From the Surf to the Office: Falling in Love with Khao Lak
Spending my marketing internship in Khao Lak has been one of the most enriching chapters of my life. This small beach town became the scenery not only for my professional growth but also for countless personal discoveries.
It was here that I tried surfing for the very first time — and fell completely in love with it. What began as a spontaneous attempt soon turned into a deep passion. There’s something about catching waves under the Thai sun that’s both humbling and exciting, and it quickly became a core part of my routine.
The food too, deserves its own story. Thai cuisine opened my senses to an explosion of flavors I didn’t truly get the chance to appreciate before. I’ll really miss Pin’s spicy meals at the factory. They were no joke but it’s what got me hooked on real Thai flavors and ready for the street food scene.
Work life in Khao Lak was refreshingly chill, yet still pushed me to grow. I spent most of my time working on reimagining the company’s website: from design tweaks to building entire pages and diving into SEO to help boost visibility and reach. It was a hands-on experience where I got to learn by doing, even if that meant messing up sometimes and figuring things out as I went. That freedom to try, fail, and improve helped me build real confidence in my skills.
Beyond work, this experience was also about movement and connection. I had the chance to travel all around Thailand and meet incredible people from all over the world. These connections, brief or lasting, were enriching all in their own way.
One of the highlights was celebrating Songkran, the Thai New Year. With the factory closed for two weeks, I took the opportunity to travel around and explore the country. I started in Bangkok, where the streets were alive with festive chaos and water fights. Afterward, I headed north to explore the peaceful beauty of Chiang Mai and Pai, where beautiful temples, mountain landscapes, and slow living got the best of me.
Another unique experience I was lucky enough to experience at the factory was getting to be part of the board-making process and actually shaping my own surfboard. Being involved from start to finish watching it take form and knowing I had a hand in it was something really special, especially since surfing became such a big part of my life here.
But above all, what made this experience truly special were the people at the factory. Their warmth, generosity, and humor turned an internship into an unforgettable journey. They became more than colleagues—they became friends, mentors, and part of my story.
Khao Lak, and especially the people I met there, will always hold a special place in my heart. I know that every time I return to Thailand, a stop in Khao Lak won’t just be optional, it’ll be necessary.
