When I got back, I pretty much made it my life’s mission to spend as much time as I could in the great outdoors, whether that meant climbing, hiking, or backpacking—essentially doing activities that I had previously thought I wasn’t “capable of” or was “too scared of.” Six years later, I’m a backpacking instructor and outdoor empowerment coach.

I needed the push to make that change, and my trip to Thailand provided it. It showed me what was conceivable.

I don’t know if it was the people I met, the experiences I had, or the beauty of traveling in Thailand; it’s probably a little bit of all three. Regardless, it changed the course of my life, and I’ll always remember Thailand (and the people I met) fondly.