Andaman Discoveries Blog
Friday, September 10, 2010
A very special family – the Southern Thailand Orphanage
By Judith Schneider
Two weeks ago, just before I left Thailand with a lot of new experiences and unforgettable impressions in my heavy luggage, I had the chance to visit the Southern Thailand Orphanage with who Andaman Discoveries is working together.
This place is located between Phuket and Khao Lak and was developed one year after the tsunami to shelter children in need.
Beside the loss of many people, the Tsunami also unsettled a lot of families who then had to struggle for their survival. Root and Rasa, a lovely couple in their fourties, recognised the need of many innocent children and founded a protected home for them. A place of love, trust and encouragement. Started with 20 children, the orphanage now is home to 26 individuals, some of them siblings between 5 and 17 years who got the wonderfull chance to enter a welcoming home with many new brothers and sisters.
And this is exactly how I felt when I visited this center – it seemed like a big happy family where every single child has found a place to feel loved, comfortable and confident.
The first thing you see when arriving at the orphanage is the sign of their own backery: Especially during the high season, this makes a little income for the foundation and baking a valuable activity for the children to be thaught. Unfortunatly, the bakery was closed when I arrived but I could try their cookies which were so yummy you could taste the love with they where made.
Then, entering the area of 5 small buildings with a big vegetable garden, I felt straight away the peace and calmness of the place – everywhere you see beautiful flowers and paintings and surrounded by the comunity- and sleeping rooms is a little green area with a swing.
The children just came home from school when I arrived and were about to have dinner together in the outside area. Afterwards, each one tidied up their own plate and then run out to go playing with their brothers and sisters.
Later in the evening, routine was to come together in the community room to do their homework and play. This was when I had the chance to interact with the kids and found out how open and happy they are towards the volunteers who come and stay for a couple of weeks so several month. As the foundation doesn't have a lot of money for employees, it is very important for them, to have volunteers to engage and play with the children.
Before I went to bed, I read the 'welcoming book', where the story of each child is written beside their picture. I was very touched to see, how 2 people can change the life so dramatically for all those children and, for a change, fell asleep with the warm feeling of trust in the good of the people.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
A Look Back - Andrew's Diary
by Andrew Moncada Looking back at these last four weeks, I think the best way to commemorate them is through Top Four Lists. Without further ado...
4 Things I'll Miss About Thailand:
1. The food
you can have a Thai omelet any time during the day. Usually it's more of a lunch or dinner food. Also, a Thai omelet doesn't have an excessive amount of things in it. Actually, it's just the egg...and usually some bits of meat inside, such as chicken. Chicken, egg. Nothing complicated, rather stupid simple. But it's absolutely amazing. Put some chili paste over that thing along with some rice, and it's complete heaven. That's another thing about Thai culture that will probably be a running theme in this post -- everything's simple. The ingredients in the dishes are kept to the bare minimum, it seems. For most meals at the homestay, the foods were collected from the garden or freshly caught at the sea.Couple of sidenotes:
-Because of this innate ability for a Thai person to cook up a fantastic meal with only a handful of ingredients, if a Thai were to ever be a contestant on Hell's Kitchen, I'd put it at 2:1 odds that he or she would win if they aren't required to know a handful of Eureopean dishes
. Those challenges where the cooks have to make a meal by only using ingredients they find in a half-stocked fridge would be no contest.-You eat with a spoon and fork by using the fork to help scoop food onto the spoon. Kinda takes a meal or two to get used to, but it's a highly efficient way of eating. Very easy to clean up your plate, because you can destroy every grain of rice with the spoon-dominated method.
-Mangosteen is quickly climbing my favorite fruits pyramid. It looks like something that Link from Zelda would eat. Purple ball with a cartoon-ish green leaves at the top. Open it and there's white flesh. Really good.
1b. Bua loy
My absolute favorite dessert. Sticky rice balls in coconut milk. I need to figure out this recipe. Ok, I need to stop thinking about this or else I'm going to pass out.
Not fair.
3. Being able to walk down the street and smile and talk with people
Try doing this in LA, and people will think you're crazy.
4. Not having to follow the LeBron James fiasco.
With limited internet access and no TV, I'm glad that I didn't have to be bombarded with LeBron James news or "The Decision."
Labels: Southern Thailand Volunteering, study program, volunteer
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Critical Acclaim
Ban Talae Nok on TripAdvisor
Have you visited Ban Talae Nok village as part of an Andaman Discoveries tour? Andaman Discoveries and the villagers alike proudly announce that Ban Talae Nok is now on TripAdvisor, where three people have already given the picturesque village top ! We encourage you to visit the TripAdvisor site, read the reviews, and provide your own feedback.TripAdvisor.com is a free travelguide and research website that assists customers in gathering travel information, posting opinions of travel related issues and engaging in interactive travel forums. TripAdvisor is an example of consumer generated media. The website services are free to users, who provide most of the content, and the website is supported by an advertising business model.
Labels: Ban Talae Nok, community development, community tourism, TripAdvisor
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
A Farewell to Charms – Goodbye Mimi and Jenny
Jenny, known as the Jeneral during her time in Kuraburi, spent over 5 months working with the AD team. Her spirit of adventure, hard work, and boundless enthusiasm were appreciated by all who crossed her path in Kuraburi. Jenny focused on program development and marketing, helping us reach new guests and communities. Her filed work included visits to Ban Talae Nok, piloting homestays in Ban Lion, and creating a new hiking route in Nai Tui. We hope to see her back soon, Kuraburi is missing her.Mimi joined the Andaman Discoveries family in 2008 with a mission to take its success to the next level. Shortly after Mimi finished her Master's degree, she heard about our post-tsunami projects, and joined Andaman Discoveries to put her knowledge and skills to use. During more than 2 years in Kuraburi, Mimi was a pillar of the organization - she developed new village tours, oversaw financial planning, and steered the organization towards self-sufficiency. Love called, however, and Mimi left Andaman Discoveries to marry her sweetheart, Phillip. THANK YOU MIMI, for all of your dedication, support, and friendship.
Mimi’s academic background includes economics, finance and management studies. She has worked in the investment and pension industry for a number of years before calling it quits. Soon after, she volunteered in a turtle conservation program in Costa Rica, and then went on a solo three-month journey to Asia, including Thailand, of course! Her next adventure was back in her hometown in Toronto, Canada, where she headed back to the books to get a degree in Master in Environmental Studies, with a focus on community-based tourism. She spent two months conducting research in Northern Thailand.Labels: staff
Summer Study Program - Open Minds and Helping Hands
In July, Andrew and Janice joined our summer study program ,for a month of experiential education and hands-on volunteering. The conservation-themed program included organic gardening in Ban Talae Nok, planting mangrove trees, helping control riverbank erosion, and helping with seagrass and turtle conservation at Ban Lion. Andrew and Janice have now returned to the University of California at Los Angeles, where they are sharing the knowledge and experience gained during their time with Andaman Discoveries. Thanks to them both for their enthusiasm and excellent community service.Janice's blog: " ... We had dinner inside. Then I “showered” by scooping water over myself from a large basin of water to freshen up before bed. This is a little tricky when you are not used to it and takes practice. One more activity was planned for the evening. Rai dressed Andrew and I both in traditional Muslim attire. We learned that prayers are held five times a day, though not always at the mosque. We learned a greeting or way to say blessings upon you that uses words and hand motions. There is no alcohol in the village and no pork/pigs or dogs. However, there are a lot of caged birds, cats, chickens, ducks, geese, goats, cows, and buffalo..." read more on jrowland.blogspot
Andrew's blog : Part of my last week in
Thailand was spent at a Buddhist temple. It was an enjoyable, while also an intense experience...mostly because I helped make a roof structure to shelter a group of students who would be studying at the temple for the weekend. We were able to listen to the monks speak to us and the students, and they discussed the importance of community and love in the world. Using a powerpoint presentation (the monks are surprisingly adept with technology, each having his own laptop and a digital camera to take pictures which are later uploaded on their website), they also talked about not getting distracted in life. In an age with beauty products, rock concerts, and advertisements telling us how to think and live, it can be difficult to understand what is really important. We need to stay focused, pursuing the things that we ourselves know is meaningful. We shouldn't feel as though we have to follow the grain of others. This is our life and we must live it as we see fit. I also realized, though, that I could never be a Buddhist monk. For one thing, they can only eat twice a day and never after 12pm. In other words, they have a really early breakfast at around 5 and then lunch at 11. After that -- nothing. In other words, I would die... read more on aimoncada.blogspot.comLabels: community development, study program, study tours
Monday, August 23, 2010
Nutrition for Needy Children – School Lunch Project
The 90 students from the Burmese Learning Center in Kuraburi need at least one healthy meal per day. While a few get packed lunch, many eat sweets for breakfast and dry instant noodles for lunch.The dedicated teachers at the center have requested our help in providing lunch for the children. Without a food budget, and barely able to cover teacher salary, the center needs our help to make sure the kids have a more healthy diet.
Please help - you can make a difference in the quality of life and general health of the children. Visit http://www.andamandiscoveries.com/pdf/child-nutrition-project.pdf for details -- it’s only $50 per day to feed 90 children.
The Kuraburi area, and southern Thailand in general, is home to a large population of Burmese migrant workers. These hardworking people often come illegally in the hope of finding income and a better life. Their children mostly lack access to education and adequate nutrition. Unlike so many other areas, Burmese children living near the Kuraburi pier are able to take classes at a learning center (where I was recently volunteering!).
The lunch program will:
- guarantee that children have one healthy nutritious meal a day
- create community by bringing together teachers and volunteers to cook and then share a meal with the children
- give the children an opportunity to learn roles and responsibilities during cooking, eating, and cleanup
- alleviate the financial burden on already struggling parents
Labels: Burmese Learning Center, Kuraburi
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Committed to the Cause
Nan reflects on one year of service
Hello there, my name is Nan and I have been working for Andaman Discoveries for just over one year now. I got the opportunity to come to Kuraburi after working for a large organization in Bangkok. I thought I would only be here for a few months, but after learning about Andaman Discoveries' work and spending time with the staff and villagers, I found the idea of leaving very difficult.Working with the villagers feels good, and every day I am happy to come to work. Although I am Thai, I come from northern Thailand, and life here is very different. Every day I learn something new about my people, proving that Andaman Discoveries has something to offer everyone!
I am proud to work with Andaman Discoveries because our organization is helping many local people; our projects are important to keep traditions alive and our work gives them a sense of pride. Even though my work is in accounts, I am part of the team that makes a difference to the villagers and children. I have been lucky to work with a great variety of people and everyday brings something new. I meet people from all over the world and even though they are from different countries they all have the same vision of wanting to learn about Thai culture and the people and want to give something back.
Working for Andaman Discoveries has taught me that it is not all about ‘ourselves’ we can make a difference to others by just doing a little thing. Thank you for letting me be a part of the story.
Labels: community-based tourism, staff development
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