Thailand Volunteer Locations: Phon Phisai

Phon Phisai is known to all Thai people as the place of the Naga Festival.
The last full moon in October signifies the end of Buddhist Lent, at this time the Naga, a seven headed snake/fish that lives in the river blows fireballs into the air. A festival is built around this strange phenomenon. People come from all over Thailand to watch the fireballs.

We teach English in a number of primary and high Schools in and around Phon Phisai. We also have computer teaching opportunities in the local high school and previously ran up our own T2T Computer Learning Center in Ban Thin Dung, a small village just outside of tow. We have recently moved this program to Michai in Nongkhai after a very successful year of teaching in Phon Phisai.

Volunteer Programs in Phon Phisai:
English Teaching
Summer Camps

Life in this little village is quite peaceful and very typical of the region. As a volunteer based in Phon Phisai you will undoubtedly become part of the community because our volunteers live right in the middle of the village.

The village lies 3km west of Phon Phisai Town center and is a short ride on the bus from Nongkhai town. Volunteers can choose to teach in Phon Phisai during the week and spend weekends in Nongkhai town, or alternatively you may wish to spend your weekends in Ban Thin Dung taking part in the numerous local activities.

Food
All villages have food stalls where you can buy local Thai dishes. We have a fridge and cooking facilities in the dorm and you can buy some western food in Phon Phisai town which is a short bike ride away. Jack's (our Thai co-ordinator) Mum is also a brilliant cook and regularly cooks traditional Isan food for the volunteers, and the neigbours regularly invite us to eat with them providing a great chance to try different local food. There is also a 7/11 to cater for all your needs.

Weather
Ask a local about the weather in Nongkhai province and they will tell you there are three seasons, hot and wet, hot and dry and just plain hot. In reality the temperature can drop to as low as 10 C between October and February and the brief monsoon rains and Mekong river breeze throughout the summer months provide a welcome respite to the heat.

Activities
Phon Phisai offers plenty of opportunity for activities. There is a swimming pool only a minute away from the dorm. We have daily badminton competitions with our neighbours on a court built by Jack. There is also an ADSL Internet Cafe, a place to play Pool or Snooker and there are numerous Karaoke Bars close to the Dorms
Depending on the season you choose to stay in Phon Phisai there will be various activities such as hunting, fishing or rice harvesting that you will be able get involved with.

How to get to Phon Phisai
There are buses from Nongkhai to Phon Phisai every hour. It takes 40 minutes and the road is excellent.

Accommodation
The Travel to Teach volunteers currently stay with our Thai co-ordinator Jack's family in the middle of Ban Thin Dung Village. The house has a large living area and kitchen and two style bathrooms with Thai toilets. All rooms have fans.

Staff
Our coordinator in Phon Phisai is Jack. Check our Personnel page.