The Andaman Discoveries Blog Archive
This is a selection of some of the blog posts from the past.
My first homestay experience
This weekend I went to the little muslim village of Ban Talae Nok ,with my colleagues, for village guide training. Ban Talae Nok is a small, coastal village with about 200 inhabitants where Andaman Discoveries is hosting community-based tourism with a homestay programs. We arrived late in the evening, settled in our house, and held a meeting with the village’s tourism group. Unfortunately, as I don’t speak Thai, I could not understand what was being said in the meeting, but I felt that the local villagers were enthusiastic and pleased with the program, something Uzma, one of our native Thais in [...]
The Relation Between Capacity Building and Community Based Tourism
AD was pleased to host undergraduate master student Laerke Thorndal from Chulalongkorn University Bangkok. Laerke, ‘Lily’, as she’s known by her Thai name, is conducting her research on our community based programs and spent time in TPY, Ban Lion and BTN villages. Lily is doing research on ‘the relation between capacity building and community based tourism’. She will be returning during June or July to conclude her research, and we look forward to meeting her again and sharing the findings of her research with you.
Burmese Learning Center
The construction of the new Burmese Learning Center was completed in July 2012 and students and staff are very pleased with the new school building. They are all very happy to be learning in a safe and clean environment, without the flooding and disruptions that they had to endure in the old school. Drainage was constructed on the East border of the land to help prevent the water backup on the land that occurred during the heavy rain that came in July and August 2012. The water would flood over the road and enter onto the neighbor’s property causing them [...]
Linfield College Custom Program
“A spectacular program” A group of 14 curious American students from Linfield Nursing College made the trip to Thailand to experience a custom program that focused on learning about the health systems in Thailand. The group started by doing a Homestay in Ban Tale Nok where they were able to see the wonders of a traditional Muslim village. They then toured a local cottage hospital in Kuraburi, meeting staff and doctors, and learning about traditional and conventional medicine in Thailand. They ended their tour by visiting Phuket International Hospital and here they were able to compare services of an international [...]
Volunteer Program Summary 2012
The number of volunteers has been increasing yearly and led to a grand total of 60 volunteers for 2012. All the volunteers’ efforts contributed immensely to the projects we support. We have also hosted families at our projects, this is a wonderful way to have the Thai, Muslim and Burmese children learn from their peers. Kirsten and family came to teach at our learning center and nursery project with her two sons and husband, Tobin. Kirsten said each day was just more fun than the next, she appreciated the interaction with the local children and her own children, knowing the [...]
Peace, Harmony and Goodwill after the tsunami… reflections from a Japanese Study Tour
AD was happy to welcome back a second study tour group from the University of Kyoto. The learning outcomes of this trip focused on tsunami relief in Thailand and using their experiences to generate ideas for developing similar projects in the tsunami affects areas in Japan. The students engaged in a discussion with Abbot Manus at Bang Mung Temple about using the Buddhism way of life to alleviate perceived problems. The group also visited Ban Tarn Nam Jai, the orphanage that provides care for up to eighty children orphaned as a result of the tsunami. The students were happy to [...]
Life with the Moken in Tung Dap
This month I had the chance to experience one of the village tours in the remote village of Tung Dap, located on the Island of Koh Prathong, with one of our guests Mandy and our translator and guide Pi-Tui. We left Kuraburi and made our way to the pier and took the long-tail boat out to the Island. The boat ride out the Island was amazing, the color of the leaves from the mangrove trees was bright green, glistening and shining in the early morning sun and the ocean turns from green to blue as the boat navigates through the shallow [...]
Drip Filters Project with The Rotary Club of Patong Beach for Thailand
On the 3rd of March 2012, staff and friends of AD participated in installing the “Drip filters project” in the beautiful Laem Naew village, which is situated in Suksamran Disctrict. This project set up by Rotary Club of Patong Beach (RCoPB) has been a real success thanks to the cooperation with Andaman Discoveries. Rotary Club of Patong Beach is an English Speaking Club, located in Phuket, with members from 13 different countries, which was set up to support communities after tsunami.Our first installation for the project was in Ban Chimee for 60 drip filters, and Bang Lampu for 65 drip [...]
Rice Harvesting Ceremony
February 7, 2012Rice Harvesting CeremonyA once-a-year ceremony of rice harvesting took place in Kamphaun Village in Ranong District. This rice harvesting ceremony was organized by Muan Mit Thai Foundation, who works closely with the community group and women’s workshop in the village. It was a great opportunity to appreciate the rice, and lean about traditions of the harvest and get to know people in the N-ACT network (North Andaman Community Tourism Network).Kamphuan village is located 25 km North of Kuraburi, and surrounded by palm and rubber plantations. The ceremony was held at the rice field, located behind the main village [...]
Saving the World – Year 3
100 kids, 15 villages, 1 purpose For the third year in a row, we brought together 16 youth groups from the Andaman coast – all from different villages, and all working on local environmental and social issues. The seminar took place at Hat Praphat Research station, where the youth shared their experiences in protecting the environment. They then headed into the field to see local examples of conservation in action.The following story is from the field trip 'Water Lily Rafting":After a nutritious breakfast the group left the lodging and then after a 20-Minute ride we arrived at our destination, the [...]
Leading from the Center
Phra Thong Community Center - A comprehensive facility that conveys the meaning of life in Ban Lion, and is uniting the community through a common purpose.While a village had been built to replace the one lost in the tsunami, and the houses were occupied by those who had come to make a new life, something was missing. With no restaurants, markets, or other social venues, Ban Lion lacked a place for community members to come together – to share, to learn, and to enjoy. The center has become the heart of the village – creating opportunities, friendship, and, most importantly, [...]
A visit to the last refuge of the Water Lily
P’Somsakthe environment-specialist from IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) took the biggest part of the AD crew Nat, Nia and Simon on a field-trip to see an endemic Water lily species 15 minutes away from Kuraburi Center. It grows in a small stream with constantly running water but the flow shouldn’t to strong. Also it’s very clear and fresh water because the flower just grows under these conditions. The plant is commonly know as „Yah Chong“, its scientific name is crinum thaianum. The place is one of the last places on the world where this plant grows and protected [...]
