ST100mph
Shaun Toms Joined: December 18th 2007
Logged in: January 22nd 2012
Logged in: January 22nd 2012
You can read more about Open Mind projects on their website (http://www.openmindprojects.org).
The Project:
The Phu Wua Wildlife Reserve is located in the northeast, Isan, close to the Mekong River. Open Mind Projects have started a special Eco tourism project here, to offer Eco tourists a combination of home stays with culture experiences and trekking on the mountain. The Phu Wua is the home to a herd of wild elephants that can be spotted around different parts of the sanctuary.
Volunteers work with villagers, the wildlife reserve rangers, staff, local schools, and the local community. As a volunteer you can teach English, help to improve trekking opportunities, home stay services for tourists and create information material in English.
Please paste the following link into your browser to see a website made by an OpenmindProjects volunteer - http://www.thailandwildelephanttrekking.com
Travel Blog Posts
Good Karma to you all
It's taken me a while to write this last entry. It's been 5 months since I got back and it's really difficult to know what to write, so I will keep it brief. I have to say a big thank you to everyone that helped me along the way, and in particular, to Sven, Toto, Nick & Surya at Openmind Projects for making it all happen. It goes without saying, that if anyone wants to do something similar, log onto openmindprojects.org & start your own big adventure.... read more
Mr Pummarin introduces me to the class
Well, as you may remember, I had my backpack taken along with all of my precious photo's. You may also remember that some 3 months ago, when I first arrived at Kaeng Krachan, I was invited to the local schools end of term celebrations & prize giving evening. Well....... the headmaster there had asked me if he could copy the pictures from my camera so that he could use some of them for teaching. So Bill phoned him & he said that he still had some on his PC. OK it's only a small part of what I lost, but some precious memories, and it just goes to show, "What goes around comes around". When we went to his school to down load the pictures, he asked if I would give a quick English lesson to ... read more
Grandma spent all day, and most of the night carrying this toddler on her back
You may remember my previous visit to this remote Karien Village on the border of Mynamar (Burma). Last time, I was only there for a few hours. This time I had permission to stay for 5 days, in order to find out more about what is needed here, & to write up a volunteer specification for future volunteers. I also had the chance to get involved with a lesson at the local school. The WWF are working with the local population to educate them about conservation. There is a big problem here as they slash & burn the rain forest to make way for their crops. They are also close to the habitat to the last surviving Siamese Crocodile population in Thailand (which is something I had at the back of my mind when showering in ... read more
Making silk thread
Ok...... It's a while since I added an entry to my blog, so this is my catch up with lots of pictures. It's now less than a week untill I return home to the UK.... read more
Buying a Thai "Egg Roti"
We got up early today after sampling Tongbai's herbal whisky last night. It's market day in 1 of the local villages. Have a look at the pictures & soak up the atomosphere.... read more
My first glimps of a wild Elephant in Thailand
OK! Now you can see some of the things that I have been up to this week!... read more
My friend Tongbai from the World Conservation Society picked me up from the Kaeng Krachan WWF office yesterday afternoon. He is very enthusiastic about this project, and wants me to see all aspects of his work. On the way here, we saw a 2.5 meter King Cobra, very impressive - but deadley! Just outside the villige, I had my first wild Elephant encounter. Three Elephants were in the road & had stopped the 3 cars in front of us. I got out of the car to take some pictures, but they had already started to move out of the road, so we drove closer & I managed to snap a few pictures of the Bull before he disapeared into the forest. A magnificent site! On arrival at the WCS Elephant protection office, I was shown my ... read more
Huy Par Lao Waterfall near Pala-U
Yesterday I returned to the WWF office to start where I finished up last time. There are 2 new members of staff here, Pom & Bill. They will be a big asset to the great work carried out here by the WWF Team. The plan for this week is to go to Pala-u to work with the WCS (World Conservation Society) to look at the man Elephant conflict there; (2 weeks ago the Elephants raided the villagers pineapple crops). My main objectives here are to draw up a specification for future volunteers here, and to see all aspects of the conflict from both the villagers, and the Elephants point of view. The local WCS officer for this area, Thongbai, has some really good ideas for resolving this problem once & for all. It will involve an ... read more
A complete contrast to the...........
I arrived back in Kaeng Krachan National park late last night to finish off my volunteer work here. Since seeing Sharon off at the airport on Sunday, I have had my back pack & all contents taken - A taxi driver drove off with them in the boot! I'm not sure if this was intentional or not, but the upshot is that I am not very likely to see it again. Everythig has gone including my Laptop Computor. I've managed to put some basic kit together to allow me to finish off my trip, but it will make things a lot more difficult. This also means that I will not be downloading any more pictures unless I can borrow a cammera from someone, so future bullitins are likely to be text only. Still at least you ... read more
On the ferry to Phi Phi Island
Last night Sharon flew home to the UK. We have had a great time together over the last week on Phi Phi Island, and the last 3 days in Bangkok. Here are some photo's of the highlights.... read more
