Sustainability and Community

The focus of the trip was sustainability and spirituality. We engaged with people who were working with the land through permaculture, tea making, and agriculture. In each place we stayed, we were able to participate in caring for the land and learned from the community. We tried new fruits and learned how to cook Thai dishes. We visited temples and monasteries, focusing on learning Buddhist teachings and meditation. I found community not just with the people that we met while in Thailand, but with the members of my group. I felt supported by my group throughout the trip as we all got pushed out of our comfort zone. Where There Be Dragons has many connections in the places it travels, and the leaders have great knowledge of their programs. This was evident in the selection of places we traveled, or the instructor's in-depth answers to our questions about anything from fruits to history to language. This program inspired me to think of a future for myself around traveling and exploration. A month in a place lets you settle into a routine, almost like you are living there, even if just for a short amount of time. This trip was an amazing experience for me, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to explore a country, learn from its experts, and travel with intention.