Stories - Actual Adventures in Thailand

Scott talks to Radio Singapore International
A selection of interviews that aired on Radio Singapore International in 2006.

Traveling During the Rainy Season
Daniel Fraser
Dan shares why the rainy season is his favorite time to travel.

I was Running
Scott Coates
Reflections of great runs while leading trips throughout Thailand.

Dreamworld
Greg Jorgensen
The children from the HIV ward often get only the ‘scraps’ when it comes to events like these. For sad but obvious reasons, their chances of being adopted are nearly zero...

Mahout
Moira Klassen
In December 2004 I went to the National Elephant Institute (formerly the Thai Elephant Conservation Center), just outside Lampang, a small city 80km south of Chiang Mai and signed up for their 10-day mahout (elephant) training course!

Tsunami
Scott Coates
While shuttling our party of five from the airport to our hotel at this tropical paradise, previously more famous for its towering limestone cliffs and silky-soft beaches than the now infamous tsunami waves of December 26, 2004, he took charge of the conversation.

Leaving more than footprints...
Cathy Nickel for Reflections Magazine
Smiling Albino co-founder Scott Coates is featured in his college alumni magazine.

Calgarian turning heads in Thailand
Scott Coates for the Calgary Herald
SA co-founder Dan Fraser makes his big screen acting debut in 'The Garuda'. Scott Coates writes about Dan's foray into the Thai movie industry.

Overseas Volunteers find new horizons
Lisa Kadane for The Calgary Herald
During a year that's been hard on the travel industry in Canada, at least one company is still grinning.

Teaching at Huamark Noi School
Greg Jorgenson
When Dan and Scott asked me to take part in a three-day volunteer teaching program at a public school in eastern Bangkok, I jumped at the chance.

Try Samet
Scott Coates
One Thai beach destination that has been popular with locals and foreigners for many, many years due to its close proximity to Bangkok is Ko Samet.

Loi Krathong
Scott Coates
My first big Thai holiday, back in 1999 was Loi Krathong, the Kingdom’s second most important festival of the year after Songkran (Thai New Years, April) and I’ve eagerly anticipated it every year since.

Finding Home
Scott Coates
watching them interact with the kids and seeing cultural and language barriers disappear, I realized how special this program is ­ not just for the students, but for us too

Songkran
Scott Coates
Songkran is without a doubt the number one festival in Thailand; an event locals look forward to all year long, much like westerners count the days until Christmas holidays.

The Hunt for the Gulf
Todd Kuipers
We did finally get on the bikes shortly after noon. Scott and I had talked about this trip for quite a few months and the time had come for us to actually stop talking and finally do it. We had no real plan though, only a compass, the Gulf as a destination and a willingness to ride for a few days.

Ride of My Life
Scott Coates
Located 1380m above sea level, this sharp peak hangs over the Thai-Laos border in southeastern Chiang Rai province, providing stunning views of Laotian valleys.

Thai Smiles – Good, Bad, Ugly, and the 10 in between
Daniel Fraser
Thailand has long been referred to as ‘The Land of Smiles’ by visitors from the west. Usually referring to Thais’ general sense of happiness and glee, Thais, perhaps more than any other people, have an uncanny knack for smiling in such instances as being in the face of adversity, tension or even danger.

Santikiri High
Daniel Fraser
If you’ve ever been to the gorgeous mountain village of Doi Mae Salong in Thailand’s Chiang Rai province, you probably share the same affinity for the town we do.

Thai Food
Scott Coates
Food is one of life’s greatest pleasures. We need to eat to survive, so you might as well enjoy every bite to it’s fullest, especially when on vacation.

A Stab at Thai History 101
Scott Coates
In an ongoing effort study Thai history, I ventured to the first Thai capital of Sukhothai with some family and friends...

Alternative Krabi
Scott Coates
Easily accessible and with a reputation for excellent rock climbing, Krabi has evolved rapidly from a hidden treasure to a major tourist destination. Travelling solo by sea and land, Scott Coates finds there’s still plenty to explore off the now well-beaten track.

On the Road Again
Scott Coates - appeared in Bangkok Metro, Feb, 02
Hitting the open roads in Isaan, Scott Coates finds how independent drivers can see spectacular Khmer ruins and dancing plants.

The Spirit Festival of Dan Sai
Daniel Fraser
Phi Tha Khon, or ghost procession, is part of a colorful and VERY bizarre merit making ceremony performed annually by the peoples of northeastern Thailand...

Highland Farm
Scott Coates
Ten years later, Bill and Pharanee have a wonderful country home, guest quarters for visiting research students, staff housing, fully reforested land and a barrage of animals...

Graduation at a Thai University
Dan Fraser
Like so many things in Thailand, an outsider can be confused without an understanding of the deeper Thai sense of family and community. ...

Hot, Wet and Ready for Action
Scott Coates
Some forty kilometers later, completely wiped out and in need of some revitalizing, I stumbled upon a unique sauna tucked in behind one of Mae Sod’s many temples, Wat Mani...

Climbing Phu Chee Fah
Scott Coates
Phu Chee Fah is a stunning peak overlooking the clouds and the Laos border a thousand feet below. To get to the top one has to climb the mountain at 4 am in order to watch the sunrise over the valley below...

In the Deep South
Scott Coates
Well, the phone call came. Two of my friends are opening a bar in Krabi and were loading up a pickup truck to take a load of stuff down to Krabi and they wanted someone to share the driving...

On the Khlong
Scott Coates
This is where the real people live. Their houses hang on stilts, defying gravity and looking like they could take the plunge at any moment. This is also how I feel. At any moment, I could stray too far off the sidewalk and fall five feet into the water below.

Flying by the Seat of My Pants
Daniel Fraser
In the heart of the Golden Triangle I jumped on board a “special” river speedboat. I use the term “special” because the crafts are essentially jazzed-up longtail boats with outrageous painting and decals, equipped with an engine that would work comfortably in, say, an Audi A6.

Halloween Kiss – Thai Style
Daniel Fraser
...But despite a rigorous effort, the best we could do was a small stick of black eyeliner and white facial cream. Seems the fish stalls, vegetable markets and candle shops just didn’t have the inventory we’d hoped they would.

Run for the Border
Scott Coates
For now, both men smile politely and ask tourists if they need any help, just hoping to make enough for food. Eventually they’d both like to work formally in tourism, but for now make end’s meat as borderhands and practice their English with the daily passing of travelers.

Media

Travel duo’s business off the beaten track
Susan Mate for Business Edge
Forget the cramped cubicle, office politics and the security of a regular paycheque.

Overseas Volunteers find new horizons
Lisa Kadane for The Calgary Herald
During a year that's been hard on the travel industry in Canada, at least one company is still grinning.

Teach and Learn in Thailand
Pamela Fieber for The Calgary Herald
Want a holiday with a difference? How about volunteering to teach English to rural Thai children?

Trains, planes and elephants . . . through Thailand
Pamela Fieber for The Calgary Herald
When others are sitting in traffic for hours, you're hiking through real jungle with the tiny, sandal-wearing leader of a hill-tribe village, and eating hill-tribe food by a waterfall...

Bangkok Smooth as Silk
Jake Bogoch for Bike Magazine
"By the way, if you see me duck, you should too," says Scott. "Okay. What will I be ducking?" I'm ready to believe anything at this point. "Big leaves. Sometimes they have heavy bunches of bananas behind them," he says flatly.