Rural Homestay

EMs had the opportunity to join in on a trip to Klong Thom to take part in their new home stay program. The community is working on developing community based tourism and asked GVI volunteers to take part in it as a tester to provide some feedback. 7 members of the GVI team, EMs and staff took part in the trip. The visit began at one home stay house where they did a cooking workshop where they learned to cook Thai dishes and prepared the dinner they would be eating later that night. Then it was off to the hot springs for an evening soak as the sun went down. They returned back to the home stay where they ate dinner followed by a dance performance by local children and making a local Thai sweet made from coconut, flour, and sugar, wrapped in coconut leaves and grilled over a fire. After an evening of conversation and laughter everyone turned into their home stays for a rest.

Everyone rose before the sun and had another soak in the hot springs before eating breakfast at the local coffee shop. This was followed by a trip to the Rubber fields where they learned how to tap trees for rubber and a trip to the Emerald Pond for a swim and exploration. The day finished with lunch at a restaurant on top of a mountain where local coffee is grown.

EMs all agreed that the home stay was a great way to experience Thai culture by being part of a real Thai family and cooking, eating, and living right alongside them. The family made them feel welcome and they will never forget the experience.

Rural Homestay