Some of you might remember Katrina from our Asheville and Hendersonville media projects. Well, friends, she’s back — and she’s brought stories from Thailand that will linger in your mind long after the last plane lands.
Katrina Visits Thailand — A Travel Story to Remember 🌍
Thailand was a dream. We began in the north — in Chiang Rai, then on to Chiang Mai, each steeped in centuries of culture. Chiang Mai, founded in 1296 by King Mengrai as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, became “the New City” and flourished as a center of trade, crafts and Buddhist learning for nearly 500 years. Here, gold‑and‑glass temples glimmer, hill‑tribe traditions ripple beneath mountain skies, and the air carries the whisper of a thousand stories. Katrina spent her mornings in hot springs, afternoons in the company of monks, and evenings savoring khao soi and mango sticky rice. A day at an ethical elephant sanctuary — feeding and bathing gentle giants in the river — brought one of the purest moments of her trip.
Then on to Bangkok, the vibrant capital where ancient and modern collide. Founded as the city we know today when King Rama I moved the capital in 1782, the Grand Palace became the spiritual and political heart of Siam. Katrina wandered through its complex of golden spires and royal halls, gliding afterward on long‑tail boats along the Chao Phraya River, absorbing the rhythms of the city. She traversed the floating markets, lived off pad thai and coconut ice cream, and even sparred with professional Muay Thai fighters — wild, humbling, full of adrenaline. A moment she won’t forget was receiving a Sak Yant tattoo from a monk — a blessing of protection, strength, and spiritual intention etched into her journey.
At sunrise she donned traditional Thai clothing and posed at Wat Arun, the “Temple of Dawn,” perched majestically on the Thonburi bank of the river. Though the temple’s spire was built in the early 19th century, its origins go back to the 17th — its exterior ornate with ceramic shards and porcelain mosaics glinting in the morning light. Standing there, she says, felt like stepping inside a living painting.
Then came the wild heart of Thailand: Khao Sok National Park, deep jungle, rainforest valleys, limestone cliffs echoing with mist. Waking to fog, animals stirring among tree‑house huts and water so unreal it seemed otherworldly — this was a breath away from the tourist paths.
Finally: island life. Phuket, Phi Phi, and Krabi were the grand finale. Phuket, once a vital center for tin mining and a cross‑roads of trade between India, China and Europe, has transformed into a global resort destination. Phi Phi—its name rooted in Malay “Pulau Api‑Api” meaning “fiery tree”—rose from humble fishing village to world‑famous beach escape. Krabi, with human settlement traced back 25,000–30,000 years, offers dramatic limestone cliffs, crystal waters and that sense of nature unspoiled. Long‑tail boats, turquoise seas, snorkeling, beach‑side massages, sunrise hikes, and sunsets too perfect to believe. After weeks of temples, street‑food feasts, jungle hush, ocean breeze and endless wonder, Thailand became more than a destination — it became a feeling. Warm. Spiritual. Delicious. Beautiful. Electric. As she left, there was salt in her hair, ink on her skin, fighters’ bruises, and memories that will never fade.
👉 Visit Thailand. It’s an experience you will never forget.
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