This past Valentines Day, I fell in love. With a guy, I think not, but with the white sands, turquoise waters and colorful long tail boats of Krabi. Recently listed in the New York Times as one of the “52 Places to Visit in 2014,” Krabi’s charm is indeed bewitching.
I stepped off the plane into overwhelming humidity and forty-five minutes later found myself on the beach with good food, great conversation and an instant connection. Talk about a good first date! It was love at first sight.
Some women hope to find a valentine with money or good hair, but I was looking for something different this year. In Krabi I found adventure, as we hopped from island to island, snorkeling and cliff jumping, I found laughter, as I danced the night away at reggae bars with the TEAN crew that I’ve come to know and love, and I found peace, lying on the shores of Railay Bay in the hot Thai sun.
I have TEAN to thank for setting me up on the best blind date of my life. This year was the first time the program has offered a trip down to Krabi, and I’m certain it won’t be the last. We stayed at the Railay Bay Resort and Spa, and it was fantastic. The two-person bungalows were a luxurious treat, and an enormous breakfast buffet greeted us each morning. While Railay Bay is a very family-oriented part of Krabi, Tonsai, with buzzing nightlife and a booming backpacker scene, is only a quick jaunt down the beach at low tide. It felt like the best of both worlds, staying somewhere with clean sheets and great wifi, but easily within walking distance to grungy hotspots hosting fun live music.
Here are some highlights from the weekend:
- Guided long tail tour of Krabi islands with snorkeling and cliff jumping
- Rock climbing – I was too sunburned to partake, but everyone else loved it
- Incredibly authentic Italian pizza at the Friendship Café on the Railay boardwalk
- Made-to-order omelets at the breakfast bar
- Paid vacation courtesy of TEAN
- Spending the weekend in paradise with friends
So, for anyone out there next Valentines Day who may be feeling hopelessly single and alone, try spending the holiday someplace like Krabi, where you’ll find happiness not in another person, but in an incredible experience instead. To hell with men, I’ll take Krabi any day!
Molly Winding is a student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a TEAN Featured Blogger. Molly is currently studying abroad with TEAN in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
