As a 16 year old girl, I have been fortunate enough to have been able to see places which most people never get the chance to visit. One of my favorite countries is Thailand which I was lucky enough to visit this past March.

My friend Ioana and I met up with my parents in the Bangkok airport during our March Break. We spent a week in the city of Bangkok, a few days north of the country in Chiang Mai and about five days at a beach resort called Phuket; known worldwide for white sand and amazing weather.

While in Bangkok, we were immediately exposed to the fantastic culture. The ‘sights, sounds and shopping’ as we call it hit us immediately. During our first few days, we played tourist going to the many temples, museums, touring the city etc. Once the weekend rolled around, it was time for business. The Weekend Market in Bangkok is gigantic! My Mom did not move a block in the two days. There was everything from traditional Thai artifacts and merchandise to imported objects from Asia and surrounding, American knockoffs, and modern clothes, jewellery and so much more. As an addictive original-shopper, this was a piece of heaven!

The trip up to Chiang Mai was not a nice one, after spending all day shopping at the market we had rushed to the train station and had a long trek up north. We decided to take the overnight train which allowed us to see the amazing countryside, however the sleeping comfort is not memorable. Chiang Mai itself was amazing, a completely different climate than that of Bangkok; it was a surprise to us when we disembarked that we could actually breath! During our time there, my parents spent the days visiting craftsmen workshops making orders and settling business deals. While my friend and I where the lucky ones and had our own adventures. One day it was rafting, elephant riding, hill-tribe visiting, and food tasting; then the next day was mountain biking through the Chiang Mai national park down the façade of the mountainside towards the town.

However our time in Chiang Mai was too short; if I was to go back to Thailand again I would spend the majority of my time there.

Phuket was our next stop for some relaxation and serenity after many days of Bazaar merchandise scouting. We found the perfect hotel and had some of the most peaceful days. The only down side was Ioana and I got burned badly the first day and from that day forth had to be overly protective and careful.

All in all, the trip was fantastic! I completely fell in love with the culture, the people and the country for a second time and would in a heart beat, be right back there again. If you ever get the chance, go to Thailand. It is breathtaking the experience that you’re bound to have and the memories last a lifetime!

As we hovered over Dhaka, Bangladesh, and peered out our window to see thick grey smog, we realized that this country was not that different from many large Canadian cities. However, once we landed we knew immediately we were in a completely different country, one that left you star struck.

The three weeks spent in Bangladesh were some of the most educational experiences of my life. Throughout that time we witnessed some of the poorest slums in the world and were exposed to incredible poverty, but at the same time we saw some amazing wildlife and got a small taste of an incredibly resilient culture; as well as doing a little buying for the business.

When people hear of Bangladesh they often think of poor infrastructure, floods, corrupt government and intense poverty. Most people overlook the positive aspects of the country. The People are very resilient and are able to do an incredible amount with very little. For example, Dhaka, the capital, is one of the fastest growing cities in the world; in order to handle this growth they somehow turn waste areas into twenty story building in just a few months, all by hand!!! As well the government is successfully protecting the Bengal Tiger, one of the world most majestic animals; now their number is increasing every year.

My trip to Bangladesh was one of the most emotional and influential trips of my life. This country has, and is still dealing with some very difficult challenges, but I saw proof that there is much hope that once again Bangladesh can become a strong and prosperous country.