Southern Thailand - DEEP SouthFebruary 13 - March 6, 2011
For the DEEP South journey we have carefully blended the best of Thailand´s diverse environs: bustling, radiant city; wild, remote jungle; sleepy, rural village; and tranquil, pristine beach; with outstanding opportunities for study and service. Visit the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. Take the overnight train to Surat Thani. Travel to the Andaman coast and spend 4 days living with a local family and volunteering on post-tsunami recovery projects. Take a longtail boat to Koh Ra and spend a week practicing yoga and Thai Yoga Massage with a view of a private beach and bay. Take a boat to the Surin Islands and snorkel in some of the worlds most renowned reefs. Travel by boat through Khao Sok National Park and spend a week practicing yoga and Thai yoga massage on a floating bamboo sala. This adventure is designed for the pure, un-pampered traveler seeking to fully experience the raw richness and beauty of this unique land in every cell of their body - those rare souls who are ready and willing to get dirty, give generously and go D E E P!
ItineraryFebruary 13-14: BANGKOK Accommodation: Shanti Lodge Quaint and funky guesthouse located on the Chao Phraya River - just a short water-taxi ride away from Bangkok's famous Khaosan Road - simple, decorative double and triple occupancy rooms - hot showers - A/C - wonderful restaurant with a welcoming "Buddha Lounge" vibe, serving a variety of Thai and western fare - laundry service available - local souvenirs and clothing for sale in the store - internet cafe - WiFi available - 7/11, pharmacy, local food and flower market and banks within a 2 minute walk.
Activities: Orientation, visit the night market, the Grand Palace, get a massage at the famous Wat Pho, take the overnight train to Surat Thani
February 15-16: Baan Thalaynok Accommodation: Homestays Typical Thai village homes - simple, but comfortable double occupancy rooms - Thai-style toilets with bucket showers - wonderful home-cooked meals - plenty of new friends!
Activities: planting mangroves/nipa palm, batik, Thai cooking, soap making, roof weaving, beach BBQ, massage, cultural exchange.
February 17-23: Koh Ra Accommodation: Koh Ra Ecolodge Rustic wooden cabins - double and triple occupancy rooms - private beach and bay - delicious Thai cuisine - peace and quiet- local handicrafts for sale.
Activities: kayaking, snorkeling, surfing, hiking, relaxing, excursion to the neighboring Mohken village, relaxing Thai Yoga Massage Intensive: 60 NCBTMB Approved Continuing Education Credits Available The intention This innovative and comprehensive 30-hour introductory level intensive is designed to prepare the practitioner to safely and confidently perform, and creatively integrate, traditional supine and prone techniques into a fluid and effective 90-minute session. Cultivating deep roots In an effort to deepen the practitioner's understanding and experience of this work; cultivate healthy, efficient body mechanics; and nurture the optimal state of mind to promote healing; this curriculum devotes a significant amount of time to honoring and practicing the rich cultural and spiritual traditions on which Thai Yoga Massage was founded. Please come with an open heart and mind in preparation to practice yoga and meditation, explore Ayuervedic medical theory and discuss relevant Buddhist philosophy. Part 1: traditional supine techniques. Daily Schedule: 6-8: yoga and meditation 8-9: breakfast 9-1: Thai Yoga Massage Class 1-2: lunch 2-4: siesta 4-6: Thai Yoga Massage Class 6-7: break 7-8: dinner
February 24-26: Surin Islands Accommodation: Mu Koh Surin National Park Spacious park service double and triple occupancy tents - restaurant with yummy local cuisine - modern showers/toilets - store and rental shop - pristine beach and bay - crystal clear blue water - pristine beach - plenty of sunshine.
Activities: world-class snorkeling, swimming, relaxing
February 27 - March 6: Khao Sok National Park Accommodations: Jungle Yoga Floating bamboo huts surrounded by stunning views and the sounds of gibbons and cicadas, but NO mosquitoes! - Fabulous Thai cuisine - massage therapist on staff - store with yoga apparel.
Activities: kayaking, swimming, hiking, spelunking, star-gazing, and relaxing in the hammocks Thai Yoga Massage Intensive Part 2: traditional prone techniques. Same schedule as Part 1.
This journey is limited to 12 participants, so register early to avoid disappointment! This is an adventure, not a tour, therefore, the itinerary is subject to change. Please bring an open mind, an open heart and a good sense of humor! instructorsSunny Klaber, BS, MS, CMT In 2001, I graduated from the Boulder College of Massage Therapy and embarked on a career in compassionate touch. In addition to completing over 1000 hours of coursework for my massage certification, I went on to receive special training in Pregnancy Massage. I also traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand several times to study Thai-Yoga Massage with three different masters and completed the requirements established by the Institute for Thai Massage to become a teacher of the Nuad Bo-Rarn style. During my most recent trip to Thailand I focused on learning a unique form of Chinese abdominal massage called Chi Nei Tsang. Before I developed my passion for massage, I earned a BS from Duke University and an MS in Geology and Environmental Policy from the University of Colorado. During this time, I spent several years teaching science at field schools in California, Colorado, Alaska and Switzerland, as well as instructing backpacking/ climbing courses for Outward Bound in Montana and “Dragons” in North India. What began as an interest in earth systems and a desire to create and maintain a healthy, balanced environment, was slowly transformed,(due to heavy backpacks, stiff boots and a fortuitous meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama) into a deep curiosity and respect for the human body, its relationship to the mind and soul, and its ability to create and maintain health and balance. My unique combination of educational opportunities, physically challenging adventures and spiritually awakening encounters has strongly influenced my therapeutic approach.
Over the past seven years I have enjoyed developing and teaching the Thai Yoga massage curriculum at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy, Cortiva Institute, and The Center for Massage and Natural Health in Asheville, NC. I am currently on the faculty at the Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy and serve on the board of the Tibetan Village Project. getting thereThis journey will begin at 12:00 noon on February 13th at the Shanti Lodge in Bangkok, and will end at 11:00 AM on March 6th at the Surat Thani Airport. Transfers from the Airport to the Shanti Lodge are not included. Getting to the Shanti Lodge: From the Suvarnabumi Airport in Bangkok (BKK), we suggest that you follow the signs to the Public Taxi stand (downstairs) and give them a copy of a map which can be printed from the Shanti Lodge website: http://www.shantilodge.com/ A taxi ride from Suvarnabumi Airport to the Shanti Lodge should take between 45-60 minutes, and with tolls, should cost under 500 Baht ($15). It is wise to plan on arriving a day before our journey together begins, so that you have time to adjust to the time difference. This is the most popular time of year to visit Thailand, so please book your flight early. We suggest looking for deals on the following websites: www.kayak.com www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/ www.travelzoo.co.uk Returning to Bangkok: Experience has shown that by the end of our journey together, participants have come to LOVE Thailand and feel quite comfortable navigating it on their own; so not surprisingly, they don't want to leave. We recommend that if you have the opportunity to build a few extra days or weeks into your itinerary, DO IT! But if you must return to Bangkok right away, you have many options: Train: Trains run very regularly between Surat Thani and Bangkok and the trip takes around 12-14 hours. To see the schedule click the link below. http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm Plane: Flights from Surat Thani to Bangkok run very regularly and one-way fares are reasonably priced. The flight takes about one hour. Thai Airways:http://www.thaiair.com/ Thai Air Asia:http://www.airasia.com/ Bangkok Airways: http://www.bangkokair.com/ logisticsPacking List - Please pack as light as possible! Please bring: yoga mat, meditation shall, journal, pens, head-lamp, thin sleeping-bag liner, pack-towel, alarm clock, watch, conservative clothing (covered shoulders and legs) to wear during the homestay and to visit Wats (temples), comfortable clothing to practice yoga and Thai Yoga Massage, sun-hat, sunglasses, day-pack or shoulder bag, bathing suit, sleepwear, sandals or flip-flops, walking shoes, toiletries, medications, camera. Don't bring: anything fancy or valuable - you won't need it! Internet connection: Internet cafes are plentiful in Thailand so you won't have any trouble communicating with loved ones while we are in Bangkok, however; we will not have internet access throughout the rest of our journey. This is a blessing! Please tell loved ones, clients etc. that you will contact them at the end of our journey and enjoy being "unplugged"! Mobile Phones: If you have an unlocked mobile phone, we suggest that you bring it with you. It is very easy and inexpensive to buy a Thai SIM card and pay-as-you-go minutes at any 7/11. The public phones in Thailand are not very reliable or easy to use, so if you expect to call home during your time in Thailand, bringing your own unlocked phone is the easier and cheaper option. The only challenge will be finding cell coverage. We will be staying in some very remote areas, so tell loved ones not to worry if you can't be reached by phone. Money: The exchange rate is approximately 32 baht to 1 US dollar. ATM's are conveniently located everywhere in Bangkok and tend to offer a very good exchange rate. Most small shops, local markets and restaurants only take cash, but occasionally Visa and MasterCard are accepted at higher-end hotels and boutiques. PLEASE tell your bank and credit card companies the dates that you will be in Thailand to avoid having your accounts frozen due to "unexpected activity". Budget: This journey includes all of your accommodation, transportation, course fees, entrance fees and most meals from noon on February 5th through 9 am on February 24th. We suggest that you budget about $200 to pay for internet, gifts, massage treatments, tips, and meals while we are in Bangkok and the Surin Islands. Passports: traveler or touristDo you want to be a Traveler or a Tourist?Motivation: A Traveler is motivated by an insatiable curiosity and endless fascination with the world in which she finds herself a citizen. She delights in questioning old assumptions, testing new hypotheses, and exploring opposing perspectives on her quest to dissolve boundaries and cultivate an expanded and integrated view of herself and her life´s purpose. Expectation: A Traveler enjoys planning and preparing for a journey, but he is wise enough to expect the unexpected and he looks forward to embracing the unknown. Reaction: A Traveler intuitively knows how to surrender to the flow of life - riding its waves with abundant laughter and grace. She receives unforeseen challenges like gifts, recognizing feelings of disorientation and frustration as invitations to expand and evolve. Interaction: A Traveler respectfully immerses himself in a new culture, a new environment. His mind and heart remain open as he engages in new activities, learns new skills, and gains new perspectives. Whether observing, or participating in dialogue, he practices patience, non-judgment and compassion. Contribution: A Traveler understands that the amount of joy that she experiences during her journey is a reflection of the joy she generates in her wake. This wisdom guides her to look for and create opportunities to connect deeply with the local people and generously offer her help and a piece of her heart. Evolution: A Traveler understands that his journey doesn't end when he returns "home". He practices his craft - the art of living a fully integrated life - wherever he is!
investmentInvestment: $2875 Price includes all of your accommodation, transportation, course fees, entrance fees and most meals from noon on February 13 through 11 am on March 6. Price does not include transportation to/from Thailand, travel insurance (required), meals in Bangkok and the Surin Islands, tips, optional activities. registerGo for IT! Please complete and submit the registration form
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