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
