Koh Ra Ecolodge

After booking our tickets last week, I decided to terrorize the web to see what out of this world adventures exist out there. With no particular insite, I stumbled upon an independent wwoofing site that had a posting for "unique opportunity", being in the market for a unique opportunity I decided to read on.

"The Koh Ra Ecolodge is located in the Andaman Sea of southern Thailand. If you are looking for a truly unique nature experience in Thailand, then we invite you to stay with us on Koh Ra and explore the pristine jungle, private beach, coral reefs and hidden bays of this amazing island. Our goal is to offer guests a simple yet comfortable place to stay in the heart of the most natural stretch of coastline remaining in Thailand, and the closest island to world-renowned Surin National Park. We strive to do this in a way that is sustainable and responsible by helping protect and even improve the local environment and provide benefits to the local communities that depend on the natural resources here."

HEEERRREEE's Johnny.!!!

They are looking for a caretaker May-October, seemed like the sort of adventure that we were looking for, being stuck on an island during "rainy" season in Thailand. First thing that crossed my mind was Jack Torrence. For those of you who have no idea who that man is, he is the kind hearted star of the book/movie "The Shining". A loveable husand, a role model father, one can only hope to turn out as great as him. Watch out Keri.. Just hoping bartender Lloyd will be present.

On a sersious note, we have contacted Kim Obermeyer head of Ecolodge on the island Kho Ra and he has given us his initial interest is us to become sole caretakers of the island for 4 months. If all works out Keri and I will work on the island in exchange for housing and hopefully food. Since this is just an initial interest we have not gone over specifics on what is included in the opportunity.

To busy at work to write anymore

It's Official

After years of pondering of where our travels will be, we have finally locked in our first destination. As of Wednesday April 13, 2011 Keri and I will officially be making our way to Bangkok. Korean Air - Portland to Bangkok.

This seemed like an impulse purchase but after an hour of discussion we snatched up the tickets at an amazing rate of $560/ticket. We had been searching for months for one ways and low airfare, nine hundred, sevene hundred, a thousand. These prices seemed like round trip tickets to us, we didnt want to feel restricted with time frame of having a return date, so one-way was the choice.

Feelings of euphoria, fear, excitement, dread, happiness, sadness were running wild inside of us. We couldn't believe that we were actually going. We were in some sort of dream state where no words were able to transpire except the 4 words WE'RE GOING TO THAILAND! Shortly after the groundbreaking purchase tears of joy and dance were unleased in the condo. WE'RE GOING TO THAILAND, WE'RE GOING TO THAILAND, all I can think of is that we looked liked like the kid who got Nintendo 64 for christmas (youtube it).

Now that we have purchased our tickets, the next step is to outline our trip. Going with the plan of not having one, our guidelines will be on the fly. We have a few ideas of things that we want to do during our trip but having actual reservation are something that we both do not want. Being able to move freely will open up all sorts of doors and oppournities that we would have otherwise have if we were locked into an itinerary. I guess our only goal on this trip is to fully experience life outside the comforts of the states as well as humble ourselves as human beings. We want to live the simple rewarding life rather than the consumer life as we now know it. Learning different techniques of organic pratices as well as being a wwoof host. Our options are endless at this point, learn scuba, reef research, cheese maker, kayak guide, english teacher we are open for it all and more.

"the greatest risk in life is not taking one" - Chouinard