Sometimes it feels like the older you get, the harder it is to make good friends. But on an 18 to 35s trip to South East Asia, Chelsea and her group share experiences that will bond them forever.
I’m having an ‘I can’t believe this is my life’ moment.
I’m sitting in the shallows at the base of a waterfall in Northern Thailand with newfound friends. Sunshine filters through the trees, and we laugh as we try (and fail) to skip stones across the sparkling water.
It’s a simple moment, but it’s special. I feel a pang of sadness because I know this trip will end soon, and that takes me back to a familiar feeling from my adolescence.
Friendships forged in a foreign land
I spent most of my teens at an international school in Shanghai, China. Studying abroad allowed me to forge close friendships with people from all over the world, but there was a catch. Once graduation came, we spread out to different corners of the globe, and it was very difficult for all of us to find time to be in the same city again.
Since then, I’ve hungered for a friendship group that felt the same, but it never manifested that way – not at university or work. I look back on my Shanghai days and long for that kind of friendship.
When I booked a spot on an 18 to 35s trip to Thailand, I wondered if this was my chance to make some new friends. The thought of exploring a new country with like-minded people appealed to me, but I was hesitant, too. I’m an introvert by nature and have never travelled solo before. What if my social battery ran out? What if we didn’t share common interests? What if the group didn’t gel?
An instant connection
I was filled with anxiety before the welcome meeting, but that quickly melted away when our local leader, Tony, opened with a self-deprecating introduction.
‘I hope you don’t mind that I don’t speak English. I speak Tinglish – so please be patient with me.’
Ice broken, the group responded with reassuring smiles.
Maybe it was Tony’s warm, calming energy that put us at ease or the delirium of jetlag and the thrill of being in a new place – but our group chemistry was off the charts from day one.
The energy was palpable on our first outing to explore Wat Arun, one of Bangkok’s iconic Buddhist temples. On the journey – first by train, then boat – we quickly paired off, getting to know each other and chatting animatedly about the day ahead. Entering the ornate temple grounds felt like stumbling into a dream, and we fed off each other’s excitement. Everyone was all smiles.
Tony, who expertly led us between sights and eagerly answered our questions, turned out to be a passionate photographer. He helped us find the best photo spots and even coordinated our group pictures. In the in-between moments, Tony always left space for the group to bond but would occasionally chime in with ‘Everyone OK?’ – a comforting reminder that he was always looking after us. This left us free to focus on the experience and each other.
From strangers to friends
As the trip progressed, bonds grew deeper.
My companions were curious travellers and did not shy away from experiencing anything and everything. Get up for a 7:30 am start? No complaints. Jump in a waterfall? Let’s go! Eat bamboo worms? Sure thing.
It was a childlike sense of wonder and energy that I hadn’t felt in such a long time. It took me back to my days exploring China with my schoolmates. I found myself coming out of my shell with each day.
One of my favourite moments happened in Sop Kai village. We were relaxing on a deck on the banks of the Mae Taeng River as our hosts prepared what we later agreed was one of the best meals of the trip: a home-cooked lunch of sticky rice steamed inside bamboo stalks, vegetables and chicken grilled over a campfire.
‘Any requests?’ asked Pin, a Thai traveller from our group, as she picked up a guitar with a string missing. No one answered, so I suggested Love Story by Taylor Swift. I started singing as she strummed, surprised by my confidence. One by one, the whole group joined in until we were all belting out the chorus.
With every tuk-tuk ride, we opened up to each other about our past friendships, relationships and situationships. We shared our most embarrassing moments over plates of papaya salad. Isabel and I discovered that we share a similar background, with parents who immigrated to North America from The Philippines as children. Haley and I bonded over our mutual love of Muse, both having seen them in concert multiple times. And Liam and I soon established ourselves as the foodies of the group, often sitting together to share when we couldn’t decide between the likes of pad Thai or Northern Thai sausage pizza.
Every day I was so excited to wake up and spend time with the group, who were fast becoming friends. How was I this lucky, to meet these adventurous, like-minded travel lovers?
A home from home
Thailand is known as the ‘land of smiles’, and it’s easy to see why. We were met with warm smiles wherever we went – from bustling Bangkok to the rolling hills of Chiang Mai. The welcoming environment and Thailand’s natural beauty put the whole group at ease and no doubt facilitated our speedy bonding.
It was heartwarming to see Northern Thailand through Tony’s eyes. He would recap the itinerary to us regularly. This was mostly to prepare us for what was coming next, but it was obvious from the start that he was also excitedly counting down the days until he could show us his hometown in the rural Songkwae district of Nan province.
As our bus wove through Nan, he pointed out his elementary school and his aunt’s house. Driving past certain streets sparked memories of when he would sneakily drive down them on his motorbike when he was too young to have a license. We also stopped to explore the beautiful Wat Phumin Buddhist temple, where he worshipped every week as a child.
One morning, we visited a food market just after sunrise. It was already crowded with shoppers and humming with energy. Near the entrance, I watched Tony remove his shoes and bow to a group of young Buddhist monks. He placed alms in their baskets before inviting the group to participate in the same sacred tradition. Moments like this made me respect and appreciate him even more. He wasn’t just taking us from A to B – he was sharing his home and baring his soul.
A Thai goodbye… for now
Before the trip, I thought that by the end of 11 days, I would need to decompress and take time for myself. But that wasn’t the case. I yearned for more conversations, more bus rides, more shared meals, more quality time. I knew we all felt the same – that we didn’t want to say goodbye.
Wiping tears from his eyes on our final night, Tony said, ‘I’m just a boy from the countryside, and I never thought I would be so lucky to get to meet such an amazing group.’ This set off a chain reaction of tears. For me, it was like college graduation all over again.
It hurt to part ways and return to our separate corners of the world, but we vowed to see each other again. Our WhatsApp group chat from the trip lives on, and we always send photos to each other when we’re having Thai food – especially the group favourite, mango sticky rice. There’s even talk of a reunion trip to Southern Thailand! Whatever happens, I’m so thankful these people came into my life. Though I feel sad it is over, I will always treasure our memories.
Just like my experience of studying abroad, group travel creates an atmosphere that is hard to replicate. You experience a new place and a new culture together, and every person in the group brings a certain something that contributes to a unique adventure.
But unlike the once-in-a-lifetime circumstances of my formative years, group travel is an experience I can enjoy again and again. And while I’m not sure that any other group trip could ever live up to this one, I guess there’s only one way to find out.
Chelsea travelled on the Real Thailand and Laos trip. Discover all of Intrepid’s Thailand trips and check out the range of 18 to 35s adventures.
