Thailand in a nut shell

Thailand sees around 11 million tourists every year (along with a huge expat community), so everywhere we went we found plenty of western comforts. We avoided the big resorts, of course, and enjoyed the intimacy of small guesthouses even in the most remote areas. National parks boasting thick jungles and countless waterfalls kept us busy until we made our way to Bangkok. So many people we crossed paths with bemoaned the traffic and pollution of Thailand's capital, but Tim and I encountered a remarkably clean cosmopolitan city that we successfully ate our way through...from one food stall to the next...meals, snacks, fruits, and drinks all enjoyed curbside.

And what is a trip to Thailand without a little time spent relaxing on the beach?? We spent several days in a bungalow a stone's throw from the placid aquamarine waters on Koh Tao island. The temptation to do some diving at the island's best sites led us to get our advanced open water diver certification. We found ourselves diving with bull sharks, amidst brilliant anemones, and on an incredible night dive dancing with the phosphorescence witnessed only in the dark. It was wonderful to rediscover the magical underwater world and enjoy such diversity hidden underneath the deceptively uniform surface. Oh, and then there were the obligatory sunset happy hours, sipping on cocktails just feet from the small waves lapping in on the beach.