Sad news from Ban Talae Nok
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Tragedy struck in February when three-year-old Chukran was struck by a motorbike. He was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries and passed away the next morning. The community gathered together in accordance with Islamic tradition for the burial ritual that same afternoon. Two of our guests were invited to the ceremony, and this is their touching account of what happened:
"It was solemn and terribly sad, but a dignified occasion as we witnessed the whole community coming together to share in the grief, support each other, and take comfort in the rituals of the funeral. We were invited to visit the house and pay our respects...We were also invited to help the women who were preparing food for the funeral. I was grateful to be able to offer both our condolences and a tiny bit of practical support, and felt as though even in this small way we were being included in and welcomed by the community, rather than feeling uncomfortable, or in the way."
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Youth in Action
Local conservation gets international recognition
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 With the tragic death of Chukran, the last month has been a time of reflection for us here at Andaman Discoveries, and also a time to honor the importance of children to a community's happiness and future. After weeks of preparation, we launched the Youth in Action project with support from the European Union and French partner Pistes Solidaire.
This program will support the youth conservation group in Ban Talae Nok, and link them with youth groups across the world, including a visit from partners in Senegal, Italy, and five other countries. By doing their own projects and learning from peers all over the world, youth are given the skills to create sustainable development.
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North Andaman Community Tourism (N-ACT) Network
All together now!
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 The North Andaman Community Tourism (N-ACT) network was established over a year ago to help local communities secure their future through sustainable tourism and conservation. With support from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), new villages are developing activities for guests.
Tung Dap and Muang Kluang will begin receiving respectful guests in the next few months. Other recent successes include promoting Ban Talae Nok soaps to several distributors, sharing the "North Andaman Adventure Handbook" with select tour operators, and visiting a rare hot/cold springs that the local ranger swore to "protect and care for like his own virgin daughter."
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Phuket Special School
A UK Visitor Reflects on Volunteering
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 Nolawi (UK) recently spent a month volunteering at the Phuket Special School for disabled children, coming through our UK-based partner Twin UK. His experience was quite transformative.
"I spent one month volunteering at the Phuket Special School. It was without doubt one of the most special months of my life -- and it was a very sad moment when I left. The teachers are truly amazing and it was an absolute pleasure to have met them, they ALL treated me like a member of their family, but what made the most impact on me was the fantastic, talented children at the school. I think I learned more from them then they did from me, one of the many things they taught me was sign language, which I hope to improve on in the future. They are all so unique and always smiling. What I liked about my time at the school was that no two days were ever the same, which meant the month, sadly, just flew by."
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Andaman Discoveries Highlighted in Guidebooks
Rough Guides and Michaels Hemmelige Guide
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 Lucy (UK) returned to Kuraburi for the second time in as many years to update the latest edition of "Thailand's Beaches & Islands," produced for the Rough Guides series. "I have spent a lot of time in Thailand, so some aspects of village life were not new to me. However, I was very glad to experience two different homestays and to spend some time in village activities that are quite new to me." As a journalist who spends a lot of time in Thailand, Lucy has done similar tours and activities, so it's especially rewarding for us to get such great feedback from her! Andaman Discoveries also recently appeared in the Danish guidebook "Beach Huts in Thailand" by Michaels Hemmelige, and has since welcomed many guests from Denmark to the north Andaman Coast.
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UK Responsible Tourism Partnership
Andaman Discoveries Homestays Diversify Itineraries
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 In his recent article, "Taste the Spice of Local Thai Life," Peter Richards of the Thailand Community Based Tourism Institute, a partner organization of Andaman Discoveries, describes how some of the most highly-acclaimed responsible tour operators in the UK and Thailand have been working with local Thai community members to develop new community-based tourism programs. Andaman Discoveries is working with several UK-based operators, providing them with stand-alone community tours or adding a cultural component to an existing offering that might also include sightseeing and beaches. "Incorporating a cultural exchange into a package itinerary gives more travelers a chance to visit the community and to make a positive contribution," said Andaman Discoveries Program Development Manager Mimi Cheung.
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Rowena's Reflections on Ban Talae Nok
A Village Homestay from a Writer's Perspective
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 Rowena (UK) took advantage of the Andaman Discoveries February special, spending three days in the village of Ban Talae Nok. A professional writer, she was happy to provide us with a personal account of her experience sharing in the lives of the villagers.
"The four of us slowly strolled down the dusty road, away from the main village and towards the beach, to watch the sun perform its slow swandive into tranquil blue waters, heralded by a dusky pink and orange sky. Concerned by our silence, Tui enquired, 'Are you tired?' 'No,' we replied. She paused. 'Are you relaxed?' she asked. 'Ye-es,' we sighed, our voices lifted with smiles."
You can read Rowena's full story on our blog. If you've been in village or volunteered with Andaman Discoveries yourself, we'd love to hear more about your experience! Please fill out our brief client feedback form and share your own story.
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Andaman Discoveries Logo Contest
Winning Design will receive $350
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 Andaman Discoveries needs an appealing logo to promote our tours and services. This logo needs to communicate a clear, consistent message about our organization that people will easily identify with our mission and programs. To that end, we're offering a modest award to anyone who can design an effective logo. If you're feeling creative and would like to add an Internationally-recognized sustainable enterprise client to your portfolio, please visit our website for more details.
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New Team Member: Leslie Welshimer
Seattleite Joins Andaman Discoveries
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 This month we welcomed Leslie Welshimer (US), who will be assisting the team with marketing and development. Leslie has worked in the field of communications and marketing for about three years in Seattle, with an emphasis on public relations for architecture and technology clients. She made the journey to Thailand to learn first-hand about sustainable tourism, with the goal to take her career in a different direction. "My goal is to combine my passions of travel, nature and outdoor recreation into my career. When I read Andaman Discoveries' Web site, I instantly was impressed by their mission and accomplishments," said Leslie.
Leslie will be posting about her experiences with Andaman Discoveries and in Thailand on the Andaman Discoveries Blog, so be sure and check in often to follow her adventures!
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Copyright
2009 Andaman Discoveries
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March Single-Traveler Special
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People traveling on their own often want to take part in an authentic cultural experience, but are unsure about doing so alone. Solo travelers who take advantage of this special will get the chance to experience traditional southern Thai culture with other like-minded travelers!
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