Love in Thailand

You were my teacher and I, your muse; and Thailand became our first playground in March of 2015. People continuously ask where my most favorite place traveled is and I can honestly say them all but for many different reasons. However; Thailand will always have a special place in my heart, even more so now. Listed below is a recap of how two lovers took on a country from the north to the south in just 12 days. It lists all must see places along with some personal touches.

First stop, Chiang Mai:

A little gem most people over look but we took advantage of just for the ability to ride/bathe elephants. There are a lot of elephant trekking tours in Thailand but do your research online beforehand because many are known for treating the elephants poorly. Golden rule, stay away from the camps that use the chairs attached to the backs of the elephants. The tour we took was through: Bareback Elephant Ride and was roughly 70$ a day that included transportation and lunch. 

The best, and yes I am very biased, Muay Thai matches can be seen here! A stadium created by an enclosed circle of outside-bars with a boxing ring in the middle surrounded by lawn chairs.  Thaepae Stadium Chiang Mai

After watching the match, we hopped in a tuktuk and both shouted directions at the driver. Its true when they say a woman is always right, because the driver listened to me and took us to the nearest tattoo shop. Your one and only tattoo is from here. I guess I know how to leave a lasting impression.

Bamboo tattoos in Thailand are a must. They originated from Buddhist monks that would tattoo symbols of protection onto warriors before going into battle. Now the form of tattooing is used for any design. We chose to get the coordinates of the place we first met; I marking my body with the latitude, you the longitude of Fleet Rec gym in Yokosuka, Japan. Is it weird I can still remember what you and I were wearing the day I finally Z-snapped my way into your life 5 years ago? Or is that what love at first sight does to you... forever etches the moment into your memory?

If you are a more daring adventurer than we were and want the traditional tattoo, some buddhist temples still offer the tattoos done by the monks. These are called Sak Yant tattoos. The only catch, you pay the monk in offerings of food and cigarettes, and he marks your body where he deems fit utilizing the same needle as those who went before you along with his own brewed concoction of homemade ink. #goodluck 

Catched flights to Krabi:

From the north we went directly south to the beaches of Krabi which lies just east of Phuket. Krabi is great for relaxing. It has less people, a quieter nightlife, and smaller infrastructure than Phuket yet is surrounded by giant limestone karsts. We truly loved this place.

This is where you completed your bucket list item of doing a backflip into the ocean on our deep water soloing trip. DO THIS IT IS A MUST! Rock climb as high as you can and then jump off into the ocean below you. By far one of the coolest things I have done in my lifetime. We went with: Krabi Rock Climbing

Boated to Koh Phi Phi:
Koh Phi Phi is an island in-between Krabi and Phuket. This a great place to stay if you are wanting crystal clear water and a nonstop nightlife. Of note, the beaches here were never overly crowded like Phuket.

One of our mornings here we hired our own boat driver to take us to a well known shark-seeing spot off the island. We woke up at 4am for this shark-viewing opportunity yet none showed. I guess me snorkeling in the fetal position at the top of the waterline had scared them off. We were then taken to Pileh Lagoon to eat breakfast. Do you remember this view? How breathtaking it was? You know, the one we always reminisced on and said we would go back to to get married in?

Party for Two in Phuket:

Ooo Phuket. A small Bangkok with beaches is what I would relate this gem to. If you are wanting a quaint island, Phuket is not where you want to go. But if you are wanting a nonstop nightlife, Miami like beaches, and the most bizarre ping-pong shows; this is the place for you! We didn't stay here long, which I am grateful for because it just wasn't our scene, but we did manage to still have fun!

Do you remember going into the lady boy show? The Ice-bar? Or how we tag-teamed a Thai boxer who started a street fight with you over a gyro? You were my ride or die, and I think you learned that night just how down I was for you. "If you are swinging on my man I am swinging on you". Hanford Mentality. #SafestPlaceInCali

When in Bangkok:

We flew into Bangkok and had only 24hrs to take on this city and man did we accomplish that! Koh San Road is where you want to be in this town. We booked a hostel on this road just to leave our backpacks in for the night and took off. Our time in Bangkok was so much fun but the most notiable thing was your instant suit collection that took place.

To buy or not to buy? 

You always said I was full of bright ideas and my suit shop one did not disappoint. My idea: "Lets pretend you are going to buy suits so they give us free drinks and then we walk away." Sounded like a solid plan right? Well it was, until we walked out with four suits in hand. Although in your defense, the admiral at my sub ball later that year did ask you for your tailors number. If you have a better poker face than we did and are short on baht, getting drunk for free in a suit shop is a must!

**TIP: Do NOT drink in Bangkok the night before you have to fly out. This is when I learned how bad flying with a hangover is haha**

HOME... wherever that is now:

I have loved deeply, and now I have lost. But the memories I created with you will never be forgotten. I am who I am today because of you, and I will become the woman I have always desired without you. Goodbyes are bitter sweet, but the life lessons you are forced to learn after them make them worth it.

Like our song, I will always remember my first love. Funny the song we chose was in all actuality foreshadowing our future.

I'll love you forever,

Do great things

- Gerber

35'17'20"N 139'39'53"E