ST100mph - Shaun Toms

This is the story of my big adventure (or is it mid life crisis?). The plan........ to travel to the Issan region in NE Thailand to work with the Open Mind Projects, a charity organisation, for 3 months on an Eco-tourism project.

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

Private Message Subscribe 11 Forum Posts Blog Map

Blog Comments Search Blogs First Entry Latest Entry

Joined on: December 18th 2007
Last Login: June 27th 2008

Blog Entries: 45
Photos: 664

TB Code: [blogger=54958]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by ST100mph, order by Date newest first.

By ST100mph
June 6th 2008

Good Karma & Goodbye to Kaeng Krachan National Park

Asia » Thailand » Central » Kaeng Krachan National Park

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 [View Full Entry]

By ST100mph
June 5th 2008

Pong Leuk Village with WWF

Asia » Thailand » Central » Kaeng Krachan National Park

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 [View Full Entry]

The guard post to the 40km track that leads to the village

By ST100mph
May 30th 2008

Pala-U Silk farm & goodbye to Pala-U & its mischeivous Elephants

Asia » Thailand » Central » Kaeng Krachan National Park

Making silk thread
These are the cocoons of the silk worm. They are placed in boiling water & then a tiny thread from each cocoon is picked up and wound onto the spinning wheel.

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. [View Full Entry]

This is the only silk farmer left in this area.

The tiny silk worms feed on Mullbury Leaves.....

By ST100mph
May 25th 2008

Sunday Market at Pala-U

Asia » Thailand » Central » Kaeng Krachan National Park

Buying a Thai "Egg Roti"
Delicious!

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. [View Full Entry]

Many stalls selling many things that I have never seen before.

By ST100mph
May 24th 2008

Back up & Running with Camera!!!!!

Asia » Thailand » Central » Kaeng Krachan National Park

My first glimps of a wild Elephant in Thailand
Not a good picture as the car was moving.

OK! Now you can see some of the things that I have been up to this week! [View Full Entry]

Location of the Elephant conservation centre

By ST100mph
May 21st 2008

New adventure started in Pala-U

Asia » Thailand » Central » Hua Hin

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 [View Full Entry]

By ST100mph
May 20th 2008

Back with the WWF at Kaeng Krachan

Asia » Thailand » Central » Kaeng Krachan National Park

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 [View Full Entry]

By ST100mph
May 17th 2008

Mini Disaster in Bangkok

Asia » Thailand » Central » Kaeng Krachan National Park

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 [View Full Entry]

By ST100mph
May 11th 2008

Sharon returns home

Asia » Thailand » Central » Bangkok

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. [View Full Entry]

By ST100mph
April 29th 2008

R & R on an island paradise

Asia » Thailand » South » Ko Phi Phi

We're now at Ko Phi Phi Islad for some R & R. I will not be posting again for a while, untill I get back to volunteering, so thanks for watching this far, & I will let you know when I start posting again. Cheers Shaun [View Full Entry]

TravelBlog » ST100mph

ST100mph | Shaun Toms | Travel Blog

ST100mph - Shaun Toms

Blogs & Travel Journals

Good Karma & Goodbye to Kaeng Krachan National Park

Pong Leuk Village with WWF

Pala-U Silk farm & goodbye to Pala-U & its mischeivous Elephants

Sunday Market at Pala-U

Back up & Running with Camera!!!!!

New adventure started in Pala-U

Back with the WWF at Kaeng Krachan

Mini Disaster in Bangkok

Sharon returns home

R & R on an island paradise