Cambodia

Description:

Faith Village Children’s Home is a safe haven for children who are orphaned, abused, in danger, or have been trafficked for child prostitution or slave labor and forced into rebel armies. The children living at Faith Village have been rescued and are immersed in a Christian environment in which they are taught and demonstrated the love of Jesus Christ. They are educated, fed, clothed, and mentored.

Cultural information:

Thailand is nearly 95 percent Buddhist, mainly of the Theravada school (which includes the Thai Forest Tradition and the Dhammayuttika Nikaya and Santi Asoke sects) and an unknown minority belonging to the Mahayana school. In addition there are minorities of Muslims in Thailand (5-6 percent), Christians (1 percent), and other religions. Thai Theravada Buddhism is supported and overseen by the government, with monks receiving a number of government benefits, such as free use of public transportation.

Buddhism in Thailand is strongly influenced by traditional beliefs regarding ancestral and natural spirits, which have been incorporated into Buddhist cosmology. Most Thai people install spirit houses, miniature houses outside their dwellings, where they believe household spirits live. They present offerings of food and drink to these spirits to keep them happy. If these spirits aren't happy, it is believed that they will inhabit the household and cause chaos. These spirit houses can be found in public places and on the streets of Thailand, where the public make offerings.

Geographic Information:

The most conspicuous features of Thailand's terrain are high mountains, a central plain, and an upland plateau. Mountains cover much of northern Thailand and extend along the Myanmar border down through the Kra Isthmus and the Malay Peninsula. The central plain is a lowland area drained by the Chao Phraya River and its tributaries, the country's principal river system, which feeds into the delta at the head of the Bay of Bangkok. The Chao Phraya system drains about one-third of the nation's territory. In the northeastern part of the country the Khorat Plateau, a region of gently rolling low hills and shallow lakes, drains into the Mekong through the Mun River. The Mekong system empties into the South China Sea and includes a series of canals and dams.

Health Considerations:

This country has either areas with high altitude (2400m or more) or/and areas with very high altitude (3658m or more). Travelers who may go into areas of high altitude should take care to avoid ill effects of being at altitude including Acute Mountain Sickness, a potentially life-threatening condition.

Equipment to Bring:

Regardless of the time of year, when traveling to Thailand you should make sure you pack the following in addition to your usual travel essentials: Slip on shoes, A water bottle, Bug spray, Sunscreen, Rain gear (jacket, rain fly, dry sacs), A sweater or sweatshirt, and Warm weather clothing.

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