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City/State: Phuket |
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Country: THAILAND
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| Go Differently |
19 West Road
Essex
UNITED KINGDOM
CB11 3DS
Phone: +44 (0) 1799 521950
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Program description: |
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Travel with a higher purpose. Assist children affected by the tsunami and relax on the beach. See the stunning sights of Bangkok, as well as areas well off the beaten path. A total package for relaxation and improving the world.
Day 1 - 23 July: Bangkok
Upon arrival in Bangkok, meet your guide after Customs & Immigration formalities, and transfer to your hotel. For the remainder of the day, you are at your leisure.
Day 2 - 24 July: Bangkok ‘City of Angels' – Riverboat Cruise on Chao Phraya River – Royal Barge Museum – Grand Palace – Emerald Buddha
After a leisurely breakfast, transfer to the Chao Phraya River, and to our waiting local style riverboat. Relax with a soda while checking out Bangkok's old klongs (canals) and waterways on the Thonburi side of the river. Water is an essential and prevalent theme in Thailand. Today most of Bangkok hustles & bustles like any other modern metropolis. But not many decades ago huge areas of the city were accessed primarily by canal. Vendors sell spiced & grilled chicken from boats, bank boats with ATMs aboard can sometimes be seen. Here you will feel an older city.
Also visit briefly the Royal Barge Museum. The grand procession of Royal barges is seen only once a year during His Majesty the King's birthday celebrations (early December). See the actual boats in their dry docks. Cross the river to the Grand Palace side, and have lunch at a floating restaurant .
Afterwards continue to the Grand Palace. Note that you will need to wear long pants and shoes which cover the heels to enter here. We must do this to pay respect to the Thai people. Probably the most important center of Thai culture, the Palace was once the royal abode, but today is used mainly for ceremonial functions. Tourists are allowed inside to see the Emerald Buddha, the displays of royal artifacts & memorabilia, and wall decorations.
Day 3 - 25 July: Bangkok– Volunteer at the Mercy Centre – See the Hidden Side of Bangkok – Afternoon at Leisure
Visit the Mercy Centre in the morning. The Mercy Centre is a shelter for street kids, four orphanages, a hospice, a home for mothers and children with HIV/AIDS, a 500-pupil kindergarten, a community meeting place, and a serene haven in the slums with small gardens and playgrounds. Originally built on a forsaken piece of port authority property, Mercy Centre has stood in some shape or form for 30 years. In 2000, it was rebuilt through a generous gift to accommodate our expanding services to orphans, street children, and children with HIV/AIDS. This day is orientation to meet staff and kids, and to discuss aspects of the volunteer project.
After lunch, return to the hotel and spend your afternoon at leisure. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant with staff.
Day 4 - 26 July: Bangkok– Volunteer at the Mercy Centre – Afternoon free
Today after breakfast, transfer to Klong Toey, the home of the Mercy Centre. Begin working with the children in the kindergarten. These children come from very impoverished backgrounds. There are 33 kindergartens under the direction of the Centre, providing education for over 4,500 kids, aged 3 to 6. Here the kids receive their first lessons in reading, writing, Thai folklore and history, song, dance, sports, religious celebrations, and more.
After lunching with the kids, return to your hotel. Spend the rest of your day at leisure.
Day 5 - 27 July: Bangkok– Final Day Volunteering at the Mercy Centre – Afternoon free
Today at breakfast, discuss with your guide and other participants your experiences thus far. Then return to the Centre for your final day of working with the children here. The Centre weighs and measures the children regularly. Almost 25% of the new students here suffer from some degree of malnourishment. These children receive extra food and milk daily, and their physical and cognitive growths are closely monitored throughout the year. The local communities help construct, maintain, and staff the schools. In a further partnership, the parents pay 10 baht (approx. 25 cents) per school day if they can.
Day 6 - 28 July: Bangkok – Kanchanburi – River Kwai – Bamboo Rafting – Ayuthaya
After breakfast transfer with your guide two hours to Kanchanaburi Province, where we will visit the world famous bridge on the River Kwai, built during World War II by the prisoners of war. The bridge is located near the town of Kanchanaburi, 130 kms west of Bangkok. You will visit the well-kept cemetery, which contain the graves of an estimated 9,000 allied soldiers who lost their lives while building the bridge and constructing the notorious "Death Railway" which the Japanese had hoped to stretch all the way to the Burmese border. Have lunch in a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, take a thrilling ride on the river, using bamboo rafts! Enjoy the lush jungle scenery and be on the lookout for wildlife! Then transfer to Ayuthaya for overnight.
Day 7 - 29 July: Ayuthaya – Temples – Bangkok – Night Sleeper Train to Surat Thani
After breakfast, tour the temples of Ayuthaya. The ancient city of Ayuthaya is known as the "Venice of the East" due to the fact that it lies along the Chao Phraya River, the tributaries of which surround Ayuthaya province. The glory of the Ayuthaya Empire (1350-1767 AD) is evident in the remains of temples such as Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and Wat Chai Wattanaram, which we will visit in the afternoon. A further visit includes Wat Yai Chai Mongkol. This well-tended temple was founded by King U-Thong in 1357 as a center for monks returning from study in Sri Lanka. The white reclining Buddha near the entrance was built by King Naresuan. The massive pagoda was also built by King Naresuan to celebrate his defeat of the Burmese at Suphanburi in 1593 by killing their crown prince in single-handed combat on elephants. Lunch is in a local restaurant.
Late in the afternoon, transfer with your guide back to Bangkok and go directly to Hualamphong Station. Take a Sleeper Train to Surat Thani.
Day 8 - 30 July: Surat Thani – Khao Lak – Orientation
After arrival in Surat Thani, drive 4 hours to the Khao Lak area north of Phuket. This is one of the most tsunami-affected sites in Thailand. Continue to the volunteer site, where you will live and working in the Thai military camp. Have a look around and meet the people you will be working with.
Day 9 - 31 July: Khao Lak – Volunteer with the Thai Military
Eat breakfast and then move to the volunteer site. Today you will assist the Thai Military in rebuilding homes damaged in the Boxing Day Tsunami. The main local industries are fishing and tourism, and both were wiped out in the disaster. Many families lost all they had, in addition to family members. Lunch and dinner are provided by the military.
Day 10 - 1 August: Khao Lak Volunteer – Afternoon free at resort
After breakfast, your group will return to the work site. Continue working with the Military until lunch. After lunch, transfer to a resort where you spend the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner is on your own.
Day 11 - 2 August: Khao Lak Volunteer – Afternoon free at resort
After breakfast, your group will return to the work site. Continue working with the Military until lunch. After lunch, transfer to a resort where you spend the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner is on your own.
Day 12 - 3 August: Khao Lak – Flight to Bangkok – At Leisure
After breakfast you are free at leisure using your resort facilities. Then transfer to Phuket Airport for your flight to Bangkok. On arrival in Bangkok, transfer to your hotel and spend the rest of your day at leisure.
Day 13 - 4 August: Day at Leisure in Bangkok
Today, spend your day at leisure. Enjoy some of the fantastic shopping that Bangkok has to offer, or visit some other sights of interest. In the evening, enjoy a delicious Farewell Dinner with your guides and other participants at Le Café Siam.
After dinner visit the nearby Lumpini night market. Or you may prefer to take in the sights and sounds of Muay Thai, Thai kickboxing in Lumpini Boxing Stadium and experience an exciting and unique event. Before each bout, the contestants perform a ritual to pay homage to their instructors. Each bout consists of five 3-minute rounds with a 2-minute interval. Thai boxers fight with fists, knees, elbows and feet while an orchestra of local musicians provides music to give the boxers rhythm and encouragement.
Day 14, 5 August: Bangkok – Flight Homeward
After breakfast, spend your time at leisure until time to transfer to the airport for your flight homeward.
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General program information: |
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Program open to: Everyone
Travel to site: Varies
Is opportunity more independant or group orientated: Group
No. in group: 10 - 20
Living arrangements on the program: Varies
How long does the program last?: 1-2 weeks
What are the dates of this program: Duration: 14 Days/13 Nights, 23 July – 5 August, 2005
NB. If there is sufficient interest, we will run similar trips starting 6th August and 17th September 2005.
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Benefits and advantages of the program: |
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Gain a unique insight into Thai culture and enjoy exploring southern Thailand as well as volunteering to help orphans in Bangkok and assisting with tsunami recovery work.
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Cost or price of this program: |
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Price: Ł670 per person on a twin sharing basis
Prices include
All air, rail, land and water transport listed on the itinerary
All Accommodation as listed on the itinerary
All meals as listed on the itinerary
All entrance fees
Services of an English Speaking guide throughout the tour
All services as listed in the itinerary
Government Tax, VAT
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Application process Involves: |
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Please email for details
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