Reason #16 we should go to Thailand: We'll reach for the mountains

Not only do Amber and I love animals, (psst... we don't even eat them!), we love the mountains. Now, I know what you're saying, "Theo, didn't you grow up in the flat cornfields of Indiana?" Yes, it's true. I grew up in the American Midwest, and I love the Great Lakes region. There's nothing quite like a brisk fall day in central Michigan or northwest Ohio. A little American high school football on Friday night in the heartland; sign me up. But that's maybe why I long for the mountains now.

I've lived in a few places with peaks, and I loved every minute of it. After studying for a semester in Germany, I backpacked alone throughout Eastern and Central Europe for two weeks. Not only did I have a fantastic time, but I got to see REAL mountains. I traveled south to Austria and made my way to Innsbruck. The Tyrolean Alps were absolutely majestic, frost tipped and totally huge. It was a hot day in August as I enjoyed a beverage in the Altstadt; I was mesmerized by the view.

In Korea, I would often hike the hills near Anyang, Gyeonggi, and even tackled all 632 m of Mt. Gwanak. A few friends and I trekked up the slope and watched the sunset on a crisp October day. It made for a beautiful view, but a treacherous descent.

But to say that Amber and I are looking forward to snagging pic after pic of Doi Inathanon and the rest of the Shan Hills would be a massive understatement. We're not here to tell you we're on our way to climbing the rest of the Himilayas, but we're definitely looking forward to standing atop the highest point of Thailand and visiting the ever-magnificent Napamaytanidol Chedi. Not only that, but 14 national parks will lay before us, ripe for exploration. We cannot wait!