Garden of tranquility

REQUIREMENTS
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Volunteers should be interested in education for children, ready to lead a small group of kids on a chosen
activity: English teaching, art or other.
Volunteers should be ready to adapt to the Thai, local way of life, and willing to create relationships with
volunteers’ friends, hosts and local people. Some difficult points could be mosquitoes and insects, eating
rice at every meal, language and culture barrier, missing feedback, changing plans often.
Volunteers should be able to stay in a remote environment, without public transport, not expecting to go
to town or city often.
Volunteers should be ready to put their hands in the dirt both for gardening.
Volunteers should be able to take responsibility for themselves and the team by taking care of their
health and security and be fully involved in the daily tasks and discussions.
**As we have a kid, we do not want our kid to see volunteers drinking and smoking in public area at the
garden. We provide a specific space for this.
** Clothes worn in the village- schools and temple: skirts or shorts long enough to cover your knees also
when you are sitting. Women should wear tops that cover their shoulders, no low neckline. Bikinis are
not appropriate to swim if you go on holidays. Please wear long shorts and a top instead.

OTHER PRACTICAL INFORMATION
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 Ratchaburi hospital is away from our garden about 15 km.
Ratchaburi market is away about 12 km and each day we have local/market.
AIS is the best mobile phone network in our area.
Laundry: We have washing machines, you can use.
Water supply and electricity: available
 Few things not to forget: Flash light, mosquito repellent (nature friendly if possible), light long sleeves
clothes, hat, something to show your culture, food, pictures, games, music, your motivation and
beautiful smiles.
 We will work about 4-5 hours per day. You are given 1 or 2 free day(s) per week. Personal expenditure on
holiday outside the garden are covered by volunteers themselves.
The area of our community: There are many kinds of tree as a garden such as coconut, banana, lichee,
mango. We have as many temples. People offer food to monks every day. The weather is the hottest in
March-April, from May to September, you will experience more rain.

PARTICIPATION FEE
The fee for a 2-month service is 20,000 Baht, approx. 540 Euro (30 000 Bahts for 3 months)The fee will be used
on one part for living expenses (gas, water, electricity, food) and materials used in projects/activities and for the
other part to support financially our organization. Volunteers’ fee is our only income.
**Volunteers should bring their fee payment in cash to our office the first day they arrive. We prefer the Thai
currency Not Euro so please exchange it before. In case saving it on international credit card, you should make
sure with your bank if your card really works with any Thai ATM machine. Some of our long-term volunteers had
difficulty with this resulting in a long awaiting time to receive a new one sent from their home country
**Participants are responsible for their own travel and all personal expenses during the free time.
OFFICIAL MATTERS (VISA, IMMIGRATION, INSURANCE)
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Participants should request a “Non-Immigrant type” visa at a Thai Embassy/ Consulate in their country.
DaLaa will provide an invitation letter and officially registered paper for this. Do it in advance.
The price for a single entry is about 2000 Baht (approx. 60 Euros) and allows staying 90 days in Thailand.
There are also 60 days tourist visa in case the Non Immigrant one is too complicate to obtain, but in this
case you shouldn’t mention to the immigration officers that you are here for volunteering but
visiting/travelling. You need to have a valid return flight ticket and sufficient funds proof.
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During COVID-19 situation, a quarantine of 14 days is needed for all traveller coming to Thailand. There is
a list of hotels provided by the government and the price is quite expensive. Traveler must provide a
negative test result from within 72 hours of arrival, then take a second test once they land. If they test
positive, they will have to quarantine for 14 days in a state hospital (rather than a state-approved hotel, ifthe result is negative). You must also provide evidence of medical and travel insurance that will cover
Covid-19 for at least the length of your stay.
 When you cross the border into Thailand, you will be asked to write the address where you are going to
stay in Thailand. You can use DaLaa address.
 Participants are responsible for their own insurance. They should make sure in advance with their
company what is covered and how to get their expenses back in case they need it. Be aware that only
few hospitals in big cities will directly reimburse the medical fees. It is more likely that you will need to
pay first.
There is no mandatory vaccination needed to come to Thailand. There is no malaria history at the project
place. Volunteers are responsible for this matter.
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TRAVELLING TO THE MEETING POINT: HAT YAI AIRPORT ( หาดใหญ่ )
Hatyai is 900 km South from Bangkok. You can chose plane, train or bus.
In Bangkok, be careful which airport you are flying to and from: Suwannaphumi International Airport or
Donmuang Domestic Airport. They are linked by free buses but it takes over 1 hour and sometimes more to travel
in between. Only Thai Airways and Thai smile companies will fly from Suwannaphumi to Hatyai. Other companies
like Air Asia or Lion Air will leave from Donmuang. When taking domestic flights, be careful of luggage weight
limits (15 kilograms for your check-in luggage and 7 kilograms for hand luggage). There will be an extra charge if
you go over these limits.
If you wish to come by bus, in Bangkok you must go to the Southern Bus Terminal. Ask for the bus to Hat Yai.
Travelling by bus is faster than train and there will also be air conditioning. You will leave in the late
afternoon/evening and arrive in Hat Yai early morning. Prices are about 700-900 baht.
To come by train, go to the main railway station in Bangkok called Hualamphong. Prices depend on the class that
you travel. It is 600 Baht for sleeping couch with fan.
Most trains heading to Hat Yai will depart in the afternoon and arrive in late morning. On the train, you can buy
food and drinks served by street vendors and the railway staff.