From Bangkok I take a connecting flight to Northern Thailand where I will start classes at Chiang Mai University. From the second I step from the plane and feel the moist caress of the tropical climate I fell in love with Thailand. I witness lushness in shades of green I have never seen. The scent of jasmine swayed in harmony with the palm trees and fills my lungs with such pure sweetness. There is such a feeling of reverence for life and respect for nature that I immediately begin conjuring up peaceful images.

Blessed with an adventurous spirit, I set out to enjoy this beautiful country. I wished nothing more than to get beyond the superficial layer of the typical "tourist." I wanted to discover Thailand in all its sensuality: smell the sweetness, taste its delicacies, witness its spectacular natural beauty, listen to the peaceful chants and to feel it all with intensity.

My experience at the Chiang Mai University remains unforgettable. Although Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, there is always a balance between the modern and traditional, city and nature. Initially I would live with a host family on the outskirts of the city.

The couple's two young daughters would converse in Thai with me, and I would tutor them in English. The exotic cuisine titillates my taste buds with delicacies beyond my imagination (frog and grubs (i.e. worms). Fortunately, the tangy lemongrass, spicy chilies, coconut milk and fresh basil always make every dish as delectable as ever.

After enduring a 10-day meditation retreat in Chiang Rai, I return to Chiang Mai and fly to Bangkok for two weeks, experiencing Thailand from a refreshing perspective. I am no longer the college student studying abroad. Instead, I am being asked what I want for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, each meal deliciously prepared by the family's personal chef. Fancy luncheons and jewelry exhibitions became part of the daily ritual.

The heat and the humidity in a busy, overpopulated city are overwhelming, but being chauffeured around in an air-conditioned car was definitely a relieving way to experience this chaotic city. Regardless of how one travels, site seeing in Bangkok is a must with its splendid gold plated temples and the remarkable Grand Palace. The time soon came to say goodbye to my friend and her endearing family and I boarded a southbound train.

My train journey begins with a second class (253 Baht/$10US), open-air train ride to Surah Thani. As a college student with a $250 budget I opt for the cheapest ticket. Once I get to Surah Thani, I find a bus to the city of Don Sak that rests on the Gulf of Thailand. I arrive close to the Lame Kula Pier in Don Sak and purchase a ferry ticket (25 Baht/$1US) to take me to my first destination, Koh Samui.

During the course of my trip, I am amazed my sense of security. It can be a difficult task to travel on your own as an individual woman. However, for some unfounded reason I never felt as though I was in danger; nor did I experience any sort of hostility. Nervous, scared, but more than anything else, I am determined. I want to explore the endless stretch of desolate white sand beaches and immerse myself in the crystalline, turquoise water that makes up the everyday scenery in southern Thailand. I'd never traveled alone before so it is the strangest thing to have to do - just rely on myself as my most loyal companion and best friend with just a backpack, a passport, and some loose change in my pocket.

On my way into Koh Samui, I encounter two girls who open their home and hearts to me. They convince me to join them on a series of moped adventures. Each ride reveals to me the most delightful sites, sounds, and delicacies.

The vast beaches are bare and eerily quiet save for the waves that are heard caressing the shore. The sun hides momentarily behind thick storm clouds, but this could not dissuade me from receiving my Thai massage while lying on the soft sand. If there were ever a more natural spa setting, this would have to be it. An hour and a half of Thai massage, complete with stretching and kneading, is available for the unheard of price of 150 Baht ($6US). The sand I rested on was the Earth's helpful way of gently exfoliating my skin. Afterwards, I bounded off to detoxify in the salt water of the crystal clear sea to complete my treatment.

I stayed in Koh Samui for a week before making my way to Big Buddha Beach to board another makeshift ferry for Koh Phangan, my final destination. The infamous Full Moon Party takes place here and people party from night until dawn. It draws people form all over the globe. I met a few of the many travelers from Germany, Israel, and Spain.

Bonfires purr on the beach as the sun sets. The sounds of Bob Marley accompanied by the ocean's whisper echoed in the moist air while people ate fresh fish with sticky rice. This was and is the regular fair at Koh Phangan.

No cell phones, pagers, or email. Simple, beautiful, and satisfying to the soul is what Thailand epitomizes to me. Fantasy Island without good old Mr. Rork.