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gecko villa
description: Located between three small
Thai rural villages, the villa nestles amongst paddy fields in Siam's
Isaan plateau. During your next holiday, why not make the villa your own
house, rather than restricting yourself to a hotel?
In the rural heartlands of Thailand's Northeast (yet easily accessible by
road, rail or air), relax amongst the emerald paddy fields, and savour the
forgotten rhythms of rural life. Choose complete privacy, making this
unique spacious villa and private pool your own. Or allow us to show you
the area, cook Thai food for you and introduce you to the ways of life
here.
The villa is set in over 60,000sqm of private grounds, with a walled
garden and a large variety of mango, banana, passion fruit and other
plants including chillis, papaya, galangal, herbs and more! We also raise
free-range chickens, ducks, cattle, fish, and our own water buffalo. The
large living & dining room, with satellite TV, CD player and sound
system, has extensive wooden decks and outside seating. Additional
sleeping arrangements can also be made here.
Your private pool is finished in hand made tiles, is filled with rain
water, and uses a salt water cleaning system to avoid the use of chlorine
etc.
accommodation: Privacy is assured at your own Villa in the midst of the rice
paddies! Just relax, or adventure into the traditions of the surrounding
villages. Gecko is set in over 60,000sqm of private grounds, with a walled
garden and a large variety of mango, banana, passion fruit and other
plants including chillis, papaya, galangal, herbs and more!
There is a large air-conditioned Master Bedroom with teak King Sized bed,
en suite toilet & sink, and adjoining garden shower. The second
air-conditioned bedroom also has an en suite bathroom and shower.
The large air-conditioned living & dining room, with Satellite TV
(BBC, CNN, TV5 etc.), CD player and sound system, has extensive wooden
decks and outside seating. Additional sleeping arrangements can also be
made here. The Villa has a fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator,
freezer, kettle, coffee maker, hob and oven. Outdoor barbecues can also be
arranged.
The property and grounds are serviced daily. We understand that you are on
a well-earned vacation and will do our best to make our house your Thai
home. If you would like to see and experience local lifestyles and
traditions, do let us know. And should you prefer privacy - again, just
inform us!
How this holiday makes a difference
The villa is directly owned by a group of local villagers who were
encouraged to launch an alternative holiday destination for visitors
seeking to leave the beaten path of tourism in Thailand and to experience
rural village life, as lived by the vast majority of Thais not living in
the main cities or mass tourism destinations. 100% of revenues from guests
is retained and distributed by them, locally. Sceptical at first, they
have been delighted – and indeed surprised – that there is a group of
people who are keen to experience their lifestyle first-hand. That
visitors take an interest in rice farming, water buffalo, local village
traditions and crafts, local temples, the countryside, the flora and fauna
of the local listed wetlands, the extraordinary local cuisine and the
slower pace of rural Thailand, has enabled them:
-
to keep their families together, given the income generated from
guests, in an area where it has been traditional for fathers and sons
to leave for the cities or foreign countries to seek menial labour
-
to pay for a better education for their children
-
to take a renewed pride in indigenous traditions, customs and
practices
-
to launch initiatives (control of waste disposal, pollution
reduction, the promotion of indigenous traditions) that have not
traditionally been at the forefront of villagers' minds, given more
pressing economic dictates.
surroundings: we will be happy to show you how to cook Thai food,
concocting sumptuous dishes you can later recreate at home. Go walking (or
take our bicycles) and explore the surroundings, rich in temples
& villages, lakes & farms, and the listed wetlands of Nong Harn.
Help us plant or harvest the green or golden rice fields - some local rice
whisky may help you along. Or fish at the large nearby lake and
photograph original scenes & characters.
Watch the rocket festival; experience giving alms to the monks; try riding
a water buffalo, Mor Lam dancing, or a traditional massage. And if
learning our language and culinary secrets gets tiring, enjoy our food and
rice whisky and listen by your pool as cicadas take the pulse of the
night...
Ban Chiang
The National Museum & Dig Site displays antiques, including
earthenware pots from 4,000 to 7,500 years old. "The most important
prehistoric settlement so far discovered in SE Asia" (UNESCO)
Na Kha Village is famous for its hand woven cloth, and Na Yoong Nam Som
Park for its 30 metre waterfall. At Phu Phra Bat Park see pre-historic
paintings over cliff faces; caves, caverns & relics.
Nong Khai lies on the banks of the mighty Mekong River, opposite the Lao
capital, Vientiane. Catch the spectacular Longboat Races if you can!
The Road to Loei: an adventurous trip by bicycle or car follows the Mekong
river along the Lao border to the town of Loei, with dramatic hilly
terrain, jungle views & waterfalls.
location: The nearest town, Udon Thani, can be reached by train, plane and
car; and Vientiane (the Lao capital) is also nearby. Ten will
collect you from Udon Thani town for the short 25 minute trip to the
property.
Udon Thani itself may be reached by Thai Airways, or the discount airlines
Nok Air and Air Asia, with many regular daily flights.
contact
and pricing details: please contact the owners for further details:
THB4,000 total for 1-2 guests
THB6,500 total for 3-4 guests
-
Prices include free airport
pickup, local assistance, soft drinks, and any meals taken at the
property.
Charles or Ten
info@geckovilla.com
www.geckovilla.com
Tel: +66 1 9180500
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