Pages Created on October 1999.
Revisited November 2, 2006 and
Revisited January 1st and 7th, Revised April 1, 2007, 26 July 2007 and September 16, 2007.
Copyright 1998-2007 by John W. Allen
CULTURAL EXPEDITION
PRESENTS
KOH SAMUI, KOH PHA-NGAN, THAILAND
AND
ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA
MILLENIUM, Summer 2008
(May 30 to June 15, 2008 a 17-18 day Excursion)
This will be the last Southeast Asian Shroom and Cultural Expedition.
[Please Read Requirements to Participate on this Expedition]
| Welcome to the wonderful world of exotic forays. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is John W. Allen and I am your host and primary tour-guide during our excursion in Thailand and Cambodia. To be able to join in on this expedition, each participant must be in school and have acreditation for his and/or her classes and have at least two prerequsite classes in Sociology and/or biology and at least one lab. Proof of current enrollments must be provided upon request to join. Below, I have posted an image of me and one of my Thai friends. |
March 20, 2007 Revised September 16, 2007
Historical sites we wil Visit while in Thailand
BIG BUDDHA OF KOH SAMUI
AYUTHAYA
BANG PA IN
WAT CHEDI YAI CHAI
MUANG BORAN: THE ANCIENT CITY
TARNIM MAGIC GARDENS, KOH SAMUI
Reeshi Mushrooms at the Gardens of the King of Thailand
CLICK ON EACH IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Below are images of Thailand and Cambodia.
The first one is of of Thailand.
The 2nd image is that of Angkor Wat, Cambodia.
|
CLICK HERE Where We Stay in Cambodia The Jasmine Hotel |
| Exotic forays was formed in 1989 in order to provide both amateur
and scholarly mycophiles with a unique forum for field research in unusual
exotic locations. Exotic forays also presents a rewarding cultural experience
which offers those interested in art, anthropology, architecture and religion, a chance
to visit contemporary people in their indigenous environments and examine
their arts, crafts, sculptures and culture on a personal level. While previous forays and cultural excursions have included visits to Indonesia (Bali, Jakarta, Sumatra and Malaysia); Cambodia (Kampuchea), Burma (Myanmar), the Philippine Islands, India, Nepal, Australia, New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands, this will difinitely be my last trip exploring Southeast Asia and Oceania for visionary mushrooms. This final excursion will take us to Thailand and Cambodia for 17-18 days of shroom fun and cultural exploration in the sun and maybe a little monsoon or two. Some of the goals of Exotic Forays is to (1) examine, collect, and identify specimens of wild edible, toxic and entheogenic fungi and (2) to search for evidence indicating any past cultural use. This research will be in the field and will be approached in a very formal manner. Since the late 1950s, mushroom research has been conducted in many regions of the world which were lacking in the mycological identification of new species indigenous to such regions. This opportunity should give cultivators a chance to collect rare species and thus create spore prints of mushrooms which are not accessible for study in Western Civilization. In the course of my first three forays, I found that those who joined me on these excursions were also interested in many aspects of the cultures of the peoples of the countries in which we visited. This included many visits into ancient cities, their temples, Buddhist caves and the collection of mushrooms and mushroom spore prints which exist in all of the countries noted above. Since the summer of 1988, I have led a few dozen expeditions to Koh Samui and several other Island and mainland resorts in and around the Gulf of Thailand and along some areas of the Andaman Sea and several other countries in Suoth and Southeast Asia. There I discovered an unusual cultural phenomena which involved tourists, Hindu's, Thai's, mushrooms, and art. During the course of these expeditions I published 5 scholarly papers on Thai Mushrooms and one book detailing my research and discoveries in Thailand and other regions of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, India and some regions of Oceania. Because of the success of these excursions, I have continued to provide those whose interest in the spreading of entheogenic visionary mushrooms, an incentive to collect said mushrooms and/or spore prints legally and this interest continues to grow through travel and knowledge gathered on each subsequent expedition. During the past 9 years I have traveled 11 times with small groups of two to eight individuals to Xiem Riap, Cambodia and visited the temples of Angkor Bayan, Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat, Ta Proehm, Prah Karn, Banteay Kdei and Banteay Srei at the (Temple of the Women). At these great temples I found many varieties of both edible and toxic mushrooms as well as a specimen of a young Psilocybe cubensis growing in front of the temple of Angkor Wat and at these temples and surrounding grounds we have also observed several varieties of Copelandia spp., of which I have also posted an image following that of the P. cubensis. In the late summer of 2002 and 2003, I, and several Exotic Foray participants, along with several children during my foray, discovered what at first was thought to be a new species of psilocybian fungi at Banteay Kdei, Xiem Riap. This new mushroom was found to be an already known species called Psilocybe antioquensis, previouosly known only from Colombia and Mexico. It is the 2nd species of psilocybian fungi I discovered on two of these journeys into Southeast Asia. In 2005 we found a third Psilocybe mushroom. A small collection of Psilocybe samuiensis found near Angkor Wat which was previously only known of from Koh Samui, Thailand. In 2006, Psilocybe samuiensis was reported by a colleague from Ranong Province on the Andaman Sea Coast Region of Thailand facing India and Sri Lanka. |
On the left are cambodian Psilocybe cubensis. On the right are Cambodian Copelandia cyanecens.
Below is a photograph of Psilocybe antioquensis collected along the south wall of Banteay Kdei.
| This excursion to Thailand will be conducted on three levels of communication
(1) mycological (the identification of wild and toxic species and the
collection of rare spore prints for future storage and in vitro cultivation;
(2) cultural (observing various tribal peoples and Thai citizens in their
natural environments); and (3) anthropological and historical (visiting
the various temples in these lands and the historical sites created by
their ancestors). If possible and clear skies after a rainfall, we may also be able to include a
visit to the Kwai (buffalo) Farm and Oyster mushroom Farm in Suphanburi. Remember this trip only last for 17 days and includes all the sites in and around Bangkok, the island of Koh Samui and Koh Pha-Ngan and a five day excursion to and from Cambodia where we will visit at many of the temples of the region. This five day excursion is included during the seventeen days. Also included in this 17 day excursion to SE Asia are most meals (in house only), hotels and resort bungalows in Thailand and Koh Samui as well as Cambodia. Motorcycle rentals, entrance fees to Muang Boran (the ancient city) and Samutprakarn (Crocodile Farm), as well as personal guides in Cambodia, and some other expenses are covered by this trip. You must pay the $20.00 Visa fee to the Cambodian Embassy which I arrange and the $40.00 three-day pass to the temple grounds of the Angkor Wat Compound in Xiem Riap, Cambodia. As noted earlier, this year of 2008 will be my final excursion into this region of the world and will involve only five participants. Our small group of intrepid explorers and/or adventurers will venture into visiting several wats, temples, ancient ruins, water falls, and the giant Big Buddha and Tarnim Gardens, as well as two waterfalls and daily swimming on Koh Samui Island, situated 710 km south of Bangkok and 86 km off the coast of Surat Thani, Thailand. |
THAILAND----------------------KOH SAMUI ISLAND
CLICK BELOW TO SEE WHERE WE STAY ON KOH SAMUI
Where we will stay on Koh Samui
For an alternative Resort for the family minded visitor,
couples and friends traveling together to Samui Island.
CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE TREE TOP LODGE
CLICK HERE
There are buffalo fights, kick boxing exhibitions, and swimming on a daily basis and both Koh Samui and Koh Pha-Ngan islands have very beautiful beaches as seen in the images below.
We will also visit several rice paddies, one of which is pictured below.
It is in these many rice paddies and buffalo arenas where we will be able to photograph the visionary mushrooms, collect spore prints of these species and visit with native farmers and their children who know of that some of the mushrooms in their environments are special and sold for tourist consumption.
In Late 1989, the Thai government made the use, possession and sales of these mushrooms illegal, yet many restaurants in numerous resort areas still cater to tourist influence in this matter, and will make mushroom omelettes available when asked for.
Under no circumstances is anyone on these tours allowed by Exotic Forays to break the laws of another country. All will be allowed to help in the collection of specimens for herbarium deposit and for making spore prints, but cannot keep the mushrooms for theirselves while on the island which is prolific in abundant fruitings.
In Bangkok, I will provide everyone with a morning excursion to the Private Agricultural Gardens of the King and Queen of Thailand. In the two image posted below we find a group of large Amanita muscaria sculptures which adorn the Palace Garden Cultivation center for Reeshi development and mulberry paper making. In the 2nd image taken a few years later, we find the Amanita paintings have been replaced with green mushroom sculptures. The Amanitas were there for about 15 years.
This next image is a photograph of the Chinese Mushrooms of Immortality known by the Japanese people as Reeshi mushrooms. Here they are grown at the agricultural center. This special visit is arranged for us by my colleague from Chulalongkorn university in Bangkok where i am currently preparing for publication, several shroom articles in conjucntion with the university.
We will also view the Golden Buddha at Wat Keo (5 1/2 tons solid gold, very awesome to view). This image of the Sacred Lord Buddha was accidentally discovered circa the early 1950's when a crane broke and the plaster chipped off of this enormous and somewhat heavy sculpture. Gold was discovered under the plaster and the statue was eventually cleaned up and transported to Bangkok.
An all day excursion which cannot be describe in words, is a magical kingdom within the Kingdom of Thailand, a place where the natural beauty of Muang Boran (the ancient city) which shines upon the whole country with great national pride. Muang Boran is a national treasure. It is a vast land area which is built in the shape of Thailand. Everywhere in Thailand where there is a temple or ancient ruins, some of those original structures have been either moved or were rebuild at Mueng Boran in perspective to their exact location in Thailand. The Wats, Buddha images, sculptures, wood carvings of teak, and other statues or structures may be anywhere from 1/3 of their original size to 100 percent of the original. Below are several images from Muang Boran.
After leaving Muang Boran, we will travel southeast to Samutprakarn, the worlds largest crocodile farm. Here if one is brave, you may sit with a real 600 pound Malaysian tiger or leopard. There is also an exotic animal farm and if you like, there are camel rides and many amusements at the park. See the images below of me with some very big kitty cats
We may also spend time a few hours at the world famous weekend market in Bangkok (more than 8,000 booths of everything you ever imagened), and the day and night market of Banlampoo. The weekend market is so hot, one can only hang there for a few hours before heat exhaustion sets in. In addition to the museums and ancient cities, we may spend a morning at the herbarium of Chulalongkorn University with Dr. Prakitsin Sihanonth, head of the Department of Microbiology. Dr. Sihanonth May arrange for us a one day of collecting mushrooms around the Muslim region of Bangkok since the Muslims own most of the Cattle (Wua) around Bangkok or a visit to the kwai farm in Suphanburi for a day of Copelandia gathering.
Flight on ----------- Airlines leaves Seattle, Washington to San Francisco To Tai Pai and then on to Bangkok at Am/Pm on , On May 29th, 2008, we will arrive in Bangkok within 14 to 24 hours later, arriving either at the Don Muang International Airport or the new airport which opened last summer.
We will spend our first night at the in a hotel on Sukumvit in Bangkok. I will make all arrangements for our first 3-4 days in Bangkok. At this Hotel we can freshen up and spend the evening and following morning with a chance to relax and get to know each other.
In the morning I will make arrangements for our transportation to Muang Boran, Samutprakarn, and Cambodia (See Page 2 of Exotic Forays for information pertaining tot he Cambodian adventure). The morning will be open to freshen up and adjust to the jet lag and heat of the city. Massage services of ancient Thai massage are usually available at all hotels. The massage is not included in the tour (a 1 hour massage usually costs from $2.50 dollars US.
In the early morning we will depart for the ancient city of Muang Boran and then we will spend the afternoon at Samutprakarn.
On our third day in bangkok while I obtain our visas to Cambodia, all of you may have a free day to relax or to go out on your own. There are many things to do and see in Bangkok. If you like we can visit Siam Center, the weekend market (eight thousand booths), or some of the art museums or go to the Dusit zoo (strange animals not seen in the west). We can also visit some of the other ethnic districts such as the Chinese markets or the Hindu section of Bangkok. I leave this up to the group to decide.
Koh Samui |
A little Photoshop at play here.
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