Two years is a long time. It’s also not enough time. When you are staring down the barrel of a two-year commitment, it’s daunting and difficult to imagine. On the back end, you start wishing for more time and thinking of all the things you didn’t get to do. So I present to you, a list of six things that I didn’t get a chance to do in Thailand, that I hope I will have the chance to return to do.
See the Naga Fireballs during Ork Phansa
This one goes back to the folklore of Thailand. It’s also an unexplained, natural phenomenon. Each year, at the end of Vassa, or Buddhist Lent, is the holiday Ork Phansa and somehow, during this specific holiday, which varies with the lunar calendar each year, orbs of light, described as fireballs emerge from the Mekhong River.
My friends went my first year here, and they witnessed the phenomenon, as have many other people. Science still has no explanation, and so I will continue to believe that it is the water dragons, known as naga that are the originators of this curiosity. 
Attend the Phuket Vegetarian Festival
Despite the Western world’s perception, not many people in Thailand eat vegetarian. There is a lot of meat consumed, and likely more meat than in the US, or at least more variety of meat since Thais will use all parts of the animal. (Chicken feet in your soup? Sure. Coagulated blood? Yup. Cow afterbirth soup? You betcha. Pig head offerings? That’s the best cut!)
However, each year usually at the beginning of October, there is an annual Vegetarian Festival. The legend goes that a Chinese theater troupe was hired to perform in a mining town. All went well for several months, until the entire troupe was struck ill, and the theater had to close.
It was realized that the Chinese troupe had not been following their religious edicts and honoring a certain set of nine gods as closely since arriving in Thailand, and to atone abstained from meat and animal products for nine days. Everyone recovered, and the next year more people participated.
Today, the nine gods are honored in very public ways, to the point that many people are possessed by them. The spirit vessels then often perform acts often considered self-mutilation or fire walking or climbing ladders made of swords. Astonishingly, they report feeling no pain during these acts. 
Explore the hills of Tak, Nan, Phayao and Phrae
These three northern provinces are off the well worn and beaten tourist path, but not because they are lacking in attractions. Beautiful hills and valleys that fill with morning mist, temples with well-preserved and unique murals, preserved culture of minority ethnic groups. I would have loved a chance to explore these provinces for an extended time, and will likely make a trip back to do just that
Summit Doi Inthanon
I’m bummed that I never got to the top of the tallest point in Thailand. 
Attend a Traditional Wedding
One of the neat things about Peace Corps is getting invited to traditional ceremonies that are usually private because you are considered a part of the community.
Unfortunately, no one in my immediate community or network got married while I was here, so I never got the chance to experience a wedding first had. Fortunately, my friend Carly did an excellent job documenting her friend’s wedding, so I can just live through her post. 
Learn How to Make Thai [Things]
I moved out of my host family’s house fairly quickly for reasons that were right for me. And I don’t think staying would have provided me with these kinds of opportunities, but I can’t help but think “What if…”
I wish I had learned how to make Thai foods and kanoms (snacks). I would have liked to have sat with a woman at her loom and learned a weaving technique. Or bamboo mats. Or pottery. Even a chance to go out and work in the rice fields.
I’m a little bummed that none of these opportunities presented themselves, but I’ve learned so much about traditional Thai handicrafts as it is, making my own would just be icing on the cake.