Today was our second day in Ko Phi Phi and because there was still not a lot of sunshine, we decided to climb and see the top of the island! It was a 20 minute hike up to "viewpoint 2" and the view was indeed amazing. Ty, Jessica, and I have an amazing time exploring Ko Phi Phi these past few days. It is sort of a blessing and a curse that it hasn't been very sunny because it has forced us to explore more rather than just lounge all day at the beach :) We have walked most of the island and enjoyed seeing the different markets and areas of Ko Phi Phi. Hiking up to the viewpoint has definitely been a highlight because we could see both sides of the island. We met some very nice girls from Canada while on our trek and they told us all about their travels to Vietnam. Perhaps we will conquer that country next? So far I am having a blast exploring Ko Phi Phi with Ty and Jessica. We have checked out all the best local restaurants, bargained with the shopkeepers, and just sat and talked for hours. I hope the sun comes out soon though because tomorrow we depart for Ko Lanta, an island known for its white sand beaches and beautiful sunsets. Keep your fingers crossed for beautiful weather! I'll check back in soon with more photos :)

Anticipating the Arrival

 I've been preparing for this trip mentally for 4 months, but nothing I can do will fully get me ready for the journey I am about to embark on. How many times have I said "Oh, yes. I'm so excited!" when asked about my trip and how many times have I cried out to my best friends: "I can't believe it's really happening!". All of the anticipation for this trip all comes down to the moment I say goodbye to my parents at the airport and board my plane to Bangkok, Thailand. The aspect of the unknown has troubled human beings since the beginning of time and nothing I can do will help me understand what is to come...except jumping right in and doing it. Words can't describe how lucky I am to have this amazing opportunity and I hope that through my posts and pictures I can savor my journey and reflect back on it as more than just a trip to Thailand.

Background about the program:
I am going to the UNC Institute for the Environment Field Site in Bangkok, Thailand. There I will take classes at KMUTT (King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi) JGSEE (The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment) with other Thai students and 14 other UNC students. My classes will be taught in English by the professors at the graduate school. I am going over a month before classes start to explore and travel around Thailand with two other classmates and I'm sure those adventures will be well documented here!