/ E D I T I O N. Elephant Village YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE FROM START TO FINISH. Do You Know What to Pack? The all in one info.

Transcription

1 / E D I T I O N Elephant Village YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE FROM START TO FINISH The all in one info Do You Know What to Pack? pack

2 E L E P H A N T V I L L A G E L I F E T H E U L T I M A T E T R A V E L G U I D E hey there! On behalf of everybody at Bamboo, I would like to offer you our sincerest thanks for choosing this incredible experience with us. We guarantee you an amazing time and we re all very much looking forward to having you with us. I imagine that right now you re very excited about your upcoming volunteering experience so this little guide has been put together to explain a little more about your time with us on the Elephant Village Experience *Please note this is not a group project, we can not guarantee that other people will be on this project, however, you will have a Bamboo volunteer coordinator alongside you. Peace, Love & Bamboo Mark (& the other pandas, Steve & Colin)

3 highlights of your tour BANGKOK A night on the world famous Khaosan Road, in the heart of Bangkok's backpacker hub. SIGHTSEEING Guided experience of some of the most incredible sights of Bangkok. WALK AN ELEPHANT Getting up close and personal with the elephants and walking side by side with the gentle giants. GIVING BACK Support local community by farming, feed the elephants and get involved in community development projects. THAI FOOD Sample home cooked food throughout your stay in the elephant village.

4 Welcome to a face-to-face encounter with Bamboo's favourite gentle giants! To understand Thailand is to understand its relationship with Elephants. These majestic beauties have been synonymous with Thailand for thousands of generations and are revered across the Kingdom. Originally used as status symbols for the ruling powers in Siam, elephants were seen as symbols of great power and strength. In more recent history elephants were used for farming (much like an ox or bull) and in the arduous logging industry. Thankfully, logging was outlawed across Thailand in the mid-1980 s, however, these elephants became redundant putting pressure on their owners (known as mahouts) who were already struggling to feed their families with the meagre income earned by farmers. No mahout wants to part with their elephant but in order to provide the gigantic amount of food needed daily, they would have to resort to urban street-walking and begging from tourists in exchange for a photo opportunity. Many mahouts would rent their Elephants to zoos and parks who would force the elephants into working long hours trekking tourists through jungles in high temperatures wearing very heavy saddles. In 2013 Bamboo launched an initiative known as 'Walk Amongst Them' to encourage tourists to enjoy time with the elephants without riding them. To say Bamboo and elephants go hand in trunk is an understatement. The co-founders passionately support all efforts to create the best possible environment for domesticated elephants.

5 The issue is, without a doubt, a sensitive one. Before action, we need to understand, before we understand we need to listen. The controversial topic of elephants in Thailand is at the forefront of our efforts to provide the best support, care, welfare and education. And you, our dearest volunteer, are at the 'cutting edge' of how we can change how domesticated elephants can survive in a happy and comfortable environment. The villages we support are home to a large number of domestic elephants (not elephants that have been captured; our elephants and their ancestors have been living with humans for centuries and are very much part of the family) all with varying cheeky personalities but equally loved. Our aim is to ensure that these elephants can stay living with their owners and families. Without our financial support, the majority of these mahouts would have to sell their elephants to circuses, riding camps and other exploitative activities. By signing up to this tour you are directly ensuring that these elephants can remain in a safe, loving and sustainable environment. Your contribution helps to secure regular health checks, the right amount of the best food, a safe environment and supports efforts to keep them away from those who may not have their best interests at heart.

6 ELEPHANTS Probably the highlight of your time in Thailand, you will have the chance to walk alongside these friendly giants. Accompanied by the elephant's mahout, you will walk to the nearby riverside where you can make a splash with your new best friend, give them a good scrub and watch them play in the water before walking them back home for some well- earned snacks. As well as spending time with the elephants themselves you will also receive an Elephant Education session so you can learn a little more about the background of our elephants and why we do what we do. FARMING Now, this is where the hard-work will happen. We will be helping the local farmers by cutting plants to feed the elephants, weeding the fields, fertilising the crops and planting more elephant food. This can be hard work, but not only are we helping feed the elephants, we are also supporting the farmers which makes it all worthwhile. Don't panic, your guide will be with you at all times to show you how it's done. You ll also have breaks throughout, so make sure you keep your fluids up and wear sunscreen!

7 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Community development is something Bamboo loves to support and such projects can include: building sustainable chicken farms, constructing pig pens, renovating roads through the villages or painting. Projects can change depending on a number of factors and we work on whatever is most needed at the time. Whichever project you re involved with, rest assured your hard work will make a difference to the people who really need it. That s just how we roll. POO PAPER CENTRE A visit to the Poo Paper Centre is not something everyone can tick off their list. During your time here we will show you how to make paper from the huge amounts of dung produced daily by these incredible beasts. You will have the chance to get involved with the making of the paper and help the local team create different crafts that are then sold to raise financial support for the local elephant centre. At the same location, you will also be able to visit the Elephant Temple, Elephant Graveyard and learn a little bit more about how much these animals mean to the people of this area and the village.

8 WATER ACTIVITIES We can t have all work and no play! There will be a couple of opportunities to head down to the local river and experience some different water activities - from kayaking to tubing to swimming...the choice is yours! Keep in mind Thai people are quite conservative, so swimsuits are not appropriate to wear on their own. Shorts are to be worn at all times.

9 What's included ELEPHANT VILLAGE SURIN 1. Transfers from Bangkok to Surin. 2. All Accommodation throughout your trip. 3. Transfer to and from Bamboo's volunteer house to the elephant village. 4. A guided tour of some of Bangkok's famous temples. 4. All meals whilst in the village hour emergency contacts. 6. All volunteering guidance & material. 6. Good Karma

10 T H E I N F O R M A T I O N Y O U N E E D T O K N O W B E F O R E W E B E G I N E L E P H A N T V I L L A G E THE NITTY GRITTY ENTRY REQUIREMENTS THAILAND Depending on your country of citizenship you may be entitled to a 30-day visa-free entry into the Kingdom of Thailand. This means that you can simply turn up at the airport, present your passport and receive free entry for a maximum of 30 days. These countries include the U.S.A., the U.K., Australia, Canada and most European nations. To check if you re entitled to this, find your country in the following list: Please note that entry into Thailand is at the discretion of the Immigration officer at the Passport Counter and Bamboo will not be held responsible for any individual prohibited from entering. Please be aware that you cannot obtain a visa for Thailand from within Thailand. FAST FACTS The country s main international airport, Suvarnabhumi, reportedly sees 45 million people per year, with expansion plans underway that will increase its capacity to 60 million by 2019.

11 TRAVEL VACCINATIONS For up to date information about the best travel vaccinations to have before arriving in Thailand we urge you to contact your own GP, a travel health clinic or to check the World Health Organisations website. Bamboo are not medical professionals and therefore can t offer you medical advice. FLIGHTS Thanks to the world wide web we all now have access to great flight deals through websites such as Skyscanner, Google Flights and more. If you d rather use the services of a booking agent, the likes of STA Travel, Trailfinders and Flight Centre are all available online. ARRIVAL To be eligible for the airport pick-up, please arrange your flight to arrive into Bangkok s International Airport, also known as Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), on the Friday that your tour starts between 6 am and 8 pm. DEPARTURE Due to the wide of array of destinations accessible from Surin, and that not everybody wants to travel back to Bangkok, it's far easier for our team to just let you choose where you're heading once your placement has ended. Of course our team will help you to organize tickets and a schedule but you will need to pay for your onward travel yourself. IMPORTANT NOTICE Once you have booked and confirmed your flight to Thailand, please make sure that you have shared your flight arrival time and flight number with our team. Without those details, we will be unable to guarantee your collection on arrival. FAST FACTS: TRAVEL Did you know that? Thailand is the world s 20th most populous country, with close to 67 million people. Did you know that? On any given flight the bathroom door isn t really locked when you re inside. Lavatory doors can be locked and unlocked from the outside for a multitude of reason. It allows flight attendants quick access to locked lavatories in case of emergencies. In other instances, it allows the cabin crew to restrict access to bathrooms during takeoff and landing.

12 ARRIVAL INFO Please print Bangkok International Airport (Suvarnabhumi Airport - airport code: BKK) is one of the busiest airports in the world and can be a confusing place. To ensure that your arrival runs without a hitch please make sure that you read through and understand the following instructions. If you have any questions about your arrival into Bangkok International Airport please do not hesitate to let our team know. Please be aware that there are two international airports in Bangkok; Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK). We are only able to meet travellers arriving into BKK. If your flight is planned to arrive into DMK then you will need to make your own way to our hotel. The details of that hotel will be sent to you in a separate roughly three weeks before your tour is due to begin. To be eligible for the Bamboo airport pick-up at Bangkok s International Airport, please arrange your flight to arrive on the Friday that your tour starts. If you can manage to arrive between 6 am and 8 pm one of our team will be at the airport to meet you. If your flight arrives after 8 pm, we can arrange a night's accommodation at a hotel close by to the airport. A representative of the hotel will collect you on arrival at the airport. Should you take the airport hotel option then we will have a driver collect you from the hotel the following morning and transfer you to our starting point the following morning. To locate a member of the Bamboo team, once you have passed through Immigration (Passport Control) you ll need to collect your luggage from one of the carousels. You will then make your way to the main arrivals area, passing through the green Nothing to Declare channel. Once through you will enter the busy main arrivals area. As you enter the arrivals area Directly ahead of you is a large wall of glass windows. At points along this wall, there are numbered Exit doors. These are numbered 1 to 10. You will most likely be looking at doors numbered between 6 and 10. At this point please turn to your right and walk towards Door number 3. As you approach Door 4, directly ahead of you will be a mass of people holding name signs (please ignore the people to your right). As you walk past Door 4, please keep a look out for our team. They should be easily recognizable with their Bamboo t-shirts and be holding a sign showing the Bamboo logo. Once you ve spotted our team, head over and introduce yourself. You ll then receive further instructions. Please bear in mind that we may be waiting for others to arrive, so your transfer to the hotel may be slightly delayed but we will do everything in our power to get you on your way as quickly as possible. In the unlikely event that you can t find our team, don t panic! As long as we have your correct flight details one of the team will be there. Please check again at the area between Door 4 and Door 3. If you still cannot locate one of our team, please call the following number: +66(0) If you have supplied us with a mobile phone number, make sure your phone is turned on as we may be trying to contact you. Once we have everyone we ll transfer you all straight to the starting point for your tour. On arrival, we ll help you to check in and give you more details of what s happening for the remainder of the day and tomorrow morning.

13 MONEY When it comes to advice on how much money to bring, it s impossible to say. All our intrepid explorers are very different. Where some go all out, others are on a budget. You can find both high end and budget restaurants, bars and shopping across Thailand. A rough guide for meals and drinks can be found below: Typical exchange rates are: $1-33 Thai Baht 1-44 Thai Baht ATMs, or cash machines, are prevalent throughout Thailand and will only issue Thai Baht, If you do plan to bring your ATM card with you, we recommend that you inform your bank. This may prevent your card being suspended due to irregular withdrawals. We don t recommend bringing travelers cheques with you. The reason is that banks across Thailand have odd hours of operating, and it may cause unnecessary hassle finding a bank open when you wish to make a transaction. Major credit cards are accepted across Thailand but less so outside of the major cities. Larger hotels and restaurants may accept credit cards, but in most places, cash is king. FAST FACTS: MONEY Basic costs of things: Water 5-40 Baht Beer Baht Street Meal Baht Restaurant Meal Baht Taxi to airport Baht T-shirt Baht Memories - Free of charge Negotiating a purchase, known as bartering, still happens in the tourist areas of Thailand. Outside of tourist areas, If you re unsure as to whether or not you can barter for a discount please speak to your guide or coordinator to avoid any unnecessary faux-pas.. The currency in Thailand is known as the Baht or THB Remember to tell your bank that you are leaving the country to avoid

14 CLOTHING Packing for a trip to the unknown is always tricky. It s definitely worth doing a little bit of homework on this one and to consider local culture when deciding what clothes to bring. For example, Thailand is predominantly a Buddhist country so dress modestly and respectfully. We live by the rule one in, one out - in other words, you need to have either your shoulders or your knees covered at all times. In addition, in Asia, it s often customary to remove your shoes before entering a building so a pair of flip flops is very much advised. During the work in the Elephant village you need to be wearing long-sleeved tops and long trousers, make sure you are aware of this when packing. It is highly likely that your clothes will get dirty, sweaty or ripped, so please consider this. You can, of course, buy cheap clothes in Bangkok that you are more than welcome to donate once you ve finished with them. Closed-toe shoes are also a must for your volunteering work. Being such religious countries, temples and Buddhist monasteries are everywhere. During your Bangkok tour, you will be visiting different temples where you will need to cover both shoulders and knees. You should also consider the weather. Thailand has two prominent weather seasons: hot and dry and hot and wet. Hot and dry usually runs from November to April, hot and wet from May to October. The daytime temperature is quite consistent throughout the year with highs around degrees. The nighttime does vary with lows ranging from 15 degrees to degrees. We recommend you bring a sweater/jumper for the chilly evenings.

15 COORDINATORS Any project is only as good as the coordinator fact. The input of a coordinator cannot be understated. Their input in to your project, their little insights and the off-the-beaten-track adventures. The knowledge and experiences that they share with you will make or break your time wherever you are in the world. At Bamboo we take the selection and training of our coordinators very seriously. Each guide undertakes a structured training program of three months and only once we re convinced that they are genuine representatives of Bamboo are they signed up to the family. Each of our projects have English-speaking coordinators to support you, answer your questions, educate you and to ensure that your time is unforgettable. From time to time we may have new people-in-training on our projects. If you re lucky to have a trainee on your project, please be patient. They are undergoing training and therefore their knowledge won t be that of the trained and experienced coordintor who will be accompanying them. TIPPING Although not in any way expected or encouraged, anybody who goes over and above the call of duty to ensure that you have the very best time, may deserve a special little thank you. Did you have extra special service in a restaurant? Did the bus driver make an additional pit-stop just for you? Did your guide go out of the way so that you could experience something unique? At Bamboo we re firm believers in Karma what goes around most definitely comes around! FAST FACTS: GUIDES Our coordinators are the face of Bamboo, and they come in all shapes and smiles. We love each and every one of them more than Elephants love bananas. Whilst most them are elite travel mavericks in their own right, you may come across newbies who are on the path the greatness. If you're lucky enough to meet a fresh-faced newbie, be sure to show them your support and patience, most coordinators remember their first tours forever, so let's play nice.

16 The 'must brings' H AVE YOU PACKED TH E F OL L OWIN G? 0. An open mind 1. Backpack or suitcase w/wheels 2. Travel Towel 3. Light, loose-fitting clothes 4. Long trousers & t-shirts 5. Flip flops or sandals 6. Trainers or Sneakers 7. Daypack/bag 8. Insect spray 9. Hat & Sunscreen 10. Reusable Water Bottle 11. Multi-use plug adapter

17 The 'can brings' WHILST EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT, WE VE COMPILED A MORE DETAILED LIST FROM FEEDBACK OF SOME OF OUR PAST TRAVELLERS WHICH YOU MAY FIND USEFUL AND ALSO WANT TO CONSIDER BRINGING: 0. Patience 1. Medical Kit 2. Toiletries 3. Padded gardening gloves 4. Small umbrella or water jacket 5. Pillow (for added comfort) 6. A Blowup mattress 7. Earplugs 8. Sleeping bag for colder months 9. Water shoes Electrolytes / Rehydration Packets Antihistamine cream / tablets Antibiotic cream Imodium Nail brush / Clippers Tissues / Toilet roll 10. Home luxuries (can't live without) 11. Card games or books (If you want extra padding under your Thai mattress) (Jan - Feb)

18 ELEPHANT VILLAGE YOUR ACCOMMODATION GUIDE

19 BANGKOK Guesthouse accommodation in the heart of one of Bangkok's most popular areas. Breakfast included. Free WiFi, western bathroom, hot water, A/C and a TV. Twin or triple share. There's also an authentic Thai welcome meal on the evening of day two. * Khao San Road can get loud in the evenings, so make sure to pack some earplugs if you have trouble sleeping with a bit of noise!

20 Surin Volunteer House Comfortable houses rented from the local community. Each house has several bedrooms sleeping up to 4 per room in single beds. Several western bathrooms are in each house. Fully equipped kitchens and in close walking proximity to restaurants, shops, markets, bars and more.

21 ELEPHANT VILLAGE Your accommodation in the village is a unique experience and one that not many get to experience. A real Thai family homestay. All meals are included. Bedrooms are basic but comfortable with Thai style mattresses accompanied with mosquito nets. Bathrooms are bucket flush western toilets with cold showers. There is no air-conditioning however you will be equipped with a fan. WIFI is NOT available in the village. Come with an open mind and an open heart.

22 TERMS & CONDITIONS Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully as they form the basis of your contract with WeAreBamboo. This agreement is made at the time of booking and becomes legally binding upon payment of your deposit. By booking a program with WeAreBamboo, you signify you have read and accepted these Terms and Conditions All programs advertised on our website and/or on Facebook are offered and/or operated by WeAreBamboo Ltd. (trading as Bamboo and referred to as Bamboo or we herein after) with company number whose registered office is:. WE ARE BAMBOO LEVEL 2 61 SEAVIEW ROAD LOWER HUTT, NEW ZEALAND 5010 All travel arrangements are sold subject to the following conditions. Bamboo reserves the right to update the Terms and Conditions at any time. Please view our full terms and conditions here: Please note that the information in this pack is subject to change at any time without notice.