Still – although covered in all the beauties of this place – this magnifying rainforest has its unexpected downsides as well. It is threatened by illegal poaching, logging and expanding of plantations. Wild animals are taken out of their habitat for being used as a model. The pictures are being sold to tourists.

Tourism has many positive influences on a particular destination. The most important one is that it stimulates the regional economy. But tourism could bring along negative influences as well. Tourists could scare off animals, who might feel threatened. Because of the many transport needed, the place could get polluted by the enormous amounts of tourists. It was my task to describe the current situation in Khao Sok National Park regarding its tourism. Besides that I gave some English lessons to rangers in the visitor center of the National Park.

I volunteered for Openmindprojects for about three months; in total I have been in Khao Sok for about seven months. You cannot imagine all the things I have seen and experienced in this little paradise. Living with the local people is an experience I will never forget! (…Neither the huge spider that crawled over my leg, when I was trying to watch a movie with my Thai friends…)

I would recommend all following volunteers to overcome your fears and just have fun! It is an once-in-a-lifetime experience!