Sawadee family!

Our prayers have been answered: this morning the 13 of us here at ao chaak
reached consensus on the final site. Now we are happy to announce it to all
of you patient sisters and brothers:

The site is near Ao chaak beach (which continues as the Welcome Center) in
central Thailand (mainland). Below we quote the directions to it again:

BANGKOK (Khao san road) to WELCOME CENTER (Ao chaak)
two options:
1) city bus nr 53 to train station, train to chumpon (buy ticket a day in
advance, morning train expensive (only ac), afternoon/night train ~300b for
2nd non-ac, sleeper extra), then bus to ranong (50-70b)
2) city bus nr 511 from main road near khao san to southern bus station.
from building 2 (in the very back) take a bus to ranong (10 hours), e.g.
7:10 am, 2nd class (there is no non-ac anymore it seems), 357 b (this one
continues to the turn to ao chaak, but would arrive there after dark, so
better spend the night here (e.g. at kiwi near bus stand) and continue like
below). (if you take the 4 am bus you could make it in one day)

both) then take a bus (or hitchhike from in front of the bus stand/filling
station) towards krabi/phuket (buy a ticket until “kam phuuan”), but get off
at the sign to “praphat beach” which is about 1 km after kam phuuan market (
1-1.5 hours, 90 km). from here hitchhike (or walk) towards praphat beach,
but ask to be dropped at the turn to “ao chaak” (2km). follow this dirt road
to the beach beyond the hill (500m, steep) and then the signs (~2km from
here). WELCOME HOME!

Phuket to WELCOME CENTER (ao chaak)
Take a bus to Kam Phuuan, but get off at “Praphat beach” sign, 1 km BEFORE
Kam Phuuan (5 hours). rest like above.

In the Welcome Center you find information on how to find the actual site
which is another 20min away.

REFER TO THE FILES SECTION FOR THE AO CHAAK AREA MAP. We’ll put a
beautifully painted invitation sheet (to be printed, copied and distributed
from hand to hand) there as soon as it’s ready. this email is just to inform
you quickly and instantly.

=> We respectfully suggest that:

– The Gathering will be drug and alcohol free
– We bring in no weapons or plastic
– Dogs are strongly discouraged, so if brought, keep them under close
control and bury their droppings
– There will be no buying or selling
– Gatherers use the recycling center to be set up on the site. Whatever
we pack-in we pack-out !
– We tread lighty on the land and return it as we found it when we leave
– We try only to have fires in the kitchen, bakery, communal spaces and the
large central sacred fire
– Our Gatherings are non-electrical. All the energy needed is human energy –
self generated
– Thus we live in peaceful respect for Each Other, the Earth, the Water, the
Trees, Plants and the Animals
– Our Gathering is not a “free” Festival. Money is collected by the Magic
Hat after meals in order to buy food and supplies

YOU ARE JOYFULLY INVITED TO JOIN IN AND GET INVOLVED.

What to bring to the Gathering:

*Essentials :
> Bowl
> Spoon and Fork
> Cup
> Tent or live-in structure and/or hammock
> MOSQUITO NET (100 b even in ranong)
> Blanket or thin sleeping bag (at night ~10-15 degrees celsius)
> Candles
> Flashlight/torch
> Biodegradable Soap
> Water bottles and containers
> Lungi or Sheet
> Fabric for Shading
> Hat
> Penknife
> First Aid and Medicine
> Sunscreen lotion
> Musical instruments

*Good to bring if you have them :
> BUCKETS!
> Spades
> Hammers
> Lamps
> Flags
> Metal pegs/spikes
> Saws, Pick-axes and axes
> Wheel barrows
> Plastic Tarps and Shadecloths
> Sledgehammers
> Rope
> Wooden chopping boards
> WE ASK FOR YOU TO BRING AS MUCH WORKSHOP MATERIALS AND STUFF AND
IDEAS AND INSPIRATIONS AS POSSIBLE FOR US TO SHARE AND GROW TOGETHER

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND SOMETHING THERE, BRING IT !!!

*What not to bring :

> Alcohol
> Drugs
> Dogs
> Electrical Equipment

May this be a harmonious and tolerant gathering (especially as the space is
limited).

We all hope to see YOU soon,
with lots of love and light,
Tony (owner of the land), Koji, David, Tamar, Mike, Fiona, Aisheguel, Renate
and Merlin, Rolando, Kik, Stephan and Thilo