Posted by EugeneTang on Apr 27, 2009 in
Thailand 
Amari Watergate Hotel & BMW Thailand - 12th Charity Midnight Run
Amari Watergate Hotel invites you to participate in the “Amari Watergate Hotel & BMW Thailand 6 and 12 km Charity Midnight Run” with proceeds from the event being donated to two different charitable organisations: the Chalerm Prakiat HRH Princess Sirindhorn School, supporting the education of children, whose parents have tragically passed away due to HIV infection, and “Baan Gerda”", a Children Village project.
11th Charity Midnight Run coverage
Midnight Run package: available on 8 – 12 October 2009
THB 9,354.- includes
- 2 nights in deluxe room including breakfast.
- Fruits and flowers in room.
- Newspaper.
- Mid night run ticket.
- Extra nights at normal internet rate.
For more information, please visit
www.amari.com
More Hotel reviews and Best Hotel Rates & Availability for Amari Watergate Hotel
CLICK HERE
Tags: Around Bangkok, Conservation and Charity Projects in Thailand, Events in Bangkok
Posted by EugeneTang on Mar 30, 2009 in
Thailand 
Thailand National Elephant Day (13 Mar 2009) at Surin Elephant Study Centre
It was a personal memorable experience visiting the Elephant Study Centre on National Elephant Day (13th Mar 2009) before going on a media fam trip from 19 -22 Mar organized by Thailand Convention & Exhibition Burean (TCEB). Elephant is Thailand National Animal and this day is declared by the Thai Government as National Elephant Day and Thai people pay respect to the elephant national wide. The centre is located in Ta Klang village in Tha Toom district of Surin Province, approximately 58 km north of the downtown. Year after year, more than 250 elephants will perform at the Surin Elephant Show Stadium during the annual Surin Elephant Roundup event. This year, the spectacular event has been scheduled from 21 – 22 Nov 2009 and visitors have an opportunity to go sight-seeing around the town by riding the elephant.
Merit making at the Pakam Spirit House
I am not an early person, so getting up early is like exploring a new world. I missed two important events held in the morning. The first event was paying homage to the Pakam Spirit House. It is a place used to keep the sacred “Pa Kam buffalo leather” and other elephant controlling tools for round up wild elephants in the past and also a place where dead ancestors of the “Kui” people are believed to be living in, together with the revered Pakam spirit. Locals and visitors come from afar to pray for the spirit. Ritual is usually conducted by the elderly shaman or mor-chang that has the holy power to communicate with the spirit.
The Elephant Cemetery located in the forest of the Surin Elephant Study Centre
The second event was paying homage to the elephant spirits at the Elephant Cemetery located deep in the forest of the centre. The cemetery was situated next to the forest temple.. Like the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, the elephants were buried in neatly rows and the top of the each grave was covered with glass. A heap of dry elephant bones is displayed on a wooden table for worship. A beautiful flower wreath made of cotton towel was offered to the elephant spirits.
Merit making for the elephants on National Elephant Day (Surin, Thailand)
Elderly shamans (Mor-changs) and invited guest during the ceremony
When I arrived at the Centre, the merit making ceremony was about to begin. The prayer was recited by a choir of highly respectable monks from the province and attended by various high-ranking officers, elderly shamans (mor-changs) and invited guests. The event was presided over by the Deputy Governor of Surin Province, Mr. Pong Naksutha. In his speech, the Centre will collaborate with other elephant camps in the north such as Chiang Mai and Lampang to find another source of income for the mahouts and their elephants.
Merit making for the elephants on National Elephant Day (Surin, Thailand)
The Deputy Governor of Surin Province, Mr. Pong Naksutha
In 2006, a project, under supervision of the Surin Provincial Admistrative Organisation, has been put into practice in order to “bring the local elephants home for the development of their hometown.” Specifically, the main purpose of this project is to encourage mahouts, straying in parts of the country with their elephants, to return to the province. The Centre will serve and maintain assistance those mahouts. The Centre’s vision is to make Ta Klang village the biggest elephant village in the world and as an example of sustainable place for humans and their elephants.
A sumptious feast for the elephants on National Elephant Day (Surin, Thailand)
Feeding the elephant on National Elephant Day (Surin, Thailand)
Besides honouring the monkeys during the festive occasion in Lop Buri Province, the elephants were treated like royalty to a fresh banquet of tropical fruits on Elephant Day. It was a fascinating sight and interesting to watch so many elephants dined to their heart’s desire. At the Centre, there are two elephant shows daily 10am and 2pm. The 30 minute elephant show is free running solely on donations but you have to be there by 10:00 a.m. The show highlighted the multi-talented skills of the elephants.To me, the performance from the 36 years old female elephant, Tanjai was the highlight of the show. She is now the tallest elephant in Thailand.
Kind donations from the visitors for the Elephant Show
Schools celebrating National Elephant Day (Surin, Thailand)
Elephant bathing starts at 4pm at the “Wang Ta Loo” area where the Moon and the Chee River meet, forming a forest that provides ecological benefits and conserves the biodiversity of flora and fauna. Visitors can do some sight-seeing on elephant back from 100 THB around the Centre. Souvenirs are not too expensive: elephant hair rings, ivory and bone bracelets and rings as well and of course t-shirts 150-200 baht can be purchased from the souvenirs stalls or enjoy an authentic spicy plate of Lao Som Tam located outside the Centre.
The Elephant Show at Surin Elephant Study Centre
Tanjai, the tallest elephant in Thailand
The elephant museum located within the Centre provides the history and exhibit related to elephants, such as preserved elephant skeletons, elephant controlling tools used for wild elephants round up, photographs showing how the “Kui” mahouts and their elephants are related. It also features ceremonies and merit making for death elephants among many other activities. Visitors of the museum are able to learn how the “Kui” people are dressed traditionally, as well as how healthcare practices for elephants are done.
The Elephant Museum at Surin Elephant Study Centre
Elephant tools used for round up wild elephants in the past
The Surin Elephant Study Centre organizes two major events each year. The Wedding Ceremony on elephant back on Valentine’s Day and the Buddhist Elephant Ordination Celebration. It is a unique wedding ceremony of the Kui people and it should be conserved. On the “Satte” ceremony, the groom and bride must wear Kui dresses. The groom will wear Kraneao white sarong with long sleeve shirt, a local hand-woven silk cloth is hung across the shoulder and put on a head-garland made of three-colour thread. The bride will wear Kui designed sarong, a light colour straight sleeve blouse with a red shawl hang on the shoulder and put on a Chalom (crown made of palm leaves) around the head. The married couple will be paraded around the city on elephant back.
The Buddhist Elephant Ordination Ceremony in Surin province
The Buddhist Elephant Ordination Ceremony is organized during the 13-15 of the waxing moon on the sixth month of every year. It is a big ceremony for the Kui people and it is also believed that to gain the greatest merit in life is to ordain during Buddhist lent because it is the period when the monks practice more strictly. Men in the neighborhood will attend the ordination at the same time together with the elephants in nearby villages and will parade together to Wang Talu locate in the north of the village where the Chee River meets with the Moon River. The Ordination Ceremony will perform at Don Buad , the island located in the middle of the river.
A visit to Surin Elephant Study Centre is educational for visitors and it is a perfect learning place exhibiting an inseparable relationship between the “Kui” people and their elephants from birth to death.
For more information, please contact:
Elephant Study Center
Tel: 0-4414-5050
Web: www.surinpao.org
The Surin Elephant Study Centre
Tags: Around Surin, Conservation and Charity Projects in Thailand
Posted by EugeneTang on Mar 28, 2009 in
Thailand 
The Pattaya Redemptorist School For The Blind
The most memorable trip during the media fam trip organised by Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and CCT M.I.C.E Thailand team was a visit to the Pattaya Redemptorist School For The Blind under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The school was founded by Father Raymond Brennan of the Redemptorist and Principal Aurora Sribuapun, a former blind Thai government servant and instructor for the blind in 1986.
Dance performance @ The Pattaya Redemptorist School For The Blind
Located at Banglamung in Cholburi Province is the only school that within eastern Thailand. In the early years, the school was faced with challenges and obstacles. This includes transforming the outlook and unstanding of parents of blind and visually impaired students to help them to understand the importance of education for their disabled child. Through education and training, blind students are able to go about their daily lives without depending on assistance from others. The second challenge is the financial management of the school. All of the income was from donations of local citizens. Fortunately, the school was able to overcome that obstacle.
Today (2009), the school has opened its doors to all blind, blind with other disabilities. Students ranging in ages from 3-20 years old come from all over the country. The school welcomes all students regarless of gender, background, or religion. The first and formost important thing the school offers them is guidance: emotionally, mentally and physically. Next , students learn about basic every day life and how manuever through the campus through the outside world. The school is a charitable / non profit organization therefore students do not have any expenses.
Computer courses @ The Pattaya Redemptorist School For The Blind
Everything ranging from room and board, food, registration fee, tuition, school supplies are free of charge. Students have an option to use the room and board at the school or commute. Currently, the boardng school is under construction through endowment and donations from kind hearted sponsor and donors.
Learning to read @ The Pattaya Redemptorist School For The Blind
Interaction between media and student @ The Pattaya Redemptorist School For The Blind
Classes range from kindergarden to Junior high (nineth grade) offer sports, home economics, typing, computer, music and voice lessons. In 2009, there are 141 students enrolled in the school. Upon graduation, students are encouraged to further their studies and if possible through the university level.
Food donated by CCT M.I.C.E Thailand Team
The school’s latest goal in 2009 -2010 is to offer a vocational program for students and also vocational training section for the graduates to enable them to earn a living to support their families. Unfortunately, 96% of the Blind Thais have not been given the opportunity to go to school and the objective of the school is to provide the path and hope for the disabled students.
“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”~Mark Twain
Donation from Mr. Sakan Kovitvanij, Manger-North Asia, TCEB
For more information, or to arrange a visit, please contact:
Mr Tarawoot Gumnerdsook
The Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind
285 / 103 Moo 5 Soi Naklua 16, Pattaya - Naklua Road,
Tamboo Naklua, Amphur Banglamoong,
Cholburi Province, Thailand 20150
Tel: (038) 225479, (038) 225963
Email: aua@pattayablind.org
Web: www.pattayablind.org
Donation from CCT M.I.C.E Thailand Team
Donation can be made by:
Send to the School by cash, money order or write a cheque payable to ” The Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind”
or Donate to the ” Princess Maha Chakri Sirindorn Fund” by transfering the money through:
A/C # 669-2-10787-4
A/C Name “Toonbaromrajkumari”
Siam Commercial Bank pcl. Pattaya Route 2 branch
The Pattaya Redemptorist School For The Blind
Tags: Around Pattaya, Beautiful and Gorgeous People, Conservation and Charity Projects in Thailand
