This week saw the celebration of our partner’s wedding Kim and Awe from The Eco Lodge on Koh Ra Island, they took their vows on the beautiful Island on Saturday the 27th March. The AD team arrived en masse to the Island where our friends had decorated the sala the night before with beautiful red and white roses.


Celebrations took place on the island with a traditional Buddhist service in the morning, it was beautiful to witness the Thai ceremony; it is so warm and loving. The afternoon was dedicated to a western service with a reading from Kim’s brother in
law, which made the service so much more personal, only a few tears flowed, the day was magical the setting amazing, sea, sand and love all around. We were so happy to be part of this special day, for most of us it was the first Thai wedding we had witnessed; these ladies know how to dress to impress. The next day the bride and groom were whisked off, courtesy of their friends speed boat, to Surin Island to carry on celebrations into the wee small hours. We would like to extend our thanks again for allowing us to be part of this special day and wish them health, wealth and happiness in their life together.

Labels: Andaman Discoveries, Koh Ra Ecolodge

International School of Bangkok Visits AD Team

The International School of Bangkok (ISB) became AD's first high school community service group in February! The pack of 21 students hailed from around the world, forming a truly diverse mixture of guests. Lead by Tui, our fearless Director and Translator, the students experienced a variety of activities that the Northern Andaman Coast has to offer.

The trip started in Ban Talae Nok where the students got a taste of traditional Thai cooking. The local youth group lead ISB through the nearby Nipa palm conservation project, explaining their efforts to preserve the environment by working with natural tidal processes to sustainably harvest crops. The ISB students then had an afternoon of weaving nipa palm leaves to make traditional roofing materials, and working with the Ladies' Soap Cooperative to mix up a batch of fresh soap!

The students spent the next day at Koh Ra Ecolodge, an environmentally sustainable outfit on an island off the Andaman Coast. They learned about local wildlife, conservation efforts at the lodge, and the nearby Reef Check Project.

ISB followed up Koh Ra with two days of fun and games at local school events. First, they visited Kuraburi High School, sharing their English conversational skills with the younger students. The following day they attended the Family Fun for National Children's Day in Khoalak, an event encouraging Burmese family interaction and integration with the Thai community.

We sent ISB off with a farewell dinner in Khoalak, where they shared their favorite learning experiences throughout the trip. As the waves crashed on the beach in front of the restaurant and we enjoyed a delicious Thai dinner and sent the ISB students back to Bangkok in style. After returning home, the students wrote a class blog to recount their time with AD!

Labels: Ban Talae Nok, Koh Ra Ecolodge, study tours

Labels: horn bill, Koh Ra Ecolodge, Mangrove, sustainable tourism

As I was packing my bags to bid Thailand farewell (at least for this time), Kelly May mentioned a North Andaman Tsunami Relief (NATR) tradition in which all departing team members shared a Top 10 list of their experience. Why not carry on the tradition with Andaman Discoveries?

There are far more than 10 things I’d like to rave about, but in the Twitter age, I think this will do the trick. In no particular order, here is my Top 10 list from this February to July that I spent with AD.

Thank you to the AD team, the town of Kuraburi, and all the many other wonderful people who made me feel at home in Thailand.

Cheers,
Leslie

1. Jai Yen + Sanuk + Mai Pen Rai = Awesome
Three phrases I wish I could have brought home to the U.S. from the Thai culture include jai yen (cool heart), sanuk (having fun) and mai pen rai (it's not important). The phrases are a large part of the core that is the Thai way of life.


3. Diversity
There are 76 provinces, 148 national parks, and an estimated population of 64 million people spanning a country that is 514,000 square kilometers. About 10 million Thailand residents call Bangkok and its surrounding area home.

Being bored in Thailand may be the least of anyone’s worries. The country is separated into four distinct natural regions. Each offers a diverse landscape to explore. Just Thailand’s national parks alone could keep someone entertained for years.

Statistics are from the United Nations Thailand, Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.


4. The Markets
Every town I visited in Thailand had a market worth visiting. There is a morning and night market in Kuraburi with friendly vendors dishing up rice soup, barbecued meats, fish, waffles, roti, pad Thai and fresh produce. Wandering the markets in search a snack or meal is a great way to try new foods and practice language skills.


5. Kuraburi Restaurants
The best food I had in Thailand was in Kuraburi. Cucina Andaburi was an AD team favorite. The food was exceptional, but it was made better by the personable chef, Tu, who often doubles as an AD guide on village tours.


6. Warm Sea Water
Swimming in Lake Washington near my home city of Seattle, even with a wetsuit, can be a grimace-filled experience at times. Playing in the Andaman Sea felt more like a trip to a spa.


7. Dance Aerobics
Dance aerobics seemed to be wildly popular in Thailand. I heard energetic music while wandering Lumpini Park in Bangkok. The source of the fast beats was a nightly aerobics class with about 100 people jumping, dancing and working up a sweat to imitate the movements of a lively instructor. There are week-night community aerobics in Kuraburi too. It’s worth going just for the fun music and contagious energy.

8. Saying Goodbye to Skin Cream
Some people acclimate to new climates. I was not one of them. I sweated as much on my last day in Thailand as I did on the first. The good news was that I got to say farewell to a routine of lathering up in skin lotion to avoid looking like a lizard. The only change in my body happened in my brain, as I grew to love the heat and humidity.

9. Koh Ra Ecolodge
A 20-minute boat ride from Kuraburi Pier takes people to a seemingly-secluded island called Koh Ra. The ecolodge is a fun vacation spot in itself. However, the dedication and kindness of the staff is the reason I put the ecolodge in my top 10. Kim, Awe and Joom are three smiling people who helped make my Thailand experience. Read about my visit to the ecolodge here.

10. Fruit Galore
The fresh fruit readily available in Thailand makes me think of the scene in the movie, Forest Gump, when Bubba lists all the types of shrimp. Bubba says, “Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it.”

It was rare to go a restaurant in Thailand and not have the beverage option of fruit shakes with a selection of watermelon, mango, pineapple, papaya, banana and many more to choose from.

What was my favorite fruit in Thailand? The Queen of Fruit, of course, also called the mangosteen and mankut. Read about mangosteen here.

Labels: Koh Ra Ecolodge, Kuraburi, staff, Thai food

Experiences in Thailand
By Leslie Welshimer

The Koh Ra Ecolodge experience begins with a scenic boat ride.

There are seemingly endless options available on where to get some much-needed z’s while traveling. One option is to select an ecolodge for your accommodations. So, what makes an ecolodge different from any other hotel?

Our bungalow was reached by walking along a peaceful path.

An ecolodge is defined on encyclopedia.com as a, “Type of tourist accommodation designed to have the least possible impact on the natural environment in which it is situated.”

I had never stayed at an ecolodge before three friends and I traveled to Koh Ra Ecolodge. The only way to Koh Ra is by boat, which is about a 20-minute trip from Kuraburi Pier. The lack of easy access to Koh Ra enhances its isolation, giving the feeling of escaping to a hidden paradise.

Sea kayaking offers a different perspective of Koh Ra.

We spent our two-day stay swimming, snorkeling, sea kayaking, napping in hammocks and enjoying the natural beauty of the area. The accommodations are comfortable. The natural feeling is completed by sleeping under a mosquito net in the bungalows. Our bungalow, sans items like a television and phone, allowed us to fully relax in nature. Our palates took delight in a healthy and delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Relaxing is a task achieved easily with the sound of the sea and cozy hammocks.

The Koh Ra Ecolodge is an ideal place for those who want to relax and/or be active in nature. The ecolodge runs on generator power from about sunset to 11 p.m. Then it’s lights out, or time to find a flashlight.

Koh Ra offers numerous special packages for activities like diving. Rates may vary depending on season and occupancy.

An organic garden provides fresh produce and a volunteer opportunity for guests.

Also, there is a chance for a discount if you’re willing to put your hands and mind to good use. The Koh Ra Ecolodge provides volunteer and research opportunities, in addition to a chance to soak up the sun on the beach. Volunteer experiences include coral reef monitoring, organic gardening and community education to name just a few.

The Andaman Discoveries' team can book your stay at Koh Ra Ecolodge.

To arrange accommodation at an ecolodge near you, visit Responsible Travel.

Labels: Island Tours, Koh Ra Ecolodge