Blogs from Nong Khai, North-East Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 5

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Asia » Thailand » North-East Thailand » Nong Khai March 29th 2008

It is now day 22 (and from now on i'll stop numbering the days for fear of disheartening people as the numbers grow) and i have arrived at the Thai-Laos friendship bridge at Nong Khai which I plan to cross tomorrow. Hopefully i should be able to ride rather than ferried over by tuk-tuk at grossly over-inflated prices which make the Kangaroo Island ferry seems cheap per KM. The last few days I have covered quite a few k's mostly following the rivers which form the border between Thailand and Laos. Initially a small river which then joins the Mekong. The scenery has been varied, despite the dominance from the Mekong river. I've decided to tell the tale via pictures and a quick summary this time, please view on Monday: rest day in Dan Sai. Hospital ... read more
Costumes for Phi Ta Khon Festival
Masks
Chateau de Loei

Asia » Thailand » North-East Thailand » Nong Khai March 19th 2008

We caught the overnight train from Bangkok, on a rickety hulk of decaying metal, in a second-class, fan-cooled, seated compartment. I slept pretty well, despite the usual hullabaloo caused by the deluge of vendors pacing up and down the train, selling dried, salted squids, fried chicken, preserved fruits and beer Chang among many other things. Behind us an old woman whose deeply creased brow formed an impenetrable scowl, breathed in disconcerting rattles, suggesting imminent respiratory breakdown. In the morning a delightful toddler engaged both of us in a relentless game of peek-a-boo. Such were the memorable elements of any long distance train journey in Thailand in anything less than first class travel. Nong Khai was not particularly remarkable. As little more than a stop off point for foreigners on Visa runs or heading into Laos, it ... read more
Sculpture
Into the mouth
Zac and the Mekong

Asia » Thailand » North-East Thailand » Nong Khai March 19th 2008

Well...... I'm finally leaving Nong Khai to head out on my next & most important assignment. Here is the brief for anyone that is interested: I will be the first volunteer to go into the region in order to find out how best Volunteers can be utilised in cojunction with the WWF (Not the World Wrestling Federation!). • WWF/CWS o Look at number of staff that want to learn English? o Evaluate best approach. Learning by doing/classroom? o How best to work together • Visitor centre staff o Find out who speaks English. o How motivated are they? o Produce & improve English materials in the park visitor center. • Teachers (Police officers) o Work with teachers. o Evaluate teaching skills. o Find out how best volunteers can work with them? • Karen Children o Find ... read more
Ram looks petrified!
Tricycle delivery
Eating alfresco by the Mekong with my Openmind friends

Asia » Thailand » North-East Thailand » Nong Khai March 12th 2008

I arrived back at Openmind HQ in Nong Khai last night & will be here for the next week to sort out all the admin for the Laos placement. This morning I had to get up at 5.30 to go to Phu Wua, to look at their set up & draw comparisons. This will help me prepare for my task in the rainforest of Southern Thailand on the Burmese border.... read more
In the back of the truck
On top of the world
I see no Elephants!

Asia » Thailand » North-East Thailand » Nong Khai March 3rd 2008

On the 25th of Feb we arrived in Nong Khai. The bus ride to Udon Thani was pleasant but after we switched to the local bus to bring us to town we were marked. Women selling everything from fried eggs to hammocks were on us. As we drove into the city we could see the tuk-tuk drivers peering into the bus looking for fresh meat. We attempted to get off the bus before hitting the bus station but the driver wouldn't let us off, probably to help his buddies out. As we climbed down the steps men were trying to "help" us with our bags and asking all the standard questions. They were so eager to "help" us get whereever we could possibly be going. Finally we got away and began walking towards the mighty river. ... read more

Asia » Thailand » North-East Thailand » Nong Khai February 27th 2008

A short account of what has happened up to now. I arrived in Bangkok last week on Thursday evening after a 14 hour flight to Tokyo followed by a 7 hour flight to Bangkok. As I was leaving the airplane I figured I would find someone to share a cab with to the street where all the youth hostels are. Behind me was a guy from California who looked nice so I asked him if he wanted to share a cab and he said sure. He was meeting another friend who had lived in Thailand for a year a couple of years ago and to his surprise, the guy had come to get him at the airport. So, luckily for me, I had someone who could communicate with the cab driver. Even luckier, the friend, who ... read more
View from Richard's
Fish Tanks
Year of the Rooster

Asia » Thailand » North-East Thailand » Nong Khai February 20th 2008

Hi All I'm here in Thailand for 25 days and getting blown away at the difference's in culture a Any way I was browsing the net as ya do and came across this neat wee story by Poorhouse (Adam Medcalf) and part of his story I quote: "An Israeli couple asked us the obvious-yet-unthought-of-by-me queston of where is Zealand? new Amsterdam = Amsterdam, Holland, New York = York, UK, New England = England, but Zealand? The Irish guys say there is a Zealand in Scandanavia somewhere, but were slow and unsure enough to make me wonder if they made it up...? " but I thought I'd answer this for those interested. as New Zealand (well part of South Island I believe) was discovered by a bloke called "Able Tasman" and he jus by chance was Dutch ... read more

Asia » Thailand » North-East Thailand » Nong Khai February 12th 2008

Well..... this is what I came over for! I am now off to my posting in Phou Khao Khouy, Ba Na Villiage, Central Laos. Just a few thoughts, but before that, there are no telephones or internet in the villiage, although my mobile should work. I will only be able to get onto the internet or phone out when I go into the main town (about 1 1/2 hours away, which I guess will be once every one to 2 weeks. Therefore if anyone needs to get hold of me you can call me on: +66 856 536 726 Please note that I am not sure if you will need to use a different country code for Laos. If so, just replace the +66 with the relevant code. I'll be sorry to leave all of my ... read more

Asia » Thailand » North-East Thailand » Nong Khai February 10th 2008

Todays grand finale - giving an English lesson to novice Monks in a Bhuddist monastry school. I only wish I had the words to convey how good this whole orientation experience has been. Far beyond any expectations that I might have had, and what a great bunch of people, both staff & felow volunteers.... read more
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The head master of the temple school

Asia » Thailand » North-East Thailand » Nong Khai February 9th 2008

Since I started my training at the Open Minded house, I have not had time to paste anything on my blog, however, better late than never! Wow! What a great experience it has been. Cultural training, Thai language lessons, Learning about the organisation, it's sucesses & objectives, practical lessons involving purchasing ingredients from the market (in Thai) to role play in the classroom. I have also learned more about my first placement. Phou Khouay, Ba Na Villiage (Central Laos, 90 minutes from Vientiane). The focus here will be to teach English to villiage guides & home stay providers, to enable them to comunicate with potential tourists. You can visit www.trekkingcentrallaos.com to get an idea about the project. ... read more
Taking a Tuk Tuk ride to the resaurant
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Tim & Sven - the crazy Belgian lads.




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