<strong>Let loose in Thailand: </strong>It was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime, a full year spent traveling through Southeast Asia and Australia. And like thousands of backpackers before me, it all kicked off here, near Bangkok's Khao San Road.
Let loose in Thailand: It was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime, a full year spent traveling through Southeast Asia and Australia. And like thousands of backpackers before me, it all kicked off here, near Bangkok's Khao San Road.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Partners in crime:</strong> Jodi and I (L-R) -- seen here exploring Bangkok's canals on a longboat -- saved for months then quit our jobs in Canada, excited for the year of adventures that lay ahead of us.
Partners in crime: Jodi and I (L-R) -- seen here exploring Bangkok's canals on a longboat -- saved for months then quit our jobs in Canada, excited for the year of adventures that lay ahead of us.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Bangkok's Chao Phraya River: </strong>Twenty years on, as a longtime Bangkok resident I still recommend tourists take a cruise down the Chao Phraya River.
Bangkok's Chao Phraya River: Twenty years on, as a longtime Bangkok resident I still recommend tourists take a cruise down the Chao Phraya River.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Marble Temple: </strong>Remember the first digital cameras? Let's not mince words. They sucked. Fortunately I stuck with film for much of the trip, but captured the odd bomb with my HP Photosmart 320. Case in point, this pixel-y photo of Bangkok's stunning Marble Temple.
Marble Temple: Remember the first digital cameras? Let's not mince words. They sucked. Fortunately I stuck with film for much of the trip, but captured the odd bomb with my HP Photosmart 320. Case in point, this pixel-y photo of Bangkok's stunning Marble Temple.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Chiang Mai: </strong>From Bangkok, we headed north to Chiang Mai and enjoyed a trek through the mountains, staying in hill tribe villages.
Chiang Mai: From Bangkok, we headed north to Chiang Mai and enjoyed a trek through the mountains, staying in hill tribe villages.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>The hills are alive -- with terror: </strong>At the time, I thought it would be the slippery, rain-soaked hills of Chiang Mai that would put an early end to my trip. Not the Koh Samui motorbike accident that happened a week or so later.
The hills are alive -- with terror: At the time, I thought it would be the slippery, rain-soaked hills of Chiang Mai that would put an early end to my trip. Not the Koh Samui motorbike accident that happened a week or so later.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Setting out: </strong>From downtown Chiang Mai, trekkers are driven an hour or so to the mountains, where the actual walking begins.
Setting out: From downtown Chiang Mai, trekkers are driven an hour or so to the mountains, where the actual walking begins.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>No bed, no problem:</strong> During the trek, our group slept on the floor in thatched huts in local hill tribe villages.
No bed, no problem: During the trek, our group slept on the floor in thatched huts in local hill tribe villages.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Put 'er there:</strong> The kids, certainly not shy, were used to the endless stream of tourists that trekked through their villages.
Put 'er there: The kids, certainly not shy, were used to the endless stream of tourists that trekked through their villages.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Cuddling the local critters:</strong> After the trek, we hit up one of Chiang Mai's snake-based attractions. I still remember the announcer's booming, heavily accented voice, commanding me to "Kisssss the snake. Kissss it." (Admittedly, we were ignorant tourists. Nowadays, I avoid such attractions.)
Cuddling the local critters: After the trek, we hit up one of Chiang Mai's snake-based attractions. I still remember the announcer's booming, heavily accented voice, commanding me to "Kisssss the snake. Kissss it." (Admittedly, we were ignorant tourists. Nowadays, I avoid such attractions.)
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Quality tourists: </strong>After a long train ride from Chiang Mai, we accidentally got off at Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport train station instead of Hualumphong, where we were supposed to catch our night train to Surat Thani in Thailand's south. Rather than spend money on a hotel, we spent the night on cold tiles in a quiet corner of the airport.
Quality tourists: After a long train ride from Chiang Mai, we accidentally got off at Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport train station instead of Hualumphong, where we were supposed to catch our night train to Surat Thani in Thailand's south. Rather than spend money on a hotel, we spent the night on cold tiles in a quiet corner of the airport.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Disaster waiting to happen:</strong> This photo was snapped just<strong> </strong>a few hours before our initiation into the unofficial "I Survived a Thailand Motorbike Accident" club. Before you click any further, be warned. The next three photos ain't pretty.
Disaster waiting to happen: This photo was snapped just a few hours before our initiation into the unofficial "I Survived a Thailand Motorbike Accident" club. Before you click any further, be warned. The next three photos ain't pretty.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Road rash:</strong> Placed in the back of a pickup truck, we were brought to an international hospital, where staff flushed tiny bits of gravel out of our skin and stitched us up.
Road rash: Placed in the back of a pickup truck, we were brought to an international hospital, where staff flushed tiny bits of gravel out of our skin and stitched us up.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Selfie game is strong: </strong>Fortunately, I wasn't in too much pain to snap what might just be the saddest selfie ever taken.
Selfie game is strong: Fortunately, I wasn't in too much pain to snap what might just be the saddest selfie ever taken.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Thank you, Arno: </strong>German medical worker Arno, who picked us off the road and took us to the hospital, visited us regularly before we flew home to Canada. We've lost touch with him over the years, but our gratitude for his kindness has never lessened.
Thank you, Arno: German medical worker Arno, who picked us off the road and took us to the hospital, visited us regularly before we flew home to Canada. We've lost touch with him over the years, but our gratitude for his kindness has never lessened.
Karla Cripps/CNN
<strong>Return to the scene: </strong>Two years ago, Jodi returned to Thailand with her family for six weeks. We took our kids on several journeys, including a trip to Koh Samui for a friend's wedding. Rest assured, no motorbikes were driven.
Return to the scene: Two years ago, Jodi returned to Thailand with her family for six weeks. We took our kids on several journeys, including a trip to Koh Samui for a friend's wedding. Rest assured, no motorbikes were driven.
Karla Cripps