Balloon Circus in Southern Thailand January ‘24

This year is our 9th year of Balloon Circus. As we are now restricted to a short tour every year, it was an opportune time to revisit some of our places from our original tour of Thailand.
We have always planned to return and indeed we have been to some of them a couple of times so this was our third time back although the last time was eight years ago.
This year we were putting out feelers into legacy training to see if the children would like to train and work with us so we can keep up the tours even when we aren’t in the country.
After 2 days of organising we had provisional bookings for 12 workshops around the south. This year we also hired a car and what a difference it made not lugging all the equipment on buses, Tuk Tuks and bikes and not waiting for hours to get to out of the way destinations as all the childrens homes are always very far out from major towns and cities.
Our first week we spent on the west coast travelling between Phuket and Khao Lak. We started up at Ban Tham Nam Chai in the north where one or the original kids we taught, is now head of activities, he was so excited to have us back. Then on to Home and Life with only 6 kids, down to Sunshine Village and SOS in Phuket and back up to Yaowawit, our most yet with 145 kids, in the lush jungle hills of Kapong.
We performed a show and taught a workshop each day. Each place had about 5 kids that remembered us from last time, they loved seeing their old photos of the last time we taught them.
Then we drove across the country to the east coast up to Lamae where Baan Eurphon looked after us and had a singalong with the children at night before bedtime. Down to Baan Felix in Surat Thani where they had a surprise as they had no idea they were having after school fun.
Unfortunately Duang Prateep and Baan Si Thammarat cancelled as they had prior activities and we had already booked the weekend with the girls in Pattani and SOS Hat Yai which was lucky as that was our longest drive yet and took a whole day.
After 9 shows we were lucky enough to find a new place Baan Santhiwit in Chana, Hat Yai. They are looking after 150 children and are desperate for volunteers so if you know anyone interested, please get in touch.

Our aim is always to reach as many children as possible, to create fun memories, increase their confidence and think outside the box by providing alternative entertainment. Even the most shy and retiring children got up to perform new skills and everyone had a wonderful time.
We held 10 workshops teaching over 700 children. We drove over 2000 km to reach them all and the whole tour cost £2955!
We have created memories that will last a lifetime and all for less than the cost of one Chanel handbag!

Itinerary
24/01 Baan Tham Nam Chai, Takua Pa
25/01 Baan Home & Life, Thai Meung
26/01 Baan Sunshine Village, Phuket
27/01 Baan SOS, Phuket
28/01 Baan Yaowawit, Kapong
29/01 Baan Eurphon, Lamae
31/01 Baan Felix, Surat Thani
03/02 Baan Pattani, Pattani
04/02 Baan SOS, Hat Yai
05/02 Baan Santhiwit, Chana

Skills
Juggling, balls, rings, scarves
Poi, Diablo, Plate Spinning
Flower Sticks, Gymnastic Ribbons, Hula Hoops

Impact
8% of children and carers had seen us before
22% of children didn’t want to show on stage before the workshop
100% participants got up to show new skills on stage after the workshop
100% participants learnt a new skill