Transitioning

I’ll be in Chiang Mai, Thailand for roughly three weeks in between leaving Japan and returning to Canada. I’m waiting on a few confirmation emails but it’s all mostly planned out. I’m going to be keeping busy and super excited about the things I’ll learn and the people I meet.

Travel Itinerary 
Saturday, July 16, 2011 (Bye Bye Imabari)
Matsuyama 16:25 - Tokyo Haneda 17:55

Sunday, July 17, 2011
Tokyo Haneda 00:30 - Bangkok 5:20
Bangkok 7:45 - Chiang Mai 9:05

Guesthouse - Cozy Home
I'm renting a small room for a month because it's cheaper than paying weekly. Cozy Home is located in the old city. All rooms are fully furnished with AC, fridge, internet, TV and private bathroom with hot showers. The cost is 5000 baht with 2000 baht deposit. Electricity is a separate 9 baht per unit but I'm not going to be spending so much time there.

Body & Mind Healing School
I registered for two 3 hour workshops on Sunday July 17th and Sunday July 31st, from 4:30-7:30. The first one is a back bending workshop for a more flexible spine. It increases blood and nutrients to joints and circulation of spinal fluid (mental clarity, healthy nervous system) The second is a hip opening workshop for a more flexible hip. It relieves back pain and prevents urinary problems.


Nova Artlab Creative Workshops
I signed up for a one day workshop with Nova on July 18th. The class is 10.30am – 4.30pm with an hour lunch from 1-2. I can make a ring or a pendant. I can choose from a few predetermined designs and a teacher will guide me through it. It will be 1400 baht for the day and 50 baht per gram of silver for material costs.

American University Alumni (A.U.A.) Language Center
I signed up for private classes at AUA from July 18 to August 5. I will have Thai language lessons from Monday to Friday, 5:30 to 7:30. The centre is a 10 minute walk from Cozy Home.

Viengping Children's Home

Viengping is an orphanage with more than 600 children. I will volunteer for one day on July 19th. I will be caring for babies and toddlers. The older children will be in school while I'm at the home.

Care for Dogs
I'm going to volunteer at a dog shelter from July 20 to 23. The first day starts at 10, but the rest will be from 9am to 4pm. I will be socializing, bathing and walking the dogs. I'll also be cleaning, from poop cleaning to blanket changing.

International Training Massage School (ITM)
I took a look at a lot of thai massage learning options. Introduction classes ranged from 3 days to 10 days, usually around 3000 baht to 7500 baht. There were government approved classes and sketchy in house classes, 4 hour days and 6 hour days, lunch provided and lunch not provided, big class numbers and one to one classes.. Finally, I decided with ITM. There were cheaper options, but I'm going to go with safety in numbers. The internationalism of it also appealed to me. I registered for Level I and Level II, Monday to Friday from 9-4 for two weeks. The school is a 20 minute walk from Cozy Home.

Level I: Foundation of Thai Massage (July 25 - 29)
- This course covers Front Position (feet to face)
- Introduces the concept of energy lines (SEN) and Yin/Yang
- Teaches stretches, acupressure points, and proper use of body weight using thumbs, palms, elbows, knees and feet
- Emphasizes deep-focused abdominal (Hara) work
- Upon completion students will be able to perform an effective 1 - 1 ½ hour Thai Massage

Level II: Intermediate Thai Massage (August 1-5)
- Expands on the techniques learned in Level I to cover the Side, Back (Prone) and Sitting Positions
- Advanced yoga like stretching movements
- Upon completion students will have a substantial foundation of the major positions of Thai Massage and can expect to perform a comprehensive 1 ½ to 3 hour Thai Massage

Things still on my list

1. Feeding the fish in the moat surrounding the old city - One time, I saw a vender selling fish food pellets next to the moat around the old city. I didn't have time to buy some from him, but I want to feed the fish in the moat. Even if it's raining, which it probably will be everyday I'm in Chiang Mai!

2. Thai Cooking lesson - I still haven't had a chance to do one of these. I would really like to do food carving also. I have five available weekend days right now, so I will slot in a one day cooking lesson somewhere.

3. Yoga Classes -  I wanted to do this during the week to start off or end a long day, but it's looking to be impossible. Everywhere I looked at have daily classes that are not early or late enough for me to join. Some possible options are Blue Garden has classes on Sat 9-10, 7-8 and Sun 10-11:15. Noma has classes on Saturday from 10:30-12.

4. Monk Chat - This sounds SO interesting, but I don't have time to do it this trip.

Travel Itinerary 
Monday, August 8, 2011
Chiang Mai 20:50 - Bangkok 22:10
Bangkok 23:55 - Tokyo Narita 8:10

Things to do before Thailand: thai lessons (notebook, pencil, highlighter), massage (pay deposit, one notebook, pen, pencil crayons, two passport photos, copy of passport), Viengping (copy of passport)

Things to do in Chiang Mai: exchange money, pay for lodging, pay for thai lessons, buy toiletries, find a thai cooking school, call the taxi for care for dogs, buy loose pants for thai massage lessons

Spring Break

I got a wonderful chance to visit Thailand with my parents! We went to Elephant Nature Park for a week. My parents went up to Elephant Haven and Elephant Jungle. We also celebrated my father’s 55th birthday with an Elephant cake. After a week of volunteering, we hopped onto a bus and spent a week with the Surin project. My mother loved the baby boy (noh pah gao) and my father loved the baby girl (imboon). I was so grateful that my parents came to spend that time with me and very happy that they enjoyed it so much.

日吉中学校 Newsletter

The principal at Hiyoshi Junior High School read my most recent article in the Inews and decided to included in this month's school newsletter.

I'll translate as soon as I can.

スリン計画

Here's the article that appeared in the December/January edition of iNews:

In 1900, Thailand was covered with 90% forest and there were over 100, 000 elephants.

Now, Thailand is covered with barely 17.5% forest and there are only 4000 elephants left.

The rapid deforestation of the country has put the Asian elephant on the endangered species list. The Surin Province, about a 7 hours North-East drive from Bangkok, used to be a forested area populated by wild elephants. It has since been converted to rice paddies or left as dry and barren countryside. 300 elephants, 10% of the captive elephants in Thailand, are registered in the Surin province.

When elephant logging was banned in Thailand in 1989, mahouts had to find employment for their elephants in the tourism industry. Circus shows and trekking expeditions were alternate methods but relied on the unsteady flow of tourists. Most elephants became trapped in the trade of street begging. Mahouts can make good money begging on the streets but the lack of adequate food and water, the noise, and the pollution of the concrete jungle can reduce the life expectancy of an elephant by 50%. Thailand is the only country that allows its elephants to beg on the streets.

The Surin government has been developing a location for elephant tourism to take begging elephants off the streets. They have financed an Elephant Study Centre, elephant shelters, mahout houses, shops and a circus area near the Baan Tha Klang village. Right now, there are 180 elephants staying at the centre. Around 25 of them participate in the circus. The rest of the elephants are chained up all day long.

It is common to have elephants on double chains unless they are working. The restrictive chains effectively tie the front two feet together and the back two feet together so the elephant can do no more than hobble a few steps. (Pet owners are often worried about how much space their animal needs for exercise and mental stimulation. Please think about the elephants in this way.)

This is where the Surin Project comes in. The Surin government has set aside 2000 acres of land for a new elephant sanctuary. It will be able to support 300 breeding elephants allowed to roam freely in their own family groups. The point of the project is to develop a self sustainable form of elephant tourism that will hold the best long-term interests for elephants.

Unfortunately, the project cannot compete with the salary of a typical street begging mahout. However, it can provide a secure job and steady income. Tourists and volunteers in Surin will also bring in revenue that can be invested in the local community. Using a community-based approach, the project aims to show mahouts that this is the BEST alternative to street begging.

There are currently 7 elephants on the Surin Project. The mahouts do not use sharp hooks to control them. They are not on double chains. They are not made to do tricks. They are allowed to freely interact socially. They can just be elephants, acting naturally.

Volunteers are needed to help the local community develop sustainable ecotourism. The aim for this year is forest restoration and building elephant shelters. A few months ago, I volunteered with the Surin Project for one week. We planted 500 bamboo seedlings, fixed the eroding sides of the main road, cleaned the watering platforms and shoveled elephant poop.

It is also important for volunteers to develop relationships with the local community. On the first night, we participated in a welcome ceremony where a shaman blessed all of us. During the week, we had a chance to have a meeting with the elders of the village. One afternoon, we helped one of the locals plant grass in his field. At the end of the week, we had a big dinner together with all the mahouts in the project.

The Surin Project welcomes volunteers from all over the world. Most mahouts have also worked abroad because Surin is famous for its elephant knowledge. One of the mahouts I became friends with was able to speak Japanese because he had lived in Chiba for 17 years. Volunteering provides an opportunity to exchange culture and make unexpected friendships.

I had very close interactions with the elephants. Every morning, three elephants greeted me outside my room. I always sneaked them bread end slices and banana peels after breakfast. I bathed the elephants at least once a day. They love playing in the water. I also took walks with them every day to the new property and through different parts of the forest in the area. Without a doubt, the best part of the Surin Project is the elephants!

Without volunteers, the project cannot run. Every volunteer makes a big difference. The work is made lighter with more hands but most importantly, we show the local community that people are interested in this form of elephant-friendly tourism. The project is run non-profit. Volunteers may stay for more than one week. If you are interested, I would love to give you more information! You can contact me through I-News. The Surin Project website is http://surinproject.org/

1900年、タイはその国土の90％を森林で覆われ、そこには10万頭以上の象が生息していました。

現在、森林は国土のわずか17.5％に減り、たった4000頭の象しか生息していません。

タイ国内の急激な森林伐採により、アジア象は今や絶滅危惧種に指定されています。バンコクから北東に車で７時間ほど走らせたところにあるスリン県は、かつて森林に覆われた地域で、野生の象が生息していました。そこは今や田んぼに変わったり、乾いて荒れた田舎の土地となったりと変わり果ててしまいました。タイ国内で飼育されている象の10％にあたる300頭がスリン県で登録されています。

象による森林伐採がタイで禁止された1989年、象使いは、象を観光業での仕事に就かせなければなりませんでした。サーカスやトレッキングがその選択肢でしたが、波のある観光客の来訪に頼っていました。ほとんどの象が道端での物乞いの道具となりました。象使いは道端で物乞いをすることでよい稼ぎを得ることができますが、象は十分な餌や水を与えられず、コンクリートジャングルの中で騒音と公害にさらされ、寿命を5割も減らしえます。タイは、象の物乞いを許す唯一の国なのです。

スリン県政府は、象による観光を発展させており、象の物乞いを道端からなくそうとしています。バーンタクラン村近くにあるエレファント・スタディ・センターのほか、象の保護施設、象使いの住宅、商店やサーカスを資金援助してきました。現在、センターには180頭の象が暮らしています。そのうち25頭がサーカスに参加しており、残りの象は一日中、鎖につながれています。
通常、象が働いていない時は、2本の鎖でつながれています。動きを制限する鎖が両前足と両後足をそれぞれ効果的に結びつけるため、象は数歩程、足を引きずって歩く以外は動くことができません（ペットを飼っている方は、ペットの運動と精神的刺激にはどれくらいのスペースが必要となるのかよく心配されますが、象の場合も同じように考えてみてください）。

ここでスリン・プロジェクトの出番です。スリン県政府は、2000エーカーの土地を新たな象の保護区に割り当てました。これにより、飼育している300頭の象が家族の群れで自由に移動できるよう支援することができるようになります。このプロジェクトのポイントは、象にとって最良で長期的な利益を維持できる自立した観光業の形態を作り上げることです。

残念なことにこのプロジェクトは、象による典型的な物乞いを行う象使いの収入に匹敵するものではありません。しかし、象使いは確実な仕事を手に入れ、安定した収入を得ることができます。スリンに訪れた観光客やボランティアは、地域社会に投資しうる収益をもたらしてくれるでしょう。地域社会に根付いた方策を取ることで、このプロジェクトは象使いとって物乞いに代わる最良の選択肢だと示すことを目的としています。

現在、スリン・プロジェクトには７頭の象がいます。その象使いらは、象を使う際、鋭いかぎ爪を利用しません。象は2本の鎖にもつながれていませんし、芸をさせられもしません。象は自由に社交的に交流することが許されているのです。象は、単に象として自然に行動できるのです。

ボランティアには、地域社会が持続可能なエコツーリズムを作り上げられるよう支援することが求められていま
す。今年の目標は、森林を回復させ、象の保護施設を建設することです。私は数ヶ月前、スリン・プロジェクトのボランティアに1週間参加してきました。私たちは、竹の苗木を500本植え、浸食されてしまった主要道路の道路脇を整備し、水やり場を掃除し、象の糞をかき集めました。

ボランティアにとって、地域社会と関係を築くこともまた重要なことです。最初の晩、私たちは歓迎パーティに参加し、そこでシャーマンが私たち全員の加護を祈ってくださいました。1週間の間に、村の年長者らと話し合う機会がありました。ある日の午後は、畑に草を植えようとしていたとある地元住民を手伝いました。週の終わりには、プロジェクトに参加している象使い全員と豪華な夕食を共にすることができました。

スリン・プロジェクトは、世界中からのボランティアを歓迎しています。スリンは象に関する知識の豊富さで有名ですので、ほとんどの象使いは海外で働いたことがあります。私が友達になったある象使いの1人は、千葉に17年間住んでいたので日本語を話すことができました。ボランティア活動は、文化交流の機会になりますし、思いがけない友情が生まれるきっかけにもなります。

象とも非常に密接に関わることができました。毎朝、部屋の外では3頭の象が私に挨拶をしてくれました。私はいつも朝食後、パンの耳やバナナの皮をこっそり象にやっていました。1日最低1回は、象をお風呂に入れました。象は水の中で遊ぶのが大好きです。また毎日、エリア内の新たな施設や森林の色んな部分に象を連れて散歩に行きました。疑いの余地なく、スリン・プロジェクトの最高な点は、象でしょう！

ボランティアなくして、このプロジェクトは成り立ちません。ボランティア全員が、大きな変化をもたらすことができます。作業は、より多くの人が加わればより軽くなりますが、最も重要なことは、このような象に優しい観光業の形態に人々が興味を持っているということを地域社会に示すことです。このプロジェクトは非営利です。ボランティアは、1週間以上滞在することもできます。もし興味があれば、詳細をお知らせします！I-Newを通じて、私に連絡してください。スリン・プロジェクトのウェブサイトはこちらです：http://surinproject.org/

（訳：折戸 千尋）

The Beginning and the End

The beginning and the end, and also a little bit in the middle. Basically, all the elephant unrelated parts with my transportation itinerary.

Saturday, December 18, 2010
Taxi: SATY - Imabari JR Station
Bus: Imabari JR Station 21:05 - Toyo Port 21:55
Orange Ferry: Toyo 22:30 - Osaka 6:10

Taxi: I usually go to Saty and grab a taxi from there because it's easy. BUT surprise surprise, there were no taxis there when I went! So I called for a taxi.. I talked to a taxi operator but I guess he was confused because there usually are taxis at Saty and also Saty is a big building so he wasn't sure where to pick me up? Actually, I'm just making excuses for him. He was really rude to me.. when it was clear that I was a foreigner, he just put down the phone and answered other calls! I kept saying "hello", but he ignored me.. so I hung up. And called another company who I had no problems communicating with. A taxi soon came but I was SO scared I would miss my bus.

Bus: I made it! With lots of time to spare but the taxi scare aggravated my ulcer so I was soo nauseous on the bus. I had no water so I had to wait until I got to the ferry to take some medicine.

Sunday, December 19, 2010
Airport Limousine Bus: Nankai Ferry Terminal 7:45 - KIX 8:10
TG623: KIX 11:00 - BKK 3:45
FD3238: BKK 18:35 - CNX 19:40
Taxi: CNX 20:40 - Sarah Guesthouse

Travel: I topped up my dtac sim card at Suvarnabhumi and bought a truemove sim card for international calls. There was a moment when I freaked out about making my flight to Chiang Mai because I was still on Japan time. And of course I had problems with Air Asia. The flights never start or arrive on time. This time I got to Chiang Mai 40 minutes late, but I didn't mind because the airfare is so cheap! And then, of course! The taxi had a hard time finding Sarah Guesthouse. He was weaving through all the backstreets so I didn't know where we were either. I just tried to take all the delays calmly today because I already had the taxi scare the day before and the time difference freak out in Bangkok. Breathe and smile, right? haha

Chiang Mai: On this trip, I could spend one night in the city before I headed to the park. I dropped off my bags at Sarah's Guesthouse and headed off to the night markets. I bought two pairs of fisherman pants, a handful of earrings and a decorative ribbon necklace. I also snacked on various night market food. My favourite is the meatballs in sweet and spicy sauce. I saw a sweetcorn stand. It reminded me of how Japanese people have corn in a small tin pan at yakiniku (Korean BBQ). I bought a cup and it was the best thing I had all night! It was super buttery, sweet and there was a red gummy candy in my corn too? I don't know what that was about, but I'm cool with sweets in my food anytime haha.

Monday, December 20, 2010
Walking: Sarah Guesthouse - ENP Office 8:00
ENP Van: ENP Office - Elephant Nature Park!

Office: I paid for my one week at ENP and two weeks at Surin. I took a water bottle and TWO t-shirts before Patty stopped me. I forgot I was only going to the park for one week this time haha. My bad!

Sunday, January 9, 2011
Ute: Surin Project 7:15 - Bus Station
Gold Class Bus: Bus Station 8:00頃 - Bangkok 15:00頃
Taxi: Mochit Bus Station - Chatuchak MRT station
MRT: Chatuchak MRT station - Huai Khwang MRT station
Walk: Discovery Lodge!

"Ute" short for utility vehicle in Australia. I actually had to wiki the spelling for that just now. Back home, I would have called it a pickup truck.

Discovery Lodge: Yes, as always, the taxi driver had no idea where I wanted to go! I had to call John to make sure we didn't drive in circles. When I got to the MRT station, I beeped when I went through the gate. I had to open all my bags. The security lady barely took a look at them. I think it took me ten times longer to zip them up haha. I had no problems going to the hostel. It really feels like home when I go because John is so welcoming. He put me in room 303. I dropped off my bags and took a much needed shower to cool off. It was surprisingly so much hotter in Bangkok than in Surin!

Union Mall: I met up with a friend and we went to a huge mall with 8 floors. I wanted to get new crocs for Thong Dee and Antoinette's book, the Great Elephant Escape. Unfortunately, I couldn't find either item but we had some great pizza (wings and pasta too)! We couldn't finish all the food 55 ("55" = haha for Thai people).

The Saxophone: My friend took me to a really chill bar It had jazzy live music. The (girly) drinks had a saxophone stir stick. It was so cute! I really wanted to keep it as a souvenir but I'm trying to learn not to be a pack rat.

Monday, January 10, 2011
TG672: BKK 11:00 - KIX 18:10
Airport Limousine: KIX 21:45 - Nankai Ferry Terminal 21:10
Orange Ferry: Nankai Ferry Terminal 22:30 - 6:10

Airport: At immigration, I had the SLOWEST officer. I didn't really need to be anywhere, so I didn't mind but some of the customers were really mad. Many people moved to different lines (that turned out to be a really smart move). It took so long that my luggage was off the conveyor belt and waiting for me haha. I had dinner at the same restaurant as last trip. I got a bacon and egg hamburger with barbecue fries and a coke.

Ferry: I was on the same bus and ferry as Vicky and Joe. Vicky went home to England and Joe was traveling through a bit of Europe. It was nice to see familiar faces so soon to coming home.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Bus: Toyo Port 6:20 - Imabari JR Station 7:03
Taxi: Imabari JR Station - Home!

Thailand: Take 4

The first time I ever visited Thailand was in December 2009. Fast forward one year later and it's my fourth time back! I came to Japan thinking that I would travel all of Southeast Asia while I lived here. Instead, I have gone to Thailand during every major holiday I had.

Every time I go to Thailand, there are many inconveniences that I have to go through, obstacles to overcome, and sacrifices I need to make. I always come home with tears in my eyes because I'm sad to say goodbye, but if I am honest, every time in Thailand has turned out to be a very trying time. So it is amazing that I keep going back!

Note: The memory card in my newly bought pentax broke so I had to go photo searching on facebook (again).

The Surin Project

http://surinproject.org

A Look Around Surin

The market stalls when you enter the front gates. They sell snacks, drinks, elephant tail hair and ivory souvenirs.

Shelters for humans.

Shelters for Elephants.

There are babies everywhere in Surin.

This is where we have breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

Main road.

Across from my room. You can see Sarot cleaning. That is where Nong Ning is chained at night.

Homestay options.

Inside a building.

My room.

Washroom with bucket showers.

Goodbyes

Please excuse the way I'm dressed (I'm dressed like my sister.. It was the only (sort of) clean clothes I had left. haha) and the crazy maniac why I'm laughing in some pictures. It must have been something really funny.. haha

Mahouts and Elephants

Staff

Volunteers

Surin Day 6

Breakfast: Boiled eggs, bananas, and watermelon

Morning: We went to the field where we planted bamboo to put up signs. We got a little lost driving around and there was a small biting red ant problem while we posed for photos.

Grow big and strong my baby bamboo tree!

All the photos above were taken by Alex Godfrey.

Elephant Walk: We walked with the elephants to the new property and had a picnic lunch.

hehe

The water level can go over the raised road during rainy season..

A little break before we stop for lunch

Sarot and Nong Ning

The pick up got stuck in the mud.

Chet and his wonderful smile in a kitchen apron in the middle of a forest haha

A nice place for a picnic.

All photos below were taken by Alex Godfrey.