Flash Mob Phi Phi

Who: Anyone from anywhere
What: Tsunami relief work
When: October 17th - 22nd
Where: Koh Phi Phi Don, Thailand
How: This site will give you everything you need!

What is a flash mob? A flash mob is a large group of people who gather in a usually predetermined location, perform some brief action, and then quickly disperse. Typically someone will get an idea for a flash mob, let's use having a pillow fight in a public area as an example (this actually happened with about 300 people one day in Trafalger Square London. It lasted twenty minutes.) A person will get an idea, set the date, the time, the length of the mob gathering and the place. They will then email or text message this information to a large group of people, who would pass it on to friends, who then pass it on to friends and so on and so on. After recieving the electronic message those wishing to participate in the flash mob would make thier own arrangements for travel to the designated place and participate in the mob.

I recently traveled to the Tsunami torn island of Koh Phi Phi, in southern Thailand. I was amazed at the amount of need that still remains on this island. Part of this is due to the fact that currently the Thai government is not helping with the rebuilding efforts on Phi Phi. These wonderful people not only need others to come physically rebuild their homes, but they also need their world family to come spend money to help restart their economy.

This site was developed to help those that would like to participate in a Flash Mob Missions project to Thailand. On it you will find all the information you need to participate in this once in a life time experience. You find how to make travel arrangements, where to stay, what to bring, who to contact about work projects and much more.

One of the most important aspects of a flash mob is that the word about it gets out. Even if you do not plan to participate by joining the flash mob in Thailand, you can participate by helping us share this oppertunity with everyone you know!

These people need our help. During this singal week, one or two of us could make a difference, 30 to 40 of us could make an impact or 150 to 200 of us could change the world. Join a gathering of like minded folks in somehting that may seem so complicated and crazy, but is truly simple and important!

How To Get There

This page will help you find flights to Thailand and will give you information on the ferry cost and departure times to get to the island. This information will be in US dollars. The majority of the information is geared for Americans, but by no means does that mean my brothers and sisters from other parts of the world are not invited. I myself live in America and so my information is based solely on my experience traveling from here to Thailand. I hope this flash mob attracts people from all across the globe!

Flying to Thailand:

I found a wonderful website called Travelot.com. This is a massive search engine that checks all available flight information and gives you the best prices. It is very easy to use!

www.travelot.com

As of May 8th here are some of the lowest fares found on travelot.com from that departure city to Bangkok:

Los Angeles: $1112
Dallas: $1027
Chicago: $945
Atlanta: $1011
New York City: $953

To arrive on the island on October 17th. my American friends will need to book flights that leave on the 15th. No matter where you fly out of in the States you will arrive in Bangkok the following day (October 16th). Most flights tend to arrive very late on Sundays and will require that you stay overnight in Bangkok Sunday night. You will need to arrange another flight to either Phuket or Krabi (I recommend Krabi) for Monday.

Departing from the the Island, you will need to make your return flight from Phuket or Krabi on Saturday the 22nd. This will also require another overnight stay in Bangkok as most flights to the US leave very early in the morning on Sunday (October 23rd) and arrive in the states very late in the evening that same day.

Boat Travel to the Island:

Once you arrive at either Krabi or Phuket airports you will need to take a taxi(4.00 to 12.00 US) to the pier. There you will catch a ferry(5.00 to 7.00 US) to Koh Phi Phi. Please check for a current time schedule at: Phi Phi Ferry

Where To Stay

I was on Phi Phi Don in March and April of 2005. Even with all the devastation done by the tsunami in December, this island is still an amazingly beautiful place to be. You can stay on this island as cheap or as expensively as you like. While we where there many hotels were offering 50% off their normal rates, some rooms where going for $7.00 US a night. While others on the north side of the island (out of reach of the tsunami) where going for $120.00 US a night (I don't recommend these hotels, not because of the price but because of the walk you may have each day from your work site to your hotel room.) Below is a description of available housing while you are on the island.

$0.00 (US)
If you are highly adventurous, you may wish to bring a tent to pitch on the beach for the week. This is highly cost effective, but as you can imagine somewhat less hygienically sound then a hotel room. This option would be only recommended for the highly, highly adventurous types, the truly rugged men and women among us.

$7.00 - $25.00 (US)
If you are somewhat adventurous you may wish to wait on making any housing accommodations before you arrive on the island. Many of the Internet sites have fixed prices and don't give the discounts that one may find when actually on the island. Also I plan to be on the island a day before most would arrive and will compile a list of hotels that have availability and good prices, as well as those in need of guests. I will bring this list with me when I come to greet everyone coming off the ferry. I doubt the island will run out of rooms for the week, so to take this option you need be trusting and adventurous at the same time.

$25.00 - $60.00 (US)
There are plenty of nice hotels that were lightly damaged by the tsunami that are already repaired and running normal. The best place to find these hotels is online. You may not be getting the best price, but you are going to be staying in a quality room. If you can work the Internet well enough and find a directly phone line to the hotel you like, you may want to call them to see if you can get a better price.

$60.00 - $150.00 (US)
If you have deep pockets there are many hotels on the north side of the island that were undamaged by the tsunami and the prices reflect it. There have great facilities and are well maintained. The biggest downside to these hotels after the price would be the distance you would have to walk from your hotel to your work site each day. There are no taxies or cars on the island. This might make for a long week.

Krabi.sawadee.com
www.phi-phi-hotel.com
www.phi-phi.com
www.phiphihotels.com

What To Bring

Let's be honest, Americans over pack. We lug to much junk, to far, for no reason. I would say my march '05 trip to Thailand was my first major international trip. And not wanting to look too American I tried as I might to pack light. However, as we traveled around I quickly found that I was several pounds over my limit. Packing is a subjective thing everyone does it differently. So my suggestions from this point on are solely my own opinions.

Underwear - enough for every day you are gone
Socks - the short sport kind, enough for every day you are gone
Bathing Suit - one, your tan line is not a priority on this trip
Pants - this is for both men and women, one pair (you are not permitted to enter the Wat's unless you have long pants on)
Shorts - one pair, no one in Phi Phi is checking to see if you have the same clothes on each day
T-shirts - two, these are easy to wash and dry, then rotated from day to day
Shirt - one collard shirt is not necessary but may help you feel more civilized
Shoes - one pair of sandal/flip-flops for the beach and at night and one pair of rugged cross trainers for work and walking, remember there is lots of walking
Toiletries - you know what you need here
Detergent - bring a small tube of Woolite or Tide to clean your clothes each night
Camera - digital is good, video is somewhat over the top, disposable is light and affordable
Computer - don't bring
MP3 Player - don't bring
Credit Cards - bring one as a back up to your cash
Travelers Checks - you may bring, at hotels and such it will get you a better exchange rate than hard cash
Cash - only bring what you absolutely need
Passport - don't leave home with out it
Sunscreen - I have heard about people ruining there time on Phi Phi because they allowed themselves to get burnt on the ferry ride over to the island, don't let this be you
Bug Spray - you can, we did not experience tremendous bug problems, a small can would be fine

Feel free to email me if you think I left something out or aren't sure about something.

Organizations To Help

There are many dive shops that have banded togheter to help clean the debris from the coral reef around the island. This area in Thailand is a know for being a Marine National Park with some of the most spectacular dives in all of Asia. Yet the Thai government is doing very little to help clean up this "national park". The dive shops on the island need ceritfied divers to come and help with the clean up. Here is a link to Viking Divers who are actively involved in this end of the clean up.

Other than the diving there are two organizations on the island doing some great work, individually and together. They fit well into this concept of Flash Mob Missions because they have tons of work for people to do. All we need to do is show up on the island and they will put us to work. They are:

HI Phi Phi - This is a locally organized group of people doing everything they can to help out their Thai brothers and sisters on the island. They have been running the majority of the work projects out of a make shift office in one of the local pubs. Anyone is welcome to sign in and start working! Their web site will give you a great deal of information on what happened on this island and what is happening. You may also want to check out their message board, as updates on good hotel rates will sometimes be posted there.

Hands on Phi Phi - This is a division of Hands on Global. This organization was started right after the tsunami and has done great work all over southern Thailand. Their site has great information about Phi Phi, with an extensive picture gallery. Once you have decided to be a part of the mob I would recommend applying to be a volunteer for them. Even if you don't work with them your entire visit, it is nice to have a back up plan.

The one way this mission experience will be different then most is that the people of this island need us to come and spend our money. So that means if you take a day in the middle of the week to go scuba diving, you are doing a tremendous thing for the island by helping rebuild their economy. I suggest you take time during your journey with this flash mob to stop and experience all of what Phi Phi has to offer. That is rebuilding too!

Who Is Coming

This page is for those that make a commitment to be a part of the mob to publicly acknowledge that they are doing so by using the comments button bellow. This is not a FAQ page, if you have questions that were not answered by the rest of this website please email me directly. Feel free to leave your own personal information if you are looking for a roommate on the island. See you all soon!

More Info & FAQ

This page is designed to help answer some of the little detail type questions you may have about being a part of this flash mob. If your question isn't answered here feel free to email Roger!

What about passports and visas?
For American citizens traveling to Thailand you will need a valid passport. If you don't have a passport (only 10% of all US citizens have a valid passport) we suggest going to your local post office to obtain the needed paper work to apply for one. You need to allow up to six weeks for the application to be approved and sent to you. American citizens do not need to obtain a visa for lengths of stay less then 30 days in Thailand. If you do plan to attend the flash mob you can register your travel with US government via the Internet.

What about medical concerns?
There are no shot requirements for entrance into Thailand. But we do suggest you visit a travel doctor at least a month before you trip. They will make suggestions and it is your personal decision which shots and medication you choose to obtain before your travel. During my trip to Phi Phi in March of 2005, there were no cases of Malaria in the area. But, you should make your decision based on the "better safe then sorry" method.

What about money?
First off credit cards are widely accepted in Thailand and on Phi Phi. The exchange rate is around $38.45 Baht to the US dollar. Although the US dollar is accepted at most locations, we advise you exchange your money for Baht on arrival in Thailand. There are many exchange booths in the Bangkok Airport, as well in most of the airports you will encounter on your journey to Thailand. You can expect to spend around $15 US dollars a day on meals and will need money for taxis and ferries while traveling to and from Phi Phi. There are no taxis on the island, so you will walk everywhere! The total amount you can figure for expenses are as follows:

Travel= $1300
Lodging = $300
Food = $200

But everyone's spending habits are different. These figures are just estimates. Some may spend more or less than others. While planning you can make this trip by spending anywhere from $1600 to $1900 depending on your airfare and lodging choices.

WARNING! HIDDEN FEE: The Thai government levies a $1000 Baht "exit" tax when you leave the country. You must pay this tax in Baht and not in US dollars. Make sure you keep a 1000 Baht bill when you exchange your monies back to US dollars before leaving the country.

What about the water?
Knock on wood, no one in our traveling part experience "travelers sickness" while in Thailand. Bottled water is highly suggested and available everywhere. Each hotel we stayed at offered a complimentary bottle of water a day in our rooms. Also, at the time of our trip, HI Phi Phi was doing a great job of offering workers as much bottled water, as they needed.

What about language barriers?
Phi Phi is of course a Thai-speaking island. If you would like, you can readily find "how to speak Thai" books and tapes at most major bookstores. Thai is a tonal language and can be difficult to learn. However, Phi Phi is a tourist island and most of its inhabitants are very use to having Western visitors. Most speak some English.

What about my cell phone?
The Thai cell phone systems work at an 1800-megahertz wavelength. If your phone is signal or dual band phone it will not work in Thailand. You must have a tri or quad band phone to use it in Thailand. It is also a good idea to call your service provider before leaving on your trip to make sure you have international services on your plan. Also if you phone works off of a SIMM card, you can buy a pre-paid SIMM card when in Thailand. This is the cheapest way to make phone calls while there. This also requires you to have your service provider "un-lock" your phone.

What about Internet access?
There are Internet cafe's about every ten feet in Thailand. Yes, even on Phi Phi there are tons of places to access the Internet. Most times your usage determines how much you will pay. Expect to pay 5 to 20 Baht per minutes. Most access is dial-up and only good for short emails. But if you think you may explode if you can't use a computer for a week, don't worry; wherever there is a phone, there is the Internet.

What about things to do on the island?
We highly suggest while on Phi Phi that you take time out of volunteering to experience the wonders of the Andaman Sea. There are many SCUBA outfitters on the Island that need your business. As you are planning, you may want to make any excursion arrangements for Friday of that week. To respect the Muslims on the island there is no relief work done on Fridays. It makes this day a great day to experience the coral reef around Koh Phi Phi Lo, which is a National Marine Wildlife park.

Also while the mob is on the island, we will plan to arrange for anyone in the mob to gather at one of the many wonderful restraints on the island for dinner. Renee and I plan to greet each ferry to help people find or get to their hotel. At this time we will have maps and a list of the restaurants the group will be eating at each night. This will be a great time for us to relax and get to know each other better through out the week.

You Can Still Help

What's that? Tropical islands, boats and 16-hour straight plane rides aren't your thing? There is still a huge way for you to help. Flash mobs work best when the maximum number of people can be exposed to the opp0rtunity. This is where you can help! Please send the following message in an email to as many people as you can. You never know who may be attracted to an event like this. It may even be your mom and dad! So copy and paste this in an email and help others learn about the needs on Phi Phi!





A special note from FLASH MOB MISSIONS about a special opportunity.


Who: Anyone from anywhere
What: Tsunami relief work
When: October 15th - 23rd
Where: Koh Phi Phi Don, Thailand
How: This site will give you everything you need! http://flashmobmissions.blogspot.com/


What is a flash mob? A flash mob is a large group of people who gather in a usually predetermined location, perform some brief action, and then quickly disperse. Typically someone will get an idea for a flash mob, let's use having a pillow fight in a public area as an example (this actually happened with about 300 people one day in Trafalgar Square London. It lasted twenty minutes.) A person will get an idea, set the date, the time, the length of the mob gathering and the place. They will then email or text message this information to a large group of people, who would pass it on to friends, who then pass it on to friends and so on and so on. After receiving the electronic message those wishing to participate in the flash mob would make their own arrangements for travel to the designated place and participate in the mob.

I recently traveled to the Tsunami torn island of Koh Phi Phi, in southern Thailand. I was amazed at the amount of need that still remains on this island. Part of this is due to the fact that currently the Thai government is not helping with the rebuilding efforts on Phi Phi. These wonderful people not only need others to come physically rebuild their homes, but they also need their world family to come spend money to help restart their economy.

Everything you would ever need to join this flash mob can be found at:

http://flashmobmissions.blogspot.com/

These people need our help. During this single week, one or two of us could make a difference, 30 to 40 of us could make an impact or 150 to 200 of us could change the world. Join a gathering of like minded folks in something that may seem so complicated and crazy, but is truly simple and important!

If traveling to Thailand is not on your heart, there are other ways to help. Add the website above to your blog if you have one or please share this email with friends and family, by using the copy & paste function to send it in a new email. Please do not use forward. The more people this gets shared with the more help those on Koh Phi Phi will receive!