Imagine there's no countries . . .

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While visiting Kim and Awe, Jarod and I got to go on a community tour of area villages. We spent three days visiting about 8 communities that have been engaging in some sort of eco-tourism since the tsunami. The communities were all small Muslim Thai villages that were mainly focused on fishing and are doing tourism activities like basket weaving, tye dye, batiking, homestays and cooking lessons, mangrove forest restoration and tours, etc...

It was a great eye-opener for us to see more of Thailand away from the major tourist destinations. We had translators throughout the visits as all information was given in Thai and aimed at visiting Thai tour operators.

It was wonderful to see how these communities have bounced back after the tsunami. One village that we visited had lost 18 children and the teacher (with a total of 50 deaths from the village). Pictures that we had seen on the news way back then really hit home for the first time standing on the beach where these people had perished and seeing their memorial and leveled school grounds. Overwhelming to say the least.

It was amazing though to see how the local women had started groups to make and sell soaps and had opened their homes to tourists to learn more about their culture. Truly kind and generous people. They even gave Jarod a male sarong (skirt) that he wore proudly that night to the community puppet show. He looked pretty good in a skirt I must say 😊

On Koh Ra, we are planning on sending tourists to these villages as an eco-tour activity, so I think we will get to see more of these folks.

Have been back on Koh Tao for the last week and I am working with a new round of volunteers at the Secret Garden. Jarod is almost done with his Dive Master and then we will be getting to work on Koh Ra!

Hope you are all well!

Heather

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Photos

Making "Thai" Dye
Fam Community Tour

Thai Muslim Woman at Floating Bungalows Funded after Tsunami by Loreal
Fam Community Tour

Jarod and Kim in Deep Thought...
Fam Community Tour

12 ft Python skeleton that had eaten 4 goats!
Fam Community Tour

Harvesting Oysters
Fam Community Tour

Jarod Marveling at Basket Weaving
Fam Community Tour

Thai Kids in Small Fishing Village
Fam Community Tour

Our Private Bungalow - Married Folks are Treated Extra Special at this Muslim Village
Fam Community Tour

Bodhi - Kim's Friend that Did Much for these Communities following the Tsunami
Fam Community Tour

Egret Chick
Fam Community Tour

Comments

[Justin]

Sarong?
What? No picture of Jarod in a skirt? Looks like you two are really getting my Thai tour planned out! Keep up the good work.

[Dad]

Having a learning experience
Like most adventures there is a learning curve that we all must go through to get what we are after. I am not sure what you two are after and how this will contribute to your long term goals but it sure looks like you are getting plenty of exposure to a different world. I suspose that all education has its own reward and helping others succeed and learn is the greatest reward. Here is to the two of you: Keeping looking over the horizon and may you find what it is your looking for that will make you happy. Dad

[Marilea Witte]

Hope all is well, it is facinating to say the least. I am proud of what you are doing and learning. We truly do borrow the earth from our children.. we are but visitors and should treat it as such. Love you Mom

[JoAnn]

baskets
This is a really interesting entry. The co-ops (soap making, baskets) sounds alot like what leslie did in PC. The people are so beautiful. Do you find them 'happy'? Is it just us in the U.S. that seem so bummed al the time? It must be in the water. LOL Politics have been very distrubing in the past couple of weeks. I'm afraid..VERY afraid. Panama was nice. You guys have done the right thing. Long live adventure!