UCLA Thailand Summer 09

UCLA - CSW Newsletter November '09 - Link

2009-11-23T10:45:00.000-08:00

Student Research Highlights

2009-08-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

Facebook Group Link at W.I.L.L.

Project Presentation:

Project Photo Slide Show:

By Christina, Christine, Amy, Liz, and Terri

What I Gained from My Thailand Travel Study Program - Cathi Lee

2009-08-15T00:12:00.000-07:00

Academic

I thoroughly enjoyed that our learning space rarely consisted of desks and chairs. It many cases our classroom was our immediate surroundings and communities. We learned through a variety of approaches: academic, fieldwork, community-based, experiential, and service learning.

Learning about Rubber Tree Harvesting

Making Nipa Palm Roof with the Moken on Koh Ra

Sustainable Gardening and Effective water use for Mushroom Growing

Our Beach Survey in Chumpon

Culture

There is no better way to understand a culture than drenching yourself head first into it. Thailand is colorful in many ways, experiencing and witnessing the practices of the religions that are there along with the amazing food, language, and people was just a taste of what the country has to offer. I was fortunate to pick up some of the language and even a Thai nickname, Nam Tok.

Visiting the Lying Buddha Traditional Thai Dancing at Beluga School

Statues at the Kuraburi Buddhist Temple

Parade for a Buddhist Holiday

Personal

I engaged in many personal adventures in Thailand, in attempts to personalize my trip. In return I gained some of my fondness memories. The highlight of my trip in Thailand was ziplining with Flight of the Gibbons in Bangkok - Pattaya.

Halfway through the 26 platforms of ziplines. Playing with an otter in a Tung Nam Dam.

Elephant Trekking in Khao Lak

Feeding the Elephant in Pattaya's Open Zoo

Snorkeling off Chumpon

Overall, I gained an unforgettable experience while in Thailand!!!

Erika's Gains from Thailand

2009-08-14T23:20:00.000-07:00

PERSONAL

What I gained...

A Better Tolerance for

Large Insects

New Friends

Thai Friends

Small Thai Friends

Elephant Friends

The bonds that I made in Thailand were definitely my greatest personal gain, from our amazing helpers, Kun, Joom, Awe, and Pang to the kids we met at Home and Life and the Beluga School.

CULTURAL

What I learned about...

Thai Welcoming Ceremonies

Bangkok City Life

Buddhist Temples and

the Royal Palace

Muay Thai Fighting

Moken Roof-Making

Thai Dancing

Throughout our trip in "The Land of Smiles," we all gained a lot of firsthand experience in Thai culture. I learned about their main religion, Buddhism, got to participate in a couple of Thai ceremonies, and just got familiar with the laid-back and friendly Thai culture and mentality in general.

ACADEMIC

What I learned about...

Hornbills on Koh Ra

Waterlilies in Kuraburi

Manure Balls (Natural Fertilizer)
at the Plearn Garden in Chumphon

Marine Crabs in Chumphon

From our ocean laboratory to our exchanges with Muslim women's groups, we were always learning. In particular, I gained a lot of new knowledge about sustainability and its practices, and about some of the coastal ecology in Thailand ranging from marine crab habitats to overfishing issues to mangrove restoration.

Barbara's Gains

2009-08-14T20:46:00.000-07:00

Academic Gains

As far as academic gains go, I was happy that we were able to work hands on with the environment. My favorite experience with hands on work in an academic setting was when we did our Biodiversity Lab in Chumphon Beach. Having the opportunity to go out and search for different animals and being able to interact with these creatures as well as their habitat was very interesting. Having this opportunity made me realize that I would like to continue to work with a hands on opportunity with different projects and studies. It gave me more motivation to want to experience what I am learning with actual life examples, instead of what I am accustomed to like videos and just textbooks.

I also gained insight on different methods of evaluation that we practiced during various lectures and workshop type activities. Having had these methods gave me a different perspective on analytical methods. I plan on using these type of evaluation methods in the future with different studies and projects I will be doing.

Cultural Gains

Culturally, I learned a lot about the Thai culture, from their religion, food, customs, generalized personality, to their language. Being exposed to their completely different culture gave me an insight as to how I could better communicate with people that I met. We were exposed to different aspects of their lives, that I feel regular tourist might not be able to experience. For example, we learned how to cook different meals with their different ingredients. We learned about the culture and their beliefs about Buddah. We experienced different personality traits among different people. For example, children versus adults. Having the opportunity to learn their language also gave us a greater insight, because communication is key to being able to fully understand a particular culture. We also were able to experience the very touristic part of Thailand, when we were in Phuket. For example the diverse amount of sexual interactions that occur, which is very different from the typical Thai conservative custom. I think the best knowledge I gained, as far as Thai culture goes, is that they are very nice people willing to lend a hand to anyone in need. I feel like this is a wonderful trait that more cultures should adapt and practice.

Personal Gains

There were many personal experiences that I went through, which were all amazing. One of my biggest personal gains was realizing how people who do not know each other, coming from different lifestyles and cultures, from different ages, can come together and help other communities in need. I also learned a couple of Thai words which I had fun teaching my friends at home. I also was able to learn about a culture that I never thought I would be exposed to.

Another personal gain was learning a lot more about the environment, and how there are a lot of people fighting for a more sustainable world. I had never been too interested in the environment, and usually did the basics to help out like simple recycling. But now I find myself being a lot more considerate, and making everyone around me aware that we should all be more sustainable for the better of our own environment.

Suza's Gains

2009-08-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

[My Interpretation of the Life Map]

Academic Gains:

Most of my academic gains came very subtly. I always knew that during this program I was going to be challenged in the way I was going to be taught. So I was ready to take on many of the developmental tools - from the life maps to the venn diagrams.

[Working hard in Chumpoun]

But what I found to be the most surprising was that I gained a lot of knowledge from our fellow peers. My knowledge and worldview has definitely broadened after meeting so many talented and passionate social reformers. I look forward to learning more about the world through myself, scholars, and my peers.

Personal Gains:

During this trip I had experience many firsts. My first time on a plane, my first time travelling alone, my first time planting rice, my first time on a horse...and the list goes on.

[Horse riding at Din Dang's]

But besides experiencing a lot of new things in a different country, I also came on this trip to find a better understanding of myself and my passions. I know that as a dynamic person my passion will constantly change, but I really learned that I can not always separate things in my life. I know that I've been searching for harmony in my life, but I learned the only harmony that will suit me is the one I make for myself.

[Posing in the Royal Palace]

Cultural Gains:

The culture of Thailand is very similar to my own, Cambodian. From the food to the appareal a lot of the similar Thai values have been taught to me by my family. But what is interesting is that my values have an American twist to it. So actually having to wai, being mindful of my choice of clothing, and taking off my shoes was weird. I tend to think that following tradition is like oppression, forcing yourself to do things but I soon learned that it's beyond listening to what is being told, rather it's a form of respect. And when Thai people smile, they really smile....that was refreshing.

[Children at Home & Life]

Coral Castillo Gains

2009-08-14T17:38:00.000-07:00

Coral A. Castillo

UC San Diego

Personal: I think we all grow when we are able to surrounds ourselfs with new experiences. We had the opportunity to work with our peers and develop friendships. I think I develped a better sence of who I am and what I can do in this world. We for many reasons forget the impact that we can have on others and on our environment.

Cultural: The womas batik group was as excited to learn abou us as we were about them. They shared their stories and experiences with us. It was a great cultural experiece to be able to make our batik. These women make them to provide them with a secondary income, a support group, and to provide community empowerement.

Academic:The picture to the right shows the Kho Phra Tong sea turtle office. I think this is a good picture that depicts the academic research I did with Monica, the Noucratis sea turtle expert. This office provide me with alot of history and descriptions of sea turtles nesting habitats

Angela's (Dao) Gains

2009-08-14T17:36:00.000-07:00

Before this program, my views of Thailand were centered in their food, Thai ice tea and beautiful beaches. But I got there and discovered a rich country both culturally and ecologically.

ACADEMIC GAINS
In this program we change desks and books from the classroom, to having classes on the beach, on the forest, and on an island, and even a police station! We took the knowledge gain from the lectures and readings and apply them to the real life. Our education was always community based and service learning where we interacted with the community members and learn how they include sustainable practices in their life. I saw how much these communities care about their environment, from kids to women and elderly they are all involved in community projects which goal is to be self sufficient. Our learning was very hands on, I loved our coastal ecology labs, identifying organisms and measuring water quality, also the restoration projects and interviewing villagers for my final project. We learnt how to measure sustainability using economic, social, and natural and wellbeing indicators. We learnt about the importance of mangrove, water lilies and other edible plants and we did restoration projects for them. I think I learnt more with this kind of education than just being sitting in a classroom listening to a professor.

CULTURAL GAINS

The main cultural gains I found were centered in the Buddhist traditions Thai people practice. It seems to be the center of life, and this might be the cause of why Thai people are so friendly and helpful. They will open their doors and hearts to you. With this program, I had the opportunity to interact with different peoples, from our Thai staff Awe, Joom and Kuhn, to spending the night in the home stay at Ban Talae Nok, were our host was so kind to dress us with her Muslim clothes and where we fell in love with the little Natjawa or “ling ling” as we call her. What I admire most of their culture, is how respectful they are, especially to elders, monks and authority. I also enjoyed learning their skills and making nipa palm roofs, batiks, soaps and adobe bricks. From Thai language, Thai cooking, Thai dancing, I explore their costumes and one of the most memories I have, is of their traditional ceremonies that Awe, Joom and Khun prepare so kindly for us

PERSONAL GAINS
This program in Thailand is indeed and unforgettable experience. The best part of it is all the new people I met, both locals and classmates and friends I made. I’m sure the program wouldn’t be the same without them. This was my first time in an Asian country and I truly experienced their culture and beliefs. I loved their food, their wai, even taking off my shoes, which I felt strange not doing it at home; was even watching their soap operas! I had the chance to interact with different people from different cultures and ages, Buddhist, Muslim, elders, children. I learn to appreciate their culture and I feel more open to interact with people and I to get more involve in simple and “dirty” activities like planting trees or sleeping with mosquito nets. I discover my love for the ocean and I started swimming in it again. I considered myself as a “safe” person who wouldn’t experiment new things but this trip motivate me to change my mind and explore more. I did snorkeling, parasailing and rode a motorcycle and even ate fried worms for the first time! Overall, every single activity was amazing and I’m thankful that I got to live this experience with all of you. I would’ve really regretted it a lot if I didn’t go. I am missing Thailand already and hope that I can go back someday soon.

Christina's Gains

2009-08-14T16:41:00.000-07:00

Cultural Gains

What stuck me the most about Thai culture was that it possessed such a strong identity. If someone asked me about Thailand, some immediate images would come to mind—breathtaking countryside juxtaposed with the icons rapid development, ornate Buddhist temples with hundreds of shoes outside, the chaos and sensory overload on Khao San Road, and the brilliant sunrises and sunsets on its beaches. Being in Thailand made me realize that culture is something that one earns, and it is also something in which one can take pride. It needs to be recognized and appreciated for retaining its flavor in a world of increasing monotony.

Academic and Personal Gains

Academically, there is much I am thankful for because of this program. It enabled me to meet people on the ground in Thailand working towards sustainable living. It also pushed me to be more active in listening and learning from those with experience in fields that may be of future interest to me. I gained confidence in my abilities to form opinions and vocalize them to others. The dynamism of this program really brought out qualities in myself that I had never seen before, and I am grateful for all of it. The research project was especially a highlight for this trip because it entrusted so much responsibility in the abilities of my team. We were free to make our own decisions and conduct our own research, which was a very memorable way to learn about the community in Kamphuan. In the end, I will never forget what this program has taught and given me.

Natalie's Gains

2009-08-14T16:12:00.000-07:00

Academic Gains:

Throughout the program I learned much about the ecological problems that face a nation like Thailand. Since Thailand borders the ocean, many southern Thais have livelihoods that rely on the sea for success. Through the various assigned readings, the labs, and through personally seeing the state of marine ecosystems while snorkeling, I learned a great deal about a variety of problems that trouble the marine ecosystems.
I also learned a lot about tourism in Thailand and the problems it poses. Not only does traditional tourism threaten the environment, but it threatens the native culture. By visiting parts of Thailand that could be considered “off the beaten path” for tourists, we got to see really understand Thailand’s natural ecosystems and what’s at stake for the rapidly developing country.

Cultural Gains:

I learned a great deal about Thai culture through interacting with the Thai people, eating their food, and participating in their cultural traditions. I got to observe how they dress, how they eat, and how they interact. I got to learn a great deal about Thai beliefs, such as Buddhism, speak to Monks, and actually visit awesome temples and palaces (like the Royal Palace) to get visual evidence of the importance of these beliefs to the Thai people, Further, by talking to various mentors along the course of the program, I learned about Thai worldviews, and goals. I learned about their livelihoods, and I got to experience first-hand their incredible hospitality.
One of the most interesting aspects of Thai culture that I got to observe was sexuality. While in Bangkok and Phuket, I learned a great deal about “ladyboys”, a transgender Thai commonality, and various other markings of “sex tourism” such as the numerous brothels that are scattered throughout the country. While initially shocking, I got used to the uncommon sexuality of Thailand and the seeming openness of the Thai people. Yet on the flip side, I also learned about traditional Thai modesty (no sex unless you have the intent to marry, modest clothing) that created an interesting juxtaposition to my initial findings.

Personal Gains:

Mostly from my cultural experiences, I acquired a great deal of personal gains. From my lessons in Thai cooking I was able to return home to cook my friends and family a lavish Thai feast (that tasted remarkably similar to the food we ate in Thailand). I also lost many fears while in Thailand. I left home with an insane fear of filth, bugs, and less-than-luxurious accommodations. After using numerous squat toilets without toilet paper, greeting the expected large spiders and lizards in nearly every room, and getting dirty on the daily, I noticed my irrational fears and expectations melted away. I realized just how unnatural of a lifestyle I lead back home and how a less clean or bug-free home does not equal happiness, but rather creates sheltered and fearful people. I would recommend a trip to Thailand to any westerner who fears the same things I used to fear. It was an amazingly eye opening experience.
I also gained an appreciation for a culture that values interpersonal relations over personal gains. All of the Thai people we met were so friendly and would undoubtedly make time to talk to you whenever you showed interest. In the US, people are too caught up with their busy professional lives to care for those around them. Recognizing this difference has made me a more attentive and loving person. I recognize now that my happiness will never spring from how much money I have in the bank, but rather how much time I’ve spent with those around me.

What Terri Gained

2009-08-14T14:27:00.000-07:00

Above: Sunrise at our Chumphon beach/classroom.

Academic Gains:
From this program, it became clear to me that there are other more effective ways to learn new material than just from lectures. I feel that when our learning process is interactive and I immerse myself into the activities, my new knowledge becomes that much more significant. For instance, instead of just learning about coastal ecosystems in a classroom, the Chumpon beach became our open classroom. Community-based learning, service-learning, experiential-learning constituted a large part of the learning process. We encountered a combination of these various learning processes when working on our final project with the women’s batik and tie-dye groups in Kamphuan. From the women, we found out about the livelihoods that they used to raise their families and empower themselves. You can say that this trip inspired me in many ways.

Sweet mangosteen roti drizzled with condensed milk.

Cultural Gains:
What is cultural gain without picking up some Thai and sampling the delicious Thai food? Our Thai teacher and dear friend, Kun, made learning a new language fun and painless. I was not afraid to apply my elementary-level Thai whenever the situation calls for it. I made mistakes, but that was okay because I learned from them.
If only vegetarian food in the States can taste as good as Thai vegetarian food, there would be a lot more American vegetarians. Thailand was where I developed a newfound love for mangosteen fruit, mangkut, and Thai-style pancakes, roti, especially, mangkut roti (new flavor roti that my project group insisted the eatery make). And I had a Thai iced tea (Chai Thai yin) almost everyday, mainly from my favorite store, 7-11 (seVEN, raise the second syllable when pronouncing it).

Left: Thai iced tea, made by Pii Ta, our cool translator.

Right: Kun and Suza having a great time at the beach.
Personal Gains:
I am really glad that I joined the program otherwise I would not have been able to meet so many great, funny friends. The program was only five weeks, but because we hung out with each other the whole everyday, we became close. Seeing so many people make a difference within their communities, be it protecting endangered water lilies and mangroves or generating income via eco-tourism and microbusinesses, has me thinking that I, too, can leave a positive impact on the environment.

Left: Terracing the hill at Home & Life orphanage then planting lemon grass to prevent soil erosion.

Right: Me excited about having planted a mangrove. The mangrove is anchored by a wooden stick.

Alex's Gains

2009-08-14T14:02:00.000-07:00

Thailand is the first country that I have been abroad to, and as of now, I had one of the best experiences of my life there. My first impression when I first arrived in Bangkok was that it was hot and the stench of the sewer and feces filled the air. While this may have been a negative first impression, I learned to deal with it and appreciate the kind of lifestyle in Bangkok. What I learned was that the people are very hard working, they will work 7 days a week and into the late hours of the night, even up to 3 am or later. Also, the people there are very kind and some will go out of their way to help you.

The Rama VIII Bridge of the Chao Praya River in Bangkok

One of my favorite experiences while in Thailand was when I went zip-lining through the rain forest. The company was called Flight of the Gibbon, as we were like Gibbons, moving from tree to tree through the rain forest. It was such a rush to zip through the jungle and see all if its beauty undisturbed. The establishment itself was built within the rain forest instead of cutting it down and constructing a building in it.

Zip-lining

Chumphon had one of the most calm and beautiful beaches I have ever been to. The water was so quiet, clear and serene, it was such a good place to unwind and clear my mind.

Chumphon Beach

After Chumphon, we moved to an eco-tourism lodge called Runs and Roses. There we more about eco-tourism, learning to decrease inputs and outputs and also brick making for the bungalows

Brick making

Valerie's Gains

2009-08-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

About my experience in the Thailand Program 2009:

(left: planting a banana tree)

Academic gains: Before the program, I did not have any idea as to what a mangrove forest looked like, or to give an example of a sustainable livelihood. But now I am more confident in saying that I understand Thailand's coastal ecology to a much greater extent. I can show how to measure sustainability, using indicators of sustainability, and comparing the sustainability in different dimensions. I think I am more capable of performing a lab on my own, and presenting my data in a more organized manner. I have gained awareness of how sustainable my country is compared to another. I understand the difficulty of determining how sustainable a region is and that there are many factors that need to be taken into account before measuring this. I have more experience with working outside in the field and with people who might not communicate in the same way as you, or in the same language. I have the ability now to use assessment tools such as pair-wise rankings and ven diagrams, which could come in handy for the future. I really enjoyed working outside, because that is how I learn best: to learn by doing.

(right: My favorite Thai meal)

Cultural Gains: I didn't know what to expect of Thailand's culture, but once immersed in the society, I felt so welcomed. Everyone is smiling and friendly, and I was excited to use the wai. The wai is something that shows respect and kindness and now being home, I am sad to say there is not a lot of that. I enjoyed walking through the temples in Bangkok and talking to the Monks in Khao Lak, and learning about Buddhism in general. I liked my Thai name, Tawan, and if I ever go back to Thailand, I will introduce myself as so. Speaking Thai was always fun, and Kun and Joom taught me so much. The food in Thailand was delicious. When I saw a rambutan for the first time I took a picture of it, probably looking culturally deprived of Thai food, but after a while, I felt silly because the rambutan was found in all places that I went. I don't handle spicy food very well, being raised eating non-spicy foods, I was not used to the chili and spices. Now I think I have gained some tolerance, and even though it is spicy, I can't help eating the foods. Everything was delcious, and my favorite fruit was the rambutan and dish was the pad see ew. I tried chicken feet and it wasn't too bad. After the program, I feel more open-minded to new things and a new culture. I also have more respect for the preservation of culture in other countries, because with the mix of my many ethnicities, I feel that I don't have a culture or tradition.

Personal Gains: Overall, I really enjoyed my experience in Thailand. I loved working with the children at the Beluga School for Life and Home and Life (see picture). I was able to zipline through tropical rainforests and parasail at Kata beach in Phuket (see picture). I've gained friendships with my peers and mentors. I loved Chumphon and I hope someday I will be back there. I hope to volunteer in Din Dang if I'm in Thailand again. Everything was amazing, the people were so friendly, and I will miss it. I overcame some fears (spiders) and have learned to appreciate everything I have.

Thank you for everything.

Cheers,

Valerie.

Shannon's Thailand Gains

2009-08-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

Cultural Gains:

While working on our final project we were given the amazing opportunity to do a home stay in Ban Nam Sai, a Tsunami Village built by the Princess in 2007. The family that we stayed with was so welcoming and willing to share their story and their culture with us. The beautiful woman in the yellow shirt is Babua, and despite the fact that she didn't speak a word of English, we were still able to laugh together and show our appreciation for everything she did for us.
On our last day at the Home & Life orphanage we all put on a talent show in which all of the girls performed traditional Thai dance and taught us how to move in the end. My favorite part was watching Awe and Joom shake it with huge smiles on their faces. Although I felt totally lost when we danced around the room, it didn't matter as long as you were having fun and appreciating the beauty and richness of the Thai culture.

Academic Gains:

My favorite part about the academic learning on this trip is the fact that it was mainly conducted outside, in the environment. The hornbill hike on Koh Ra was very interesting because in the relatively small area of land that the trail covers we were able to walk through a multitude of biomes, from chaparral to jungle. Also, we saw crazy camouflaged insects and beautiful flora.
Our final project worked with researching and determining the sustainability of Elephant Trekking Eco-tourism. By interviewing the owner and the elephant expert Sun, we were very impressed with their awareness for the environment and the sustainable practices that they implemented at Asia Safari, Khao Lak. My favorite part of the project was when Sun let Kelley and I ride the elephant bare back up to the elephants' sleeping area. It was scary but very exciting!!

Personal Gains:

Looking back on the experience, my favorite memories were the times spent with all of the adorable Thai kids. On Koh Ra at the Moken Village, although the little girls were shy at first, by the end of the visit they had sweet smiles on their faces and didn't want us to leave. Also, our time at the orphanages was a blast. I loved playing soccer at Beluga School for Life, and throwing mud balls at Home & Life with the children. Again, despite the language barrier we were able to laugh and enjoy each others' company.
Finally, I loved all of the adventures that I took to experience all that Thailand has to offer. I made so many memories with new friends and came back a more worldly person. From snorkeling to motor biking I was able to view the beauty that the country possess and I cannot wait to return for more!!!

Thank you all for the amazing experience, I will never forget it.

Your friend,
Shannon

LIZ'S THAILAND SUMMER 2009 GAINS

2009-08-14T00:31:00.000-07:00

(photo ) With the tie-dye women in their working space where they sold their bags & created their sowing space. This is also where Christina found the leech that latched onto her leg from their garden! :0!

(photo) With the batik women, the batik leader, and her brother in their batik clothing store. They sold items like handbags, women's shirts, and even baby clothes! This is also where we congregated to eat together, laugh together, and learn more about them.
Academic Gains: I feel more enriched and educated about Environmental Science after participating in this program this past summer. I feel more natural around field work and community based work, and feel prepared to implement these skills in the real working force. Specifically to our research project with the women's handicraft groups, we were able to apply the assessment tools Michael and Rebecca taught us throughout the course and implement them in order to gain as much information from them in the limited time.
Cultural Gains: One of the first things we did upon arrival in Bangkok, other than taste their food, was a tour to the Temples. Being under the scorching sun & drenching in sweat while learning the the history and philosophy of Buddha was well worth it. The Thais' dedication to Buddha and his teachings reveal why the Thai people are so easy-going and well-liked.
(photo) At the Buddhist Temples in Bangkok; there were many Buddhas, each of different sizes, all unique in their own way. A must see would have to be the Reclining Buddha.

Another cultural gain would definitely have to be the array of food! Mangoes, fresh fruit shakes, & Roti were all a must have!

(photo) During the first few nights in Bangkok, we decided to delve into some maggots/mealworms (??) that were sold in carts on the streets. We decided to do it as a group (real teamwork right there) and eat them together--Kevin ended up eating about 5 as if they were fries! It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience that everyone needs to experience for themselves.

Personal Gains: One of the most obvious personal gains would have to be the relationships I built during the program. Though I am not a student at UCLA, I was fortunate to build bonds that will last a lifetime. These people are the only ones who will understand everything we have been through.

(photo) After planting mangroves, we all headed to the beach for some reflection...and jumping pictures, of course.

Meeting everyone on this trip was an amazing experience. I would have never thought I would have formed the relationships I did or experienced the things I did without these people. These people completely enriched my experience in Thailand, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I hope to return to Thailand one day--but it would have to be with them.

(photo) Most of us at the Buddhist Temples in Bangkok. Our tour guide made us do some funny poses, as you can see. Some of our group decided to go zip-lining instead :( and are not pictured.

Best, Liz (:

Stephanie Cash's Gains

2009-08-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

There's lots of temples in Thailand (as well as tuktuks to take you there)! Religious influence is very strong, as is apparent from the temples, the Buddhas, the spirit houses, as well as the moving stories we heard from people about how faith affected the efforts towards recovery after the tsunami.

People are friendly on Khao San...
...but don't trust anyone who says that the National Museum is "closed" and that you should go on a boat ride instead.
Thai food in Thailand is the way to go. The food was delicious pretty much everywhere we went, yet I'm still not in the mood for Thai food in the states.
On a personal level, I learned to push myself in ways that I hadn't thought to do before.
Waking up early can be worth it. (I may have spent some of my free time sleeping, but when I was awake I saw some amazing things.)
Teamwork! Throughout the course, I learned the importance of working together in groups and working with different communities toward common goals.
I was reminded that people are often very sweet and thoughtful. (Btw, it's a blurry pic of the welcoming ceremony.)
We learned about sustainable housing and how to make clay bricks!
We learned to make rude batiks, or at least my group did: "pick up your shit." Batiks are a way to diversify the livelihoods of the individuals in the women's batik group.
We learned to dance with our hands!
I learned a lot more about conducting experiments and how to do research. I don't come from a science background, so this was a unique experience for me, to be able to do research in such as hands-on way in such a beautiful setting. Also, I learned that hornbills are hard to find in the rain...

Geoff's Gains

2009-08-13T19:51:00.000-07:00

Academic Gains: I learned a lot about the different ways to analyze and measure sustainability in communities and ecosystems. The sustainability of a given system can be looked at not just from an environmental perspective, but also from an economical or cultural (to name a just a few) standpoint. In this picture I'm planting banana trees at one of the most sustainable farms we visited, where multiple crops are grown together to ensure biodiversity and to protect against soil degradation and disease. Of course I also learned about coastal ecology and some of the major environmental threats to coastal ecosystems, such as ocean acidification, warming temperatures, and overfishing.

Cultural Gains: Learning about Thai culture was one of the highlights of the program for me. The friendliness and contentment that most Thai's exhibit was a far cry from what I see in the State's, and has a lot to do with Buddhism being the dominant belief system in the area. The respect Thai people show their leaders and elders also contrasts sharply with western culture. I gained a sense of how these qualities can lead to a more satisfying life, through the understanding that the way one handles oneself and the relationships one forms will ultimately determine happiness, not success as measured by material wealth.

Personal Gains:

I will never forget the stunning beauty of Thailand. Just thinking about the Thai sunsets makes me want to go back. I gained a newfound appreciation of the healing power of nature. It truly heals the soul.

I also experienced the joys of working with children. I'm typically not good with them, but that changed during my time in Thailand.

I gained many new friends who I'm sure I'll keep in contact with a long time. If I ever find myself back in Thailand (which I hope to), I will have connections that I wouldn't have had otherwise.

Christine's Gains

2009-08-13T14:56:00.000-07:00

Academic Gains:

I learned about the different dimensions and indicators of sustainability, in which we applied to our research project. I really enjoyed learning about the women group's livelihoods on a sustainability light.

I learned about the importance of mangroves and its crucial role for maintaining a sustainable environment. From our readings, I have learned that mangroves act as buffers against tsunamis, they provide a habitat for many species; however they are drastically disappearing that may be due to increasing farm lands, thus it was an awesome experience to take part of a restoration project.

Cultural Gains:

We learned how to hand make roofs made out of leaves at the Moken Village. It was enjoyable for me to learn about the different ways of constructing building with natural materials.

I learned the art of batik making with the help of the woman's groups.

It was a pleasure to learn how to make traditional Thai green curry. This turned out to be a pretty simple dish that required a bit of involved preparation of obtaining the coconut milk.

Personal Gains:

Truly, my most worthwhile gains from this trip was developing friendships that expanded from not only the students but also to our Thai translators, Thai teacher, and UCLA faculty.

I believe that my fear of creepy crawlies has nearly subsided after this program due to our constant exposures with them throughout the trip. It was also amazing to encounter so many species of ants.

Stephanie Falzone's Gains

2009-08-13T10:32:00.001-07:00

Academic Gains
I learned a lot about coastal ecology and more about our affect on the ocean through acidification, waste, and overfishing. I also gained knowledge about sustainability, and about mangroves and sea turtles from Claudio and Monica. I also learned how to do social research, which I did not have experience with before this program.

Cultural Gains
I learned a lot about Thai culture and about Buddhism through our talks with monks and with our visits to temples, and through asking Kun, Jum, and Awe questions. I gained knowledge of Thai cooking from our cooking class on Koh Ra and of Thai language from Kun, and got to experience two Buddhist ceremonies.

Personal Gains

I met a lot of great people, some of which I will have class with next year and hope to work with in Environment 180. We had some memorable experiences together and they helped me conquer my fear of heights when we climbed up some very steep steps in Bangkok, and gave me a great 21st birthday party. I am also glad to have met some more people in my major. I finally went snorkeling for the first time and got to see a relatively pristine coral reef, and learned how to make a batik, which I loved doing.

Hanna's Gains

2009-08-10T17:14:00.000-07:00

Personal Gains:

One of the most important and best things I got out of this trip was making so many great friends. The program would not have been the same without our amazing group. I not only had fun with everyone, but I learned a lot from people too.

Elephants are my favorite animal so I was so excited to do my research project about them! But kind of scared to sit on them. Being able to interact with the elephants and see how intelligent and ginormous they are was so much fun.

Cultural Gains:

The Baan Talay Nok children's puppet show was a very interesting cultural insight because it allowed me to see Thai victim's view and story of the tsunami instead of just reading about the event.

The events that Awe, Joom and Kun held for us like this one in Chumphon and also at Awe's house in Kuraburi let me experience real Thai culture. Both the bracelet-giving ceremony and the flower/pineapple ceremony on the last night are experiences I will not forget, especially after Cameron set the sticks on the pineapple on fire...

Academic Gains:

I learned a lot about coastal ecology throughout the trip and the extreme amount of biodiversity within Thailand. I absolutely loved learning about and doing a biodiversity survey lab on the beach in Chumphon; getting out of a classroom and into such an amazing landscape made this the best lab setting EVER.

I learned realistic ways to make a building and the surrounding area sustainable and can take ideas from this USAID office and apply them in my everyday life. I think the other sustainable places we visited were interesting, but I feel that this place in Kamphuan was the most plausible set-up for modern-day living.

Connecting Eco to Tourism

2009-08-08T18:42:00.000-07:00

Student Project on Koh Ra, Kuraburi District, Phang Nga Province

Elephant Treking

2009-08-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

Elephant Trekking and Tourism: Sustainability in Khao Lak

Elephant are part of Thailand's traditional national emblem and culture. Surin, a province in northeast Thailand near Cambodia, is renowned for its elephants and elephant traineers
Check out the elephant roundup in Surin.

Grace's Trip Reflection

2009-08-08T14:01:00.001-07:00

Academic gains:

At Din Dang, I learned about how easy it is to brick houses, which are constructed mainly from clay and manure. I loved getting to actually make the bricks, and that afternoon we finished about 90 of them.

Mangrove forests help protect coastal areas from erosion, storm surge, and tsunamis. After reading tons of articles about these trees, we got to plant some!

During our final project, we researched elephant trekking sustainability at Asia Safari. The workers were super friendly and were willing to answer all of our questions about the trail, the elephants, and their composting projects.

Cultural gains:

We visited an orphanage called Home & Life, which takes care of kids who are tsunami victims. It was so much fun getting to know them and learning some of the Thai games that they play :)

At our homestay, we met their daughter Sairung and were invited to her 20th birthday party. The food was amazing and we got to make lots of new friends.

It was such an unforgettable trip! -Grace Lee

Thailand in a nutshell

2009-08-08T01:18:00.001-07:00

One of the best things about going on the trip was making new friends. Enough said.

It was great to be in a culture and society that is so closely connected to the ocean. Long boat rides proved very relaxing and very scenic, both attributes I greatly appreciated

Learning in the field, in rain, in mud, in sea water, makes the experiences that much more enjoyable and that much more memorable.

I was intrigued that the influence of western culture was most apparent in the multitude of jet seep ets.

Food embodies culture, not that fried meal worms is iconic Thai food, but I really stepped out of my comfort zone snacking on one of these puppies (especially considering my serious worm phobia) all in the name of a one of a kind Thai experience (or better said, Bangkok experience)

--Michelle Honda

Amy's Gains

2009-08-05T10:42:00.000-07:00

Academic Gains:
The impact of the 2004 tsunami became increasingly clear as I readWave of Destruction, sensed eeriness when visiting the Baan Nam Khem memorial and then listened to Thai survivors’ recollections of the natural disaster.

Environmental sustainability lessons were provided by experienced, encouraging and witty local organization representatives such as KCLC’s Panuwat, Ecolodge/Reef Check’s Kim, Andaman Discoveries’ Kelly, Runs N Roses/TCDF’s Bow and others.

Social research strategies like conducting qualitative interviews and attending local ceremonies (i.e. scholarship giveaways) gave me a deeper understanding of how Thailand women build and maintain their sustainable livelihoods.

Cultural Gains:
Exposure to the vibrant world of ladyboys revealed this country’s open-mindedness towards about gender roles.

Even as an atheist, I found sense and solace in Buddhism.

I gained exposure to new forms of performing and visual arts that had messages about Thai culture and general sustainability (i.e. Baan Talae Nok puppet show, Kamphuan women’s batiks, etc.).

Personal Gains:
Thailand’s unique beauty was highlighted during excursions around a James Bond film site, hidden sea caves, sea gypsy village, monkey temple, national forest-park and more.

Having spent most of my life in California, where rainfall was light and short-lived, I felt simultaneously thrilled and frightened when experiencing Thailand’s monsoon-induced street flood.

The most noteworthy personal gain was a group of honest friends who welcomed my idiosyncrasies.

surin farmers, sustainable farming

2009-07-28T19:24:00.001-07:00

http://www.surinfarmersupport.org/

On June 29, 2009, Dr. Silverman and some UCLA students visited an organic farm in Chumphon. We noticed that there was no monoculture, a style in which one crop occupies vast fields as seasons change. Pests can foster, so unnatural pesticides are used. Synthetic fertilizers are common, which depletes soil nutrients and undermines the aim of achieving high yields. However, this particular plantation used natural fertilizer coming from the manure of water buffalos rummaging around on the fields. During our walking tour, we noticed polyculture – a style in which multiple crops are simultaneously planted around the same field. Thanks to crop rotation, a species grows off of the nutrients left in the soil by the species that previously occupied the area. Inter-cropping is also beneficial since it maximizes the use of space. Different plants are embedded between rows of a primary crop. Diverse plants can help each other grow. Furthermore, we noticed papayas, coconuts, watermelons, and finger-nailed bananas, cucumbers and green bean strings that were growing. We only planted one type of rice, but there were other grain varieties around – some that even produced milk. In any case, getting hands-on agricultural experience -- which involved bending over, getting soiled and exposing myself to the capricious weather – gave me a deep appreciation for farmers whose contributions to the economic sphere were overlooked. Fortunately, this farm was recognized, as evidenced by the Thailand king who gave it an award for self-sufficiency. -Amy Ta

Andaman Discoveries Blog

2009-07-28T12:39:00.001-07:00

Andaman Discoveries Blog

Shared via AddThis

Student Presentation: Sustainable Livelihoods, Women's Handicraft Groups, Kamphuan

2009-07-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Project Presentation:

Project Photo Slide Show:

By Christina, Christine, Amy, Liz, and Terri

Student Presentation: Sustainable Livelihoods, Women's Handicraft Groups, Kamphuan

Beluga School for Life - Sustainability Education

2009-07-28T11:38:00.001-07:00

Student Project: Beluga School for Life

Student Project: Food System and Tourism Sustainability

Ko Phra Tong: Student Research Project

2009-07-28T10:31:00.001-07:00

Koh Phra Tong, Ban Lion [Village]

Amy, Liz, Terri, Christine & Christina In the Jungle

2009-07-25T01:19:00.000-07:00

Kuraburi flood

2009-07-25T00:27:00.000-07:00

Home & Life: Sawasdee krap. Welcome to Home & Life

2009-07-24T07:27:00.000-07:00

Home & Life: Sawasdee krap. Welcome to Home & Life

2009-07-24T05:14:00.000-07:00

July 15th and 16th Home & Life: a family place of love and learning

On July 15th and 16th our program visited Home & Life, an orphanage, which is both a home and an informal education center in Phang Nga Province. Home & Life( see blogspot) aims to provide a nourishing and nurturing 'home' where kids learn about sustainable development, and more specifically, the King of Thailand's 'self-sufficiency' principles. See http://livesufficient.blogspot.com/for some commentary.

The staff, working with donations from a variety of, mostly, private sources, practice experiential learning, providing the kids with skills, knowledge, and practices to raise, cultivate, and cook their own food; conserve the environment, and develop community-based tourism oriented livelihood skills, such as baking, cooking, and handi-crafts.

During our visit, we assisted in a variety of sustainable community activies.

We were involved in planting lemon-grass [scientific name: cymbopogon citratus], a spice used in many Thai dishes, such as Tom Yum. Here, however, lemon-grass is also planted to stabilized river banks suseptible to erosion during the monsoon rains, which happen to be occuring right now. During monsoon season [June - October], rains easily fill and over flow this river courses.

The lemon grass, which is a perennial, is well suited to stabilize slopes and reduce run-off. Rhoot, the project director, suggested that we terrace the slope, dig holes about 1/2 meter apart, fill each hole with sand, as the entire slope was heavy clay, and plant 2 or 3 shoots per hole.

A relative of lemon grass, citronella grass, [ cymbopogon nardus] can also be planted to enhance community well being. In addition to protecting slopes from erosion, citronella grass is a natural insect repellent; the oils can be extracted and applied to your skin to repel mosquitoes and sand fleas, ever-present in coastal habitats, shorelines and forests, which we have visited.

Antiseptics, geranio and citronellol, are two chemical compounds in citronella grass, properties which make it a ingredient in natural soaps.

According to Root, activities at Home & Life are hands on, giving the kids real experiences living sustainably. "In order to sustain the center, we are developing the bakery, coffee shop, kitchen, a garden, and a fish pond. The kids, along with the volunteers, like your UCLA students learn about community and sustainability by doing. We try to follow the King's message about self sufficient living, providing enough food and income for our own needs, and selling whatever additional foods we produce."

During our visit, Root, the kids, and the UCLA students dug a new 'pond' to stock with cat fish, which will be sold later at the nearby village or District market.

The activities are just part of the kids' day. Ranging in ages from 5 - 16, all the kids attend one of the nearby primary or secondary schools and in the afternoon they return to Home & Life. The center is home to 2o kids, many of whom lost their parents in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Others face sever hardships due to family breakdowns such as domestic violence and drug addiction at home.

Want to assist Home & Life, contact at http://www.homelifethailand.net/help.htm

Confessions Part 1: David (aka Dave) Loyst

2009-07-18T13:48:00.000-07:00

Here's a short interview with one of us! Hear what we have to say about the trip!

Pets of Thailand

2009-07-18T02:50:00.000-07:00

An integral part of our trip in Thailand has been the animals. Every place we go are dogs and cats galore which always seem to brighten our day... especially Geoff's.

And it's been a pretty interesting aspect. We expected to form relationships with all the super friendly people here in Thailand in all the different places, but the animals? But we honestly have, and anyone begging to differ should think of Maggie/Jamie, Princess Lea, or that cute puppy near the roti place.

Maggie/Jamie followed us everywhere... and I mean everywhere, even into the suki place for dinner... and there she was again waiting for us to get out of our academic meeting. She became part of the program

Stephanie suggested that the microfinance group should ask around for pictures of all the pets and make a calendar which we could sell and get some money... perhaps to donate to a charitable cause?

Come on... who wouldn't buy a calendar?

Elephant Trekking in Khao Lak

2009-07-18T02:11:00.000-07:00

I don’t feel as though this statement should be taken as generalization for everyone’s experience on the elephant trek, but there were most definitely some veins of similarity running the group opinion of our little outing.

I remember at the beginning, before the trip even began… it was actually at the pre-program meeting in Lakretz and one of the students asked Michael if he had ever been elephant trekking. He said that he wasn’t sure if elephants should be used for trekking or just left in the wild. I’m pretty sure I would have felt guilty even if he hadn’t said that, but the whole guilt thing was definitely multiplied upon arrival to the Khao Lak Elephant Camp.

After a short sang taew ride we arrived to the Khao Lak Elephant Camp where we were greeted by a macaque holding a sign which read “Hello, My Name is Michale.” I’m not sure if they meant to spell it that way intentionally. Honestly the whole thing scared me shitless—excuse my language—but at first I thought the monkey standing on its hind legs was a dead stuffed version of a creature that once roamed the jungle. Much to my chagrin the creature moved, indicating that the live thing fared a worse fate than my assumption of its dead counterpart. But who knows, I could be completely wrong and maybe the macaque was born in captivity and has no experience with living in the wild. Perhaps, in fact, the Khao Lak Elephant Camp was doing something good for the primate. I have no way of knowing now, but one can only hope.

I have no experience with elephants, much less training them, but the ice pick looking things each of the elephant ‘drivers’ held looked quite menacing, as did the chains attached to the ankles of pachyderms. I winced as a driver smacked his elephant on the head, though I’m not sure how much force would be needed to get the attention of such a large mammal.
As we boarded our large, long-nosed vehicles from the raised elephant port I wondered if we were heavy to the elephants. I wondered how many one hour treks a day were demanded of these animals. I’m very interested in what the elephant trekking project group will come up with in their findings.

Personally, I feel like our group got a little bit jipped on the whole excursion since the elephant groups were split in two. Our jungle trek was through an out-of-commission rubber plantation that was overgrown with natural fauna. We trekked out to a stream where one of the camp employees stood with camera in hand. I guess the elephants are trained to pose with trunks uplifted for the camera. I heard the other group trekked out to a water fall, though I must admit our group’s elephant drivers were very friendly telling us the names and ages of our elephants. Stephanie and my driver was the best. He carried with him a pair of scissors and palm leaves which he cut and folded to make a bird for me, two fish for Stephanie and three very real looking grasshoppers, one for each of us and another upon special request by Barbie on a neighboring elephant. I still feel really guilty about not tipping him, but he took the elephant away before I realized I should have.

Back at the elephant port, we dismounted our elephant topping bench and were asked to buy a basket of green bananas to feed the elephants for 50B. I felt a little obligated, especially since our elephant “Lilly” was terrible cute and a very good elephant. During the trek, she often did her own thing, wandering off and pulling branches and squeezing between rubber trees. Stephanie and I got nice pictures with her, and that was about the only part of trip I didn’t feel as guilty about. Once we had cleaned up (elephant trunks can be very dirty, being as they use them like hands) we were offered pineapple and special elephant camp water and then asked repeatedly to buy pictures of ourselves atop our elephants in the river photo shoot. It was a bit awkward and we opted to leave since none of us were planning on buying, because at this point in the trip, we’re all hurting in the wallet area.

In the end I think I agree with Hanna when she said that she wasn’t too happy about the whole elephant treatment aspect, but she was satisfied with her decision to go. I’d be kicking myself if I passed up the opportunity to pet and feed an elephant and we definitely got some once in a life time pictures (or pretty close to it) but if there had been an option to go pet the elephants and feed them a basket of bananas and have a photo shoot, that would have been perfect for me. The excursion was more about seeing elephants than seeing a “jungle.”

--Michelle Honda

Excursion: James Bond Island and Sea Canoing

2009-07-18T01:45:00.000-07:00

Koh Ra Ecolodge- Newsletter #1 (Nov, Dec, 2008)

We are in Khao Lak at the "4 stars Resort" called Nangthong Bay Resort. We have our free weekend to do excursions, so I decided to go to the one where we visited "James Bond Island" and we did sea canoeing. The majority of the group decided to do Elephant trekking, but I preferred to go out and look rock formations. Our group was small, only Rebecca, Thomas, Amy, Kevin and I decided to go.

Our driver Halim picked us up at 9 am and it took over an hour to go to the Phang Nga Bay. It was raining a lot and we were hoping that it would get better as we get closer to bay. We arrived to Phang Nga Bay, It is a Muslim village; Halim was actually from there and his dad came from a moken village. Halim told us that the previous symbol of the village was the "chang" (elephant), because one of the mountains resembles the form of an elephant and there was a legend that a farmer killed a domesticated elephant because he thought that it was destroying his crops. The man killed the elephant by stabbing him on his side, and the legend says that the mountains surrounding the village resemble the dying animal. This is a very interesting story of the village but sadly, they changed the symbol of the village to be the “James Bond Island”. This small island was used by the Hollywood industry to film the James Bond movie in 1974, and they actually closed up the island for 3 months!

Later, we got to the port and took a long tail boat from the Kean Tour company and went around the bay to look at the mangroves and mountains surrounding it. It was really nice to see the beautiful green landscapes, and we even saw a colorful bird between the trees; there were supposed to have some long tail macaque monkeys but we didn’t see them. It was a very relaxing boat trip until it started raining and we got wet! Anyways, we continued the trip to James Bond Island. The island is pretty cool, it has organic beaches full of shells and it has very interesting rock formations and jungle style. However when we got to the beach it was full of tourist and little “tourist traps” stores selling all kind of pearls and shells. It was funny to see a European woman wearing a thong and nothing more in the middle of the bungalows administered by Muslim women. Another interesting story was that Kevin asked for the price of the pearls and “bargained” the price down to 100 bah, which means those weren’t real pearls.

After taking several pictures with the James Bond Rock and some of the caves and leaning walls we got back to the boat and went back to the site of sea canoeing. Unfortunately it was raining again but it got lighter as we were loading the sea canoes. We took 3 canoes, Rebecca and I in one, Thomas and Amy in another one, and Kevin in the last one. It was actually nicer to have drizzle instead of a bright sun as we were around the sea. We passed under an open passage where it felt as we were inside of the mouth of a very large whale. We continued going and entering very low and dark caves and small and hidden passages. We saw a lot of mangroves and even found mud keeper fishes. It was a very low tide and sometimes we got stuck in the mud; either that or we were too heavy! We were in the canoes for over an hour and got back to the boat to take more pictures.

All the canoeing and rain got us hungry, so after that we went to have lunch. It was really good but spicy! We had soup, bbq chicken drums, coconut shrimp, and another very spicy plate of fried sea food, vegetables and eggs. We finished the delicious meal with pineapple and tea and went walking around the Water Village. They had a couple of souvenirs shops and as we were walking, a lady boy handed a monkey to Kevin and Amy held it too afterwards. We took pictures and they were charging us but I don’t think either of us paid. We continued our walk and Halim was so nice to take us to the Muslim school and showed us the biology lab where they had samples of many sea animals in jars: turtles, fish, crabs, octopus, snakes and other animals. They also had posters of the different small scale and commercial fishing practices and we had a discussion with Rebecca about which ones are the more sustainable and which ones they should ban. There were kids running and the little Muslim girls had to wear a uniform that looked like the gown of a graduation. After the school we continued walking around the water village and Halim showed us the fishing practices they use to trap fish, lobsters, clams and crabs. It was already time to go back on land, so we took the boat and they showed us some pictograms up on the walls of some cliffs that no one knows who made them but they say it was 2000 years ago.

We got back to land. It was 330 pm and Halim was rushing so he could show us a Buddhist temple that was famous because it was in a cave and it was full of monkeys that came down from the mountains. We got there and there were like 50 monkeys of all sizes around people who were feeding them. The temple itself was very interesting as well: it had another leaning Buddha and many other big Buddha figures that were made of clay. There was a monk and even Buddha figures that if you put a coin in them, they will give you your “fortune”. As we came in farther there was this very dark cave that we climbed. It was inhabited by bats and there was a characteristic smell, as we went up, there were traces of water and the view was amazing. It was too high though so I was feeling a little bit of vertigo and went down very slowly. At the entrance of the cave, there were also writings on the walls made by each of the kings Thailand has had. My camera died as we were around the monkeys so sadly, I couldn’t take any pictures.

We left the temple and went to one of the national parks close by to see the waterfall. It was a little park but it had seven waterfalls (small ones), we could have swum there but the water was really brown from all the sediments that the rained brought. So we decided to take the nature trail and hike for like half an hour. It was a very refreshing walk around the forest and the river but as we got back, Kevin noticed he had a leech on his foot. As we got back all the way down, Rebecca and Thomas also had them, they were like 5 little leeches in total; Thomas was bleeding a little bit and Kevin was playing with them. This way we ended up our great excursion and started our trip back to the resort. Those 1700 baht for the trip were very well spent.

By Angela Forero

Segment 4

2009-07-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

7/10/09

We arrived in the morning at Kamphuan and had a very successful Q&A session with the Muslim Women, in which we introduced ourselves and shared our stories with each other. They told us about how their religion played in their everyday lives and enabled them to get through the pain and destruction of the tsunami. We also had the chance to buy their hand-made handicraft scarves and batiks, with which they donate a portion to scholarships for students with HIV/AIDS. After having lunch with the women we proceeded to our water-testing lab guided by Rebecca.

In the lab we tested for phosphate, nitrate, pH salinity and ammonia. We analyzed different water trends with these 7 samples, which were collected by the Green Teams at all of the locations thus far on the program. We found that the water in Bangkok is completely disgusting and nitrate is the limiting reagent. Also, the water in the Gulf of Thailand is more acidic than it should be.

7/11/09

Today we went to Ban Talay Nok village. We learned from the youth at the community center about their six sustainability projects that were an organic garden, recycling/composting program, fence and tree improvement, biofertilizer production, mangrove restoration, and their green house competition. For the mangrove program, they were in the process of getting government permission to be able to dig the land to plant mangroves. The planting process will take 11 months and the entire project will take two years in order to determine if the planting was a success. The kids ranged from age four to 20 and it we all thought that it was a good idea to teach about sustainability from such a young age.

We ate lunch at their school and were supposed to help plant trees along the side of the road after lunch, but it was raining too hard to do that. Instead we went indoors and played games with the children in the community center. We then got to make our own soap and used cookie cutters to cut shapes out of the soap to make our own “soap mobiles” on ropes. The women there started the soap making business after the tsunami as a way to support themselves and their families. We met many villagers who were directly affected by the tsunami. There was one child at the center who was one of two survivors at a school that was destroyed by a tsunami, as well as a girl who lost her sister, brother in law, and two nephews. It was a true eye-opening experience for all of us.

7/12/09

Today we were supposed to return to Ban Talay Nok village but we were not able to because of the torrential downpour. Apparently we are experiencing a “tropical depression” which is the same as a tropical storm in the States. If it gets windier it will be classified as a cyclone. There are power outages and insane flooding and the road outside of our resort is basically a river, and the actual river is flowing over a bridge. Wading across to 7-Eleven is the biggest adventure of the day.

Kamphuan: KLC - Kamphuan Learning Center and Mangrove Restoration Project

Kamphuan Learning Center has facilitated a mangrove restoration project over the passed two years, funded by a Rufford Small Grant.

Project:-Mangrove Rehabilitation and Regeneration for Biodiversity Prapas Beach Ranong Thailand
The project aims to develop an experiential education program involving the local community/estuarine ecosystem stakeholders in directly gathering knowledge and experience in surveying, identifying, propagating, planting, monitoring, and managing a mangrove ecosystem regeneration program located in Prapat Beach Estuary, Ranong Province, Thailand.
A goal is to have a living laboratory for local scientists and community members to learn the benefits of bio-diverse mangrove habitats The community will participate in environmental analyses, create a data base, and regenerate a degraded mangrove habitat with approximately 20 local compatible species of mangroves, encouraging the return of other species that rely on the health of this ecosystem.

The Kamphuan Community Learning Center has been promoting sufficient households since its inception with hopes of creating a sustainable community. One of the greatest services it provides is its leader, Pi Panuwat, who passionately spearheads the project. He teaches computer classes to locals and often aids in translating Thai into English. Another service the center provides is a mere space for community members to meet. This space can be used for locals to organize meetings, host guests, give lectures, sell their handicrafts, and so on. The center is also working on a mangrove restoration project which often replants cleared mangrove forests. KCLC encourages sustainability from all dimensions--ecological, social, economic, institutional, and personal. Sustainability by most definitions involves longevity, which is exactly what threatens the sustainability of KCLC in the future. The center rests on the money it gets from grants and international aid organizations, but the money they receive has a time limit. Often, the time limits are very short and the grants are renewed only if there are tangible results. This is very difficult to demonstrate within the period of a few years, and continued funding may not continue if this is the case. What is important for the continuance of this remarkable center is faith in its objectives and realization in the benefactors' parts that it takes time to see real evidence of sustainability.

-Christina Hughes

Din Dang

2009-07-12T03:08:00.001-07:00

After spending three days in Chumphon we traveled inland to Din Dang, a fledgling earth building project, as well as to a nearby watershed. There we learned about permaculture and green-building. A local named Bow had initiated the program focusing on clay building, including houses that require few outside materials not available on site. These houses could last hundreds of years, yet can cost as little as a few hundred dollars to make. Although we only got to spend two days as a group working with Bow, doing further work at Din Dang is a possibility later in the program as part of the final research project. Bow's project works in association with Runs n' Roses, a restaurant/guesthouse that generates its profits to support the Thai Child Development Foundation .

The Dindang Natural Building Center aims to promote the natural and traditional techniques of clay house building in the area of Phato in southern Thailand. The organization was set up in the year 2007 and works with both Thai and international volunteers in order to realize its current goal: to set up an educational center where all those interested in natural building techniques can find information and share knowledge.

Hi, I am Bow, (with the yellow shirt). My full name is Rawat Thongbunchu. Here is picture with my family from the concert night! We are looking forward to welcome you, living and working with us.

DinDang is my dream and I would like to share this dream with all of you. If you want to know more about the projects and ideas that I have, you can sent an email to: rawat_tongbooncho@hotmail.com

And if you like to be a volunteer with DinDang, please email to; dindang.info@gmail.com (subject: DinDang).

We hope to hear from you!!

Bangkok to Chumphon

2009-07-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

After experiencing the city life of Bangkok for three days, our group was ready to leave the metropolitan environment and get out in the field. Our first stop was a beach-side lodge in Chumphon, located in southern Thailand. Although the bus ride was long, it gave us time to view the landscape of Thailand and all its beauty.

Once in Chumphon the program really got going. Lectures in the morning on coastal ecosystems provided a framework for fieldwork in the afternoon. We surveyed plants and animals in the intertidal ecosystem, an activity which besides from being informative was incredibly fun. In less than an hour we had already collectively identified over a 100 different species, each one unique in its own way. One day we split into groups and each developed an easily testable experiment about one of the organisms, such as how hermit crab distribution varies with depth, and then did research to find the answer. This proved to be a fun way to learn about how even using the most rudimentary of materials can reveal valuable information about coastal ecosystems.

Later we learned about broad concepts in sustainability, such as various ways humans relate to their environment and different views of what it means to be sustainable. We saw how these concepts are put to use by visiting Chumphon Cabana nearby, which through innovative methods had managed to produce almost no waste!

[See blog on self sufficiency economy]

Chumphon Cabana is more than a eco-resort. Begun in 1982, the Cabana is the site of a community education program that promotes the King of Thailand's Self-Sufficient Economy paradigm. The paradigm corresponds to the Thai Buddhist Philosophy of the middle path -- producing what one community needs, selling the surplus to others, re-investing profits in the community's health and well-being. In Thai Buddhism, material goods are of little value.

Of course the beach provided more than just a classroom. The eighty-five degree water was incredible, and we found plenty of time for swimming or just hanging out.

To conclude our stay in Chumphon, our Thai staff (Awe, Joom, Kunh, and Pang) organized a traditional welcome ceremony on our last night. We stood in a circle, each digging a small hole in the sand to hold a candle. As our professors and staff went around the circle to tie pieces of white string around our wrists, they wished us luck and happiness for the upcoming trip.

Greetings from Bangkok

2009-06-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Thailand!
We are a group of adventurous college students with a thirst for environmental and social justice. Most of us arrived in Bangkok on June 23rd, ready for five weeks of an out-of-the-box educational curriculum. Follow us to read about our experiences with environmental advocates working on the ground all around the south of Thailand. From IUCN staff members to an entrepreneurial earth builder to fair trade artisans, we will meet and delve into the day-to-day activities of these inspiring individuals.