Homestay in Ban Busai Eco-tourism gains a firm foothold in Wang Nam Kheo District of Nakhon Ratchasima Tim Thongchimplee, 72, woke up before sunrise to prepare boiled rice with Shitake mushroom and minced pork for us, her homestaying guests. She lived alone in the two-storey wooden house in Ban Busai village. It was clean and big enough to take in 10 guests at any given time. "I never feel tired serving my guests. Actually, it is better to have guests so that I've someone to talk with," she said munching betel nut. Since October 2003 ten Ban Busai families have renovated their houses and opened them to visitors under a scheme whereby they supplement their income through homestay tourism. "When I was asked to join the scheme, I first hesitated but my daughter urged me to go for it as she and her husband had already made up their minds about joining the scheme," she said. The homestay idea was broached to them by Assoc Professor Dr Thawatchai Teekachunhatean of the Suranaree University of Technology. It all began in the year 2000 when the Ban Busai farming community asked the university for help after encountering problems in growing Shitake mushroom because the temperate climate was proving not conducive to yield. The university assigned a team of researchers to assist the farmers. It spent three years training them modern farming techniques, after which farmers were able to harvest mushroom in quantities commensurate with their input. Dr Thawatchai then suggested the community to learn ways to add value to their new source of income. He urged them to plant chemical-free vegetables, chrysanthemum and use their hospitality and natural lifestyle to attract visitors. That's how Ban Busai joined the tourism bandwagon. The villagers received support from the local administration that helped them set up a committee to manage the homestay project. The villagers went through a period of training during they visited and studied homestay models in other parts of the country, at the end of which 10 families were selected - all living within a walking distance of each other. In less than a year after it began operations, Ban Busai was among the top 16 homestay destinations in 2004 - out of a field of 104 villages nationwide. The Ministry of Sports and Tourism cited it for meeting the prescribed standards of hygiene, sanitation and quality of service. Later, Ban Busai itself was chosen a model homestay village. "We have visitors almost everyday. They are here to learn from our experiences," said a man who sits on the village committee. "Some even come from the North. Sometimes they come in big 100-strong groups and that keep the village busy. When I asked our host if she ever felt afraid having strangers in her house, she looked in my eyes and nodded. She did feel uneasy if it were all men, but then explained that her niece comes to keep her company on such occasions."I try to think they are here to learn. Since most of them tend to be in employ of the government I think they will not harbour the intent to do me any harm," she said. Ban Busai is just three hours drive from Bangkok and at this time of the year it offers visitors cool breeze and relaxing ambience. They can book via its web site, http://www.wangnamkheo.com/busaihomestay2.htm, or drive there and choose their own host. The site has details about each house, host as well as their pictures. Activities on offer include tour of Shitake mushroom and organic farms that grow vegetables and serve fresh drinks extracted from passion fruit, beetroot, carrot and other sources. Some farms have their own brewery, while some offer spa and health treatments. Not far from Ban Busai is Thap Lan National Park where visitors can go trekking or enjoy its waterfall. Classical dance performances and music are available on request. The going rate for a night's stay is 150 baht per person, excluding food which costs an extra 50-75 baht per meal, as do guide service and cultural performances. MORE INFO Wang Nam Kheo is a district in the south of Nakhon Ratchasima. Motorist from Bangkok can drive via Highway 7, then get on Highway 314 and head for Chachoengsao before turning right into Highway 304. For reservations and more information, call In Moonpimai at 081-068-6887. |