Weru or Welu Wetlands?

On Friday we were invited to visit the Weru Wetlands (incorrectly translated on every sign and pamphlet here as WeLu Wetlands) with a large group of top politicians in Chantaburi. They are trying to create an ecotrek for visitors to come and learn about environmental issues in protecting wetlands. This was the initial voyage and we were so lucky to be included.

Again we were on the news, in fact the news crew would not dare leave our side the entire day:


We took these boats:

I absolutely love being on water and the boat trips are always cool, but we sometimes feel as if our fat american asses are going to crash through the series of tiny wooden boards everywhere!

On the river and learned about Mangrove trees which provide protection against erosion and offer essential shelter for the wildlife.

We then watched Red Hawks feed. They were amazing, dozens of them flying and swooping into the river for fish, then flying happily away munching on their bounty.

Families live along the Weru River and have been there for centuries. They technically do not own the land (water? can you own water?) but the government seems to leave them alone as they are successful fishermen providing the for the town.

We watched the sunset on the way back:

Then we had dinner and they gave many many speaches as Thai people so like to do. They even asked Iain up to speak. Jen translated to Katie and I as Iain spoke of how they could perhaps get corporate sponsorship from large companies overseas to help fund the project.

We were so afraid the speaches would turn into karaokee as it most often does in Thailand, at bars, at restaurants, peoples homes, in peoples yards even on the buses for christ sake! Thankfully it did not and we all headed home.

See you tomorrow!