How to get to the Center

1. When you arrive in Bangkok you can fly to Mae Sot from Don Muang Airport with Nok Air. It is different from the new big international airport on which you arrive. If you book more than a week in advance there is often a considerable price reduction. They also have regular promotions. Costs: 800-2500 B 2. If you don't have the means to fly: there are lots of direct busses in the morning (79 am) and evening (7-9.30 pm) from Mo Chit (Northern) bus terminal. On top there are busses to Phisanulok and Tak (both on the way to Mae Sot) and can change the bus there. From Phisanulok it takes 4 hours to get Mae Sot, from Tak 2,5 hours. Plus there are mini busses that leave every hour. The trip from Bkk takes 7 hours, this means that you arrive between 4-6 pm, if you take a morning bus. You will arrive around 5.30 am, if you take a night bus. If possible please just come and only call, if you have problems. The first one's will be up at 6 am in our house (at least on school days) and the shop keeper sells from 5.30 on drinks and snacks and even coffee in case we should be still asleep. 3. When you arrive in Mae Sot: Look beforehand at the maps on this blog! The most important name is the village name: Ban Nonq King Fa! Some taxi drivers don't know where it is, or pretend not to know it, in order to drive you to some guesthouse where they get a provision. As we get more and more volunteers more taxi drivers know the village. In case nothing seems to work out call me. If my husband or my daughter is there, they can speak with the taxi driver in Thai. If there shouldn't be any taxi we can send one from here. The trip usually costs 50 B. 4. Way Descripton: when you come out of the bus terminal you turn left and continue straight. There comes a Cafe called Playtime with a playboy bunny sign and shortly afterwards a Petrolstation with a 7 eleven. 20 m afterwards take the small road to the left. It takes about 1,5 km to get to the village. You will pas Mae Sot Food cannery, United Christian school, the Wat (left side, big gate with lots of dogs in front) and then come into a small village. It is very small (many people drive through it!) and has only 4 buildings on the left side of the road: an ugly house, a big beautiful one, one with a blue roof (the factory next to us!) and then comes the taxi gate, where you get off. The taxi gate is a hut with a TV and fridge and chicken and ducks.

Many men hang out there and most probably one of them will guide you to our house. Directly opposite from this taxi gate is a shop with a female shop keeper, she also guides people to us. You have to ask for Falang, when you arrive in the village. Everybody knows us. Behind this taxi gate lies a huge house with an ugly metal roof. That is us. You walk down the field, on the left is the fence of the factory. We have a green gate and our dogs will bark. They are very friendly and don't bite, but alarm us when someone comes. 5. We don't have car taxis (in the whole town!) only Tuk Tuk and motorcycle. Yes, it is possible to fit with a big packpack on a motorcycle! No problem and it is only a short trip. 6. You could walk, if your backpack is not too heavy. It takes 20-30 minutes.