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Elephant trekking
Adventure on the top of gentle giants
Thai elephants have long been a part of Thai people’s
lives. The elephant is considered as a royal animal, which has been a great
companion to Thai kings and ancestors in wars since ancient times. The
elephant has been selected as the national animal of Thailand since the
reign of King Rama II.
The Thai elephant has also played an important role in
the life of the Siamese people. They were used as a useful means of
transportation in carrying agricultural produce and dragging logs and
timber. This has formed a close relationship between humans and elephants,
originating an exceptional lifestyle and culture.
Later on, the government ended the forest concession to
preserve the forest and environment. Elephants were no longer needed for
logging. Therefore, elephant ecotourism was initiated. Tourists can
experience the elephants’ cute characteristics and intelligence through
various activities; such as elephant jungle trekking, mahout training, and
many impressive shows.
Patara Elephant Camp: A memorable adventure with your new
big friend
This green field in a small valley with a natural stream
is a small elephant nature camp. This camp might be small in size, but it is
big in heart, creating great happiness between humans and elephants living
together naturally. This is not an open camp where you can tour or see
elephant shows or ride an elephant into the forest. This place calls itself
a “farm” because it is a place to teach the real natural life of elephants
by encouraging people to realize the value and importance of elephants. Here
they do not ask for sympathy but ask for true understanding of the nature
and mind of elephants.
The highlight of this nature adventure is living and
learning together with the elephant for a whole day with only a restricted
number of tourists. Everyone will have an elephant of their own to take care
of for the entire day. Prior to the beginning of the adventure, you will be
told about the history of elephants and how they became the symbol of
Thailand.
You start by learning the elephants’ name and how to
communicate. You will learn how to observe the elephant’s health and how to
feed and clean it correctly. You will also learn how to naturally ride the
elephant as the real elephant keepers do (no platform). You have to know how
to instruct and ride the elephant without hurting it. Moreover, there is no
howdah (a seat fastened on the back of an elephant) which can cause an
indirect injury to the elephant. You will have a chance to ride the elephant
through the forest, water, mud and on a mountain trail, enjoying the scenic
nature like a real elephant keeper. You will take the elephant to the
waterfall, eat with it and take a photo together to have a good memory.
Know before you go: What makes the farm’s owner
different is he really knows and understands the elephants. So he built this
farm with his heart and will. The key of this farm is to breed elephants and
protect them from becoming extinct. The farm also offers an elephant riding
service for elders and the disabled.
Recommendation: This activity must be booked at least
7 days in advance.
Defining Experience: At the end of the elephant
riding route there is a beautiful waterfall. Upon reaching the destination,
everyone will picnic together in a real natural style; such as having meal
served on a banana leaf. Then you can relax or enjoy playing with the
elephant in the river.
Travel info: From Chiang Mai town, take Highway 108
and turn right at the Big C junction to Samoeng District. Continue along
Highway 121, you will automatically enter Highway 1269. Then drive for 29 km
and you will see the farm entrance on the right.
GPS Location: N18ฐ 48.18’, E098ฐ 50.32’
Contact: Patara Elephant Camp, +668 1671 0958, +668
1992 2551, www.pataraele phantfarm.com
Facilities & Services: Guide, food accommodation,
restroom, bathroom, souvenir shop, transfer, video and photography services.
(TAT)
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PM confident tourism income will reach Bt2 trillion within 5 years
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Sunday that
she was confident that tourism income will increase to Bt2 trillion as
targeted while chairing a workshop on driving tourism policies in Pattaya.
Ms Yingluck explained that the government was not only
focused on generating tourism income but also on developing tourism
sustainably for the long run. The government targets earning income of two
trillion baht from tourism within five years. The prime minister said she
was confident that the government could achieve this goal.
Tourism strategies should be adjusted to focus on
cultural and ecotourism, the prime minister suggested, adding that the
government was ready to support the private tourism sector in all aspects.
If all parties jointly mapped out tourism strategies to boost tourism
quality, it would help attract a large number of tourists.
In a related development, Culture Minister Sukumol
Kunplome told journalists that the ministry will promote 84 cultural routes
to stimulate tourism.
The workshop held in Chonburi was attended by relevant
government and private sectors as well as Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm
Yubumrung, Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome, Prime Minister’s Office
Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan and Tourism and Sports Minister
Chumpol Silapa-archa. (MCOT)
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Dusit Thani Pattaya receives
recognition for marking
World No-Tobacco Day 2012
Privy Councilor Palakorn
Suwannarat (left) and Chatchawal Supachayanont during award ceremonies in
Bangkok marking World No-Tobacco Day 2012.
Dusit Thani Pattaya was among the business establishments
and the only hotel in Thailand to have been awarded the Plaque of
Recognition for its continuous and staunch support towards policies aimed at
reducing tobacco use and promoting a smoke-free lifestyle among its staff
and management.
To mark this year’s World No-Tobacco Day on May 31, the
Action on Smoking and Health Foundation (ASHF) held a ceremony in Bangkok in
celebration of its 25th year anniversary to honor Thai celebrities as well
as other business organizations that have met the criteria laid down by the
ASHF Thailand. Chatchawal Supachayanont, general manager of Dusit Thani
Pattaya accepted the award from Privy Councilor Palakorn Suwannarat and was
later congratulated by Prof. Dr. Prakit Vathesatogkit of the ASHF who is
also the secretary general of the World Health Promotion Network.
Supachayanont also led the staff and management during a
football match organized by the hotel’s Green Team Committee in order to
raise awareness among everyone on the importance of a healthy mind and body.
The activity drew a lot of support and participation from various hotel
departments and resulted in a fun-filled afternoon with prizes and
certificates awarded to staff who have quit smoking.
In his comments, Supachayanont expressed appreciation for
everyone’s effort and reminded them to relay the smoke-free habit to their
friends and families. He also reiterated that the resort would continue to
allocate more than 75% of its total room inventory as smoke-free
accommodation in accordance with its commitment to the Green Leaf Foundation
of Thailand to support control on tobacco consumption.
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Aireen Omar named
AirAsia Berhad CEO
Head honchos (from
left-right) Tassapon Bijleveld (CEO of AirAsia Thailand), Azran Osman-Rani
(CEO of AirAsia X), Tony Fernandes (Group CEO of AirAsia), Aireen Omar (CEO
of AirAsia Malaysia), Dato’ Aziz Bakar (Chairman of AirAsia Bhd), Dato’
Kamarudin Meranun (Deputy Group CEO of AirAsia), Captain Dharmadi (CEO of
AirAsia Indonesia), Maan Hontiveros (CEO of AirAsia Philippines) and
Kazuyuki Iwakata (CEO of AirAsia Japan).
AirAsia recently announced the appointment of Aireen Omar
the new chief executive officer for its Malaysia-based operations, AirAsia
Berhad. She will assume her post on July 1, 2012 and will report directly to
Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia.
“I am delighted with the appointment of Aireen, who has
consistently demonstrated her capabilities and commitment in propelling
AirAsia to new heights. She has long been an invaluable part of the senior
management team of AirAsia and possesses the vision and leadership qualities
crucial for the company’s growth in its second decade,” Fernandes said.
As a CEO of AirAsia Malaysia, Aireen joins a dynamic team
which already includes Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of AirAsia Thailand; Capt.
Dharmadi, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia; Marianne Hontiveros, CEO of AirAsia
Philippines; and Kazuyuki Iwakata, CEO of AirAsia Japan - all of whom
directly report to Group CEO Tony Fernandes.
“We are proud to be probably the first ASEAN Group with
two female CEO’s. Aireen’s appointment is testament of the strength and
depth of AirAsia Group’s senior management team. It is also an affirmation
of our management philosophy of meritocracy in the company’s operations,”
Fernandes said.
Prior to her appointment as CEO, Aireen was Regional Head
of Corporate Finance, Treasury and Investor Relations. She joined AirAsia in
January 2006 as Director of Corporate Finance. Aireen was, among others,
instrumental in securing the financing for AirAsia’s fleet expansion, a
vital component of AirAsia’s success. Her role included handling the
negotiations with Airbus for the record purchase of 200 Airbus A320neo
aircraft that was announced at the Paris Airshow in 2011.
Aireen holds an economics degree from the London School
of Economics and Political Science and a masters in economics degree from
New York University.
In accepting the appointment as CEO of AirAsia Malaysia,
Aireen said, “I am honored and humbled by the trust and confidence placed in
me by AirAsia co-founders Tony, Kamarudin and the Board of Directors. I’ve
been incredibly fortunate to have worked with and learned from two of the
best entrepreneurs in ASEAN. These are certainly big shoes to fill, but with
the passion, hard work and creativity of the AirAsia Allstars, a management
team that has proven its leadership across the industry, and AirAsia’s
consummate belief in Malaysia and the region, we move onwards with
confidence.”
Speaking on behalf of the board of directors, AirAsia
Chairman Dato’ Aziz Bakar said, “We welcome the appointment of Aireen as CEO
of AirAsia Berhad. Aireen has long been a member of the AirAsia family, and
we are confident that with her credentials, she will lead the company to
even greater growth and maintain its market leadership.”
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Hard Rock Hotel donates rice to Father Ray Foundation
The Hard Rock Hotel donates a
ton of rice to Pattaya Musicians 4 Charity to go towards the Father Ray
Foundation’s S.O.S. Rice appeal.
Warunya Thongrod
The Hard Rock Hotel became the latest to respond to the
Father Ray Foundation’s S.O.S. Rice appeal, donating a ton of rice to a
musicians group to deliver to the charity.
General Manager Jorge Carlos Smith and hotel employees
presented the 1,050 kilograms to Tom Rossetti, chairman of Pattaya Musicians
4 Charity June 12 at the beachfront resort.
Smith said employees and guests all pitched in, raising
35,280 baht for the Hard Rock to buy rice with.
(L to R) Pattaya Musicians 4
Charity members Lian Thonginn, JD Eisenberg (guitarist), Kanjana Ngamkalong
(Hard Rock marketing communications manager), Tom Rossetti (chairman) and
Les Deshane (guitarist) are all smiles at the donation.
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