About

My name is Meredith. I am 65 years old and live in Massachusetts on Cape Cod, where I work for as the Business Manager for two architecture firms. I have one daughter whose father is from Chiang Mai, Thailand.

My first trip to Thailand was in 1987/1988. I went there a year after “discovering” Thai food. During my leave of absence from my position at Harvard University, I traveled extensively and ultimately headed for Koh Tao after spotting a one-sentence reference in my guidebook to a tiny island of 400 people north of Koh Phangan that could only be reached by hitching a ride on the occasional fishing boat.

After returning from my travels, a few of my photographs—including one that was taken on Koh Tao—were published in three editions of an award-winning guidebook (Lonely Planet’s bestselling book Thailand).

Although I made it back to Thailand a few more times, I have yet to return to Koh Tao. My dream to do so is alive and well, and I plan to make it a reality that will coincide with the 40th anniversary of my first trip there.

I hope that people who have traveled to Koh Tao as well as those with a wanderlust or interest in Thailand enjoy my ramblings on this quest to get back to the island and see for myself how this diving mecca that reportedly lures a half a million visitors a year has fared—and why it continues to win the hearts of travelers and expats alike.

I welcome feedback, questions, and comments via the Contact page.

RANDOM BITS ABOUT ME

Places I’ve Traveled

United States: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, New York, Florida, Virginia, Michigan, California, Oregon, Utah, Washington

Canada: Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia

Mexico: Baja California

Belgium: Brussels, Bruges, Liège, Namur, Knokke Le Zoutte

Australia: Western Australia (Perth, Rottnest Island, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Shark Bay)

South Korea: Seoul

Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket, Phang Nga, Koh Panyi, Krabi, Phattalung, Surat Thani, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Chumpon, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ayutthaya, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Nan, Chiang Mai, Pai, Soppong

Places I’ve Lived

Massachusetts (Rehoboth, Newton, Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, Bourne, Falmouth)

California (Kensington, Walnut Creek, Rodeo)

Washington (Seattle, Shoreline)

Rhode Island (Middletown)

Places I’ve Worked

California: Oakland Tribune, Arlington Medical Group, Lawrence Volvo, Parker-Robb Chevrolet, Dohemann Financial Group, The Clorox Company, Hyatt Legal Services

Massachusetts: Harvard University, Waldorf School of Cape Cod, Neubauer Ennis Architects, Outlands Design

Washington: City of Seattle, Washington Defender Association

Rhode Island: Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation

Places I’ve Volunteered

Massachusetts: Refugee Arts Group, Cultural Survival, Circus Smirkus, Harvard University Yenching Institute, Afghans for Afghans, Waldorf Admin Central, Servas

Washington: Refugee Women’s Alliance, Tibetan Resettlement Project, Northwest Folklife Festival

Hobbies

Photography: Dance, People, Travel, Nature

Handwork: Knitting, Embroidery, Doll-Making, Crafts

Music: Flute, Recorder

Foreign Languages I Pretend to Speak

Survival Skills: Thai, French

Random Phrases/Sentences: Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Latvian, Turkish, Greek, Arabic, German, Mandarin (Chinese), Tagalog (Filipino), Japanese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Tibetan, Hindi