The calm before the storm

A couple of days in Brisbane has allowed us to wind down from all of the preparations for this journey. We're resting quite a lot, knowing that things will get very busy once we reach Thailand.

Mr Krisakorn Sukavejvorakit, on behalf of Tuenjai Deetes, has put together a comprehensive 3 week itinerary for us. We arrive in Bangkok on the evening of 11 February. The next day (Karen's birthday!) we will spend in Bangkok before travelling to the Chumphon Cabana eco resort. Some very positive initiatives have been implemented at Chumphon Cabana, including on site water treatment, organic recycling and perhaps most importantly a community development focus. We only have two nights there before heading back to Bangkok and then up to Chiang Rai in the far north of Thailand. We have six days in Chiang Rai and will be visiting the Hill Area Development Foundation (HADF, founded by Tuenjai Deetes) and other initiatives. After Chiang Rai we have two days in Chiang Mai before heading back to Bangkok. Our last week will be spent in the central area of Thailand including our last 3 days at the old city of Ayutaya.

Communication is going to be more of a challenge from now on, with reliance on a dial up global roaming connection through our laptop. However, we will be doing our best to send something for the blog each day.

A little note on how you might help us. We have been very fortunate to have support and assistance in Thailand. This is not guaranteed in all places that we are visiting. If you think you can help in any way please send us a message.

Times on the blog are in NZ time which at present is Current Time Zone offset: GMT/UTC + 13:00 due to our +1:00 hour day light saving. (Michael)

Almost packed

Almost packed, last minute things to do, all calm and happy, a beaut last day here. Bye to everyone for now, see you in mid July. Thanks to everyone who has helped us to get where we are now. Well, getting up at 5am tomorrow, flying to Auckland, then Brisbane to celebrate birthdays proper, 3 Aquarians, Gav, Ali in Auz, me and Lena in Thailand. I will send photos, xo k

Thailand itinerary

We are very grateful to our friend in Thailand, Tuenjai Deetes, founder of the Hill Area Development Foundation and currently a Senator on the National Legislative Council. Tuenjai has had one of her staff, Krisakorn Sukavejvorakit, organise a very comprehensive three weeks for us in Thailand. We feel very humbled by what has been organised with many people offering support to us at minimal expense to ourselves. Mr Sukavejvorakit will meet us in Bangkok, where we will be staying at the Phranakorn-Nornlen hotel After a couple of days there we are heading south for a couple of days to the Chumphon Cabana eco resort where many very positive initiatives have been taken, involving the local community.

The Plan

The last six years has instilled a belief that there is a collective voice from future thinking and acting farmers throughout the world that needs to be brought into very sharp focus with the climate change issue.

For over a year now I have been trying to get support to document the wisdom of farmers from different parts of the world regarding climate change. Despite my considerable experience this has not been an easy task. With the aid of an inheritance my family and I have decided to fund a trip ourselves. In early February 2007 we are beginning a journey as follows:

February and March 2007
Thailand and Viet Nam
Late March to early May 2007
India and Nepal
Early to mid May 2007
Egypt
Mid May to mid June 2007
Through Italy to eventually meet up with our middle daughter in Lugano, southern Switzerland.
Mid June to July 2007
Overland to Paris, across to London, back to NZ via the US.

In Thailand we will be hosted by Tuenjai Deetes, founder of the Hill Area Development and Community Foundation in Chiang Rai and now a Senator on the National Legislative Council.

In northern Viet Nam we will have some assistance from former students who came to study in New Zealand in the late 1990s.

We are presently working on contacts for India, Nepal and Egypt. We have some good connections in Italy who will hopefully help us along the way and a number of good contacts in the UK.

Any assistance with local accommodation, travel, contacts with farmers would be greatly appreciated.