Thai Muang Thai Mueang Volunteers is based in Thai Muang, also spelled Thai Mueang, Phang Nga,
Thailand. Thai Muang is a relatively small Thai community of about
8000 people, with approx. 21,000 in the district of Thai Muang.
We have
eight government schools in the local area; they have all expressed a
need for volunteer English teachers. Thai Muang is 35 km north of
Phuket airport, in Phang Nga province, on the beautiful Andaman Coast
in South West Thailand.
Thai Muang Beach Located less than 1 kilometer from the town and 2 kilometers from
the volunteer house, Thai Muang Beach is a beautiful 14 kilometers
of clean white sandy beach. From November to February, sea turtles come
up to lay eggs on the beach. During this period, it is possible to
volunteer as an observer to watch over the turtles when they come to
lay their eggs on the beach. Southeast Asia Turtle
Sanctuary is located here.
Thai Muang Beach is the only beach in Thailand where sea turtles
living in the Andaman Sea lay their eggs. As many as four species lay
their eggs on this beach.
Khao Lampi - Hat Thai Muang National Park The park covers an area of about 72 sq km. It consists of
two parts, Thai Muang beach and Lam Pee mountain. The Thai Muang part
is located on the coast of the Andaman sea, the beach is located on
the Kham Bay Peninsula (Giant Face
mountain) , the eastern part of this area has a big water canal
where fresh water flows to from Lam Pee mountain which still has the fertile
primary rainforest. Lam Pee is a chain of mountains which go from
north to south with altitudes reaching about 40-100 meters above the sea
level. The highest mountain is Kanim mountain, located in the northern part
of the area with a height of 622 meters.
There is a very beautiful trekking route, about 10 km long, starting
at the national park on the beach and goes to the northern most point
of the Kham Bay Peninsula.
The Climate in Thai Muang
Thai Muang has tropical climate. The western monsoon may bring
strong winds during the rainy season, May to October, the wind coming
from the Indian Ocean often contains a lot of moisture. The area is
hardly ever effected by the northeastern monsoon which is stopped by
the Lam Pee mountains and reduces the wind speeds. The dry season is
from November to May.
It is always hot in Thai Muang, low temperatures at night may come
down to about 24o C (75o F) and at daytime it
might reach a high of about 42o C (107o F). The
temperatures vary slightly throughout the year where the hottest month
is April.
Geology
Primary rainforest is found on the mountains; Kanim mountain, Lam Pee
mountain and on the eastern part of Thai Muang beach. Mangrove
forests are dominant in the bay to the east of the Kham Bay
Peninsula.
There are numerous wild animals living in our area; about 180
different species of birds have been spotted so far. About 60 mammals,
where we may mention two endangered species namely the
Malayan Tapir and the
Mainland
Serow. There are 57 types of reptiles whereas 26 of them are
classified as conserved animals. 16 types of amphibians where two of
them are conserved.
Take a tour of Thai Mueang District: Click the images to
enlarge
Festivals in
Thai Muang
February -
Chinese New Year - the first day of the first lunar month of the
year.
March -
Turtle Festival - Turtles from the hatchery are released into the
sea.
April -
Songkran, Thai New Year - The biggest water fight in history.
October -
Vegetarian Festival - Cleansing the body by not eating meat and
milk products.
November -
Loy Krathong - Decorate a small float with flowers and a candle,
send it out to sea.
What to do on weekends? A bus ride to
Khao Lak takes about 45 minutes,
Phuket
is an hour away.
