Now that the initial horror of the tsunami has faded and Thai coastal people are starting to rebuild their lives, perhaps some of you divers out there would be interested in the indirect effects on people from other regions, e.g. Isan.
Every year thousands of people from this rarely visited area migrate to the coastal towns looking for work to supplement their low income from the increasingly unpredictable rice harvest. No tourists means no work, no money to send or take home. My wife and I came across a small homestay near Khorat last year whilst on our way north to Laos. Run by Jimmy and his Thai wife Lamai and daughter Lizzie, these people are trying to bring visitors to the Isan area and show them real Thai village life. Without going into great detail, we spent five fascinating days here, exploring Khmer ruins, potteries, fishing, market shopping, cooking with Lamai, silk and basket weaving with the villagers and getting acquainted with village life.
Have a look at their website www.thailandhomestay.com and think about paying them a visit.
Every year thousands of people from this rarely visited area migrate to the coastal towns looking for work to supplement their low income from the increasingly unpredictable rice harvest. No tourists means no work, no money to send or take home. My wife and I came across a small homestay near Khorat last year whilst on our way north to Laos. Run by Jimmy and his Thai wife Lamai and daughter Lizzie, these people are trying to bring visitors to the Isan area and show them real Thai village life. Without going into great detail, we spent five fascinating days here, exploring Khmer ruins, potteries, fishing, market shopping, cooking with Lamai, silk and basket weaving with the villagers and getting acquainted with village life.
Have a look at their website www.thailandhomestay.com and think about paying them a visit.
