Staff Picks
Waleerat Jaruwatchareewong - Thailand Operations Manager
I went to Koh Maha Mongkol or ‘Sacred Island’ in Kanchanaburi for 3 days /2 nights to observe the religious percepts. It was very interesting and I found this place is the most peaceful I have ever seen and I am happy that in Thailand there is a place like this. There were around 300 practitioners in the same hall but it was not noisy we talked when it was necessary it was very calm, everyone smiled to each other.
When we arrived there, the first thing to do was registration and read the rules, mobile phones were not allowed to use and we had to keep it in the locker for all 3 days! Then we changed the clothes to be Nun Uniform in white color it was my first time to wear it and unbelievable that I was to become well mannered!
The schedule each day was to get up at 3.30am, chanting 2 times at 4 am until 6.ooh and from 19.00h-21.00h including meditation and walking, only one meal per day before 12.ooh
(we had to go on pilgrimage on bear foot like the monks to have breakfast), all beauty cosmetics are forbidden ( but I still used a bit powder!), after that we would sweep the leaves in the lawn and cleaning the bathrooms.
We could sleep in the afternoon if we felt tired and the place where we slept was in the 2nd floor of riverside Sala. At night we slept on mats and it was cold.
On last day we walked over 1000 steps to the top of the mountain to pay respect the relic of Buddha kept in the big Indian-style building Indian style. We could see beautiful scenery from there. We then walked down and prayed good bye to land of Dharma and take the afternoon train back to Bangkok.
We clean our house everyday it is the same for our body and mind that need to be cleaned as well. We had to spend the time thinking of nothing- just sit quietly. I was lucky that I decided to go and I wish I could go there once again. It is a good experience.
Exotissimo can arrange half day or full day meditation packages at Sacred Island for travelers to Kanchanaburi.
Traveler's Review
Simon & Yvonne Hodges
We are safely home in England and remain incredibly in your debt for all the care and help that you gave us. Thank you so much for not only acting as an excellent and well informed guide, but also as a friend who took the time to follow us up after our drive to Khao Sok and indeed for being the one who arranged for BA to make contact with us and to fix our return flight. You are a little star!
I was so impressed that BA took the trouble to track us down in our room on Phi Phi island I now know that this was because of your kindness in making contact with them on our behalf.
Simon & Yvonne Hodges
United Kingdom
December 08
Traveler's Review
Nicole Niedik & Patrick Zuechner
Dear Mr. Granier,
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
On the occasion of our journey in northern Laos from 5th to 15th of November we like to thank you and the overall Exotissimo team for the wonderful time. We find it helpful to go into detail concerning some involved team members and provided services to express our complete satisfaction.
Your company was recommended to us by Mr. Vanhphenh Sengnham who we know well from our last year's journey. Beginning with the very helpful websites we could easy find our preferred way of travelling based on a set of various useful hints and proposals.
Our first idea was checked and completed by Mr. Jean-Yves Paille. We like to express our special thank to Mr. Paille. He respected all of our wishes, gave a lot of helpful details and answered all of our questions in a comprehensive, and courteous and uncomplaining way. We enjoyed both his great flexibility and his obligatory service.
We used the transport service offered by Exotissimo from Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong boarder station. We had a warm welcome in Thailand and a speedy but save ride and arrived just in time although our time schedule was ambitious. Mr. Sengnham collected us right at the ferry pier therefore also the immigration was unproblematic.
For the next days we had a comfortable and save ride every time. In Luang Namtha we spent a night in The Boatlanding which is a nice resort even. A special day for us was the biking trip in the surroundings of Luang Namhta on 7th of November. Our special thanks go here to the local guide from Green Discovery who made the day an unforgettable event introducing us local villages and surrounding highlights as well as cultural background and workaday life. The trip was well selected and scaled, the bikes in a good condition.
The very highlight of the whole journey was the 3 day trekking trip to the Akha villages round Muang Sing. We first have to thank the Exotissimo Muang Sing Office for the warm welcome and the safekeeping of our remaining luggage. Our special thanks go here to all involved people who offered a various range of services to us (planning/organising of the trip, preparation of accommodation and meals, massage etc.) especially to the local Akha guide. He shows an excellent example of his people's hospitality and proudness of its own way of life. He was always a good leader and bridge to his people and answered all of our questions in an unorthodox and professional English spoken way. We had a good board and lodging. Complementary to the local table the Akha guide and Mr. Sengnham show oneself as talented cooks. Especially the evening together with the villagers in Ban Lao Khao was an unforgettable experience. They let us feel their spirit and we had always the feeling to be a most welcome part of the community and their life.
We enjoyed this way of tourism very much and are proud to have the change to get part of it. We have the greatest respect for the founders and operators of the project as we could consider many hurdles on the way to this nearly perfect organisation resulting from language and cultural differences. We go to any lengths to give all of our friends a better understanding of the project and the life of the Akha as an example for the way of living of minorities in Laos in accordance with both own history and nature and environment. As a slight notice we would appreciate the purchasing of some new mosquito nets to replace older ones.
Our following night we spend in Phetsoksai in Pakbeng as backup for originally proposed Pakbeng Lodge. We found the hotel very nice, didn't miss anything and are therefore able to recommend this hotel.
Our remaining nights in Luang Prabang we spend in the Villa Maydou which is a very nice place and typified for the spirit of Luang Prabang from our point of view. In the Exotissimo Luang Prabang Office we had a great time exchanging experiences with the very friendly team members.
But our very special thanks go to Mr. Vanhphenh Sengnham. Without him the whole trip won't be such a great experience because he was always our bridge to the local people and their culture. He selected the appropriate local restaurants according to your wishes. He managed all the small problems resulting from booking mistakes or other things which could happen at such a trip with great professionalism and in his smooth manner.
We appreciate his friendly behaviour and his deep knowledge of country and culture. In addition he speaks German really like a native speaker and this will make a trip much easier for us. Most important we admire Mr. Sengnhams very individual and personal style. You don't need to ask but he will know your wish before. We are sure to travel with an old friend at any time.
Sincerely yours,
Nicole Niedik & Patrick Zuechner
Dortmund (Germany), 16th of December 2008
