MUSIC AND CULTURE
PROGRAM DATES: MAY 23 – JUNE 30
PROGRAM FEE: $2,499
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Participate in a hill-tribe trek while working on a development project with Mirror Foundation.
- Run a leadership retreat with Tiny Toones, Cambodia’s first hip-hop drop-in centre.
- Visit Cambodia’s ancient Angkor Wat temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Visit S-21 prison and Killing Field museum to understand Cambodia’s tragic history.
SOUTHEAST ASIA… THE WAY WE SEE IT
For decades, Southeast Asia was synonymous with babes and beaches. Then it was dudes and debauchery. OG is here to prove that there is so much more. The land of a “thousand smiles”, SE Asia is 30 cent street pad thai, deep-fried tarantulas, bucket-fueled dance parties and monsoon rain that pours down for hours but always lets the sun come back out.
While we start in the backpacker mecca of Khao San Road, the journey soon strays from the traditional backpacker circuit. Made popular during the 1970’s as a cheap and beautiful travel destination, tourists have flocked to Southeast Asia for decades with the sole goal of cheap gratification, even at the cost of exploitation. And while tourism has brought increased calls for modernity in the cities, life in rural villages has not changed much. Bamboo is used for everything: houses, utensils and even food! The tides of change are sweeping in though: bamboo houses hang calendars featuring Korean pop bands, spaghetti packs are imported from America and regrettably, Justin Bieber tunes blast on the only radio in town.
So why Southeast Asia? Because you can’t even image what you don’t know about it. We aim to deconstruct the complex histories of the Red/Yellow shirt protests in Thailand and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. How will we do that? Well, it won’t be from a textbook. We’ll hit the ground running, meeting people from every walk of life. We will encounter karaoke stars, robed monks, elephant trainers and hip-hop breakdancers. But most importantly, we’ll prove that you will learn more in six weeks in Southeast Asia than in an entire year of school. We promise.
ITT OPTIONS
INDEPENDENT TRAVEL TIME IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT THERE AND EXPLORE ON YOUR TERMS!
- Visit the embalmed Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam.
- Explore the cultural pluralism of Malaysia/Singapore.
- Relax on the beaches of world-famous Koh Phangan.
ACCOMMODATION
WITH OG YOU LIVE LIKE THE LOCALS.
Traveling as much as we do on the Southeast Asia program, there will be a number of different styles of accommodation. In cities, we’ll usually be sleeping at clean, safe and secure guesthouses. When we’re trekking or in rural communities, we’ll generally be sleeping under the stars or with families in bamboo houses. This will allow us to delve into local culture and being hosted by local families is an incredible way for the team to become integrated within the local community. Trusted homestay families have been pre-arranged by OG but Western comforts such as continuous electricity should not be assumed. However, cold-water bucket showers and cramped sleeping conditions should be embraced!
MUSIC AND CULTURE SAMPLE ITINERARY
*This itinerary is based on our previous experience with the region. Programs change every year based on the needs of our partners. This should give you a sense of what our program may look like.
DAY 1-4: ORIENTATION
Following the airport pickups from Suvarnabhumi Airport, the group will have an in-country orientation in Bangkok. We will be staying near Khao San Road, the world-famous backpacker’s mecca. Participants will acclimatize by trying local cuisine, picking up the basics of Thai bargaining and touring local historical sites from long-time residents of the city. Participants will learn about the complexity of the Red/Yellow shirt protest movements of the last few years, visit flood-ravaged portions of the city and begin to understand how important Bangkok’s role in the country is.
DAY 5-12: HILL TRIBE TREK
From Bangkok, the group will journey north to the indigenous hill tribes near Chiang Rai. We will work with the Mirror Foundation, an amazing organization that is run by and for hill tribe people. Participants on past years constructed a water tank and helped rebuild bamboo houses after a fire destroyed a village.
DAY 13-29: CAMBODIAN BREAKDANCING
From the hill tribes, the group will move to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Home to one of the 21st century’s worst genocides, participants will visit S-21 and the Killing Fields museum in order to understand Cambodia’s tragic recent history. Working with Tiny Toones, Cambodia’s first hip-hop drop-in centre, participants will run the second annual OG/TT retreat focusing on leadership, empowerment and team-building.
DAY 30-39: INDEPENDENT TRAVEL TIME
Participants will also have Individual Travel Time (ITT) – a staple of all Operation Groundswell programs. All participants will be given detailed travel guides and information on the best places to see and how to stay safe. You can travel independently if you desire but everyone is urged to travel in pairs or small groups. During this time, participants are not under the auspices of the organized program and are entirely responsible for themselves. Participants are given the emergency contact number of trip organizers during ITT for any advice or safety concerns. ITT is the ideal time for participants to learn more about their specific interest, whether it’s by volunteering, traveling, or just relaxing.
DAY 42-44: DISORIENTATION
The group will reconvene for a trip debrief known as the ‘Disorientation’ prior to flying home. This will likely take place on the black sand beaches of the Pacific coast. We will discuss our accomplishments, how we can stay in touch and what future projects we can collaborate on before returning everyone to the airport for some tearful goodbyes.  
ANIMAL CONSERVATION SAMPLE ITINERARY
*This itinerary is based on our previous experience with the region. Programs change every year based on the needs of our partners. This should give you a sense of what our program may look like.
DAY 1-4: ORIENTATION
Following the airport pickups from Suvarnabhumi Airport, the group will have an in-country orientation in Bangkok. We will be staying near Khao San Road, the world-famous backpacker’s mecca. Participants will acclimatize by trying local cuisine, picking up the basics of Thai bargaining and touring local historical sites from long-time residents of the city. Participants will learn about the complexity of the Red/Yellow shirt protest movements of the last few years, visit flood-ravaged portions of the city and begin to understand how important Bangkok’s role in the country is.
DAY 5-12: HILL TRIBE TREK
From Bangkok, the group will journey north to the indigenous hill tribes near Chiang Rai. We will work with the Mirror Foundation, an amazing organization that is run by and for hill tribe people. Participants on past years constructed a water tank and helped rebuild bamboo houses after a fire destroyed a village.
DAY 13-20: ELEPHANTS
From the hill tribes, the group will move to Chiang Mai, Thailand. Home to one of the best elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, the group will live and work alongside mahouts (“elephant trainers”). Living in very basic conditions, participants will learn about the importance of rehabilitation versus exploitation.
DAY 21-30: SCUBA CERTIFICATION AND CONSERVATION
From the hill tribes of northern Thailand, the group will journey to the beaches of southern Cambodia where they will take a scuba certification course, learn about the environmental issues of overfishing and climate change, and work with local NGOs on conservation education projects.
DAY 30-39: INDEPENDENT TRAVEL TIME
Participants will also have Individual Travel Time (ITT) – a staple of all Operation Groundswell programs. All participants will be given detailed travel guides and information on the best places to see and how to stay safe. You can travel independently if you desire but everyone is urged to travel in pairs or small groups. During this time, participants are not under the auspices of the organized program and are entirely responsible for themselves. Participants are given the emergency contact number of trip organizers during ITT for any advice or safety concerns. ITT is the ideal time for participants to learn more about their specific interest, whether it’s by volunteering, traveling, or just relaxing.
DAY 42-44: DISORIENTATION
The group will reconvene for a trip debrief known as the ‘Disorientation’ prior to flying home. This will likely take place in Kanchanaburi, one of the most relaxing spots in all of Thailand. We will discuss our accomplishments, how we can stay in touch and what future projects we can collaborate on before returning everyone to the airport for some tearful goodbyes.
