Category Archives: What's Going on at Khao Sok Lake?

Wanna know what's going on at Khao Sok Lake? Follow our blog filled with usefull information, personal experiences, and first hand discovery.

Khao Sok Lake Group Tour Experience

With the opportunity of joining a Khao Sok Lake Group Tour Experience last week, we got the chance to visit the fascinating Nam Taloo Cave and stay at TonToey Raft House, one of the oldest raft houses on the lake!

khao-sok-lake-nam-taloo-cav-entrance

The first day we started with a History in Khao Sok National Park Communistsvisit to the Nam Talu Cave, which we heard is over 500 meters long and in total darkness. First we had to make it there. During the hike we crossed a small river several times which was a welcome cooling for the feet. Those who were skillful enough could try to swing on a Liana vine over the river and keep their feet dry!

But we knew our feet would get wet anyway,  since the Nam Talu cave was formed by the river itself and had a river running through it. Another interesting fact about the cave is that it was used as a hideout for a group of student activists between 1975 – 1982. These communist insurgents, in disagreement with the Thai government, were able to hold off the army for seven years. They also prevented loggers, miners and hunters from exploiting the area and therefore contributed to the preservation of the beautiful National Park we still find today. On the hike to the cave we passed some shelters, holes in the ground covered with bamboo roofs, which served as stash for the communists.

 

khao-sok-lake-nam-taloo-cave-exitBefore we entered the cave, our guide advised us to go to the “Pi Pi Island” around the corner, in order to keep the water level low 😉 Anyway, in the cave we were walking one after the other through narrow passages and water ponds amazed by the beauty of the stalagmites and stalactites. Everyone was so busy looking around and admiring the sparkling cave wall and the swarm of bats sleeping at the ceiling, that it was hard to watch your step. It was nice to see everyone taking care of one another since the ground was hard to see when we were walking in the water. We always got advices from the guide or persons walking in front: “watch out there is a big stone! Or “take care, it’s getting deep here”.  Some of the water ponds were even so deep that we had to swim through.

khao-sok-lake-nam-taloo-riverWhen we came out of the cave again, the weather had changed completely from a bright sunny sky to pouring rain. Controversy to what most of us western people might think, that rain is a negative thing, it appeared to be a really nice experience.

The impression of the jungle is totally different. The dropping rain coming down the leaves, the grayish light in which the jungle looks even more mysterious and the soothing noise of the rain were sensational. The rain in the jungle also elicits different kind of animals such as leeches which some of us found on their legs. Luckily they don’t do any harm and can easily be removed when you grab them with some tobacco to get hold of them. The tobacco can also be used to put in the top of your socks as a leech deterrent.

Back at Ton Toey raft house, we really couldn’t complain about the food provided. The table was fully served with delicious Thai food including Green Curry, Massaman Curry, stir fried vegetables and fresh fish. And after having eaten we could already chose our breakfast ranging from Congee (rice porridge), fried eggs to pineapple pancakes. Ton Toey Raft House is one of the oldest raft houses at the lake and was a former ranger station. Its’ location is a perfect spot for kayaking because there are many inlets which are  nice to paddle around and the chances to see some Macaque monkeys on your own by kayak are fairly high.

khao-sok-lake-log-tailed-macaqueThe next morning we startedkhaosoklake_morning-mist-safari with a Morning Mist Safari where we got incredibly close to some Long-tailed Maquac monkeys. They were having breakfast in a tree which branches were hanging down into the water. I was quite surprised how little they were afraid of falling into the water and our guide told us that they are very well able to swim and even dive for up to 5 minutes.

They like to sleep in trees close to the water and stay in groups together. Macaques also have cheek pouches in which they can store food and transport it away to still enjoy it to a later time.

Furthermore we saw some Lar Gibbons (White Handed Gibbons), they were hiding in the tree and with a closer look one could even spot a Lar Gobbon family. In the morning hours Gibbons can be heard singing in the trees. It sounds like they are responding each other from one tree to another and our guide even joined in doing Gibbon calls.

While quietly waiting in the boat for some animals to appear in the trees, we heard a whooping sound coming closer and when we looked up the sky, we saw some hornbills passing by. One might think that it is a weird sound for a bird, but what actually causes this noise are their wings.khao-sok-lake-buttressed-nam-taloo-rain-tree

Hornbills owe their name to their physical appearance. The bill is way bigger than the rest of the head and roundly shaped like a horn in yellowish color.

khao-sok-lake-languar-family“ The way is the goal” this was the motto of the following hike to the viewpoint. The jungle and its’ variety of plants were wonderful to see. What especially amazed me were the huge buttressed roots of the so called Ban Yen trees. If you would look at the bottom profile of the trees trunk, it looks rather stellar than round and if you knock against it, it sounds almost like a drum.

There are several theories why the roots of the tree are formed like this. One of them is that due to intense winds and tropical storms they built up strong roots which don’t go deep into the ground because the water is near the surface. Instead the root systems of large trees are often partially exposed, spreading wide and shallow and keeping the tree upright. Another or further explanation of this feature is that flared roots greatly expand the surface area of the bark at the base of the tree. Nutrients are important to supply the massive foliage in the canopy.

Those Ban Yen trees can measure a size of 65m above the ground and generally get between 150 – 300 years old. The one on the picture for example is estimated to be 120+ years old.

Summarizing, we had a great tour experienced and would have loved to stay even longer. It was incredibly relaxing to be out at the lake and at the same time exciting to see the wildlife and astonishing natural environment.

 

Khao Sok Local Guides:Wilderness First Aid Training

Khao Sok Lake First Aid TrainingHere at Khao Sok Lake, we put aside 20% of all profit for reinvestment in the community and in our team.  We have contributed to scholarships for local children, conducted environmental education days for village schools, helped fund community cultural centers, and most recently provided advanced Wilderness First Aid Training for our guides.  This training was kindly hosted by Our Jungle House.

Khao Sok Lake Wilderness First Aid TrainingInjuries to our guests are very rare.  However, ensuring that our guides are up to date and equipped with the best knowledge and training is incredibly important.  Guides receive CPR training as a part of getting their license, but this training does not involve first aid specifically for remote areas like those found in Khao Sok.  We refreshed guides on old knowledge and built from that with this training.

This most recent training was taught by Daisuke Kondo, a certified SOLO First Aid trainer.  The Wilderness First Aid course provided guides with new, in-depth techniques for rescue breathing, palpating different wound types, splinting, and monitoring patients.

Wilderness first aid gives guides a systematic framework for assessing patients, properly prioritizing multiple injuries and documenting information for receiving medical staff at local hospitals.  Accidents in the park are rare, but this gives guides the confidence to act in a situation where a medical emergency occurs.

In addition, the course materials have been translated into Thai.  This will ensure that our guides will be able to access this information via mobile phone at any time for reference.

“Getting regular training like this helps remind us what we’ve learned already while learning new techniques,” said Rung “Gai” Saelin, one of the veteran local guides who attended the training.  It also gives guests the peace of mind that they have an experienced guide and staff on their trip.  “This way we can all enjoy the jungle without worry.”

An Exclusive Look at Scientific Research on Wildlife in Thailand

We were invited to follow along on a scientific research trip to the farthest reaches of Khao Sok lake… and beyond!  The goal: collect 61 camera traps, visit 12 islands, and hike six animal trails along remote ridgetops and valleys in 8 days, covering nearly 100 km by foot through rough terrain in the rainy season.  Here’s what I found joining for 4 days searching for wildlife in Thailand:

Discussing Research on Wildlife in Thailand

Day 1: We all meet up, board a week’s worth of supplies on the boat, and begin our day’s work. For me, it’s also a chance to spend time with an old friend, Pi Road, who is the boat driver for this expedition, known for his wealth of knowledge of the lake and wildlife in Thailand.

 

For today, we’re splitting into two groups: one going over a ridge along the Saeng River ending at the rafthouse where we’ll be staying tonight; the other collecting camera traps from several different islands. I stayed in the boat with Road and Jasdev, a field researcher currently working in Malaysia, to go by boat. The rain made the collecting slow-going, even for the short trips to collect traps from the islands.

Jasdev and Road Collect a Camera Trap from an island on Khao Sok Lake

We make it back as the light is fading so that Road can set up our makeshift kitchen for the next few days. As the night falls, the other group of Luke, Alex (a grad student at Mahidol University in Bangkok) and Grom (a long-time ranger who regularly walks these deep jungle trails) still hasn’t returned. Road indicates where they’ll be coming out and asks us to watch for their return. Just as I tell Jasdev I’m beginning to worry, we notice the beam of a headlight emerging from the opposite bank.

Mist and rain along the banks of Klong SaengCovered in rain and mud, they explain the state of the trail held them back and caused them to miss the last camera trap. Their combination of exhaustion and frustration is pretty easy to see, but it to eases away after a shower and a hot meal together. We cover interesting topics, such as proper form for sitting in a hammock, who would try eating a leech for the least amount of money, and everyone’s scariest wildlife encounters. My dream of meeting elephants in the wild slowly becomes a phobia.

Day 2: We pile on to the boat the next morning to start our trip to the mouth of Klong Saeng, at the farthest edge of the lake. At full speed from several meters away, Road somehow spots a pregnant fish whose eggs have caused her to float upside down.  Then, he has the skills to stop the boat right alongside the fish and catch it with his bare hands.  The man is a wizard!

Researching Wildlife in Thailand at Klong Saeng Wildlife SanctuaryOnce we’re on the trail, we’re greeted with a parade of downpours throughout our hike.  The one positive: Dr. Gibson has no trouble finding plenty of new specimens for his research collection of leeches.  I won the leech collecting contest, with nearly 50 bites all over my body.  The days of itching in all kinds of strange and exotic places was quite the souvenir.

Collecting Leeches... for Science!Even though the weather wasn’t ideal for wildlife spotting, we still had a bit of good luck.  Aside from the armies of leeches trying to bite us, we saw several birds and snakes throughout the day, including a brief glimpse of the world’s largest pheasant, the Great Argus.  Toward the end of our hike, we ran into an Asian Brown Tortoise.

Asian Brown Tortoise Spotted in Klong Saeng Day 3: We woke up the next morning to one of the most amazing mist displays I’ve ever seen.  The lake is known for its beautiful, misty mornings, but this was… well, see for yourself. Mist filtering through Klong Saeng at Sunrise To top this all off, we got word from one of the rangers that there was an elephant out getting some water along the neighboring banks.  Even I was able to spot this one from far away, and luckily, we were able to watch it from the boat at a safe distance. An Elephant in Khao Sok at Klong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary. Today, we had the benefit of good weather throughout most of the day.  We spent the morning collecting from another valley near the edge of Klong Saeng and spent the afternoon picking up the traps we missed from the first day.  We even ran into a family of wild pigs, which quickly dispersed upon smelling us. Removing Camera Trap in Khao Sok, searching for Wildlife in Thailand Klong Saeng is unique from the other areas of the lake because of its transition from disturbed flooded forest back to undisturbed riverine forest.  It is easy to see why this place is a sanctuary for wildlife in Thailand: Khao Sok lake has undisturbed habitat, like buffalo grass, that is rarely seen nowadays.  Most of it was flooded by the creation of the dam inside the park and converted for agriculture outside of the park.  Back here, the forest, and the wildlife, are both alive and well. Enjoying the lush buffalo grass in Khao Sok, searching for wildlife in Thailand When we got to the last trap of the day, we had a nice surprise waiting for us.  Scorpions.  Cute, cuddly, baby scorpions. Baby scorpions in camera trap at Khao Sok The day ended with a heavy storm, which we watched pass from a floating supply shop tucked away in it’s own small bay.  We were ready for a beer and a nap.  Some of us more than others. Dr. Luke Gibson waits for the oncoming storm at Khao Sok Lake Day 4: The group was slowly dissolving: Last night, Grom had leave to for Khao Yai National Park for a conservation management meeting among national park officials and Alex also had to make his way back up to school in Bangkok.  For Luke, Road and Jasdev, nature called.  For me, the working world called.  Emails, emails, and of course, cooking up an excuse to get out into the jungle again.  While Luke and Jasdev went off to do more hiking and camping, I went off to do some inbox management, and of course look at all the cool photos I had the chance to take while out on the lake. The view from Tam Gia raft house, Khao Sok Lake

Cheow Lan Village Activities

One of the most exciting parts of our work as a local Tour Operator is finding exciting new activities
in the area to share with our guests. This week we piloted a hike in Ban Cheow Lan, the local village at Khao Sok Lake. It was truly amazing to see what locals have to offer. This local tourism group has Viewpoint Hiking, Cave Explorationand Home stay Activities which we will be adding to our schedule next season.
 
Community tours begin in Cheow Lan Village, where you’ll meet your hosts and ride on 3-wheeled motorcycles with sidecars to the local temple and the rustic cable bridge, overlooking the Phrasaeng River.  Once you cross the bridge, you’ll be taken through mixed-agriculture orchards to your hiking destination.

Hiking

  • The half-day hike is an intermediate three hour hike that begins in a lime orchard and proceeds up a hill with a stop at a small cave and a viewpoint over the river, a lovely spot to stop and picnic.  Be advised that though this trail is generally easy, but there are a few places where you’ll need to use the wooden railings provided to ensure your safety
  • The full-day hike visits a bat cave, some very large trees, a 51-meter vertical cave, and several viewpoints depending on the duration of the hike, which can last between 5 to 7 hours.  Full-day trips include a coffee/lunch break underneath a natural rock overhang.  Be aware that the trail here has not yet been fully cleared, and there are several narrow parts, some of which are thorny and several of which are slippery and muddy when wet.  This trail is quite adventurous and requires good physical fitness.  Long pants are recommended as well to protect from thorns and mosquitoes.

Fruit Orchards 

 
There are enough aspects to mixed agriculture farming that one could spend a half-day or more just touring the farms.  Depending on the season, one can find longong, durian, limes, jackfruit, mangosteen, papaya, banana, rambutan, and several lesser-known local fruits produced by these families, along with rubber.  Walks through the orchards will include lots of tasting and some insights into how community-driven mixed agriculture farms work.

What to Bring:

 

For the hikes, make sure to bring sturdy shoes.  Make sure to bring a poncho and sunscreen depending on the weather, as well as plenty of water.

The Outcome of the First Guide Training at Khao Sok National Park

The day dawned like any other but this was a day of significant importance for our seven trainees. After 2 months it all came down to this. The final exam would test them on all the major natural history disciplines that they have learnt over the past weeks – national park history, geology, plants, invertebrates, amphibians, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. With a potential career at stake would the pressure prove to be too much?
In addition to the exam they would all receive a score for their English language ability, as well as one based on my observations of their guiding skills demonstrated during the past month. Due to many lacking the ability to write in English it was decided that the final exam take on the format of a verbal one, whereby the trainees sat face-to-face with me, were shown pictures of plants and animals, and could then give their answers to me without having to write anything down. One could argue that this would only add to the intensity of the situation but at the same time this being by far the fairest means of testing them.
 On the day itself it was very noticeable how nervous they all were. This was encouraging to see, as it demonstrated how much they cared about the whole process, and it also reassured me that it was more than likely that a good amount of study had gone in prior to this. This turned out to be the case. I hoped they would do well but even though my expectations were quite high, the entire group still managed to surpass these. Everyone excelled, including a very likeable individual who throughout the course has lagged behind the others somewhat. Everybody scored over 60%, with six of the seven scoring over 75%. This was not an easy course, especially for a group of people who had limited English language skills, and little or no guiding experience. To achieve the scores they did is an achievement for which all of them can feel justly proud. I for one am very proud of them.
Students and Teachers of Khao Sok Jungle Academy 2014
However this is certainly not the end. All of them are still someway off from attaining the kind of level that I would like them to achieve. For this to be accomplished further training will be needed at some time in the near future. But for now they will have to utilise their skills as best they can because it looks likely that seven new guiding careers have been launched This is in no small part thanks to the support of Bodhi Garrett, Dick Sandler, Austin Lovell, and all of the good people at Khiri Travel. These people have supported this training course financially but most importantly have also given the promise of employment opportunities to all of the trainees that passed this course. For ventures like this to have any hope of a future this needs to be achieved, and so for all of our trainees to be presented with this opportunity from the outset of their guiding careers a huge debt of gratitude needs to be paid to the aforementioned people. Thank you guys! I just hope that all of our new recruits grasp this opportunity with both hands and do themselves proud. Good luck to all of them!
 
 

The village of Ban Ta Khun

      Ban Ta Khun a village with history
 
In the last centuries known as Ban Pruka the village had always been well traveled by merchants and traders on the “Phum Duang” river. The people of Ban Pruka lived a fulfilled live, living from the surrounding jungle, agriculture of fruits and rice as well as from fish farming in the close river. Merchants buying and selling in the village came as far as from China on Floating House Boats.
In 1906, King Rhama V came to pay an undercover visit to the village, he used to travel around his empire without letting anyone know about his heritage in order to find out about the real intentions and needs of his people. It happened that he spent the night at Rueng´s house a well-accepted villager, the King promised him to become the mayor of the developing village. As the new mayor, the village were renamed Ban Ta Khun(Ban=House, Ta=old man, Khun= for “Khun Palad Rueng the mayor”).
The village became quickly a city and further more developed through the Cheow Lan Project , the building of Ratchabrapha Dam (meaning the light of the Kingdom). Before they build the dam, people used to go swimming in the river, now you barely see anyone taking a bath, the local myth states that with the Dam came a ghost “Pi Prai” who drowned people in the unpredictable torrents caused by the unpredictable water release of the dam
About 7 years ago the enlargement of the 401 highway, connecting Surat Thani and Phuket were completed and increased the bypassing traffic and the accessibility to Khao Sok Lake substantially. The planning for the coming years promises Ban Ta Khun a train station on the track between Phuket and Surat Thani.
In 2013 Ban Ta Khun had over 15086 inhabitants from which most are Buddhist or a form of Hindu. Ta Khun used to be known for their excellent quality of Turmeric and Papaya fruit which still can be found on the local evening market in the middle of town. Even though a lot of Fruit orchards have been abandoned or been recultivated to rubber and palm plantations which also determines the mayor income of the region.
Things to do in Ban Ta Khun
Where to stay…
There are two local hotels available in Ta Khun. Which provide air condition and wifi.
Where to eat…
There is a range of local restaurants, the choice of places with an english menue is fairly little though. But for those who are more adventurues we provide a textbook with basic translations in our Ta Khun office, so you can also order in Thai.
Coffee…
Of  course  you  can  find  many  coffee stands  around  Ta  Khun,  selling  the  sweetened Nescafe coffee. If you are the kind of person who appreciates real espresso, just around the corner of our office you‘ll find the best coffe in town.
Thai Massage…
No matter if you are strolling around Ta Khun for exploration or if you are just waiting for the bus, there is a massage shop close to our office which offers great massages for 200 Baht per hour.
River (Phum Duang)..
If you don‘t have the possibiliy to get a ride to the Dam to take a swim or if you are simply looking for a quick refreshment, there is a river passing by Ta Khun in which you can have a bath.

Check Back on Khao Sok Lake Guide Training

“Time flies” as the old saying goes, and this past month has been no different. It’s hard to believe that we are already halfway through the course. There is so much that the guides still need to learn. But having said that, there is so much that they have already learnt.  The month of May has seen a mixed response from the trainees in the various groups but all in all it’s been a positive month.

Quite early on we lost the trainees from the canoe operator in Khao Sok. It’s hard to know exactly why this was the case but all we know is that for whatever reason or reasons they never really seemed fully committed at any stage of the process. It’s a shame because there is a real need for canoe guides in Khao Sok that speak English, and it was hoped that these guys could have been the ones.

Progress has been quite slow at the lake amongst the trainees there. Like with the canoe guides, some of this group doesn’t seem to be taking it very seriously, only showing up about half of the time, and even when they do they are often exceptionally late. Not good. There has also been a shortage of practical training due to lack of availability of boats to use. Nonetheless some progress has been made with their English, and a couple of the trainees are showing some real potential. We’ve had a meeting with the organizers there, and it is hoped that a more focused effort will be made next month, and then hopefully these promising trainees might really start to fulfill their potential.

Future Guides searching for animals in the Khao Sok Jungle

Due to the canoe trainees pulling out it was decided that the two trainees from the kilometre 82 area join up with the group based at the park headquarters. This group has in stark contrast really put in a huge effort, and it has to date paid off. All of the group shows a genuine interest in the training and the subjects they are learning. Attendance is good, they are punctual, and scrupulously take notes every time we are out and about. Two or three of them are making significant steps to becoming good, competent guides, and there are several others that are coming along nicely as well. Now it’s going to be a case of honing their new skills as well as continuing the improvement in their English. The coming month will see them take the lead more often, and get plenty of practice guiding the group themselves instead of relying on the training team to prompt them. Let’s hope the June monsoon rains hold off enough to allow us to continue with the progress already made.

Whilst exploring the wilds of Khao Sok the different groups have had the privilege of some delightful wildlife experiences. During an overnight stay at Krai Sorn raft house the trainees got a memorable encounter with a female gaur and her young calf whilst out kayaking. The following morning dawn boat safari gave them an equally rewarding chance sighting of a Malayan sun bear as it was foraging in amongst the bamboo forest. The night safari gave us glimpses of palm civet, sambar deer, and mousedeer. There have been plenty of sightings of the langur and macaque monkeys and the evocative songs of the gibbons have always been resonating around the valleys.

There have been some special bird encounters as well. Rarely glimpsed species such as banded pitta, hooded pitta, blue-winged pitta, orange-breasted trogon, green broadbill, dusky broadbill, banded kingfisher, rufous-collared kingfisher, maroon woodpecker, and buffy fish owl have all been seen. Sightings of the large raptors and hornbills have been plentiful, including a great hornbill male and female flying about with their recently fledged youngster. There have also been glimpses of some of the snakes too – monocled cobra, mangrove snake, cave racer and Malayan rat snake.

A somber moment came when the group encountered a shy and secretive southern serow whilst out on a walk along one of the trails. This beautiful and rarely seen animal had been caught in a poacher’s snare and had its front left leg trapped in the wire noose. Thankfully we were able to get the national park to come and cut the animal free and so with a bit of luck the animal will be able to make enough of a recovery that the wound will not affect it. Whilst saddening this proved to be an invaluable lesson to the trainees as it helped to reinforce the importance of their role as guardians for these forests. Tourist activity is a key deterrent to poaching activity, and so the more trained and qualified guides we have guiding their guests in the Khao Sok area, the more these endangered and precious animals can enjoy a secure future.

Has the Military coup affected tourism in Thailand?

We have written this blog to inform travelers on the burning question: has the military coup  affected tourism in Thailand?

what-coup-1

In order to understand the current measures taken by the Thai Military and the resulting consequences we have to let’s look at some of the key recent events:

  • • The year 2006 the Thai military ousted Thaksin Shinawatra in a coup. A former Thai business tycoon, he held the office of Prime Minister from 2001 till 2006. He won this office largely by promising billions of baht in subsidies to Thailand’s poor Northeastern rice and rubber farmers. This caused huge problems with Thailand’s economy and he was eventually tried and convicted by Thailands Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for abusing his political powers and embezzling billions. He has lived in exile since then.In the years from 2007-2011 Thailand found itself in a political turmoil. Governments were elected then accused of election manipulation and withdrawn from their administrative positions by the Military or due to the power of political protesters.
 
  • • On the 3th of July 2011,Yingluck Shinawatra, without being previously involved into politics,  became the first female prime minister of Thailand. Her political party slogan was “Thaksin thinks, Thai people act”. She was not only the first female minister but also the youngest sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. She was reviled by the public and thought of as a political puppet and somewhat of a joke by Thailand’s elite.
 
  • • On 7 May 2014, the Constitutional Court ruled that Yingluck would have to step down as the Prime Minister as she was deemed to have abused her power by appointing a family member to a high- level government office without the support of her constituents. (Hodal, Kate. “Thai court orders Yingluck Shinawatra to step down as PM”. theguardian.com. Retrieved 7 May 2014.)This move followed six months of political deadlock as protesters rallied against Ms Yingluck’s government.
So with no Government in place and a lot of failure and corruption in the background ,Thailand’s army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha took over public safety on May 22th,announcing martial law in order to stabilize the current situation after the political unrests. The global reaction followed on pace, more than 40 countries have issued travel alerts, including the U.S. and Hong Kong, which have advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Thailand.This made some of the travelers coming to Thailand quite happy because this lack of demand decreases the overall prices and tourists the value of foreign currency increased. A lot of tourists prove this statement posting pictures from crystal clear waters and empty beaches, What Coup?
 
what-coup3Thailand’s way forward is not an easy one. The democratic election has yet to beannounced, and the different political parties must be brought together regainthe overall social stability. Thailand has had a lot of political problems in the past and most citizens believe this “coup” will be instrumental in returning the country to legitimate democracy. In terms of tourism, the Thai population is not nearly as bad as the foreign press releases make it sound. It’s citizens are well accustomed to political unrests and crises and well aware of how to cope with them (it is the 12th military coup since 1932). Thailand’s citizens know better than to threaten or interfere with visitors as more than 16.7% of National income is driven by tourism. In more rural areas, the coup has not been felt by residents at all. The worst thing that happened in Ta Khun was that the 7/11 closed down at 10 p.m.! Taxis, Busses, Trains, and tour companies continue to run with reasonable punctuality (considering it’s Thailand!) and there seems to be a general feeling of hope as most of the locals seem to be feeling positive about changes in their government.All of this said, there have been surprisingly few consequences to traveling foreigners:
Consequences of the curfew
  • • Political gatherings of more than five people banned, with penalties of up to a one-year jail term, 10,000 baht ($307) fine, or both. (Unless you are a political activist, this will have no affect on your vacation)
  • • Curfew hours are 12 a.m till 5 a.m. This is only enforced in the densely populated areas such as Phuket or Bangkok, and even then as long as you carry your passport and the address of your hotel, you should be fine.
  • • Mandatory check points at the entrance to all major towns , and provincial borders (although I have yet to hear of them stopping a bus or a train)
Contrary to what you may have heard:
 
  • • Overnight Buses / Planes are operating normally (no one will arrest you for being at a train or bus station between the hours of 12:00 and 5:00)
  • • The social media site Facebook was not blocked (feel free to post, tweet, and chat to your hearts content!)
  • • The national television was providing information on the first day of the coup has since returned to normal broadcasts. (Should you want to watch television in your hotel room, you may do so uninterrupted)
A recent political cartoon says it better than we could: what-coup-2

Songkran Festival in Thailand

STAY INFORMED ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON AT KHAO SOK LAKE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

Living here in Thailand for some weeks, I’ve heard the locals talking about this public holiday called Songkran. People here keep asking me about my plans for Songkran and it seems to be something bigger than a random public holiday which is why I started researching it…
What I generally knew about Songkran is that it is some kind of New Years’ celebration, combined with lots of water splashing, but what it really behind this tradition?
Some historic background…
The celebration of Songkran spread across Thailand in the 20th century. It is assumed that it was brought here by the Burmese, who themselves adapted it from the Indian Holy festival. “Holy” was derived from an earlier ritual meant to bring about a good harvest and fertility of the land,  naturally the Hindus incorporated this as their religion formed.  So because the roots of Songkran seem to come from the northern neighboring countries, it is celebrated more traditionally in those regions such as Chiang Mai.
 
Songkran Festival in ThailandOriginally the New Year (Songkran) was calculated astrologically and with the lunar calendar, to be dated around mid April (the hottest time of the year). The meaning of the word “Songkran” is ”a move or change in the position of the sun from Aries to Taurus” which was generally between April 10 and 18. After 1888 (2431 by the Buddhist calander) the New Year was fixed to the date of April 1 and after 1940 January 1 became the official New Year. But Songkran is still a public holiday and celebrated between April 13 and April 15. The 13th is called “Mahasongkran” which is basically the preparation of the beginning of the New Year, which is used to clean. The second day of celebration namely “Nao” is the old Thai New Year’s Eve (now Dec 31). At the 14th one can observe more formal Buddhist rituals including temple visits. The last official day of Songkran called “Talueng Sok” is then the actual New Year.
Now, why was Songkran celebrated?
The holiday marks not only the start of the New Year but also to honors water itself, which gives life to agriculture in Southeast Asia. The religious significance to Buddhism mirrors the deification of the harvest festival just as in many other religions. Songkran is similar to the Pagan solstice, the Chinese Ching Ming, the Christian Easter and, as mentioned, to the Indian Holy festival (all calculated with solar- and lunar calendar).
Songkran Festival in Thailand Holy Water 
The New Years’ celebration symbolizes time for cleaning and renewal. This is why in many households it is the tradition to clean the whole house for Songkran. Tradiotionally, statues of the Buddah were dowsed in water and what remained was considered blessed water which again was used to honor older family and community members. The water is poured over shoulders and hands, sometimes flavored with herbs, it demonstrates washing away negative things from the past year and is said to bring luck and prosperity. Over the years the religious meaning has diminished in importance and fun, water-throwing activities together with alcohol consumption are predominant during the last dry and hot days of the season.
Songkran as a farang… Just because you are a tourist you will be sparedfrom the festivities. Foreigners are favored victims for water blaster attacks. So get prepared to get really wet and protect your technical gear wisely. And most important don’t forget to buy yourself a water gun before going out on the streets.
Songkran Festival in Thailand_2014Not only is it customary to splash freezing cold water but also to throw colored talcom powder around, so the streets and people are covered in many different colors.
While in the northern provinces Songkran is often celebrated for almost a week, in the southern regions (such as in Khao Sok) the parade is only one day and may be a bit of festivities on the 14th and 15th.
Full of mirth, color and heavy drinking, Songkran is responsible for many car accidents in southern thailand, so watch out if you are driving. It is also the longest public holiday in Thailand.
Those who want to enjoy bigger and ostentatious Songkran festivities with parades lasting for 3days or longer should definitely go to the northern part of Thailand to the bigger cities. 
If you are looking for a quieter experience and an “off the beaten tourist track” visit our local adventure site or make yourself comfortable in one of the cozy floating bungalows at Chiew Lan Lake
Sooo, I hope now you all know more about Songkran as well and you can get prepared!
I wish you a Happy Songkran (suk san wan Songkran) or what you can also say a Happy New Year (Sawatdi pi mai).  
 

Volunteers at Khao Sok Lake

STAY INFORMED ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON AT KHAO SOK LAKE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

Volunteers at Khao Sok Lake April 6, 2014

About us…

We decided to write this blog to share our experience as the first volunteers at Andaman Discoveries Ta Khun and to give an insight to what it is like to dive into the Thai culture.

To introduce ourselves, we are two tourism students from Germany, Marius and Anika, currently doing our practical semester here at Andaman Discoveries Ta Khun. We are personally interested in sustainable tourism development meaning to put great consideration on local culture, welfare and the nature protection. Lucky as we are, we now have the opportunity to start working on this, directly involved on site.

Getting settled in Ta Khun…

After the first working weeks have passed, we now are rather well known in Ta Khun. I mean being a “farang” (foreigner) is a guarantee for attention, but in Ta Khun which is not really touristy, we stick out even more 🙂 After we came back the second and third time to the same places, buying coffee or food, people were starting to ask us what we do and how long we are here for. All the people we met so far immediately introduced themselves to us with their nickname, because it is the common way to address Thai people with their nickname even if you just met them.

We are basically step by step becoming part of the Ta Khun community, people greet us and we talk to neighbors and even got invited to a Thai wedding which took place right next to our office. When we offered to give a hand when they set up all the tables and decoration for the wedding, they were really surprised and appreciated our help a lot. It was quiet funny because within a few seconds we became the center of attention and they wanted to take pictures showing how we work together. I think this was another important step of integration because we are becoming part of the community instead of being just tourists or guests.

To summarize the features of the Thai wedding, it was rich in colors, flowers, music and amazing food. Dancing in general is not really a big thing in Thailand, but for entertainment they hired a dance group of young girls who sang and danced on the stage almost the whole evening and ensured a good atmosphere. We used the opportunity to absorb all the impressions of Thai culture and exchanged with locals. The conversations were rather funny because they were more like sign language than a verbal exchange, since our Thai is still in progress :).

So besides the cultural integration we are still looking forward to explore the surroundings of Ta Khun and are curious what awaits us next…

Marius_Anika

 

thai-wedding

April 6 2014