Q.

Are there any shots required?

A.

There are no particular shots recommended or needed for Thailand.

Q.

Do I need to register my presence in the country?

A.

It is recommended for American visitors staying longer than 30 days to contact the US Embassy in Bangkok (via Internet) to register your presence in Thailand.

Q.

Do I need a visa?

A.

American citizens do not need a visa. For British citizens, Canadians, and Australians, automatic 30 day visit visas are provided free of charge upon arrival at Bangkok's Suvarnabuhmi International Airport. This new airport opened in October 2006. If you plan to stay longer, contact a local Thai consulate and get a tourist visa good for up to 60 days (about 50 US dollars). rom 25 June to March 2010 Tourist visas valid for sixty dayswill be issued in Thai consulates located outside of Thailand for free.  Thse visas can be extended in Bangkok Immigration for an additional 30 days for a charge of 1,900 baht. If you plan to stay in Thailand longer than 60 days, get a back-to-back (double tourist visa) allowing for up to a 4 month stay, or even up to six months with the paid extensions..

Q.

Will I need to take any extra safety precautions while traveling in Thailand.

A.

Thailand is becoming more western every year and is very tourist friendly. But with all travel overseas additional preparation needs to be taken for a safe and enjoyable trip. Check out www.lonelyplanet.com to get more overseas travel information, tips, and advice.

Q.

How much money should I plan on bringing.

A.

This is solely dependent on your budget, travel schedule, and how many souvenirs your luggage can hold. Rates vary.  Plan on receiving 30-33 Thai Baht for $1 US Dollar, this amount can sometimes vary widely depending on the political and financial climate. Money can be exchanged at the airport, banks, or money exchange shops in more populated areas.

Q.

What if I get sick during my trip?

A.

Medical care is pretty good and inexpensive in Buriram. We have a large public hospital and a few private facilities. The very top hospitals aren't cheap, but most others throughout Thailand are a very value. Pharmacies are widespread, but take care when using them. Many drugs that require a prescription elsewhere in the world can be got here without one, and they aren't necessarily kept in the best condition - check the sell by date.

Q.

What should I bring with me?

A.

Generally, as little as possible. A good guidebook is basically essential, but almost everything that can be found in western countries can also be found in Thailand, and it's likely to be cheaper too. Don't bother stocking up on things like camera films, soap, shampoo etc…because it's completely unnecessary and only means you have to carry more. If you bring a lot with you, you'll quickly regret it as the heat makes carrying a heavy load very difficult. Some things though, such as sunglasses, are better brought from home as the quality is likely to be better than you can get in Thailand.

Jumpers and jackets are completely unnecessary for most of Thailand at most times of year. The exception is in the north during the cool season (Nov - Feb) when it can get cold. Jeans are not a great thing to bring, as the hot and sticky weather can make them uncomfortable. They also are heavy and take ages to dry - bring more lightweight clothes instead.

Q.

What footwear is best to bring?

A.

If you're planning to do any trekking or hiking, decent boots or trainers are essential. For everyday wear, some people prefer boots/trainers, others sandals. Most Thai people wear sandals all the time, and they have the advantage of being easy to take on and off, keep your feet cooler, and are better during the rainy season. Cheap sandals are widely available in Bangkok, Buriram, and elsewhere.

Q.

Are there easy ways to communicate with others while in Thailand.

A.

In most decent size towns there are relatively inexpensive internet cafes where you can email and use such programs as Skype, Yahoo Messenger, and Microsoft Messenger to chat and make international calls. The cell phone network in Thailand is actually better than in the United States of America and renting/buying a cell phone is very easy if you need to communicate with friends located in Thailand.

Q.

What type of credit card is most widely accepted in Thailand ?

A.

Visa is the best to take, then MasterCard, with American Express a fairly distant third. They are quite widely accepted but take care where you use them as Thailand has one of the world's highest level of credit card fraud. If you use your ATM Card to withdraw money the limit is usually 10,000 baht per transaction and the fee assessed for foreign ATM cards is currently 150 baht per transaction.  That amount could change.

Q.

What is the length of stay for a volunteer?

A.

The length of stay can range from one day to two months. TOLO encourages everyone to visit as many places as possible. We limit the volunteer stay to 2 months because we feel that it is important for our visitors to fully experience the wonderful kingdom of Thailand.

Q.

What is the best way to travel to Buriram?

A.

You can travel to TOLO in Buriram by plane, train, bus, or auto. Please go to the About Buriram page in the Volunteer section to read more about travel options.

Q.

Can I stay at the orphanage? Are there other good places to staying during my time at TOLO.

A.

If you would like to stay at TOLO, we ask that volunteers offer a minimum of 400 baht per day (increase is effective from 1 September 2009) which is equivalent to a little over 11 dollars and 75 cents  US which covers the actual cost of meals, utilities etc. We had to raise the amount from the earlier level due to fuel costs which have literally gone through the roof here in Thailand this past year, affecting the costs of everything from food, electricity, clothes etc. We provide comfortable accommodations.  For married couples and sometimes to cover overflow of single guests/volunteers we make a special room available with a full private bathroom. It has its own separate shower, toilet and sink, built-in closets, overhead fluorescent lighting, a ceiling fan, curtains and air conditioning. It is indeed the best room in the house. When we have no guests with us we usually slip in there to stay as it is the only air conditioned room in the facility and it is very comfortable. There is a comfortable king-sized bed plus an additional single bed in that room.

If room is not available at TOLO there are some very inexpensive and reasonable housing options for all our volunteers during their time at TOLO. Please Contact Us and we can give you more information.

Q.

Is smoking allowed at TOLO?

A.

Smoking is not allowed at TOLO. Please refrain from smoking until you are away from TOLO and the children.

Q.

What if I do not belong to any religious organization or am not affiliated with any group?

A.

TOLO is a Christian based organization but joyfully accepts anyone who wants to make a positive impact in the lives of our children. You are only asked to be the best example to the children and refrain for drinking, smoking, or cursing in front of the them. We believe we can learn as much from you as you will from your time at TOLO.

Q.

How much of my monetary support goes to the children?

A.

About 90% of all funds given go directly to the children. We also tithe 10 percent to the local Christian Church who utilize these funds to help hungry people in the community.

Q.

Can I communicate with my sponsored child?

A.

We encourage all our sponsors to write a letter or email the children. They love getting letters and responding allows them to practice their English.

Q.

How much is it to fully sponsor a child?

A.

It takes about $120 US Dollars per month to fully sponsor a TOLO child.

Q.

Do I have to sponsor a child for the full $120?

A.

No. Most of the children have/will have multiple sponsors. Sponsorship levels are $25, $50, $75, $100, or $120 per month.

Q.

Why does it seem like sponsoring a TOLO child is much more expensive than other sponsorship opportunities.

A.

We run TOLO like very large family. It is NOT an institution or large organization. TOLO makes sure the kids feel like they are at home and will always have a family. When you partner with TOLO your money goes to food, clothes, education, medical expenses, and emergency funds. Roger and Phongsri are not just caring for the children, they are raising them to impact their country. We believe there is a great difference in how TOLO cares for the children versus other sponsor opportunities.

Additionally, the cost of sponsoring children from other countries may be less due to local currency values and larger organizations have a significant donor base to share in the cost of sponsoring one child.

Q.

What is the best way to give a monetary gift.

A.

We have several ways of sending monetary to TOLO. For persons in the United States who want to receive tax benefits you may send monetary gifts to Family Life Church Sulphur Springs TX  or to Hill Country Church at Fair Oaks Ranch, TX. Their contact information can be found on the Give A Gift page.

Others not needing tax benefits can send gifts by Western Union, Money Gram or by wire transfer directly into our bank account in Thailand. Gifts sent by Western Union  or MoneyGram will be available within minutes and only the sender is charged a sender fee. Funds transferred to our bank account will take 4-6 days and you and TOLO will be charged transfer fees.

We hope to have the ability to accept credit cards on our website via PayPal or something similar.  For those wishing to make small amount donations who would like to forgo wire charges involved can use an alternate method. We have a current arrangement through one of our trustees Mr. Folke Wallberg so people needing to send by paypal can send to his account on paypal and he will retransmit funds by wire to our Thailand bank account.

Q.

Can I specify how my gifts will be used?

A.

We desire to know your wishes when you send a gift. Please specify how you want items or money to be used. We will do our best to follow your instructions. Gifts that have no specified use will be left to the discretion of TOLO.

Q.

I want to send in bulk gifts such books, shoes, toys, etc. What is the best way to send large quantity of items? And how long will they take to arrive.?

A.

The US Post Office has the best and cheapest method for shipping books. M1 Mailbag is approximately $3.50 dollars per pound for print matter/magazines/books.  These bags are sent by airmail and take between 1-2 weeks to arrive.

Q.

Is it OK to send a gift to a specific child?

A.

At this time we do not recommend sending gifts to a specified child. Currently most of the children do not have sponsors and we would not want to do anything to make them feel unloved. This may change in the future once all the children have sponsors.