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St. Andrews Secondary School Camp Mae Hong Son Province
Andrew Watt
45 secondary school students and staff from St Andrews,
Green Valley, have just completed their annual camp from June 5th to 10th.
The venue this year was Cave Lodge near Tham Lod village, in the mountainous
region of Mae Hong Son province in North Western Thailand, near the Myanmar
border.
 Marloes
tackles the waterfall.
The trip started with an overnight train journey from
Bangkok to Chiang Mai, where we arrived at 6.35 a.m. Minibuses were waiting
to take us the final 172 kilometres. Little did we know that this was to
take over five hours. The bus driver informed us that this journey included
1864 bends in the road. I can assure you that this is true!
The scenery, however, was fantastic as we climbed through
the mountain ranges. We stopped in Pai for lunch and eventually arrived at
Cave Lodge in the afternoon. After a short rest we walked to nearby Tham Lod
cave and experienced the amazing bird show when 300,000 swifts return to
nest in the cave each evening. This cave is very famous with one of the
caverns containing wooden coffins dating back over 2000 years.
 Thomas
& Karn take the plunge.
Mr. John Spies, the owner of the Cave Lodge, has a
passion for exploring and preserving the caves of Thailand. He is a famous
Australian archaeologist and has been exploring local caves since 1977. He
probably knows more about the caves of the Pang Mapha district than anyone
else. The area around Cave Lodge is rich in prehistorical and historical
sites, dating from more than 20,000 years ago. Mr Spies has been actively
involved in the discovery and the recording of hundreds of these sites
during the past 25 years.
The next two days were spent doing group activities. The
first group set off early on Tuesday morning over the hills to visit the
Karen hill tribe village of Ban Huang Paem. This was quite an arduous trek
for some members of the group, but we all arrived safely in time for lunch.
After lunch we set off to follow the river back to camp, but this time we
had three elephants and their mahouts to accompany us. Students took turns
riding the elephants for the three hour journey back to camp. Some lucky
people (me included) were fortunate to come across two bamboo rafts and
their owners agreed to transport some of us for the last couple of miles
along the river. Very exciting!
Robert,
Jodie and Luis hitch a ride on an elephant.
While the trekkers were doing their activity the second
group completed a half day kayaking trip down the Lang River, which flows
through the darkness of Tham Lod cave for over a kilometre. Unfortunately
the water level was quite low and at times the paddlers had to get out and
drag their kayaks over the shallows. There were still some very exciting
rapids to negotiate and the trip was very thrilling at times. While the
kayakers were on the river the other students in the group did a tour of the
local area visiting archaeological sites, the local silversmith and the
local whisky distiller (we did not sample the goods).
Trekkers
make their way down a think jungle path.
Each evening, around the campfire, students from Years 7,
8 and 9 entertained everyone, including the lodge staff and other visitors,
with amusing short plays they have been preparing at school in Mr.
Watson’s Drama classes. These plays were loosely based on William
Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, and ‘The Taming of
the Shrew’.
Thursday morning was spent packing and visiting the
village before setting off for Chiang Mai at about 11 a.m. At about 4 p.m.,
and 1864 bends in the road later, we arrived at the Suriwongse Hotel in
central Chiang Mai. A visit to the Night Bazaar, a swim in the hotel pool
and a MacDonald’s hamburger (for some people) finished off our very
successful trip.
An early start was necessary the next day for our 8 a.m. flight back to
Bangkok. We arrived back at Green Valley at lunchtime after a very
successful and enjoyable camp.
The Regent’s School, Pattaya embark upon Drama and Art trip to London
and Stratford-upon-Avon UK
Michael Thomas
On 22nd June, 12 students aged between 14 and 16, led by
Head of Drama, Michael Thomas and PE Teacher, Alison Jones, travelled to
England to enjoy an exciting 10-day programme of visiting plays, art
galleries, museums and cities. Whilst in London the students will be seeing
the legendary musicals ‘Thee Lion King’ and ‘Les Miserables’, as
well as the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden and the excellent new Tate
Modern Art Gallery.
Twelve
Regent’s School students are currently in the UK visiting plays, art
galleries, museums and cities.
Another of the highlights will be a visit to the
International Shakespeare Globe Centre, which includes an interactive
museum and a chance to walk on the stage of the Globe itself. This will
have particular significance for the students, as the Globe Theatre of the
Regent’s School is a copy of the design of the original building. Whilst
there, the students will enjoy a performance of one of Shakespeare’s
later plays, ‘Pericles’. A visit backstage and a performance at the
Royal National Theatre will also be on the programme whilst in London.
On the way to Stratford-upon-Avon, the students will
pause to tour the palatial birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim
Palace. In Stratford-upon-Avon, there will be an opportunity to work with
members of the Royal Shakespeare Company in two drama workshops, as well as
see three productions, one of which is ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
performed last March at the Regent’s School. They will visit the
birthplace of William Shakespeare as well as the other properties
associated with the Shakespeare family in the care of the Birthplace Trust.
The students will also have the chance to step back in time by visiting the
reputedly haunted Warwick Castle and to tour the ancient university city of
Oxford.
Year 12 IB student Chanamon Watetip is particularly
looking forward to the trip: “This will be my first visit to England and
I am especially interested in visiting the cities of London and Oxford as
well as seeing the amazing museums and art galleries and, of course, ‘The
Lion King’ as well as all the places in Stratford-upon-Avon. Hopefully, I
will be able to use the knowledge and experience in my future studies.”
The students will be making a video diary of the trip, which they will
present to the school at the beginning of the new academic year in
September.
Sport on the agenda
at new navy officer training school
Chatchanan Chaisree
Sport is very much on the agenda at the new Chumpol Navy
School for training officers, located on Sukhumvit Road in Sattahip. When a
fresh intake arrives the cadets are put through two months’ boot camp,
under the supervision of the training centre commander, Captain Phongthep
Noothep, and then they are transferred for specific training.
Mountain
bike club at the new naval officer training centre.
Central to the programme is sports development, which
comes under the supervision of Captain Natthanan Wisetsomwong, and is
designed to keep the cadets at maximum physical fitness and ready for all
the demands that the course is going to place upon them. The school has its
own golf driving range and golf course, tennis courts, gym and exercise
rooms, a centre for massage therapy, and a mountain bike club.
The golf course has nine holes, and is open from 6 a.m.
to 8 p.m. every day. In addition to the cadets, the course is open to all
officers and their families, navy employees, private individuals, and
foreigners. Officers pay 40 baht on weekdays and 50 baht at the weekend,
while individuals pay 100 baht and 130 baht, and foreigners pay 150 baht and
180 baht.
Golfers
train at the driving range at the new naval officer training centre.
There are three hard courts for tennis players with a
free course available for officers’ children. The gym and exercise
facilities are housed in their own building, with a running belt track,
weight training and cardio-bikes amongst the fitness equipment. Professional
trainers are on hand to give individual advice.
Traditional Thai massage, in addition to being available
for relieving stress or repairing sports injuries, is regarded by the centre
as providing the opportunity for navy wives to earn their own income by
training and practising as masseurs. Raw materials such as herbs, creams,
oils and hot compresses are provided.
The mountain bike club members include officers and private individuals.
There are regular competitions and members participate in competitions with
other clubs throughout the country. The training centre is planning a formal
competition on September 3 this year.
The big ‘Next Step’ for Em
Mike Franklin
In 2004 the Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive
introduced the ‘Next Step’ program, specifically designed to help
children who have been through the Fountain of Life Center and wish to
achieve higher education through financial support and scholarships.
 Thanks
to the Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive ‘Next Step’ program, Em
is studying a two year course at the University of Technology Rajamangala,
Phatum Thani near Bangkok.
The Committee decided to sponsor carefully selected
students who showed sufficient academic ability and promise under the new
Next Step Program.
The first student, selected in 2004, was Komsan Muankaew
(Em), a 19-year-old boy who was working on car maintenance in a garage six
days a week, while studying in the evenings a local technology school, and
helping out at the Fountain of Life Center on Sundays.
Em first came to the Fountain of Life Center when he was
ten years old after losing both parents. His aim in studying full time, and
working part-time to support himself, was to get a university degree with
the ultimate goal of opening his own garage. He maintained weekly contact
with the Center and regularly helped the staff with routine jobs, such as
cutting the grass.
(L to R)
Woody, Em, Sister Jiemjit and Mike.
A perfectly qualified candidate for the ‘Next Step’
program, Em now has a Jesters Charity Drive scholarship and, having passed
his entrance exams, started a two year course in May 2005 at the University
of Technology Rajamangala, Phatum Thani near Bangkok. Em’s serious intent
to study and achieve a Bachelors Degree in engineering was quickly evident
as already he is leader in his class and has been appointed to the Students
Committee.
The comprehensive four semester syllabus includes
Conversational & Technical English; Industrial Organizational
Psychology, Management & Safety; Engineering Dynamics & Drawing;
Mechanical Engineering & Design; Thermodynamics, Applied Pneumatics
& Hydraulics; Electrical Engineering and much more. Some of the
technical study manuals are in English, but Thai translation will help to
overcome that hurdle for him.
Part of the two year degree course is three months field
work on location in year two. He will do this at Laem Chabang in an
engineering factory. Course work is from Tuesday to Saturday, after which he
travels by bus or on his motorbike to the Fountain of Life Center and spends
his days off with the staff, cutting the grass and helping out generally, or
continuing with his studies.
Car maintenance is his life, and his prime interest is Japanese
manufactured vehicles. So, when we next interview him for the Pattaya Mail
Channel, Lewis ‘Woody’ Underwood will have his Honda CRV, I will have my
Toyota Sport Cruiser, and the FOL will wheel out the Nissan bus. It will be
Sawadee Khun Em and ‘hoods up’!
Joint Rotary Club and US Navy visit to the El-Shaddai Children’s Home
John Botting Press Officer
Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya
On Monday June 13, Rotarians from the Rotary Club of
Taksin-Pattaya travelled early in the morning to meet the USS Chafee on her
visit to Thailand. She is one of the newest warships in the US Navy and her
home port is in Hawaii. We made our way to where she was anchored in Laem
Chabang Port and met up with the naval personnel who had signed up for the
visit to El-Shaddai Children’s Home.
 Navy
personnel went to town to buy some goodies for the kids.
On arrival at the pier we were welcomed by the group
leader. We had a fantastic response from the US Navy as 45 US servicemen and
women decided to give up their free time to join us helping out at the home,
which is in Sriracha. As usual, as soon as they were off the bus they set
about working, as is tradition in the US Navy on such events.
Paint was mixed, rollers and brushes handed out and the
job of improving the interior of the house began. While painting was going
on others were installing new ceiling fans and others were busy chipping
away at cement to repair a leak.
 While
painting was going on others were installing new ceiling fans.
Unfortunately for us most of the kids where at school
during our visit and only two were able to be present at the home. They
obviously received a lot of attention and got thoroughly spoilt.
During all the work taking place, four navy personnel
managed to get away and went to town to do some shopping. When they came
back they brought with them new shelving, chairs and tables for the home,
plus colouring books and crayons and other goodies for the kids. One of the
young female sailors brought 3 sets of lovely bed linen with her for the
children’s beds. A really nice thought.
Our club donated a computer and printer to them also. All
items donated were urgently needed at the home.
We where well received by the staff and kids present and enjoyed the few
hours of work donated from our free time to make a change in these kids’
lives. Anyone wanting to find out more about the work we do please visit
www.rotary-pattaya.com
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