Island tours!

On our last day in Koh Samet some of us took a speed boat tour to a few local uninhabited islands. The boat ride was awesome, the sun was out, and the views were amazing. The first place we went was a small island that we could snorkel around. It was very cool to swim around with all the fish!

Here I am snorkling!

The next place was a small beach. It was cool to walk around in the sand and look for shells and rocks.

Kristy and Christina on the swings!

We had lunch at the next island. Lunch was fried rice and chicken onion soup. We also had some delicious fresh fruit! After lunch we got to walk around the island. There were some cool swings and also we all swam out to the sand bar.

Left to right: Devon C, Kristy, Allison, Christina A

The next place we stopped was a pretty cool cave we all snorkeled through. There were jellyfish everywhere! Also we saw huge schools of fish, it was cool swimming through hundreds of little fish.

About to swim through the cave tunnel!

The last place we stopped was a beautiful island! We got to climb up a steep trail to a lookout point with an amazing view. You could see so far out into the ocean! When walking up the trial, we saw so many wild chickens and bunnies. After the hike up the trial we all went for a swim to cool off. We were surrounded by so many fish! There was also an adorable little puppy that followed us around and wanted to play!

Koh Samet

On Friday, we took a long van ride and a short speed boat ride in order to arrive at our weekend destination of Koh Samet. Koh Samet is a small island located in the Gulf of Thailand where we will spend our final days of the trip. The island is only about 4 miles long, north to south, and only about 5 square miles in size. We are staying at Sai Kaew Beach Resort which is right on on the water. Everyone at our resort is so excited we are here and whenever we walk past any employee they ask if we are from the UNE/WNE group.

View from the speed boat ride to the island

The view from the restaurant area is stunning and there's lots to do a long the beach. Today, several of us went parasailing (sorry no pictures allowed on the boats) and tomorrow we plan on taking a boat to tour the island and beaches on the other side. As you walk down the beach you can eat, shop, or get Thai massages almost everywhere.

The restaurant area at our resort. 

While this part of the trip isn't part of the didactic portion, it is still a great opportunity for us to learn even more about Thai people and their culture. We have primarily been in cities throughout the trip so it is nice to see the difference between city life and island life in Thailand.

Dengue Vaccine Development

On Thursday morning, we visited the Center for Vaccine Development at Mahidol University. I think that many of us agree that Dr. Sutee Yoksan was our favorite lecturer of the trip! He explained to us the need and establishment of the Dengue vaccine and all the work that he has put into its development. He has really been a leader in the vaccine research and development and it was a truly amazing experience to hear him speak about everything he has done. He has even worked on research in vaccine development for Zika and Chikungunya and works with large drug companies such as Sanofi. Dr. Yoksan was a very enthusiastic presenter and loved to crack jokes throughout the day. He was so brilliant and really tried to help us understand everything he does. His enthusiastic speaking really kept us on our toes!

Dr. Yoksan explaining vaccine response research with agar plates

Dr. Yoksan discussing the comparison of virus samples coming from other countries. The box on the floor behind him is a box of Zika viruses from Vietnam.

The whole group in front of the vaccine development center with Dr. Yoksan.

Temple of the Golden Buddha

After our visit to Mahidol University to learn about Dengue vaccine development we went to Wat Traimit to see the Golden Buddha. Dating back from the 13th century, the Buddha image believed to be made of solid gold stands 13 feet high and is estimated to weigh 5.5 tons, making it the largest gold Buddha in the world. This Buddha has been transported a few times and during one of the moves it was revealed that the Buddha could be taken apart into 9 different pieces using a key that was discovered at the bottom. This legend behind this is that the Buddha was long hidden under a layer of stucco, until it was accidentally dropped from a crane in 1955 and a metallic core was revealed.

Main entrance to the temple with a picture of the king

 

               Sculptures built into the outside of the building near the Golden Buddha entrance                           

Proper dress is required to visit temples and those who are not compliant will be turned away.

Architectural drawing of the temple

The Golden Buddha

There are many places to make donations inside the temple. 

This picture shows the history that has taken place in the temple with past kings and monks.

Wat Pra Bhat Nam Put Aids Hospice

Today we went to Wat Pra Bhat Nam Put Aids Hospice. This is a hospice located far into the mountains and services AIDS patients in their final stages, homeless second stage patients, Families were all members have AIDS, HIV+ children, children with full blown AIDS, and elderly people who are left with no support due to all their children dying of other diseases. Currently 144 patients are residing at this location. Patients are placed in a separate building if they are co-infected with TB.

This project began in 1992 to help the rapidly growing HIV+/AIDS Thai population. Most victims of AIDS had been shunned from their villages and left to die due to the ill-informed society. This temple was a safe place that was meant to care for these people. The most deaths per year due to AIDS occurred between 1990 and 1995 with about 10 people dying a day. Currently, only about 3 people fall to their death a month due to AIDS. Although this is still a lot, the numbers have greatly declined.

After the patients pass away they generally donate their body to the temple. The bodies of AIDS victims can be used to help teach and inform society about this horrible disease. Once a patient comes here they are most likely going to spend their entire life here, and even if their body is cremated the ashes are generally kept here. Most families decide not to take the ashes home because they believe the ashes are infected.

Most of us found it very surprising that the patients here in hospice were still being treated for their disease. At home, once a patient enters hospice, or end of life care, they no longer receive life extending medications, they are only placed on medications that will decrease pain and make them feel more comfortable. Patients staying at this hospice center receive free shuttle rides to the hospital for treatment.

Above is some art on display at the hospice

109 steps to get to the
 temple on the mountain
 above the hospice! 

From left: Allison, Dan, Jen
Climbing the mountains around the temple!

The Elephant Show

Today we visited the Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC) founded in 1993, where we were able to watch an elephant show, take elephant-back rides and visit the elephant hospital. Upon arrival we were given a chance to visit the elephants up close, pet them and even take pictures with them before the beginning of the show. The trainers then took the elephants into the water for a nice bath as the little elephants played alongside which we enjoyed watching.

The show then followed, filling us with facts about the elephants they care for and their history in Thai culture with performances by the elephants to go along with it. We learned that TECC cares for Asian elephants, which were used in Thailand’s logging industry for hundreds of years until it was banned in 1989. We also learned that the average lifespan of these elephants is 60 years. During the show we were able to see the elephants pull logs that were about half of their body weight and we also watched them move logs around in other ways to demonstrate their agility. The elephants understood the commands given to them by their trainers in a variety of ways including body movements, pressure or touch points, and voice commands. The final portion of the show included an elephant painting session where three of the elephants painted pictures that students were then able to purchase to bring home. 

The elephants ready and happy to see new visitors!

The elephants enjoying their time in the water

The baby elephants are chained in the shallow water to prevent them from traveling into water too deep for them.

Before the start of the show the national anthem played and the elephant featured in the picture above is bowing to show respect to the king.

Elephant parade to start the show

The history of elephant logging in Thailand

Let the elephant painting begin!

The finished products