to find everything from chicken to herbs to live fish. It turned into a hilarious scavenger hunt as the girls used their 1,000 baht budget to bargain and interact with vendors. Hayes, Claire, Palmer, and AK got adventurous with pastries and exotic fruits, while Virginia, Reeves, Ysonde, and SJ picked out a wriggling fish we’d later cook.
We grabbed Thai tea (obviously), hopped in tuk-tuks, and headed out into the countryside for our cooking class. The class took place at a beautiful mountain home run by six women who call themselves “Mae” (which means “mother” in Thai). They welcomed us so warmly. We showed them the ingredients we picked out, and they walked us through each step of preparing traditional northern Thai dishes. Claire impressed everyone with her chopping skills, Hayes crushed herbs in a mortar and pestle, and everyone was totally hands-on. We cooked with bamboo shoots, banana leaves, and made dishes like herb-stuffed chicken and fish, stir-fried noodles (Palmer was in charge of the wok), sticky rice, and savory egg pancakes with herbs. Virginia and SJ said it was hands-down the best meal of the trip.
To top it off, Claire, Ben, and Hayes climbed a mango tree with a giant stick to pick fresh mangoes for dessert. Riley was thrilled-she’s the mango queen. We made blue sticky rice, sweet coconut sauce, and created the most delicious mango sticky rice we’ve ever had. A true mango party as Riley would call it. Palmer and one of the Maes even made iced Thai tea and lemon tea for the whole group. It was such a special day. We said goodbye to the Maes with full bellies and so much love for Thai culture. We wrapped up the day with sushi and one more trip to the night market before saying farewell to the city.
Today was elephant day-one the girls have been waiting for the entire trip. We left early and made a quick stop at a local market (more Thai tea, of course), then continued to an elephant sanctuary deep in the mountains. We started by preparing “elephant medicine”-a blend of bananas, salt, rice, and more, wrapped in banana leaves. We brought it down to the elephants, who were roaming in a lush meadow near the river, and got to feed them sugarcane and medicine. They wrapped their trunks around our hands, gave kisses, and had the girls cracking up. They especially loved Hayes and SJ. Claire was soaking it all in, taking photos and saying over and over that this was one of the best days of her life.
We ate lunch overlooking the mountains while Virginia, Reeves, and AK led us in some hilarious games. It started raining, so naturally, we had a dance party. Then came the best part-we swam in the river with the elephants. The girls gave them baths and watched them graze on trees and bamboo. It was unforgettable. After saying goodbye to our elephant friends, we returned to our beautiful jungle cabins, cleaned up, and ended the night with card games, music, a great dinner, and a funny Moonup with a hilarious game to close it out.
Tomorrow, we start our trek into a nearby village where we’ll spend the last stretch of our trip. We’re definitely starting to feel the bittersweet end coming, but we’ve still got some amazing days ahead and can’t wait to keep soaking it all in.
🫶🏻🐘🕺 Ben and Riley
Virginia-mom and dad thank you soooo much for sending me to Thailand it’s sickkkkk and I’ve had so much fun and have done so many new cool things!!! Miss and love yall!!!!
SJ- thank you so much mom and dad for giving me the opportunity to go on this trip. I’m so thankful for you both!! I’ve had the best time on this trip and I can’t wait to see yall and the dogs!!! I love yall so so much!!
Reeves- thank you so much for this amazing opportunity to go to Thailand! I really appreciate all that yall do for me. I miss you so much and can’t wait to see you soon!
Claire – Thank you so much mom and dad for sending me on this trip, I’ll be eternally grateful. Thank you to Uncle Rob and Aunt Debbie for the gear, and thanks to all my friends and family for dealing with my craziness before I left. It’s been amazing, I’m honestly not ready to leave! Love you all.
Palmer – Thank you so much mom and dad for sending me on this amazing trip!! Thanks to you guys I am given the opportunity to see the world and go on so many incredible adventures that I can’t wait to tell you about!! So excited to see you all soon 🙂
Ysonde – Heyy Family!! I just wanted to say that I am so grateful for this opportunity to go on such an immersive and epic trip like this. I told all the Elephants that I met today about y’all. I love you so much and cannot wait to scroll through all my pics to tell you about my adventures.
AK- thank you mom and dad so much for letting me come on this trip! I think it’s the one of the coolest things I’ve done! I can’t wait to see yall soon! I love you!
Best Time in Thailand!!!
June 16, 2025
Wow!!! So much has happened over the last few days, and we are truly HAVING THE TIME OF OUR LIVES!!! We’re officially about halfway through our time together, and the memories we’ve made already feel unreal. It honestly feels like we’ve been together for months with how much we’ve done, and every single day is packed with the coolest experiences. We’re constantly in awe of the beauty around us and how unbelievably special this place is.
After our rock climbing adventures, we dove right into our next set of activities. We were able to sleep in a bit the following morning, which was much needed because we had a huge day ahead. After fueling up with a big breakfast, we hopped in a van that took us deep into the lush jungle of Krabi for an epic hike. We were heading to the Khao Hang Nak trail, one of the region’s most scenic routes. At the bottom of the trailhead, we geared up and set off on our six-mile trek.
Almost immediately, we were greeted by waterfalls flowing beside us and steep, unforgiving hills ahead. But the girls absolutely crushed it. Claire and Hayes led the group the entire way with determination and great energy. Make no mistake-this hike was no joke. The Thai summer heat was intense, and the elevation gain was serious, but that didn’t stop anyone. Surrounded by wild jungle flora and tropical sounds, it felt like we had stepped into a movie. We kept spirits high with good music and nonstop conversation. After two hours of pushing uphill, we finally reached the peak-and the view completely blew us away. Jagged peaks stretched for miles in every direction, and we could see the sea sparkling in the distance. We celebrated at the top, took some pictures, and soaked it all in before heading back down as the sun got even stronger. We made great time on the way down, still powered by good tunes and even better company.
When we got back, we were all absolutely wiped. A pool dip and a long nap were much needed. That night, we went back to Glur Pizza-now one of our favorite go-to spots-for a delicious dinner. Their stone-fired pizzas hit the spot as a great change from our usual Thai fare. We shared pizzas, had a great Moonup, and were all out like lights shortly after.
The next morning started bright and early because it was time to kick off the diving portion of the trip!!! With half the group already PADI certified, the rest headed to the dive shop to begin their pool training. Reeves, Virginia, and AK were paired with their dive guide Kevin, who they instantly clicked with. SJ and Ben teamed up with Tomas, and both groups had a full day of lessons ahead. Everyone was eager to learn, and the training group absolutely nailed the skills in the pool.
Meanwhile, Hayes, Clare, Ysonde, and Palmer stayed back at the hotel with Riley and had a calm morning full of yoga and poolside relaxation. Hayes even led some meditation, setting the tone for a super peaceful day. Later, even the already-certified girls had to join the pool session for a quick refresher before diving into the open water. After a full day of training and bonding with our dive guides, we were well on our way to becoming certified divers! We celebrated with a much-deserved treat-visiting a local market for açaí bowls and roll-it-up ice cream. Later, we satisfied our craving for something familiar and headed to a burger spot, which Ysonde and Sj were especially hyped about after so many delicious-but repeated-Pad Thai meals.
The next morning came quickly, and energy was high as we set out for our very first dive in the ocean. We played music and soaked in the excitement as we drove to the dock, where a longtail boat waited to shuttle us to our scuba boat. The boat itself was massive and beautiful-way bigger than a typical scuba boat-and we were welcomed aboard by the incredible Kon-Tiki diving staff. Upstairs, fresh watermelon and pineapple platters were waiting, and the vibes were immaculate.
We split into our dive groups and had our first briefings with the dive guides, going over the day’s dive plans. The weather was absolutely perfect-sunny skies and calm seas-and we could hardly believe how lucky we were. After gearing up, SJ and Ben were put to the test by Tomas and had to set up their dive gear solo. They nailed it and were ready to jump in. Virginia, Reeves, and AK were just as excited to get started, with a few more training skills to complete in the open water. The rest of the group jumped straight into their fun dives.
The water was insanely clear, glowing in shades of electric green and blue. As soon as we descended, we were blown away by the underwater world. We saw clownfish, lionfish, Moorish idols, vibrant coral reefs-and some groups even spotted rays! After surfacing, we grabbed some muffins, tanned on the deck, and relaxed before dive number two. Our second dive was just as stunning, followed by a delicious Thai lunch onboard. Palmer and AK read their books, some of the girls tanned at the front of the boat, and we finished off the day with a swim surrounded by islands.
That night, we had an early dinner at one of our favorite spots-Jungle Kitchen. Ysonde and Palmer went straight for their go-to pineapple fried rice, while Clare couldn’t resist another round of Pad Thai. Naturally, we capped the meal with mango sticky rice.
The following day was another early start, and somehow, the weather was even better than before. We were headed to the famous Phi Phi Islands, known for their incredible beaches and diving. The two-hour boat ride flew by thanks to our epic boat and some intense games of Uker, which Clare taught Ben and Riley.
Arriving at the Phi Phi Islands felt like stepping into a postcard. We debriefed with our guides and set off for another incredible round of dives. The visibility was amazing, and the marine life was unreal-huge schools of fish, colorful coral, starfish, and even black tip reef sharks! Kevin spotted them first with Reeves, Virginia, and AK, but on the second dive, we all got a glimpse. Ysonde was especially excited to see a shark up close.
The second dive also marked a huge moment-everyone was now officially PADI certified! It was such a proud and exciting accomplishment after days of hard work. We celebrated on the boat, danced to music, and soaked in the island views. Back at the hotel, we cooled off in the pool before setting off for a 45-minute beach walk to catch the sunset.
The walk led us to a bustling night market packed with food stalls and an amazing atmosphere. Everyone tried something different-Ysonde got dumplings, Hayes and Palmer grabbed Mexican street food, Virginia and Reeves picked up mango smoothies-and we all ate together at a big table. Live music started, and of course, we ended up dancing. Riley taught Ben, Hayes, and AK how to swing dance, and then a hilarious dance battle broke out between Hayes and Riley. We were all cracking up. Too tired to walk back, we piled into a tuk tuk with Bluetooth speakers and jammed to music the whole way home.
Today, we had our final dive as fully certified divers. Once again, the weather was perfect-clear skies and calm waters. The visibility was great, and the dives were unforgettable. Clare captured it all with her amazing underwater photography skills. We wrapped up our time on the boat that had become our second home and said a bittersweet goodbye to the incredible Kon-Tiki crew.
Back at the hotel, we treated ourselves to Thai teas and local sodas before heading to Glur Pizza one last time for our final dinner in the south. We sat around the table talking and laughing for hours. After a beautiful final Moonup in Krabi, we started packing for Chiang Mai.
While we’re sad to leave this stunning part of Thailand, we’re beyond excited for the next chapter of the trip. Every day just keeps getting better, and the bonds we’re forming are something really special. We can’t wait to see what the rest of this adventure has in store-we are all having an absolute blast.
🐘 🐠 ⛰️ 🐒 – Ben and Riley!!!!!
Hello Thailand Families and Friends!
June 11, 2025
Our adventure in Thailand has just begun, and somehow it already feels like we’ve known each other for a lifetime. From the moment we landed in Bangkok, the energy and excitement from this group of girls have been completely infectious. We’ve already made so many unforgettable memories, and the bonds forming are something really special to witness.
After meeting up at the airport, we headed to the Bangkok Ivory Hotel for our first night. The girls got settled into their rooms, and we shared our first dinner together. That evening, we held our first Moonup…our nightly tradition where we reflect on the day and dive into meaningful conversations. SJ and Reeves were selected as our first Leaders of the Day, and they kicked things off beautifully.
After some much-needed sleep following a long travel day, we woke up bright and early for our first full day in Bangkok. Breakfast was an exciting change… Phad Thai and fresh fruit instead of the usual American breakfast. We met our amazing tour guide Apple and climbed aboard the most epic bus ever…karaoke machine included. Music blasting and energy high, we cruised into the city.
The girls were immediately captivated by the intricate and unique architecture of Bangkok. Apple and her trusty capybara stuffed animal mascot led us to the Grand Palace, a breathtaking complex of temples and buildings that showcase Thailand’s rich Buddhist history. The Grand Palace was home to the Kings of Siam for centuries and houses the revered Emerald Buddha. Claire was soaking it all in, capturing every moment on her camera. Inside one of the temples, we even saw the remains of one of the oldest Buddhas in the region.
Next, we explored a fashion exhibit featuring Thailand’s traditional textile…Hayes was especially into it. Apple then took us across the river to explore bustling local street markets filled with authentic Thai food stalls. For lunch, we tucked into a super local restaurant where the girls tried everything from curry to Phad Thai and ended the meal with the absolute highlight-mango sticky rice. After exploring more of the city, we returned to the hotel for some well-deserved rest and a few competitive rounds of cards.
The next morning, we got to sleep in before our travel day to Krabi Beach. We made a quick stop at a Thai mall and explored a bunch of shops. SJ and Palmer were thrilled to try Thai Starbucks and gave rave reviews to the unique menu. We returned to the hostel for more card games before heading to the airport. When we arrived in Krabi, we were stunned…Green View Village is nestled among beautiful mountains, and each room has a balcony overlooking the scenery. After a delicious outdoor Thai dinner, we turned in, ready for another day of adventure.
The next morning greeted us with a rainbow-perfect for our big day of rock climbing! We met Jay, our awesome climbing guide, and his team, and hopped onto longtail boats for an epic ocean ride. The towering cliffs and lush mountains had everyone saying it felt like a scene out of Avatar. Ysonde captured the whole ride on her GoPro while soaking it all in with Riley. The rain started to fall, but it only made the day more cinematic. We hiked through a magical cave path and emerged at Railay Beach, our climbing spot for the day.
The guides set up four routes of varying difficulty, and the girls were naturals. Reeves and AK climbed like pros-everyone was so impressed. After a few hours of climbing, we sat down for a family-style Thai lunch, then hit the ocean for some beach games. Riley, Ben, Ysonde, and Virginia went head-to-head in some epic chicken fights in the waves. It was unreal swimming in such a jaw-dropping setting.
But the day wasn’t over-our guides took us into the jungle to explore some wild caves with panoramic views of the ocean. Claire said it felt like we were in The Goonies. We climbed through the dimly lit caverns until we reached a point where we’d be rappelling out. Reeves bravely volunteered to go first and crushed it. Hayes was being super funny and was singing Swag Surf aa she went down. Everyone faced their fears and had a blast scaling down. We wrapped up the day with a swim in the hotel pool and another delicious dinner-SJ was especially excited to try her first-ever chicken Phad Thai.
The next morning, we woke up early for another round of rock climbing-this time at a new jungle location. The climbs were higher and the views even more stunning, with ocean to our left and jungle to our right. Between climbs, we played our favorite group games like Shake and Pop. Afterward, we returned to Railay Beach for a few more hours of wave-jumping, island exploring, and long chats in the sun.
Tomorrow, we’re headed on a hiking adventure and then it’s time to kick off scuba! This group has been nothing short of AMAZING so far, and we can’t wait to see where the rest of this journey takes us.
🫶🏻🕺 Ben and Riley
SHOUT OUTS!!!
Virginia-hey mom dad and Lee I’ve had soooo much fun I’ve eaten an ungodly amount of rice but it’s real good. I’ve learned I’m bad at rock climbing but rapeling is cool. Anyways love yall send p and e my love byeeeee
SJ- hi mom, dad, and Libby!! I miss y’all but I’m having so much fun!! I’m actually good at rock climbing. Can’t wait to see y’all! Give the dogs a big hug and kiss for me. Love y’all!!!!!
Palmer- Hey everyone, This is CRAZY!!! Yesterday we went rock climbing and then repelled out of these caves that were straight out of The Goonies. Having so much fun and missing you (especially Snoop)!
Claire – Hello from Thailand! This place is so otherworldly, it’s amazing!! Margot, have a good birthday in a few days, have fun! I hope everyone is doing well, and I can’t wait to reconnect with you all when I get back.
AK- hi!! This is the coolest place ever! The food is so good! We went rock climbing yesterday and it was so much fun! We’re going again today. I miss yall! Tell Maggie hi for me!
Hayes- hey! I love Thailand! It’s so cool! We are going rock climbing today. I love and miss y’all! Everyone rides motorcycles! Y’all would love Thailand, especially you dad!
Ysonde- Hiii family + Jayden!! We are on our second day in Krabi and it is genuinely so beautiful here. And the food is the best thing I have ever had I am not kidding. My fav is the Pad See Ew and the curry. I love all of yall!!!
Reeves – Hi! I miss all of you! Yesterday we went rock climbing and it was really fun. We also went in a bat cave and hiked around. I love yall!
Safe Arrival to Thailand!
June 7, 2025
Hello Thailand 1C Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Bangkok! 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
