You could learn about elephants by going to the zoo. Or you could go hang out in Thailand with Go Differently. The voluntourism organization offers one to four week trips that put animal lovers face to face with the friendly giants. The memorable and sustainable vacation helps the wildlife and locals.

Volunteers stay in air conditioned rooms at Green Jomtien Studios just south of Pattaya, but spend their days working with the elephants and their handlers that live in a local camp that also serves as a refuge for the animals. Visitors learn how to care for the elephants and prepare their daily meals and pick up enough basic knowledge to answer tourists questions as well. Volunteers spend a portion of their stay doing chores for the camp, but on days off Jomtien Beach is just a few miles away.

Related Stories:
· Volunteer Travel [Jaunted]
· Go Differently [Official Site]

[Photo: Navy]]]> jnaw 2007-09-12T13:05:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/2/15/92259/9664
Meet Centipede King Boonthawee Seangwong and Scorpion Queen Kanjana Kaetkeow. The two Thais got married yesterday -- for Valentine's! -- at the Royal Garden Plaza, along with six other gross couples. It was all a publicicy stunt sponsored by the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Haunted House, which is at the resort. As the bride said, "We've done plenty of strange things before so a strange wedding sounded fun, and besides Ripley's is paying for it." Never underestimate the value of a good comp.

(Wondering how they came by their titles? Well, Kanjana spent 32 days in a glass cube with 3,400 scorpions, and Boonthawee spent 28 days with 1,000 centipedes.)

Related Stories:
·   Creepy Couple Wed [Sydney Morning Herald]
·   Ripley's Thailand [Official site]
]]> johnrambow 2006-02-15T10:45:02-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/