Tropical Paradise

 I have always seen pictures of beautiful ocean landscapes complete with towering rock facades, crystal blue water, brilliant white sand beaches, and exotic tropical flora and fauna, but I always doubted if these places really existed. I though that maybe the pictures were just some sort of marketing stunt, that they had been edited and embellished on a computer and were larger than life.

I don't doubt anymore.

Last week, I went to Koh Phi Phi in southern Thailand with my friend Ryan. I think that it is arguably the most beautiful place that I have ever been. As I laid there on the beautiful beach, went swimming in the crystal clear 80 degree water, or kayaked next to beautiful limestone cliffs my heart could do nothing less than praise the awesome majesty of our glorious God. My words fell short and I could only profess along with David in Psalm 19:

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

  

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.

They have no speech, they use no words;

   

no sound is heard from them.

 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world."

  

Overall, we had an amazing trip. It was a great time to rest after a busy month of travelling and reflect on all of the incredible experiences I have had in Thailand. I couldn't have picked a better place to do it.

We did some snorkeling,

we went kayaking,

we went on a boat tour,

Maya Bay, a famous tourist destination.

This island is known as "chicken island"

and of course, we enjoyed some live entertainment from a couple Chinese tourists.

These ladies were quite hilarious striking
all kinds of ridiculous poses and chattering
loudly with one another in Chinese.

In just three days I will leave Thailand and head back to a busy summer in America doing undergraduate research and applying to medical school. As I reflect on the past and began to think about the future, a mixture of feelings washes over me. I am sad that my time here has already come to a close and I know that I am going to miss my host family and all of the friends that I have made here in Thailand. At the same time, I am so thankful for all that I have learned and experienced during this last semester and excited to begin my senior year and be reunited with friends and family in the US. As I think about all of the blessings of this past semester and look forward to the exciting opportunities the Lord has placed before me, my humble prayer can only be:

"May the words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing 

in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19).

Sawasdee krap!