EXPERIENCED BY JASMINE FOU

The Thrill of Seeking New Experiences and Adventures Everyday

Even before arriving at the company, I had already grown somewhat fond of the values that the company held, and the tightly-knit community that the factory provided. Hearing the amazing aspects of the company and the people there prior to arriving in Thailand, I was filled with excitement and eagerness as I got onto my flight.

The moment that I arrived, I was astounded by the beauty and the serenity that surrounded me. While transporting to Khao Lak did take longer due to the layovers and driving, every moment felt worth it as I took in the sights before me. Although it rained for most of my first day in Khao Lak, the beautiful scenery almost made me enjoy the rain, as it made me feel at peace. Better yet, one of my favorite experiences after arriving was the FOOD!! As a strong lover of thai foods, more specifically the tom yum soup, I was beyod ecstatic to actually be eating authentic thai food. As I had expected, I was not disappointed. The food aws amazing, and I was filled with joy as I savored every bite of my meals. 

I only spent one day in Khao Lak until I first visited the factory. My first day at the factory was pretty easy-going, as I was just getting adjusted to the workplace environment. The moment I stepped into the factory, everyone welcomed me with warm smiles and friendly greetings, making my feelings of doubt and anxiety wash away. The other interns/workers even invited me to dinner that night, despite only having known me for less than a day. 

Later that night I got settled into my bungalow, which felt less like a temporary intern house and more liked a luxury hotel. The view outside the bungalow overlooks a lake surrounded by beautiful hues of green, and the bungalow itself was super nice with a variety of different commodities already provided. 

My first night at the bungalow was quite an adventure. Being a city girl from downtown Tokyo, imagine my surprise coming home from dinner and finding what felt like 1000 moths in my room. I was filled with terror and locked myself in the bathroom for an hour, facetiming my friends and panicking about how I was going to get any sleep that night. I finally pulled myself together, however, and was able to kill all of the bugs by myself. While this may seem like a super mundain experience to a majority of people this was one of the first 'adventures' I embarked on while in Khao Lak, as it really made me step out of my comfort zone. By the end of the night, I was filled with adrenaline, and satisfaction for overcoming my fears, and went to sleep soundly. 

What Does the Typical Day Look Like?

The typical day starts one of two ways. I either sleep in super late and rush to get ready for work, or I eat some fresh fruits and ceral on my terrace with some music. Both ways are pretty nice because of the beautiful view I get to wake up to every morning, but I definitely get to enjoy the view for longer when I wake up earlier. 

When going to the factory, I usually ride behind one of the other interns on the scooter. Before starting to intern here, I was quite nervous about how I would go to and from the factory, but the other interns were super nice and willing to take me with them. Riding a scooter is AMAZING!! Probably one of the most thrilling things I'd ever done in my life, and even throughout my whole month here, riding the motorcycle and feeling the wind on my face as I took in the view has to be one of the best feelings ever. 

Work is typically from 8-5, with out lunch break at 12. I do different things everyday, keeping work exciting for me. The environment at the factory is so friendly and fun, with everyone having the ability to get work done, but also know how to have a good time and enjoy themselves. The board factory team is kind of like a family, and even workers that I don' t know well always greet me with a smile or hello, making me feel super at home. 

After work, my fellow interns and I like to do different things everyday. Sometimes we just lounge around the bungalow and watch some netflix, or other nights we go out to the beach or the night market. Every day is a new adventure and I enjoy every moment of it.

The beach is super beautiful, especially during sunset, and never fails to amaze me. There are two night markets, which operate on alternating days of the week, which are both super cool, with new food to try, and a variety of different shops that pretty much sell anything you need or want. I was amazed by the hustle and bustle of the area, and I have gone several times in my time here.

My Trip to Khanom and Khao Sok

On my first weekend during my internship I went to a SUP competition in Khanom with the other interns and workers in the factory. The drive to Khanom was super long, but the loud EDM music and good company kept me up. When we arrived in Khanom, I was surprised when I found out that we hadn't even booked a place to stay yet! Usually not the way I plan out trips, but I loved the 'go-with-the-flow' mentality of the people around me and I really admired how spontaneous and easy-going they all are. During the two nights that we stayed in Khanom we probably spent almost 99% of the time either lounging on the beach or having a 'pool party' which were both super fun. 

On Sunday we drove and took a boat to the floating houses in Khao Sok. I can honestly say, the boat ride over there was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. I thought that staying at the houses would be somewhat of a challenge because of the lack of internet connection there, but being disconnected from my phone and actually taking in everything that the area had to offer was so new and exciting, and I enjoyed every moment of it. 

One night staying at the floating houses was a little pricey, but the food and activites made everything worth it. We paddled around the lake on our SUP boards and enjoyed each others' companies during meals. On Monday, we even went to the national park to see the coral caves. The cave was beautiful, and despite the millions of mosquito bites I got during the hike there, it was so worth it. 

The trip ended with a quick stop for some waffles and ice cream, and lots of snoozing (for me at least lol)

Chill Weekend In Khao Lak

Bangkok !!!