Last weekend I was notified that the UCLA Travel Study Program to Thailand had been canceled due to the civil unrest and the United States placing a travel warning to Thailand. After the initial disappointment and confusion, I discussed my options with Dave and decided to go anyway on my own. I could not fill the time with other on-campus or travel study classes. I spoke with numerous people with connections to Thailand and they all assure me it is safe as long as you avoid the confined areas.
The same day the trip was canceled, the Thai prime minister declared that the confrontation had ended. The protesters had dispersed and the Red Shirt leaders had turned themselves in. However, the curfews which were due to end on Sunday were extended to Tuesday. I anxiously await to hear when they are lifted. Regardless, I intend to stay clear of any of the troubled areas. I contacted Andaman Discoveries, the company UCLA works with in the Phang Nga Province, and told them I still wish to come and volunteer to help the communities there. I have focused my efforts on reaching out to everyone and trying to rally them to go anyway. Already this is a new and different experience for me and I am still really excited to go, however it happens.
Gina from UC Riverside and Shannon from UCLA have expressed interest in going. If no one else goes, we can at least tour together in a non-academic way. There is safety in numbers, so I welcome any and all who want to come along!
As soon as I get past my final and final paper, I want to research the plants, animals, and ecosystems. I want to be able to look at something and have an idea what I am looking at. I intend to keep a detailed journal, but if time prohibits this, I will at least keep up this blog. This blog is for my friends and family who may be concerned. I am hoping this will help you understand my thought process, see the care that I am taking in being cautious, keep from worrying about how I am doing, and share the experience with me. I will try to get to an internet cafe' every couple days once I am there, but don't worry if it goes just a little longer. Some of the areas do not have access. I will try to post when I am going to be heading into one of these places.
Well, so much for the boring intro. Next time I blog from home it will be to share what the outcome is and how and where I will be traveling.
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