THAILAND PART 2 (10.05.-01.06.2013)

So this is my second time here in THAILAND and KUALA LUMPUR (Malaysia). Thats the two countries I started my Asian-trip with, and thats the two I will end it now as well.
For general questions to any of those countries, please look it up in the first Thailand/Malaysia link :)

The last time Thailand was in BANGKOK and everything NORTH of it, mainly touristplaces. This time I wanted to go to the south, see as much of the touristplaces as time allowes, but finally go as well the LOCAL WAY and do some VOLUNTEERING WORK - which I did in new zealand a lot and always loved it, so I would like to try it here as well and see the "REAL LOCAL LIFE" :)

Bangkok

Back in Bangkok, first night at the airport again and then off to the citycenter. Another 2 days next to KHASAN ROAD, and this time I didn´t to much sightseeing (saw most already last time). Basicly used the time to do some SHOPPING, made another pair of GLASES just in case (around 20 euro!), got most of the souvenirs, some cloth... And I made 3 PIERCINGS on my right ear, thought planned was one, but it cost around 3 euro and didn´t hurt, so I made 3 at once :)

Baanrai Farm Stay - wwoofing

Finally the real life starts :). 3 hours by minibus and I got droped off at the entrance of the farm. The BAANRAI FARM outside of a little town. It is managed by ARNON (my host) and his family (his sister has there a little cafe and masage shop, his mum a little vegetable garden...). He was doing a lot of ecological work and volunteering, lived long time in the jungle to study rare monkeys, worked for things like DOC and animal rescue programs and so on. Now he is back on the little family farm and takes care of animals he can safe from other places cause their ill or something, and for that he takes helpers all over the world since one year.
He has couple of dogs, cats, 3 horses, chickens all over the farm and around 10 sheep - as well as a cute 1 week old lamb which I loved over everything :). The "WORK" is pretty easy. Every morning we would go out on the motorbike and cut grass somewhere in the area, feed the animals, put them out, clean up and so on. Water the vegetables, start to clean up for new fields... Then there is a bit FREETIME where we just hang out if it it to hot, or go to a waterfall, visit neighbours and so on. And in the afternoon the same work, cutting grass, feeding, taking care of the animals. Have some traditional BBQ or dinner (he is a great cook!), go to the market, and so on.
Oh and one afternoon we visited the local SCHOOL which was just starting up after the long holidays. Really cute kids from 3-12 years which he regulary visits with volunteers to teach english. Much teaching wasnt today, but I really enjoyed to VISIT THE SCHOOL and the kids. They´re so happy and interested in foreign people, but don´t speak any english really.
Time is running out, so I stayed just 5 days here. But I loved it and hope to come back one day :). Check out the webpage - he made some awsome movies about the farm and work, and VISIT there if you ever get to Thailand!


http://baanraifarmstay.com/

Phuket

Couple of days holiday in PHUKET, the halfpenensula which had a few years ago the big TSUNAMI. I stayed in the OLD TOWN, beautiful place with lots of historical buildings. But now in the LOWSEASON very quiet. So I went by bus on a daytrip out to the huge BEACH. The area is crazy and JUST FOR TOURIST! Thats how I imagine Bali or Malorca. Big SANDBEACH with all possible watersports, and next to it all kind of WESTERN SHOPPING. Not just big shopping malls, fastfood and hotelresorts. Everything here is WESTERNOWNED. Endless australian tattooshops and bars, irish pubs, and I found at least 4 GERMAN RESTAURANTS, as well as german speaking tailorshops, they sell the BILD ZEITUNG, ... And everything is compare to the rest expensive tourist rip off, lots of parying and drunken westerns.
But my last day here I get a MOTORBIKE and go all around the other places. And they are beautiful and not that crowded. Some beautiful BAYS, awsome VIEWPOINTS, empty beaches, TEMPLES,... :D

DinDang Volunteer Project - wwoofing

My second local home is a real "fulltime VOLUNTEER PROJEKT". DINDANG project, owned by the Thailand guy BOW, and copled with the "Thai Child Development Foundation" which is originaly started from some dutch people who moved out here many years ago to help locals with schools and other needs. Its 1h bus outside of RANONG, in the PAKSON area which is mostly farmland or jungle with some small town inbetween.
Bow´s interests and projects belong to ECOLOGICAL WAYS OF LIFE. He is BUILDING a small village out of CLAY and other ecological products. When I got there the houses where already build, really pritty with a lot of ART from different volunteers in it. Our WORK in my ONE WEEK STAY is basicly to finish the walls of the toilett house. We are working with BAMBOO here from the beginning to the end. We searched it in the forest, caried it home, cuttet it how we needed it and then nailed it to close the wall. Sometimes with bootles between a dopple wall to isolate or close the holes. It looks awsome and was so much fun!
The whole stay was lovely, everywhere nice and welcoming people in both projects, as well as Bow´s family in the house we stayed and ate (his sister cooked amazing food :D). Here we´ve been 3 volunteers plus 2 Thais, so more people to hang out with in the freetime. And there was always plenty to talk and to do. We had a local market, went all together to a BUDDIST FESTIVAL, went to the local SOCCER MATCH (with the newly created and sponsored team of the projects), meet with the volunteers of the child-project, lots of guitarmusic and teaching, we went BAMBOO RAFTING on the day of... LOTS OF FUN :). Didn´t want to leave after that one week!
And here as well, have a look on the webpage, and go if you make it to Thailand - it´s a great place with great people! They always can do with some help.

  
http://dindang.jimdo.com/

Krabi

One of the loveliest little places with just the best of the people - we had a lot of FUN here in KRABI! Just a small towncenter, but lovely made with the waterfront, a daymarket, the nightmarket where you can sit and get great dinner, some lovely souvenirshops, artplaces, and for the evenings couple of bars with cool people and LIFE MUSIC :)
We got a MOTORBIKE again and went out of town. There is the big AONANG BEACH, like a much smaller version of the Phuket one. Everything there you need on art, souvenirs, food and bars. And it´s a beautiful place to chill out and watch the sunset :)
But most important stop is the TIGER HILL TEMPLE. A big collection of temples and religious things on the ground. And then there is the top you should go to - 1.237 steps and you´re on top of the mountain. It is work, but worse it! You have an awsome view all around the amazing landscape :) Felt good to do some workout again! And when we got back down there where MONKEYS EVERYWHERE. Some cheky, tried to steal our food. Others just wanted to pose for pictures. And others where showing of with their tiny babys :)

  

  

Now time is really running out. I didn´t make it anymore to any of the ISLANDS like I planned to. They´re supposed to be stunning I heard. But I had as well without a great time here in Thailand, specially in the volunteering projects. :)

KUALA LUMPUR (Part 2)- Malaysia (02.-05.06.2013)

Back to the beginning where everything started - my last 3 days in KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia. Here the same, local information on the other link - first visit to Malaysia. I didn´t make it to any sightseeing this time eather. I went to the KL TOWERS of course again, walked around CHINATOWN, Center Market and all over the city :)
But mostly I needed the time to get everything organised. I met my local friend (from travels in NZ) again, got my left laguage back, repacked... Send all souvenirs in parcels home, made last shopings, searched ahead for jobs in australia, checked visa things and so on. The 3 days for that where way to less time!

 

    

  

And that was it - my 5 MONTHS all over SOUTH EAST ASIA - Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand 2
There is so much I had to miss out, but I don´t regret anything. I had such an awsome time here, so much interesting and new to see, learn and experince all over SOUTH EAST ASIA in the last 5 MONTHS, and I met endess awsome people. Thanks a lot for that to everybody. And there is allways a next time to COME BACK here to SEE MORE :)
       
Now it´s time to go back to AUSTRALIA. I need to EARN some money again, spend all savings here :)