Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [30]
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Highland Farm Gibbon Sanctuary (0 9958 0821; www.highland-farm.or; Mae Sot) Gives a permanent home to orphaned, abandoned and mistreated gibbons, a monkey species that has long been hunted in Thailand. Volunteers are asked for a one-month commitment and help with daily farm chores.
Starfish Ventures (44 800 1974817; www.starfishvolunteers.com) Arranges for volunteers to assist in the Turtle Conservation Centre (Click here), a Thai-run, sea-turtle program on a protected island off the coast of Rayong. Other volunteer opportunities include working at a gibbon rehabilitation centre in Phuket, helping to build and repair poor rural schools, and teaching opportunities.
Wild Animal Rescue Foundation (WAR; www.warthai.org) Thai NGO, operates the Phuket Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre (Click here) and a sea-turtle conservation project as well as a conservation education centre in Ranong Province on the Andaman Coast. The foundation runs entirely on volunteer labour and donations. Job placements include assisting in the daily care of gibbons that are being rehabilitated for life in the wild or counting and monitoring sea-turtle nests.
Wildlife Friends of Thailand Rescue Centre (Click here) Puts volunteers to work caring for sun bears, macaques and gibbons who have been rescued from animal shows or abusive owners.
On the resort islands of Ko Chang and Ko Samui, devoted animal lovers run dog rescue centres (Click here for Ko Chang and Click here for Ko Samui).
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The Culture
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THE NATIONAL PSYCHE
LIFESTYLE
ECONOMY
POPULATION
EDUCATION
SPORT
MEDIA
RELIGION
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THE NATIONAL PSYCHE
Much of Thailand’s cultural operating system is hinged upon a value system that emphasises respect for the family, religion and monarchy. Within that system each person knows his or her place and Thai children are strictly instructed in the importance of group conformity, respecting elders and suppressing confrontational views. Thais are also notorious for indifference, especially in public situations where chaos could be avoided with a queue and a dash of chivalry (both foreign concepts in Thailand). But you’ll find that most Thais are kind-hearted and place a high value on enjoying life.
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Sà·nùk
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Very Thai (2005), by Philip Cornwell-Smith, explains all the quirks in Thailand that you ever wondered about, accompanied by evocative photos shot by John Goss.
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The Thai word sà·nùk means ‘fun’ and is often regarded as a necessary underpinning of anything worth doing. Even work and studying should have an element of sà·nùk, otherwise they automatically become drudgery. This doesn’t mean Thais don’t want to work, but they labour best as a group, so as to avoid loneliness and ensure an element of playfulness. Nothing condemns an activity more than mâi sà·nùk (not fun). The back-breaking work of rice farming, the tedium of long-distance bus driving, the dangers of a construction site: Thais often mix their job tasks with a healthy dose of socialising. Watch these workers in action and you’ll see them flirting with each other, trading insults or cracking jokes. The famous Thai smile comes partially out of their desire to enjoy themselves.
Saving Face
Thais believe strongly in the concept of saving face, ie avoiding confrontation and endeavouring not to embarrass themselves or other people (except when it’s sà·nùk to do so). The ideal face-saver doesn’t bring up negative topics in conversation, doesn’t express firm convictions or opinions, and doesn’t claim to have an expertise. Agreement and harmony are considered to be the most important social graces.
While Westerners might find a heated discussion to be good sport, Thais avoid such confrontations and regard any instance where voices are raised as rude and potentially volatile. Losing your temper causes a loss of face for everyone present and Thais who have been crossed often react in extreme ways.
Minor embarrassments, like tripping or falling, might elicit giggles from a crowd of