Marked increase in homestay facilities
Tourists drawn to Ubon’s unique lifestyle by the Moon and Mekong rivers
YVONNE BOHWONGPRASERT
(Bangkok Post 24 August 2006 // www.bangkokpost.com)
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Funeral processions are virtually a public event that attract a lot of interest from visiting tourists.
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A typical homestay in Ubon Ratchathani involves living in wooden houses built on stilts where a mattress, mosquito net and fan are the bare amenities. It will certainly take city residents some time to adjust before they get used to outdoor toilets.
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Family meals are time to catch up on the latest gossip. A regular meal includes sticky rice and fiery chillies. Among the popular dishes are `som tam’ or papaya salad.
Homestay has become an additional source of income for farming communities in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani. Visitors to Ubon go for the homestay because they wish to sample northeastern lifestyle, cuisine and temple architecture in its purest form.
Guest activities put together by the local community incorporate live cultural presentations, motifs and handicraft to give visitors an idea of the way of life in times past. Guests are mesmerised by demonstration of the Bai Sri Su Kwan welcome ceremony and other rituals, Isan folk music and guided tours to tribal homes and archaeological sites.
Nopharat Kokwan, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s office in charge of the northeast region, said the local way of life can best be experienced by taking part in community activities such weaving, fishing, farming and preparation of food and desserts.
“Visitors will find it engaging to observe the content lifestyle of Ubon’s fishing and farming communities because they are less materialistic than city folks,” he said, adding that the fertile grounds where they grow rice and their close proximity to rivers Moon and Mekong make the ambience very special.
Nopharat explained that the rural environment is unique because there is ample opportunity for long walks or bicycle rides along the banks of the rivers. “Homestay can be a win-win situation for both parties, but I would like the host to do more to make the experience memorable for visiting tourists,” he said.
However, Nopharat pointed out that it is necessary to monitor quality and standardise service provided to tourists.
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Ban Nong Chat Home Stay, offers guests a chance to acquaint themselves with locally breed ponies.
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Aunt Sumnieng introduces this guest how to start a charcoal fire as she prepares to cook the evening meal.
“So far there are just a handful of TAT-certified homestay facilities on the outskirts of Ubon town. The remaining are below average. To rectify the problem, we organise workshops for village communities where they are taught the need for good sanitation and other basic conveniences.” he asserted.
The other area of concern was the alarming number of homestay facilities that have mushroomed throughout the province. The trend was disturbing because people often spend a lot of money putting together a homestay facility without surveying the market first.
Meanwhile, Chuchat Warapreedee, the founder of Native Pony Club, runs a homestay facility in Ubon. Called Ban Nong Chat Homestay, it started as an accommodation for children arriving on field trips to his ranch where he raises Thai ponies.
“Our facility is geared towards horse-lovers,” enthused Chuchat, a physical education instructor who started his club after being alarmed by the rapidly dwindling count of the animals in the province.
“Aside from observing how they are raised and kept at the ranch, guests can ride these magnificent animals through Kaeng Ta Na National Park which is a stone’s throw from our home. Visitors are welcome to my daily family activities which include a trip to the local market.”
A hop-skip-and-jump from Kaeng Saphue in Phibul Mangsahan District is the village of Kor Tai by the Moon River, where the rapids are most scenic and where 30 fishermen families run a homestay programme that offers an insight into their daily way of life.
One of the homes is the village headman’s, Tongpon Chaikam: "As we catch fish for a living, visitors can learn about fishing equipment and related techniques.
“Apart from that we offer river cruises and trekking. We want visitors to go back with a better understanding of the Isan culture.”
**To obtain more information on homestay at Ban Nong Chat and Ban Kor Tai, simply call Chuchat Warapreedee at 01-955-8369 and Tongpon Chaikam at 09-818-0983, respectively. **