Lolazahra

Hey guys,

So this is what happens when you travel the world from pillar to post with your kids since they were babies. They want to travel from pillar to post too – but without you! So my oldest baby (age 13) is traveling to Thailand with a reputable summer teen volunteer organization in June to serve in northern Thailand and on the border of Thailand and Burma. She will fly from NY to LA, LA to Bangkok, Bangkok to Chang Mai and then drive to Mae Sariang. She will primarily be working with Karen children through teaching ESL and building and infrastructure projects. They will also travel to a refugee camp farther north to work with Burmese orphaned children who live at the camp. I am very proud of her for wanting to venture out on her own to serve, but a bit scared as well. Out of my three girls, she is the most global. For those of you who respond to questions about Japan, she is the one who wanted to celebrate her 13th birthday in Tokyo last June. She has also done the most international service work with me. But still, she is my baby and is going without me!

My questions are this:

1) Is anyone familiar with Mae Sariang or the area? Though the organization has given me a lot of information, is there anything that anyone can shed light on regarding the area, people, weather, infrastructure, safety, anything else, etc. There is nothing that I would not be appreciative to hear about this part of Thailand. Having the most full picture of the area prior to her departure is essential.

2) I am thinking of meeting her in Bangkok on the way home. Because we will be departing for South Africa not soon after she returns and I will leave two younger children at home, I cannot see going for more than 3-4 days, excluding travel time. I would be there 1-2 days before she finishes her program and then spend 2 days with her in the city at the completion of her program.

What do you guys think? For those of you who passionately love Bangkok, you have made me want to experience it for myself for sure. I do not see us getting back anytime soon, as we are doing Italy and southern Africa this summer and the next trip will be to South America for sure. So, can I get a good taste of Bangkok in 3-4 days? I do not mind traveling very, very long distances for a couple of days as I am accustomed to it for work. I am more interested in knowing if I can experience the food, culture and spirit of the city in this time frame. Please let me know your thoughts. Depending on your feedback, I will then ask about a must do itinerary, but I do not want to get ahead of myself.

Thanks as always for your input and advice. So appreciated!

Kathie

How exciting that your daughter is going to Thailand! When is this trip?

I'm sure that the organization can give you all the specifics abut "the area, people, weather, infrastructure, safety,," etc. This is a beautiful part of Thailand and is right along the Burma border.

I have just one area of advice: this is a time to consult with a tropical medicine professional. While the cdc webpages www.cdc.gov/trave are a good starting point for any traveler, there are different issues for someone living/volunteering in a place. For instance, the cholera vaccine is not recommended for travelers, but is recommended for those working in refugee camps. That is just one of serval examples I can think of.

In three or four full days in Bangkok, you can get a taste of the place and the culture - just a taste, but an important one. Once you have decided about your trip, I'd be glad to offer input.

crellston

I have visited Mai Sariang a couple of times as a stop on the Mai Hong Son loop. In fact we almost went to work there in the refugee camps as long term volunteers with Voluntary Services Overseas, but ended up in Sierra Leone instead!

It is a very pleasant riverside town which sees very few foreign visitors apart from a few driving the MHS loop and aid workers based there. Not a lot going on there and it is ( or at least was) a very quiet laid back place. Although the last time we visited the number of guesthouse sand restaurants had grown. I believe the town is now seeing more visitors as "voluntourism" has taken hold there following a major fire at one of the refugee camps in 2013 and tour operators had taken advantage of the growing interest in the area amongst backpackers. Apparently UNHCR is very concerned about this.

The people all seemed very friendly and welcoming and I would say the town itself is as safe as anywhere in Thailand i.e. very safe. There are or course risks involved with any area where there are major refugee camps. The nearest major city with anything approaching a decent infrastructure is Chiang Mai, a 3-4 hour drive away. Mai Hong Sorn is the regional capital and I s closer but is relatively small with limited infrastructure.

You don't say when she is going but the best time to visit the area is in the cool dry season from November to March, although from February on the burning of the fields and forests often causes major pollution problems. We were there in Feb/March last year and it was terrible. Visibility was down to 100m and it was difficult to breathe at times. This happens every year but varies in its severity.

khunwilko

I love Mae Sariang, stopped off there a few times on my travels around the North.......Riverside own two or three hotels there - the first time we stayed there they were damned expensive, the last time they were quite good value - this would indicate the overestimated the volume of tourists coming through.
However it is right by the Burmese border - the area is basically in the control of the army - in fact as a result it has rather better roads than you'd expect......by concern would be that outside the security of the volunteer organisation the area is pretty lawless - corrupt police and an army untrammelled by legal niceties means that if she gets into any trouble there is unlikely to be a satisfactory handling of the problem. I guess the people she'll be working for have had a long term presence in the region and know what they are doing?
Is she working with stateless humans or conservation?

Lolazahra

Hi all,

Thank you so much for your great comments. My daughter travels the third week in June for three weeks.

Kathie, I looked up the CDC info immediately and based on what they said called my pediatric travel doctor the same day. Based on the location, she set an early May appointment date.

Crellston, the information you provided on Mae Sariang was really fantastic. You gave me a much fuller picture of the area. They will spend the most of their time volunteering at two schools within this community but they will also travel about four hours away to the Mae Ra Moe Refugee Camp. How are the road conditions in this part of the country on the way to the border with Burma? Do I have anything to worry about? The risks you mention because of the camps, can you elaborate please.

If I decide to meet her in Bangkok, I will let you know as I will want to make the most of my 3-4 days on the ground.

Thank you again. I am excited for my daughter. This is a big step that she is taking and I am proud of her.

Lolazahra

khunwilko,

I did not see your response until after I hit send. The organization that she is volunteering with is like a mini-peace corp experience for youth. They are very well established in Thailand. She will be staying on a compound that they own where there is a school and a home for orphaned children. She will be teaching ESL classes and doing infrastructure work. At the actual camp, they will work directly with orphaned children who live at the camp. I am glad to learn from you that the road conditions are better than I would have expected. I also do not expect that she will get into any trouble whatsoever as the program will keep her busy and it is not in her nature at all. But thanks for the insight into the region. I am glad that you like Mae Sariang as this is where she will spend the majority of her time.

Thank you.

Kathie

Lolazahra, There are increased risks of illness for people staying in or working in refugee camps because of crowded conditions. Encourage her to wash her hands - a lot - and use hand sanitizer, as both will help reduce disease transmission. That, along with the vaccines should protect her well. I don't know whether the physician will recommend an anti-malarial or not, but in any case, she should use insect repellent consistently.

Lolazahra

Good point Kathie,

I will have to drill the hand washing / sanitizing into her head and I will ask the organization about their role in reminding / supporting young teens in this effort. Not sure if she will recommend an anti-malarial yet, but she has taken them before several times with no side effects. We both use a spray with the highest deet possible as we are both prone to bites, so I will send this with her.

Thanks!

jobin

Check the map. You will see that Mae Sariang is but 2 hrs from Chiang Mai and right on Hiway 108, heading south from CM. No need to go to the town of Mae Hong Son. Of course, the dormitory may be pretty isolated. But still, excellent medical care in CM, hopefully not needed, but reassuring perhaps. And may we please hope and pray for good, long rains in Thailand during the summer as the entire country is running dry fast.

AskOksena

Warm greetings from a brief business stay in London to the OP, lolazahra, and early congratulations on new journeys for you and your family. And well done on raising such thoughtful, world-aware children.

Should time in beloved Bangkok become a reality for you, will suggest the Mandarin Oriental, a property first encountered ~ half-century ago when I was a rather young youth travelling with my parents and siblings. Will be returning to the MO next month for a few days of business meetings and an evening reception. Her current General Manager, the delightful Ms. A. Hyndman, is a worthy successor to a distinguished line of GMs at the Oriental. Wonderful times at that hotel.

Enjoy your planning. Should travel ever take you to our lovely home of Singapore, honoured to assist with lodging, dining, aviation suggestions. Best to you from London,

robert


... Singapore Airlines, You're a Great Way to Fly ...

Lolazahra

Thank you jobin. They have given me details about clinics and hospitals and how they deal with minor issues while in the village. Good to know that the medical facilities are excellent in Chaing Mai.

AO, I have already looked at the Mandarin. Will likely be at the top of my list of choices if I decide to come. I think it's now going to come down to how close I want to travel to Bangkok for a few days before turning around and flying to South Africa. My daughter does not have a choice but I do! I will do it if I calculate that we will not be in SE Asia in the near future. We have got to explore South and Central America first. Thank you for the input.

I am very excited for my daughter.

crellston

The the risks I referred to Lolazara are mostly health related which Kathie already covered. Other risks include those of civil unrest in the camps which has happened from time to time. A few years ago there was a massive fire at one of the camps started , some say, by disenfranchised refugees and some say by the Thai army ( Google for more info). Highly unlikely to happen and it sounds as though your daughter is going with a reputable organisation who will no doubt do all they can to minimise those risks.

A few years ago, we met up with a fellow VSO worker who had spent some time in the area as on a long term project and she found it extremely rewarding experience. Really nice to hear of a thirteen year old who is keen to do something to help others less fortunate. You must be very proud.

Mutti

Lolazara, You mentioned that the pediatrician will see your daughter for her needed immunizations. May I suggest that if you have a travel specialist in your city hospital that you telephone that person as well? Travel nurses and/or doctors are very familiar with the needed medicines and often work with teens who are going on service trips. Our travel nurse had good tips as well as hard medical advice. Our visit to the travel specialist was a little more expensive, but we felt that the cost and time was worth it.

Lolazahra

Hi there Mutti,

I wholeheartedly agree with you and if you read my post closer, you will see that I said "pediatric travel doctor." She is at a reputable city hospital and is actually Chief of Pediatric Infectious Disease. She has seen my daughter on other trips to Southeast Asia and Africa and is not my regular pediatrician.

But again thanks for your input because I totally agree with you and Kathie and hope others will find this post when they need similar information.

Take care.