Faasai Resort Helps Nature on World Responsible Tourism Day

Faasai Resort and Spa will plant 1,000 vetiver plants -- a 'super grass' for water conservation - to protect White Water conservation lake, 500 metres from the resort in Chanthaburi, Southeast Thailand.Tourists are being invited to join the planting on World Responsible Tourism Day, Tuesday June 2.White Water Lake (Nong Nam Kao) has healing mineral spring waters which collect in streams, the small lake and a swamp. To increase the water retention the owners of Faasai Resort, Surin Laopha and Bronwen Evans, have increased the depth of the stream and lake. They have also planted vetiver grasses, bamboo, lemongrass and about 1,000 trees around the perimeter of the lake and on adjoining land. The planted saplings include rare local trees and tropical fruit trees such as rosewood (my pradoo), balau (my teng) and aloes wood (my grisina).
"Our intention is to preserve the springs as a reservoir of pure fresh water and to provide a safe shelter for birds and other wildlife including fish, frogs, bats, lizards and snakes," says Bronwen. So far more than a hundred varieties of birds, dozens of varieties of fresh water fish, fresh water shrimps, water monitors, pythons, rats and water snails have been recorded at the sanctuary.On June 2 the edges of the water are being planted with an additional 1,000 vetiver grass plants - which is considered to be a 'super grass' for water conservation. Vetiver ('yaa faak' in Thai) has a strong fibrous root system which rapidly penetrates deep into the soil and develops into a tightly knitted net. It holds the soil together and serves as an underground wall which retards waterflow but allows water to seep into the soil. The roots are also capable of absorbing mineral nutrients for plants and other chemical substances such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides before they flow into the water sources. This protects the water from pollutants and maintains water quality.Faasai Resort and Spa is a family owned eco-resort in Kung Wiman, Chanthaburi, Thailand. Although Kung Wiman is by the coast, it is blessed with an abundance of fresh water in the form of natural turquoise coloured mineral springs which come to the surface in ponds and streams which local people use for their gardens and orchards. The resort is nestled beside a small forest reserve in the foothills of the world-renowned Cardamom Mountains which stretch into Cambodia 100 kilometres away. The resort and lake are only a few minutes' walk to the sea. These features make the area a magnet for wildlife, despite being only a three-hour drive from Bangkok.Faasai Resort & Spa was runner up in the budget category in the 2008 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards. The judges awarded the resort a score of 96% for its sustainable practices.For more information please visit www.faasai.com. Email: bronwenannevans@gmail.com. Or call Bronwen (+66) 8688 92595 or Faasai Resort and Spa (+66) 39 417404.

the beginning of the rainy season

Aptly enough we had our first real rain of the season on May 1st. It wasn't a brief and dainty shower but a bucketing, which shook up the earth, and sent rivers tumbling down the driveway. Thunder and lightening bounced off the hills shaking up the valley. This was a wakeup call for the sleeping termites which had been slumbering above us in Springwater Hill and in the evening swarms of them poured out into the night sky. After their long months buried under the earth during the dry season, they are desperate for the light and with a suicidal impulse, hurl themselves into any lights they can find and drop off their wings before wriggling away. Called "maleng mao" in Thai, some of them manage to find a nice piece of wood to nest in, but the majority end up as food for other creatures. That night there was a massive feast for the ants, bees, lizards, frogs, toads, birds etc that live at the resort. In Isaan where my husband comes from they rush around with frying pans to catch them and cook them up too.

Unfortunately some guests unaccustomed to the liveliness of the tropics invited them into their room by leaving the door open with the lights on. After the room was invaded by the insects they left hurriedly in the night back to the safety of their city condomonium.