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

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

Andaman Discoveries Seeks Long-Term Volunteer / Intern

The Andaman Discoveries’ team participates in a teambuilding exercise at Our Jungle House in May 2009.

Are you a student or recent graduate eager to gain more hands-on experience in marketing, tourism, and community development? Or are you a professional ready to take a career break, but want to utilize your skills? If yes, then Andaman Discoveries wants to hear from you.

Andaman Discoveries is a leader in sustainable travel in Thailand that allows visitors and volunteers to directly support community education, village-led conservation, and cultural empowerment. We are seeking a long-term volunteer and/or intern to join our team.

Our organization provides an opportunity to help in many areas including marketing and program development. If you are self-motivated with a passion for sustainable tourism and community development, then this is the ideal position for you!

Long-Term Volunteer / Intern Position Details:

Primary Responsibilities:

• Analyze marketing data


• Generate customers for community-based tourism products through promotion to tour operators and independent travelers, both domestic and international


• Work with communities to develop marketable products


• Produce marketing materials


• Conduct media outreach and coordination of promotional visits and familiarization trips


• Help build long-term relationships between community members and customers that will sustain community-based tourism

Qualifications:

• Interest in community development at grassroots level


• Experience in the tourism industry and marketing, particularly with community-based or ecotourism


• Excellent communication skills, methodical, organized and flexible for multiple assignments


• Highly motivated and proactive


• Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as internet research skills


• Ability to work well with others, be creative, and have fun

Start Date: August/September 2009

Length of Contract: Four months minimum (longer commitments are preferred)

Location: Kuraburi, Phang-Nga Province, Thailand

Accommodation: Andaman Discoveries will help find accommodation — many options are available for a variety of budgets. Clean, comfortable bungalows are available for 2,000 baht (£32, US$57) a month.

Financial Compensation: This is not a paid position. Staff can expect to spend around 100 baht (£1.60, US$4) on food a day.

Contact: Please apply online at: www.andamandiscoveries.com/news.internship.html

Labels: intern, staff, volunteer

The Return of Kelly May and Karen Spackman

Kelly May was christened “The Angel of the Andaman” in 2005 for her heroic relief work in the turbulent days following the tsunami. She joined Andaman Discoveries while the organization was still in its infancy, and led the charge in cultivating North Andaman community-based tourism from a concept into an Internationally-lauded reality. The team said a difficult farewell to their matron saint in late 2008; hungry for new challenges, Kelly then went on to manage an eco-resort in Koh Lanta for the high season, and is now focusing her long-term sights on teaching English.

In the meantime, Kelly has returned to Andaman Discoveries to facilitate several upcoming study trips and tackle some critical administrative work. “Kelly May is very special to the organization, and to have her back at this important time is like a gift,” said director Thamrong Chomphusri, who had no apparent qualms about sharing some of her responsibilities for a couple months with her former co-director. "It's great to be back. The progress that has been made during the past seven months is a testament to the hard work of staff and the villagers. A truly sustainable project shouldn't be dependent on an individual or outside assistance,” said Kelly of the organization.

We couldn’t be more grateful to Kelly for helping us out and sharing her observations. “During my time with guests in village I witnessed the progress the villagers have made. Hearing the host families welcome guests in English without any prompting and seeing all the homestay houses meeting the standard without AD having to assist is really inspiring. It might seem like little things, but it's taken four years to get here. Well done team, I've missed you!”

Karen Spackman also returned from a two-month leave in her native Scotland this month. Karen joined Andaman Discoveries as a volunteer last year, and quickly ascended to a full-time member of staff. When she’s not illuminating students from the front of a classroom, she’s responsible for volunteer coordination and community relations for Andaman Discoveries. “The Kuraburi community and the AD team made me feel at home from day one. My hope is to stay a year or more. I’d love to become fluent in the Thai language.” Karen said. We’re confident Karen will have little trouble achieving this.

Welcome home, Kelly and Karen! We’re fortunate to have you both.

Labels: Karen Spackman, Kelly May, staff

Karen befriends the local youth in Ban Talae Nok

This month Andaman Discoveries welcomed Karen Spackman, who joins us from Stirlingshire, Scotland, via Andaman Discoveries’ new partner TWIN UK. Karen is currently piloting two new long-term volunteering programs: teaching English at the Temple Kindergarten, and vocational English at the Kuraburi hospital. “This is turning out to be such a fantastic experience for me, I have been made to feel part of the team as well as the community since arriving in Kuraburi. Working with the local children and nurses has really helped transform me from being just another tourist to a valued member of the town,” said Karen.

In November she will be greeted by anxious students at the Kuraburi High School, where she will teach for her remaining two months. “Karen is a brilliant addition to the Andaman Discoveries team,” said Erik Rogers, AD Program Manager. “She has boundless energy and enthusiasm, and is a real self-starter. She felt like part of the gang on her first day.” In her spare time, Karen has generously helped out in the office on various administrative tasks, including our English homestay pack.

Karen went on to comment that, “Integrating with the local people has allowed me to establish relationships I would never have gained if I were merely just visiting the area. Since arriving in Kuraburi I have been supported all the way by Andaman Discoveries, through having access to their online teaching plan for the children, to assistance with the development of my own lesson plans for the adults. The staff at the office has such a vast wealth of knowledge that I’m always able to share ideas and concerns with at any time”.

Labels: Karen Spackman, staff, teaching english, volunteer