May – Jun 2023

Longwood in Thailand 2023

A group of 13 of us will travel to Qatar (just for 24 hours) and Thailand. While there, we will culturally immerse, interact with wonderful people, and learn about countries that are very different from ours. FOLLOW OUR JOURNEY ON THIS JOURNAL. Read more

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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 5
- Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 9:50 AM
- ☁️ 90 °F
- Altitude: 26 ft
- Thailand Ban Khlong Wat Chula Mani 13.421566, 99.96293213°25’18” N 99°57’47” E
Rom Hoop Market
May 25, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 90 °F
This market sprung up because of lack of available land. But the train comes by many times a day and they have to pack up and then put everything back when the train passes through. It has become quite an attraction for tourists.Read more
TravelerThat must be a pain, but they make it work. And now tourist attraction hopefully means more business. Human ingenuity!
5/25/23Reply
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 5
- Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 10:38 AM
- ☁️ 93 °F
- Altitude: 30 ft
- Thailand Ban Khlong Meng 13.485693, 99.9724513°29’8” N 99°58’21” E
Coconut Farm & Sugar
May 25, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 93 °F
Our next stop was at a coconut farm that is producing coconut sugar. You see the students helping with the process of boiling the water that comes from the actual flower of the coconut tree… It looks like a big stem that they will cut to harvest the liquid. And some people in the group tried the bamboo ladders used to harvest coconuts.Read more
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 5
- Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 10:44 AM
- ☁️ 93 °F
- Altitude: 23 ft
- Thailand Ban Khlong Mayom 13.5023, 99.97294613°30’8” N 99°58’23” E
Fruit Trees
May 25, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 93 °F
At the coconut farm we saw a couple of fruit trees that we do not have at home. In the first picture, behind Lexi, is papaya and then you see jack fruit trees. The jackfruit can grow to be humongous and the ones you see in the picture are only medium sized. The orange fruits are a relative of the jackfruit.Read more
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 5
- Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 12:17 PM
- ☁️ 95 °F
- Altitude: 36 ft
- Thailand Ban Wat Chula 13.418483, 99.97579213°25’7” N 99°58’33” E
Floating Market
May 25, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 95 °F
This village on the water was made famous in a James Bond movie. Now it is a popular place for tourists. But I ask students to look past that and get a sense of life for this community.
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 5
- Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 12:32 PM
- ☁️ 95 °F
- Altitude: 26 ft
- Thailand Ban Wat Chula 13.422261, 99.987713°25’20” N 99°59’16” E
Boating Time Lapse
May 25, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 95 °F
Fun boat ride through the market community.
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 5
- Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 4:33 PM
- ☁️ 91 °F
- Altitude: Sea level
- Thailand Khlong Hua Kalok Phi 13.302175, 99.95830513°18’8” N 99°57’30” E
Feeding the Monkeys
May 25, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 91 °F
We boated through the mangroves and threw bananas to the many monkeys who live there. Terrifying and fun at the same time.
TravelerWow! So cool!!
5/25/23Reply
TravelerLove it!!
5/25/23Reply
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 5
- Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 4:35 PM
- ☁️ 91 °F
- Altitude: 30 ft
- Thailand Khlong Chek Prasun 13.305126, 99.95483513°18’18” N 99°57’17” E
Oyster Farming
May 25, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 91 °F
We are off the Gulf of Thailand and this is where they do a lot of oyster farming. We took two boats out to the oyster farms in the water, but it is low tide right now so we couldn't go as far as normal. Still, it was really need to see the area.Read more
TravelerHow awesome is this?!
6/2/23Reply
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 5
- Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 4:36 PM
- ☁️ 91 °F
- Altitude: 26 ft
- Thailand Khlong Ta Kan 13.307786, 99.95243113°18’28” N 99°57’9” E
1
Cockle Farm & Skimming
May 25, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 91 °F
Here we are at the cockle farm and it's very low tide so it's nothing but mud flats. Still, the students went in and used the skimmer boards to look for cockles and clams. They were really good sports because it is pretty messy.Read more
Melanie MarksMy first draft said they were looking for tacos and clams lol. Voice to text!
5/25/23Reply
Traveler Love ❤️ it
5/26/23Reply
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 5
- Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 4:38 PM
- ☁️ 91 °F
- Altitude: 23 ft
- Thailand Khlong Chong 13.310011, 99.94963813°18’36” N 99°56’59” E
Group Pic & Silly Boys
May 25, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 91 °F
Here is a nice group picture at the cockle farm and also one of our silly boys. It's always a good time to have extroverts with us. Parents, were they always a handful like this? Also we see someone showing off a large crab.Read more
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 6
- Friday, May 26, 2023 at 11:26 AM
- ⛅ 97 °F
- Altitude: 95 ft
- Thailand Ban Phrueksa Kan 14.042998, 99.51308614°2’35” N 99°30’47” E
Cave Temple
May 26, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 97 °F
Our first stop this morning was to the cave temple, and it did not disappoint. There were lots of very small passages to get through, and also some bats. Very unique temple and it is the only cave temple we will see.Read more
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 6
- Friday, May 26, 2023 at 11:29 AM
- ☀️ 97 °F
- Altitude: 144 ft
- Thailand Muban Phrueksa Kan 14.059282, 99.49601714°3’33” N 99°29’46” E
Kanchanaburi
May 26, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 97 °F
We are in Kanchanaburi, one of my favorite towns in Thailand. It is a very big draw for tourism because there are many attractions. After having a fantastic breakfast at a fancy resort owned by my friend, we jumped into speedboats and took a tour of the river.Read more
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 6
- Friday, May 26, 2023 at 11:31 AM
- ⛅ 97 °F
- Altitude: 112 ft
- Thailand Ban Nong Phakbung 14.060129, 99.47912714°3’36” N 99°28’45” E
Bridge on the Kwai
May 26, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 97 °F
One draw of our current location is the famous bridge on the river Kwai. It was built by the POWs during World War II and they were worked to death building the Thai-Burma railroad to connect two major cities. The structure still exists, although it was rebuilt. Students have learned the history… That is the real history… And not the history portrayed by a fictional movie of happy-go-lucky POWs who were healthy and joyful as they built the railroad.Read more
TravelerGlad they’re learning true history as tragic as it was.
5/26/23Reply
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 6
- Friday, May 26, 2023 at 5:54 PM
- ☀️ 93 °F
- Altitude: 167 ft
- Thailand Huai Lum Sum Yai 14.10493, 99.14824714°6’18” N 99°8’54” E
Elephant Haven
May 26, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F
Great time bathing elephants at a lovely sanctuary today. Afterward, they fed them. But then to contrast, I took the students to a Burmese elephant camp where the animals are ridden by tourists. You can see the heavy seat and chain around the leg.Read more
TravelerAbsolutely amazing!! Who kissed the elephant for me? 😉
6/2/23Reply
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 6
- Friday, May 26, 2023 at 5:57 PM
- ☀️ 93 °F
- Altitude: 151 ft
- Thailand Huai Lum Sum Yai 14.105169, 99.14834814°6’19” N 99°8’54” E
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Death Railway
May 26, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F
Students rode a portion of the death railway built by POWs during WWII.
Traveler 👋
5/26/23Reply
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 6
- Friday, May 26, 2023 at 6:07 PM
- ☀️ 91 °F
- Altitude: 167 ft
- Thailand Huai Lum Sum Yai 14.104777, 99.14833914°6’17” N 99°8’54” E
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Odd Hotel
May 26, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F
We are in a very strange hotel near the river. Odd sculptures throughout. But it's fun and funky and has a pool! The students like it. And the restaurant has cannabis Thai dishes? Lol. We will not be having that for dinner.Read more
Traveler King kong
5/26/23Reply
TravelerBet they were happy to have the pool!😊
5/26/23Reply
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 6
- Friday, May 26, 2023 at 10:15 PM
- ☁️ 82 °F
- Altitude: 161 ft
- Thailand Huai Lum Sum Yai 14.104834, 99.14818114°6’17” N 99°8’53” E
Hand?
May 26, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F
OK this was behind the restaurant in our hotel and I think it is pretty beautiful.
TravelerWow! Absolutely gorgeous!!
5/26/23Reply
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 7
- Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 1:56 PM
- ⛅ 93 °F
- Altitude: 285 ft
- Thailand Huai Matang Su 14.45668, 98.85817814°27’24” N 98°51’29” E
Soi Yok Yai National Park
May 27, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 93 °F
Entered the national park and walked to the Batcave where we saw a special species of bat that is the smallest in the world. It was a beautiful walk in with lots of bamboo and mature trees. The birds and insect noises were spectacular.Read more
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 7
- Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 1:58 PM
- ⛅ 93 °F
- Altitude: 279 ft
- Thailand Ban Sai Yok Yai 14.45714, 98.86119914°27’26” N 98°51’40” E
Riven in Sai Yok Yai
May 27, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 93 °F
The river that runs through the park is stunning.
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 7
- Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 2:00 PM
- ⛅ 93 °F
- Altitude: 299 ft
- Thailand Ban Sai Yok Yai 14.45494, 98.8615114°27’18” N 98°51’41” E
Floating Lunch
May 27, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 93 °F
We had lunch on a floating restaurant barge and then spent the afternoon playing in the river and enjoying the waterfall. I'm going to split these pictures in at two different batches because there are so many fantastic ones of your travelers.Read more
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 7
- Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 2:27 PM
- ⛅ 93 °F
- Altitude: 226 ft
- Thailand Huai Nokkaeo 14.544858, 98.78868114°32’41” N 98°47’19” E
Waterfall on the River
May 27, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 93 °F
Our boat crew pulled up to this great waterfall and we had a good time playing in it.
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 7
- Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 2:30 PM
- ⛅ 93 °F
- Altitude: 226 ft
- Thailand Ban Nong Charoen 14.552922, 98.77434214°33’11” N 98°46’28” E
Swimming in the Kwai
May 27, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 93 °F
One of the best things about lunch was the opportunity to jump into the river and swim afterwards. Equipped with Lifejackets, students just had to float since the current was very strong.
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 7
- Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 4:41 PM
- ⛅ 91 °F
- Altitude: 253 ft
- Thailand Huai Ka Klang 14.520896, 98.82014514°31’15” N 98°49’13” E
Raft Rooms
May 27, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 91 °F
We are on a floating hotel and this is also a funky place. It has changed a lot since I have been here in 2019. The students are enjoying the waterslides and hammocks. You can see what would happen if you drink too much at this location. There are no guard rails on the side and if you were to be drunk, you could end up floating down the river.Read more
TravelerIs there a way to get a copy of these photos? They are wonderful.
5/27/23Reply
Melanie MarksI was under the impression that people could download them from the journal. Not true?
5/27/23Reply
TravelerI took screenshots, but not sure how to open the journal. Just looking on the app.
5/27/23Reply
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 7
- Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 4:42 PM
- ⛅ 91 °F
- Altitude: 246 ft
- Thailand Huai Ka Klang 14.520771, 98.82010714°31’15” N 98°49’12” E
Hot Springs
May 27, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 91 °F
Late afternoon we enjoyed some time at the Hot Springs. This is a place for locals and we were the only non-Thai people there. We saw one couple taking pictures of us still fully, while pretending to take a Selfies. So before we left we asked if they wanted to take some photos with us and we had a good time.Read more
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 8
- Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 8:33 AM
- ⛅ 84 °F
- Altitude: 653 ft
- Thailand Khao Yen 14.797345, 98.59301814°47’50” N 98°35’35” E
Local Dam
May 28, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F
This dam has been renamed for the current king. Sometimes monkeys come down from the cliffs to see us (steal our stuff) but not today. The views are awesome.
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Melanie Marks Longwood in Thailand 2023
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- Day 8
- Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 8:56 AM
- Altitude: 489 ft
- Thailand Ban Kilo Ha 14.778015, 98.60370214°46’41” N 98°36’13” E
Palmelo
May 28, 2023 in Thailand
Another fruit tasting. These are grown locally and workers remove the casings of the segments, so quite labor-intensive. Tastes a bit like a mild grapefruit.
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