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Here we are proud to offer a few genuine testimonials. Select a category from the pull-down menu below to read feedback from families, women travelers, CBT hosts and guides, volunteers, and more!
Family Trips
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Dave and Family
Ban Talae Nok
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I was looking for something different for my family and myself. I wanted my kids to see how other people lived, so thought staying with a Thai family would be ideal, it was in fact, amazing. Lots of hands on activities (handicrafts, mangrove restoration, Thai cooking), fun but educational and a chance for the kids to connect with people from another culture. The visit to a local school was fantastic, all the kids loved it and want to return next year. The support, service and staff were exceptional from start to finish.
Beth and Family
Tung Nang Dam village
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Visiting Tung Nang Dam is something I will always remember. It was an awesome experience unlike anywhere I have ever been before. It gave you a real sense of what life was like for Thai people instead of the usual resorts where you don't get a chance to see everyday life .The family really welcomed us and we had fun communicating with them using the games. The hike up Eagle mountain was great (although beware of the wood ants!). Mustafa was a really good guide and translator and pointed out lots of wildlife.
Hannah and Family
Tung Nang Dam village
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I had an incredible time traveling in Thailand and, in total contrast to the regular towns and resorts we experienced, staying with Mina and her family was definitely one of the most memorable parts of the trip. Their warm welcome and sense of humour meant I was immediately relaxed in their company (sufficiently so to try speaking some Thai!) and we all felt sad to leave. After speaking to Kelly I felt inspired by the work Andaman Discoveries-NATR are doing, especially as we had seen the positive effects of it first hand in Tung Nam Dam and I will definitely consider coming back during my gap year, even if it's just for more of Mina's awesome cooking!
Jane and Family
Tung Nang Dam village
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One of the most interesting parts of our recent trip to Thailand was our stay at Tung Nang Dam village. We were a bit wary of heading off the tourist trail but it was extremely rewarding. We stayed with some fish farmers who worked from a house on stilts over the mangrove swamps. It was fascinating to see how they reared the fish. One of the holding tanks was particularly interesting to us as a whole host of tropical fish bound for the aquarium trade were scooped out into a bucket for us to inspect, we had spent the previous week diving but the visibility in the bucket was much better!
Our host family, guide, and all the people we met at the Andaman Discoveries-NATR center were really welcoming and helpful. I would thoroughly recommend a step off the well worn travelers paths into real Thailand.
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Martine, Austin, Shamus, Cameron and Gus Lily
Ban Talae Nok
Our family has been looking for a cultural experience for sometime with none available. I stumbled into Andaman’s website and form that point on everything became very easy. Our stay was a wonderful experience that has not only showed us the traditional Thai way of life, but left us with memories that out children will remember for life. We would recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure!
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Village Hosts and Guides
Noi
Ban Talae Nok homestay host
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We love having people visit from all over the world; it's great that they are interested in our village and culture. I have photographs and gifts from everyone that has stayed with me. It makes me very proud and we would like to welcome more people.
Rid
Ban Talae Nok
Since the tsunami there are so many more boats fishing, that I can't earn enough to support my family. Being a guide allows me to earn an income and share my local wisdom with people from far away. I can't speak English but thanks to the translator, we can all communicate and share ideas.
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Women Travelers
Helen
Multi-villages
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At the end of just a day I understood more about Thailand than in four weeks of backpacking and staying in guesthouses. We traveled to and from obscure piers that the average tourist would never know were there. We got to try out driving the long-tail boat, visited their temple, met members of the Moken tribe who talked about traditions dying and surviving amongst them. We learnt about the role of the chief, their fishing economy, how to make squid traps and an unusual community drive for conserving endangered animals and ecosystems. I feel privileged to have seen behind the scenes in Thailand; it's a genuine and memorable experience I won't forget.
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Annalise
Tung Nang Dam Village
Just when I was starting to get hungry, we arrived at a house with beautiful red flowering bushes. A young boy sped up the huge coconut tree in the yard and threw down delicious coconuts for us to eat. After we finished drinking the milk, our guides split open the coconuts, and the hospitable villagers brought out spoons for us to eat the young coconut inside.
Refreshed, we continued on and saw some poisonous bright orange mushrooms. Our guides pointed out some wild pig tracks crossing the path and apparently saw a huge python, but it slithered off into the bushes before we saw it.
Stephanie
Tung Nang Dam village
The snorkeling trip to Ko Kai Island with a packed lunch (prepared by the Lok, the family's culinary expert) was particularly enjoyable. Happy hours were spent snorkeling in the cool waters surrounding this postcard pretty island.
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Volunteer Placement
Jenny
International Volunteer Society University of Birmingham
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Andaman Discoveries-NATR works along side communities rather than imposing inappropriate projects on them. The experience I have gained here in Thailand differs on so many levels to the experience I gained in Ecuador stemming from the genuine friendliness of the Thai homestays to a harsh realization that my experience in South America was badly organized and tainted with corruption. I feel that Andaman Discoveries-NATR has supported this volunteer work and the homestays in every aspect and I have felt in safe and capable hands. I have every trust in this organization that they have and will continue to provide invaluable and beneficial experiences while caring every step of the way for the communities that they are working within. Although I learnt a lot and gained so much from my time in Ecuador I cannot compare the experience with the same heartfelt praise that I feel for Andaman Discoveries-NATR
I have overcome many challenges and obstacles. I have learnt a lot about myself and how I deal with different situations and circumstances, working in a team and also learning more about what I can achieve on the future. At no point did we feel like interfering Westerners but people who had come to learn about the Thai culture as well as to share ours.
Helena
International Volunteer Society University of Birmingham
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Homestay host families were amazingly welcoming and extremely hospitable; always ready to great us with the famous Thai smile. We were aware that they were quite nervous about our visits though this never impaired our experiences during the homestay period as both hosts and visitors submerged themselves in the experience.
The local communities were openly welcoming and appeared to be pleased to involve us in their community. I believe this positive reception was a direct result of the work ethic of Andaman Discoveries-NATR to empower the local people to develop sustainable projects that fit with their current lifestyle and local customs and culture.
Recent feedback from the communities themselves have also been extremely encouraging, as they report enjoying the time we have spent with them and similarly identify the experience as positive and beneficial. It therefore seems that the activities being developed have a sound base for the future.
Sally
Volunteer, multi-villages
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We joked over the language barrier with villagers, and while watching movies at night, taught each other Thai and English. During our stay it became more and more evident how strong these people were, having survived such an ordeal, they had the strength to separate from the government and rebuild their lives together. These people are very special. They are patient and calm, and everyone looks out for each other, like a true community; which we felt very much accepted into.
The village was so beautiful, and a short walk from our homestay took us to the most amazing beach. We walked out into the sea. The bay stayed endlessly shallow, welcoming us further out, looking around, no-one in sight except the eldest son, Bungtue, herding up his goats. Clean white sands and lush green forest behind us, I felt so privileged. It was an overwhelming feeling, and I couldn't help but laugh to myself, it was such a stunning sight, and I was one of so few that have been lucky enough to see it.
The villagers have such worthy values that shine through in their vibrant personalities and endless hospitality. It was such a great experience to be able to visit these villages, and to see them in such a personal manner, being accepted right into the community, staying with the families and experiencing the culture with the villagers themselves, I can't thank the villagers and Andaman Discoveries enough!
Driving back to Kuraburi the next morning, thinking of everything I had seen and done, and all the amazing people I had met, I realised how lucky I am. The places we visited have so much to offer, they are all so stunning yet still so untouched, and there in lies their magic.
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Nadiya
International Volunteer Society University of Birmingham
You can never really experience the Thai culture until you live within it. Watching the sunset on the beach, driving a long-tail boat, visiting an orchid, fruit, and goat farm as well as swimming in the sea, going crab fishing, climbing up Eagle Mountain and coming home to Thai style cooking and sleeping in a hammock are just some of the exciting things you could do off the coast of Kuraburi.
Volunteering experience so much culture and learn so much. Whilst teaching English, you pick up some Thai which is great fun. There's always something to do, but also enough rest time to recharge your energy for the next exciting day!
Sarah
International Volunteer Society University of Birmingham
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The long tail boat ride was a brilliant way to spend the day. It was great to enjoy something that is used so frequently by the Thai people for both work and travel. The route around the island provided constant spectacular 360 degree views that could be enjoyed the entire time. The Old Pak Trium was a really beneficial stop bringing the effects of the Tsunami home again. The conflicting beauty of the island with the evident effect of the Tsunami caused a slightly eerie feeling. However the highlight here was cooking the crabs that we had one hour previously collected from the sea and then enjoying them for our lunch.
The homestay in Tung Nang Dam is one of the best experiences I have ever had. I cherished every moment and every interaction. The island is beautiful and provides the perfect opportunity to see the "Real Thailand." In addition to this though, the islands real attraction is the people. I was overwhelmed by their hospitality and welcoming nature. Before going I was slightly worried about dealing with the homestay but as soon as I entered the first house this worry was eased.
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Ros Flowers
Birmingham University Intervol Volunteer Group, Multi-Village
As more and more people got involved with helping us clear out a drain one day there was a sense that everyone was really working together. Ban Talae Nok is a village incredibly affected by the Tsunami, yet the facilities that have been rebuilt and the optimistic, resilient and warm nature of the villagers makes the location perfect for those who wish to experience the real Thailand.
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Daily Life
Jarad
Pak Trium and Tung Nang Dam village
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We spend one afternoon on an egg-shaped island a few miles from shore (named, appropriately, Koh Kai, or Egg Island). We are, for the most part, inexperienced snorkelers, but once Mustafa has fixed the masks and tubes to our faces, the rest comes naturally; we glide across the still surface of the water, in random darting bursts like the fish below.
During our time here, we have learned a great deal about the communities. We visit fishing boats in the middle of the ocean, we indulge in the local cuisine, we harvest cashew-nuts and smash open their blackened shells with blocks of wood. In these tiny increments, we live their lives. That, in essence, is the allure of a homestay program: the interaction, the sense of inclusion.
Julia
Volunteer, multi-villages
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We met so many amazing people, and we were so deeply impressed by their general attitude towards life; so content, peaceful and patient, and everyone so positive and strong after the devastation faced after the tsunami. The whole village was destroyed, they lost everything, including two young children, yet there is no bitterness in their eyes. Instead of giving up and moving to one of the refugee camps to be helped by the government, these inspirational people picked themselves up, united together and began rebuilding their homes and their lives. The atmosphere in the village is one of unity, and you just cannot help but fall in love with this special community. We so quickly came to see the village as our home, and when the time came to move on, it was so hard to say our goodbyes!
One evening we visited the beach to watch the sunset; utterly deserted and serene, we swam out in the warm, gently lapping sea, and looking back at the beautiful bay, totally untouched with not a building in sight, we felt incredibly privileged and overwhelmed at being in such a special, undiscovered place.
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Accomodation
Heather Rick
Go Differently tours, Tung Nang Dam village
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Our guide Mustafa was very knowledgeable about plants and growth in the forest. He was engaging and humorous with people in the group. He was helpful when on the trek making sure as a group we were safe, helping us down slippery parts of the trail. He makes a good guide and would be able to support others to become forest guides.
The homestay was a very worthwhile experience. The positive aspects were: Exchange of cultural views and seeing first-hand how other people live. Spending time with families — talking through an interpreter with the children and women of the village. Learning different cultural aspects of dress (sarong making and dressing) different ways of cooking.
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Bike Tour
Dagmar and Chris
Ban Talae Nok
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When Andaman Discoveries told us about Ban Talae Nok village, we decided it sounded like a great place to stop for us. So, we biked to the village, where we toured the village with a translator. I enjoyed a short cooking-class at Ping’s house and then Chris and I went for a walk on the beach. We only had to share this magnificent landscape with a huge herd of water buffalo, which went for a swim to cool off. It was a breathtaking sight, in front of a beautiful sunset. After a rich dinner, Ping and I exchanged some small pieces of knitwork. It was funny to see that we both shared a hobby - although we live in such different worlds. We were tired after the day filled with "activities" and went to bed after taking an authentic Thai shower. It is a day to remember, forever!
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Mature Travelers
Laura
Go Differently tours, Ban Talae Nok
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In Ban Talae Nok village the soap making project ladies made us very welcome. We all got stuck in with ease to pricing and packaging the soap. Lunch was delicious - and a really enjoyable experience with the woman chopping and working right in front of us.
That evening we stayed in a local house. The evening was really enjoyable for me, even having no shared language we were able to communicate and have fun. Sitting of one of the villagers decks watching her husk a coconut with a machete virtually with her eyes closed was awe inspiring. We ate dinner in the house and spent the evening talking with the kids and singing karaoke! Have exchanged address details with the little girl so have a pen pal!
I did enjoy the experience and think that many people would really love to do home stays in Ban Talae Nok. The following day, in the afternoon we went back to the school and played with the children; football and drawing and a little English.
Dick Bond
Ban Talae Nok Volunteer
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When one is working in the village it is tempting to think 'If I just gave some money to the right charity, then someone else could be paid to do this job'. However, this thought is quickly banished when one realises the additional benefits that actually accrue by being there & showing the community that 'strangers' are prepared to physically help in person. It is a real pleasure to meet the children in the Community Centre several times after you have seen them in the school as well. It is also a privilege to have been able to share some part of living in a Thai village. As a 70-plus guy I can vouch for the fact that, given a reasonable level of fitness, it is an activity which can bring personal satisfaction and a feeling of achievement to groups or individuals of all ages.
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Sixty-Year Old traveling with Phu Phiang
"Craft and Culture” Group
Multi-Village
I’ve spent my life reading and watching on TV other people do these types of adventurous trips to exotic places, now I’m here doing it myself, and its fantastic! A member of Andaman Discoveries staff was with me throughout my stay to ensure maximum enjoyment and engagement with locals.
Dayna Cole, URBlessed Travel
Ban Talae Nok
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Get beyond the beach; become enmeshed into the Southern Thai culture. This venture offers a chance to do more than just learn, but also to briefly live the rural Thai native life. This is the very best way to come to know and appreciate the special talents, traditions, cuisine and family and community structure and interactions of the Andaman Coast Thai people. This is also a way to give back to these communities beyond dollars, and with your own special talents and interests. I highly recommend this to anyone that wants an unforgettable, active experience that is outside the isolated Western-style resorts of Thailand.
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Study Trip
Mangrove Action Project (MAP) and Sewalanka Foundation
Ban Talae Nok
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Get beyond the beach; become enmeshed into the Southern Thai culture. This venture offers a chance to do more than just learn, but also to briefly live the rural Thai native life. This is the very best way to come to know and appreciate the special talents, traditions, cuisine and family and community structure and interactions of the Andaman Coast Thai people. This is also a way to give back to these communities beyond dollars, and with your own special talents and interests. I highly recommend this to anyone that wants an unforgettable, active experience that is outside the isolated Western-style resorts of Thailand.
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What the Experts Say ...
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Justin Francis
Director, Responsibletravel.com, Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards
Andaman Discoveries recognizes that the best custodians of Cultural Heritage are the people who make it. They have worked with communities, to empower them and create a sense of place, identifying what villagers see as important, and using this information to develop tourist activities and making productive relationships with the industry.
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Rebecca Thomason
Wild Asia, Responsible Tourism Coordinator, Multi-Village
One the strengths in Andaman Discoveries is their ability to work so closely with the community. They are part of it and work from within listening to the villagers ideas and guiding them towards making them reality. It's the communities themselves who are driving this initiative.
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Chris Dunbar
Field Site Manager, USAID Post-Tsunami Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods Program
I have found time and again that the programs implemented by NATR and Andaman Discoveries to have powerful and far reaching positive impacts in the communities that they serve. I cannot stress you enough that I feel that the approach and dedication of the people at Andaman Discoveries stands out from the rest. Andaman Discoveries provides western tourists seeking an experience outside of the norm with an unparallel variety and quality of services.
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More Testimonials
Dan
Pak Triam village
Just wanted to thank you again for yesterday's experience. I'm trained to view these situations through a critical and theoretical eye, but yesterday it was not hard to shed the academy and see in the enthusiasm and kindness and desire to share from the villagers that there is a real hope, a real agency toward healing and creating better lives for themselves and more importantly their communities. I only hope it is in fact sustainable, only time will tell, but cheers to you, Bodhi, Kelly, Ben, Mustafah, Phet, Mhet, Abdul, and the rest of NATR, you are truly doing good work and I am grateful to have seen it first hand.
Erik
Volunteer teacher
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This is my first assignment as an English teacher, and I've discovered that results aren't always readily apparent in this line of work — I constantly second-guess my pace, methodology, and the logic of my lessons. So it was with great anticipation that we recently embarked on the "community trail" project with the students; a unique opportunity for the English team to assess the students' new language skills in a real-life setting.
Even the most torrential of monsoon rains couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of the students, who were eager to show off the cultural and ecological features of their villages. It was the trial run, the culmination of weeks of intense preparation—they'd designed maps of their villages, identified the main highlights, and diligently practiced their new English skills.
The itinerary was impressive — over the day I was enlightened to the meaning of some Buddhist symbols and imagery at the local temple; learned about the art of making batik; harvested a medley of locally-grown fruits, including mangosteen, rambutan, durian, jackfruit, banana, and longan; toured rubber and oil palm plantations; visited a primary school; dug for beads at the site of a sunken Indonesian trade ship; and finally, met the local shaman. Who knew all this adventure could be found right here in Kuraburi? My guides used every available opportunity to communicate directly with me in English, whether to describe the local flora and fauna, quote crop yields, explain their culture and traditions, or inquire about my well being.
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Helen
Tapa Yoi village, Koh Phra Thong
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Our trip to Tapa Yoi on Ko Pra Thong was incredible. At the end of just a day I understood more about Thai culture in this area than four weeks of backpacking around guesthouses would ever give me. We traveled to and from obscure piers that the average tourist would never know were there. We got to try out driving the long tail, borrowed kids bikes to tour the island while they waved to us from their classroom, visited their temple, met members of the Moken tribe who talked about traditions dying and surviving amongst them. We learnt about the role of the chief, their fishing economy, how to make squid traps and an unusual community drive for conserving endangered animals and ecosystems.
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Jamie
Pak Triam Village
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Before my homestay trip in Pak Triam I harboured some fears over the language barrier. I was relieved when we met our English-speaking guide at the village and he translated the various conversations we struck up with the highly curious villagers. Mustafa, our guide, was with us for the most part, but when he left in the evening I was a little anxious. I needn't have worried. It became clear to me that as much as Mustafa was important for our understanding of the village, its inhabitants and their culture and history, the villagers were in some ways intimidated by his English language skills and we, like them, hid behind his communication abilities. Once he left we all lost our inhibitions and egos and mimed and acted our way through dinner, an evening stroll, some cards and were then sent off to our beds snug and safe in our homestay under the same roof as our new friends.
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Jason
North by North East tours
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On my whirlwind tour through Kuraburi and the scope of North Andaman Tsunami Relief's Andaman Discoveries tour programs, I met many great people, saw some fantastic projects and toured interesting villages.
The day's locations were quite fascinating and gave me a good insight into the current and potential voluntour offerings for our joint collaboration. Tung Nang Dam was overflowing with incredible fruit orchards. Here I also sampled the kind hospitality of Raw's family. I don't think I've eaten so much jackfruit and mangosteen in my life! From there we traveled by boat to the ghostly remains of Ban Pak Triam. It was quite touching to imagine what used to be and the tragic lives lost. Then we moved on to Ban Talay Nok. I was most impressed by the motivation of the villagers to rebuild and improve their own lives. Women were voluntarily learning new skills to try to help themselves. I rarely encounter that degree of self-determination.
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Kelly
Tung Nung Dam village
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I have always thought staying in a homestay or doing a community-based tour would be like being on a school trip. However, visiting Tung Nang Dam village was the most amazing experience I've ever had. Actually staying with the villagers in the homestay, allowed me to appreciate how the villagers live. The villagers' friendliness, hospitability and genuine warmth were something that will stay with me forever. Being in village is a million miles away from the usual touristy places, so you really feel like you have a privileged look into their lives. If you're looking for a 'real' experience, then definitely join an Andaman Discoveries tour. The staff was helpful from start to finish and took care of everything. All I had to do was enjoy myself.
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Leo
Natural Guide, Ban Talae Nok
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J'ai huit secondes pour te dire que NATR travaille dans plusieurs villages dans la région de Kuraburi, qui est dotée d'une nature magnifique, riche et préservée (forêt, mangrove, plages etc) et les gens sont adorables.
I really recommend you to try the tours in the villages, excellent experience of nature and culture discovery, with a knowledgeable English-speaking local guide and very nice home-stay. Many activities are available — boat tour in the mangrove, visit of the gibbon project center, handicraft making with the villagers, trek to waterfalls etc... - and all are benefiting the tsunami-affected communities. And what's more, extremely well organised by NATR team. I have been there and truly loved the experience.
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Stephanie
Tung Nang Dam village
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For three days and two nights, I was a guest of villagers in Tung Nang Dam, an island along the North Andaman Coast of Thailand. In the tranquil Muslim fishing village, I lived in a homestay - the home of Mr. Somporn and his welcoming and welcoming family. We ate like Kings and Queens - piping hot, home-cooked Southern Thai food was prepared by Somporn's family daily; the flavors were rich, the seafood was fresh and every meal a satisfying overindulgence.
We shared the second floor of this traditional double-storey Thai house, where a section was specially prepared for us. Four mattresses laid out in a row, adorned with much-needed mosquito nets and surrounded by pretty colored curtains.
Somphorn, one of the first villagers to settle on this island more than 30 years ago, shared amusing anecdotes from his past and played gracious host from start to finish. On the first night, fellow villagers dropped by for a visit. Pipin, whose husband was out at sea the night of the tsunami, shared her tsunami experience with us - as well as photos of her tertiary-educated daughters, whom she is clearly extremely proud of.
For Pipin, the tsunami strengthened her resolve to keep her village connected to the outside world. That sense of isolation, of being abandoned and unable to seek immediate assistance, contributed to the trauma. Pipin's husband survived the tragedy, but she is keen to encourage community-based tourism initiatives and sits on the village committee for this enterprise.
There were also day excursions to surrounding islands; the languid rides on long-tailed boats through teeming mangroves were one of my favorite activities.
Snaking through the mangrove swamps made me appreciate the natural beauty of these rich ecosystems. We passed by fish farms and received friendly waves before heading out to the open sea of the Andaman Sea, a vast space dotted with islands and fishing boats. Magnificent blue skies and a wide expanse of ocean inspired awe and many photo opportunities.
Snorkeling day trip to Ko Kai island (or 'Egg Island', thus known because of its shape) with a packed lunch (prepared by the Lok family's culinary expert) was particularly enjoyable. The coral reefs, devastated by the Asian tsunami, are making a recovery. Happy hours were spent snorkeling in the cool waters surrounding this postcard pretty island.
Visiting the original site of Pak Triam village (since relocated post-tsunami) was a sobering experience. Our local guide, Kip, pointed out where the tsunami split the island into two; the entire village was wiped out in terms of homes and property. We visited on a day when storm clouds were gathering and we stood at the edge of the island, pondering the wrath of a volatile ocean.
The three-day, two-night community-based pilot tour was, personally, an enriching experience. People travel for different reasons, but I am drawn to the experiential—as well as oceans and mangroves. The hospitality I encountered, the stories and insights shared by locals (from our knowledgeable village tour guides and chatty host family to friendly boat drivers), the daily gastronomic workout (particularly unforgettable was a seafood BBQ on an open fire) and awe-inspiring natural beauty of the coastal region ... these added to a quality holiday experience I would recommend to tourists who seek a travel experience that is intimate, memorable and relaxed. I left Tung Nang Dam harboring a warm glow not unlike that after a pleasurable evening with friends I have not met in a long time.
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Steve and family
Tung Nang Dam village
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We did not want a typical resort-based holiday. We have never enjoyed that even when our daughters were young. We decided to arrange to spend part of our holiday in Thailand with a local family as part of Andaman Discoveries-NATR's programme to promote Community Based Tourism. The correspondence and e-mail information that we were sent prior to our trip was excellent and we made our way to Kuraburi to be met off the bus by Kelly and the splendid organisation continued from there. A full programme of activities including a rainforest walk, swimming and cockling on a deserted beach, a long-tailed boat ride to a dreamy island that the locals are trying to protect as a national park as well as an afternoon spent in steaming heat on the family's fish farm in the mangrove forest was a privileged opportunity to see how rural folk in this area subsist. The family were as curious about us as we were about them and we managed to communicate well although it helps to have a good sense of humour and patience. The presence of a guide in the form of the one and only Jungleman, Mustafa, definitely helped at times but the materials provided by Andaman Discoveries to aid communication and the teaching of English also provided a great opportunity to play games with Mina and her daughter, Sunitra. We were all moved when the family and their friends came out to the jetty to say goodbye and it felt like we were all more emotionally engaged with Thai people than we have ever been before. Thank you for organising such a memorable trip: it has really left an impression on me and my family.
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Lalana (Tui) and friends
Volunteers in Tung Nang Dam village
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Our visit to Tung Nang Dam village as volun-tourists was a great experience, filled with lots of walks, swimming at the beach, relaxation and working inside while the goats and monsoon were doing what they do best outside.
Getting to the village entailed a longboat ride through a magnificent mangrove forest, following winding waterways past floating communities and a variety of small aquaculture enterprises. Our guides were able to describe the variety of species being farmed and a little bit about re-stocking the natural populations, which was particularly interesting.
Arriving at Tung Nang Dam village, we were taken to the local community meeting house, a beautiful new building that was to be home until we left. Needless to say, after a night on the bus and very early start to the day, we were ravenous and in the mood for relaxing ... both activities of which were well taken care of. The food throughout the stay was exceptional and accomodation was delightful.
Later in the afternoon we were taken to the beach for the shell collection and short swim, and to experience the monsoon rains in full force. Drenched and happy, we slowly made our way back to the meeting house through the thick forest and muddy tracks.
Dinner was quite simply ... SPECTACULAR! And this was followed by relaxation and a late night English lesson with the monsoon raging outside and dripping inside.
We woke on the following day to a beautiful day and determined to do some work in the community, we decided to walk to beach instead. Needless to say, we got caught in a rain storm and thoroughly enjoyed cycling up and down the beach in it. Anyway, we finally got around to helping out with developing a new poster for the activity center, before getting back to the meeting house, into the longboat and back to Kuraburi.
The trip was great and I would happily return to the island and community again in the near future, if I get the chance. The food, service and accomodation were impeccable. Thanks again to our guides and keep up the good work!
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Matthew Allen
Project Coordinator, International Volunteer Society University of Birmingham
Working with Andaman Discoveries-NATR has been an amazing experience, to say the least. The amount of pre-departure correspondence from their staff enabled the students' nerves to settle a bit ... although they had no idea what life changing adventures would be coming their way!
Additionally, offering the opportunity to take part in various development projects with the appropriate measures taken into consideration, for example issues with sustainability as well as community participation, will leave a lasting impression with these students. Without hesitation we can say that the experience of working with NATR far exceeded any possible expectation we had set. Thank you for all your amazing work in the region while further allowing us this opportunity of insight and inspiration.
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Ko
International Volunteer Society University of Birmingham
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The experience we as a group have gained, as well as the rewarding feeling for being able to give something back has been overwhelming.
Staying with a host family gave us an insight into Thai culture. It was important to be open-minded and get first hand experience of the real Thailand; the chance to sit down with the family for example, and the chance to interact with them. The families made an effort because they were just as eager to learn our language, as we were to learn Thai.
I feel I have definitely become a more confident person. I have gained a wider cultural understanding of Thai lifestyles, beliefs and traditions. The generosity was really heartwarming and I'll never forget how kind the villagers were to us.
Throughout the trip, I have definitely admired the support of the group; the trip for me personally at times has been a real challenge as I had never been so far away from home for such a long period of time. A month for me seemed like ages yet it has so gone so fast, and with it I have gained so much. I can look back and actually feel proud of my achievements, I know as a group we have become more open minded to new cultures and ways of life.
There's been such a variety of projects to get involved in that each person individually has been able to assess their strengths and weaknesses within each task - this is something that we know we can take back with us as a learning experience. I know that I would never have achieved what I have without the support of NATR, and the help of the group every step of the way.
Andaman Discoveries and NATR are also inspirations; the amount of work they have done for the community, the initiative they take to make sure that each project benefits everyone, not only those who have been involved has been a great experience to be part of.
They are a role model for students, who would like to work with or maybe even start up a similar organization. Their structure, vision, and beliefs have impacted us greatly, and we shall all hopefully mirror these in our future work.
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Doug
International Volunteer Society University of Birmingham
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I decided to volunteer because it seemed like a great way to see part of Thailand that I might not have seen. I wanted to get off the standard tourist circuit and do something adventurous; so volunteering seemed like a nice balance between being supported and experiencing rugged Thailand. The homestay allowed me to understand how real Thai people live.
Thai families are lovely and the ones we visited did everything they could to make our stays enjoyable. I was amazed by how much can be communicated through mime. I felt I really bonded with my home-stay families despite the language barrier.
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Helen
International Volunteer Society University of Birmingham
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I travelled to Tung Nang Dam as part of a University volunteering society. I tried to have as few expectations as possible regarding the homestay and how it may be however, I was naturally a little apprehensive as well as excited about trying a new culture in such a submersed manner. I needn't have worried. The time on Tung Nang Dam was fantastic from start to finish. Living with the islanders and our guides was a very laid back experience for us as visitors and we were looked after so very, very well. Their consistent and constant hospitality as well as generosity meant we did not wish for anything the whole time we were there; food, water, smiles and laughter were plentiful throughout.
Living with the Thai families was a wonderful experience of the true Thai lifestyle. Due to the nature of the Community Based Tourism established by NATR on Tung Nang Dam, you are able to truly appreciate the way the islanders live without corruption from western influences. I experienced a river shower, catching and cooking crab, watching a beautiful sunset and the feeling some way part of a family so different from my own.
It is honestly difficult to put into words exactly how much I enjoyed this experience and not possible to list every activity that we crammed into the four days we were on the island. I can safely say that was not a single moment I wished to be anywhere else and was sad to leave when my stay was finished. I utterly recommend taking this trip for a true and uncorrupted experience of the Thai lifestyle.
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Abi
International Volunteer Society University of Birmingham
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Our most enjoyable experiences however were participating in cashew nut shelling and making fishing nets; simply having a better understanding of how the family earned a living. It was lovely when the hosts talked about us to the locals, as if they were proud of their new family. The hosts were continuously trying to make conversation and explain things around the village. For example, gaining a better understanding of the devastating effects of the tsunami to the home in which we stayed and the surrounding area.
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Leena
International Volunteer Society University of Birmingham
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Initially I was anxious that the homestay would be awkward or difficult but I couldn't have been further from the truth. The hosts instantly made us feel so welcome in their home and made it clear that for the four nights their home would also be our home. Throughout the stay they couldn't do enough for us, always going out of their way to make our stay enjoyable and comfortable. It was amazing that although we couldn't really communicate in each others languages we still managed to communicate in other ways, mime and facial expressions can go a long way! The amount of jokes and laughs you can share is amazing. The food will be a highlight of any homestay, and you certainly won't go hungry! Every meal is like eating out at the best Thai restaurant back home, and the hosts are more than willing to accommodate vegetarians or guests who aren't haven't quite got Thai tolerance to chilies! By the end of the stay I was surprised how sad I was to leave behind this amazing community and say goodbye to the family that made us feel so welcome. The homestay was a fantastic experience and definitely one that I will remember and treasure for all my life.
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Andy
International Volunteer Society University of Birmingham
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First off, let me praise the villagers intensely — they were extremely helpful and eager to please, and couldn't do enough for us. They made every effort to improve their English and communicate, and were constantly looking to show us new things, whether cashews being burnt open or sea creatures on the sand. The host families too were very welcoming, with food and drinks constantly being offered - I think that my family were worried about me not eating enough, even though I was constantly stuffed!
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