Thailand: selection van contributions of WorldSupporters (EN)
"Happy family; No worries and luxurious resorts in Thailand!"
A hell of a ride – in total 26 hours by night bus – took me to Bangkok to see my family again! Really great to see Bonnie, Heleen and Nienke again after more than four months traveling in Asia. No worries anymore, all resorts and transportation between the cities was already arranged beforehand. Last ten days relaxing and not thinking that much, only the “day trips” we could decide by ourselves. My role was to play a little bit for “tour guide”. Let’s do it, off to northern Thailand with our happy family!
First of all, it was time for Bon, Leentje and Nien to get used of the craziness in Bangkok. Especially they needed to get used to the different style of driving, temperature and culture of the Thai people. After five months, I was not shocked anymore, but still enjoying it. On our first night we got a good impression of the Thai culture, by visiting a cultural show about the history and habits of the Thai people. A show with more than fifty participants, impressive to see! Impressive as well, was the Royal Palace of the King. Golden temples everywhere and they were decorated with a lot of colorful paintings and statues. In the late afternoon we went to Ko San Road for a rough Thai Massage.
Our next destination was Kenchi Buri, famous for the Bridge over the River Kwai. In the past, many prisoners of the world war two were deported here to build the railway between Thailand and Myanmar. During this project, a lot of workers died because of diseases and exhaustion, including a lot of Dutch people. In the afternoon we had some time for relaxing in a beautiful resort. Ayutthaya, the old kingdom of Thailand, was our next destination. Once, this was a palace, and we saw there old ruins of the big temples. By night train we went to Chiang Mai, a train ride of twelve hours.
Chiang Mai is an enjoyable city in North Thailand. The city, way smaller than Bangkok has a lot of touristic sights, nightlife and activities. In our first day we went to visit the village of the Black Hmong, a hill tribe living just out of Chiang Mai. Before our visit to the hill tribe we was Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, one of the famous golden temple around Chiang Mai. One of the best experiences we had the second day in Chiang Mai. In the early morning we went to a elephant sanctuary. After a two hour drive through the jungle we reached the village where they kept the elephants. We could feed the elephants, hug them and a small baby elephant gave us a kiss with his trunk. Finally we went for a swim and we could wash the elephants. All elephants were treated very well and they could enjoy their natural environment. This was a very special experience.
Famous in Thailand is the street food, so we went to a night market for special Thai dishes. In the beginning my parents were a bit afraid to eat all these “new dishes”, but the food was delicious and well prepared. We ate spring rolls, pad thai and other delicious delicates. In the evening Nien and I visited a boxing game between international and Thai boxers. The skills of the fighters were excellent and we even saw a few K.O.’s. Especially the audience was great to see, everyone was encouraging their favorite fighters.
Our last three days we spend in Chiang Rai, in the north of Thailand. In two days we saw the white temple Wat Rong Khun and the black house Baan Dam. Temples in a total different order, the white temple was more looking like a citadel, waiting for the white wizzard to walk out of the building. The black house was created by an artist and had only a art purpose. The other day we hired a taxi driver who brought us to the hill tribe village of the Long Necks. All women in this tribe are wearing neck rings, another part of their culture. These rings can have a weight of five kilograms and every year the number of rings increases. We continued to the golden triangle (borders of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand) and the opium museum. Finally we saw a tea plantation in Mae Salong, located in the mountains.
Happy new year, Thai new year was celebrated between 13 and 15 April. This celebration is called Songkran and is the start of the rainy season. Everyone in the streets has water guns super soakers and buckets with ice water. During these three days, nobody keeps their clothes dry. A huge “splash battle” on the streets, everywhere in town. Pick-up trucks with bunches of people are driving around and throwing water on the audience (and other way around). People are partying everywhere and there is a lot of music around and people are drinking beers and whiskey on the streets. Why spoiling water? Rainy season is coming.
On the 13th of April we flew back to Amsterdam Schiphol. Five months ago I started my journey in Myanmar and continued to 7 other countries including Laos, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia and Thailand. Today, at Songkran festival, I have my #20 flight back to Amsterdam! It was a real adventure and I am thankful for all the amazing new friends I have met during my journey, you made this experience unforgettable...
"The Dutch" Working & Living Abroad #5: Roos Tieges & Ingrid van der Straaten - TCDF Thailand
Who?
- Roos Tieges
- Ingrid van der Straaten
Where?
- Thailand
Which Initiative?
- TCDF, Thai Child Development Foundation
- Eco-Logic, the 'Resort for Charity'
What?
- The Thai Child Development Foundation (TCDF) supports local children in their development by making sure that customized medical care and education is also available to underprivileged children and children with disabilities or learning disorders.
- Local Thai team members provide social support programs (medical care, education) together with daily life caregivers to underpriviledged children in their own village/community
- Other projects where TCDF team and local+international volunteers work hands-on: emergenct funds, physiotherapy, nutrition programs, scholarships, occupational training center and perma culture farm, community learning center
Something special?
- At TCDF they believe that the social outreach work can only be done well by working with local people who can develop a long-term bond of trust with the children and their caregivers through constant communication.
- TCDF take care of children in their own community, without taking them out of their homes and never longer than needed
- International and Thai volunteers open up the worlds of the children and the members of the forest community by sharing their (often unique!) skills and knowledge within the community learning center, yoga center and/ or on the organic farm.
- TCDF try to limit damage to the environment. They are strict in handling garbage, reusing garbage, and recycling.
- Eco-Logic, Resort for Charity with tourist accommodation, workshops, and tour packages, is on the same property of the Foundation. This sister company of TCDF is a Thai for profit company and is TCDF's main sponsor.
And last but not least...a little insight in 'Why'
TCDF is founded by a charitable Thai/Dutch family and has supported children in need on a direct and day to day base in Thailand since 2004. Ingrid van der Straaten has been TCDF’s full time volunteer and ambassador since the very beginning when she, and Rosalie decided to make a difference and dedicate their lives to this initiative! The other TCDF's directing founder, Rosalie Tieges, lives with her Thai family within walking distance of the Foundation; other Dutch board members live in Holland.The TCDF Community is a global network of people that believe in acting local and contributing to make a difference. The Thai board members are all people from the village including the village headman and active parents of children in the social programs.
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Pad See Ew - Thai noodle dish
In Thailand you can find the popular Pad Thai on every street corner. Pad See Ew is a bit less well-known, but evenly delicious. It is a simple noodle dish, recognisable by the wide and thin rice noodles that are being used. If you can't find the wide noodles, you can also use another type of noodles.
Recipe:
- Heat oil in a frying pan/wok and fry the garlic over low heat.
- Add the chicken and stir for about one minute
- Then add the kale, carrot, noodles, sugar and sauces and mix. Stir for about 2 minutes
- Make room on one side of the wok and crack an egg on the empty side.
- Sramble the egg and mix with the noodles. Then turn up the heat and fry for about 30 seconds.
- To top off the noodles. Sprinkle a bit of ground pepper, chili flakes or lime on top.
- Enjoy!
Ready In: 30 min.
Ingredients:
- 200 g wide rice noodle
- 1 egg
- 2 pieces of chopped garlic
- 1 stalks kale
- 4-5 pieces of sliced carrots
- 50 g chicken (or tofu)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp fish sauce
- 2 tsp dark soy sauce
- 3 tsp oyster sauce
Pad Thai
1. Heat the oil in the wok, add garlic, shallot, chicken, tofu.
2. Add radish, follow with dried shrimp. Stir to combine.
3. Put egg down let them cook then scramble it and mix it well with other ingredient.
4. Pull everything up to one side of the wok, and then pour chicken stalk or water.
5. Put rice noodle then stir well then add sauce to combine until it cook.
6. Finally, add bean sprouts and chive down mix it well. Finish and ready to serve.
Serve with:
- Roasted peanuts
- Chili powder
- Lime
- Sugar
Succes!!
Ready In: 30 min.
Ingredients:
- 70 g. rice noodle
- 50 g. chicken breast sliced
- 3 tbsp firm tofu (1cm thick dice)
- 1 egg
- 3-5 clove. garlic
- 0.5 tbsp. shallot
- 2 tbsp. dried shrimp
- 1-2 stalks. garlic shave
- 0.5 tbsp. minced pickle radish
- 1 cup bean sprout
- 1 cup chicken stalk or water
- 1.5 tbsp. oyster sauce
- 0.5 tbsp. fish sauce
- 0.5 tbsp. palm sugar
- 1 tbsp. tamarind sauce
- 1 tbsp. oil
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