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Asian University student changes her mind after visit to Khao Kheow Open Zoo
Sarinya
A group of Asian University first year business students recently
went to the Khao Kheow open zoo; one of the students, Sarinya, wrote about
the trip:
 Bem
wears a bear.
“When I heard from the teacher that we were going on a field trip to Khao
Kheow Zoo, my first thought was ‘My, I’m not a g.4 student any more; I’m a
freshmen in university!’ To be honest, I’ve never been to Khao Kheow and to
be even more honest, I’ve never had any desire to go there because of some
previous impressions at other zoos! I thought of it as a dirty, smelly,
small place that locks the poor animals in tiny cages, only a few animals to
see, bad food, unclean washrooms, basically anything negative about the
place. But all these feelings and issues were gone after I arrived and could
see everything for myself.
We left Asian University about four p.m. on Friday and arrived at Khao Kheow
Open Zoo around five o’clock in the afternoon. We had a meal and then walked
around and took pictures a bit and prepared ourselves for the night safari
tour.
 Bem
listens to a Slow Loris.
About seven p.m. we walked inside the actual zoo gate to wait for the bus
that would take us for the tour. The zoo sent three staff with animals to
show us and for us to get a close observation of them. By close, I mean
actually touch, hold and play with them! There were four kinds of animals; a
type of wild bear, a porcupine, a monkey and a snake. We were able to touch
or hold all of these animals although I dared not touch the porcupine. At
around 7.10 p.m. we started to board the bus, ready for the night safari
tour.
The tour was interesting because we got to see these animals’ activities at
night time and most of them usually spent day time sleeping, in other words
we got to see the animals in their usual routine. The narrator was also
great; he had lots of knowledge about all the animals. It was dark of
course, one of the staff is the narrator and another one is holding a
spotlight to guide us in the direction that the narrator is talking about.
It was a good idea also because it focused us only on that part so we were
able to see more animals than randomly looking around.
 Nine
handles a snake.
We saw lots of animals and learnt tons of new information about them. We
learnt about different types of cats and how they differed; for example, the
cheetah is the fastest runner and the Siberian Tiger is the biggest tiger.
We saw one of the rarest animals in Thailand called a “Malayan Tapir” or
“som-sret” in Thai, it means “the right mixtures” because the animal looks
like it combines four features of animals in one. It has a Javan Rhino-like
feet, eyes, ears and a body like a pig and a nose that can stretch and
contract like an elephant. We saw different types of birds and various types
of monkeys and sorts of deer. The most interesting part that totally changes
my attitude towards this zoo was all animals were not in any kind of cages
except tigers, of course. These animals were free to live, to walk, to play
and to live their lives. Also, they are not as harmful as we think they
would be.
The highlight of this zoo is not only animals are free to walk around, they
have resorts as an accommodation in the zoo for people who want to stay
overnight and the zoo has 15 kinds of tiger for us to see even though we
only have 9 types in Thailand. We were able to walk around cage by cage to
observe the tigers closely through glass display windows.
My attitude towards the zoo was changed after we finished the night safari
tour. I thought of it differently and I felt a bit of guilt that I judged it
before I could see it myself. Going to the zoo is not as bad as I thought.
I’ve not only learned more interesting facts about these animals, but I also
learned to think positive and be open minded to other things outside my
scope of mind.
Arrival at the zoo (Sarinya
front right).
Asian University Vs Burapha
University Sports Day
Giving it their all in the
dance competition.
Susan Joyce
The last weekend in January saw the annual ‘Human Society’
sports competition take place at Burapha University in Bangsaen,
Chonburi. This competition, as the name suggests, is to promote
friendship and team work between students and staff of the two
institutions. The venue alternates between the two universities.
 Excitingly
close to the football goal.
Many sports are played each year with each university entering teams
from their respective universities but this year saw an added twist with
teams from both sides mixing together in each other’s teams to ensure a
true sense of team and inter-university spirit. As with all sports there
are the winners and the losers, but everyone came away a winner on the
day.
Asian University would like to extend their deep appreciation to Burapha
University for the wonderful day and thank them for being such gracious
hosts.
If any sporting body in the local area would like to organize a local
sports competition please contact the sports director; Mr. James Saville
at [email protected]
Heave ho in the tug of
war.
The Regent’s School visits Bangkok
Hospital Pattaya
Children and teachers
excitedly visit the hospital.
Teaching staff and 60 young students from The
Regent’s School visited the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya as a special
program to make the children less fearful of hospitals and medical
procedures.
The children’s attention was held for the entire two hour visit which
culminated in their visiting one of the inpatient floors and private
rooms.
The international teachers were also amazed at the standards in the
hospital, claiming that their own countries had nothing to compare with
the local Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
Educational tour of Chonburi attractions arranged
for kindergarten children
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
A group of 40 children from Koh Chan Kindergarten were taken on
a tour of some of Chonburi Province’s leading attractions in January,
courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Central Region 3 Office.
 Planting
trees is good for the planet and may help prevent global warming.
The trip was organized in conjunction with the Koh Chan District Office
and included visits to Yan Sangwararam Temple, the Immortal Chinese
Story Temple, Silver Lake Grape Farm, Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, Under
Water World, and Khao Kheow Open Zoo.
The visit was an educational one, designed to show the children the
importance to the community of tourism. A tree planting ceremony was
held during the visit to teach the children the role of trees in
conserving the environment.
Scholarships and souvenirs were presented to the youngsters, and
received on their behalf by Mrs Tongpian Ponnark, director of Koh Chan
Kindergarten.
Amongst the organizations supporting the venture were the
Thammarasameemaneerat Foundation, the Sheraton Pattaya Resort Hotel, the
Sunbeam Pattaya Hotel, St Andrews 2000 GC, A-One the Royal Cruise Hotel,
the Green Wood GC, Sriracha Tiger Zoo, Ancient City Co Ltd, Horse Shoe
Point Co Ltd, the Bottle Art Museum Pattaya, Siam Country Club Co Ltd,
Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Alcazar Cabaret, Pirom
the Yellow Submarine, Mini Siam, the Pattaya Go-Kart Speed Way, Central
Pattana Co Ltd, and the Tesco Lotus North Pattaya Branch.
Yea… We promise to protect
the environment.
Supporters of the project
have donated many useful items.
Students visit Lopburi AIDS hospice as part
of educational program
Pramote Channgam
More than 160 young people were taken to Prabat Nampu Temple in
Lopburi, where there is a large AIDS hospice, as part of an educational
program on the prevention of HIV and AIDS.
 The
Bone Museum for people who have died from AIDS since 1992.
The Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Bureau at the Pattaya
City Public Health and Environment Department organized the training
session for local students, the intention being that the students would
then teach their classmates.
Taking place over two days, the training began on January 31 at 8:30
a.m. in the 4th floor conference room at the Public Health Center in
Pattaya City, and was opened by Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay.
The first day was for classroom training, while the second day was
allocated for an educational visit to Prabat Nampu Temple in Muang
Lopburi.
 Siharat
acquired HIV from her husband 7 years ago, she said, because she trusted
him and didn’t have a blood test before they were married.
Setting off from Pattaya City Hall at 5:30 a.m. on February 1, the
youngsters arrived at the temple at 11 a.m. The group visited many areas
at the temple, with monks and officials providing them with information.
There were 114 people with AIDS living at this temple. Some were staying
at the arch in front of the temple, some in the primary stages of the
disease came by themselves, and some passed away two or three days after
walking into the temple suffering from the advanced stages of the
disease. Most had nowhere else to go, having been rejected by society.
 Nong
Som-O lives with HIV because of having a sexual relationship when she
was still in school.
The visitors were told how the sufferers contracted the disease through
risky behavior such as having sex without protection, injecting
narcotics with used syringes, being tattooed with infected needles, and
contracting it from their partners.
Sufferers living at the temple were divided into three zones, namely
single men, single women, and those who were legally married.
Temple officers led the youngsters to an area that provided information
on the disease and the way it is spread, gleaned from observation of the
sufferers and working with them. Behind this building are five large
crematoriums, built by donations and used to cremate those who have no
one to take care of their bodies after they have passed away.
The officers then led the young visitors to Walailak House, where those
who are not capable of taking care of themselves are treated. They then
continued to the Bone Building and were astonished by the large quantity
of bones there, which the officers explained were from those who had
died of AIDS at the temple, their bones being used for religious rituals
that are performed every two years. Another building contains body
organs preserved in formaldehyde.
 Deputy
Mayor Verawat Khakhay opens the AIDS training session.
The youngsters watched a video on the work of the temple that included
interviews with AIDS sufferers warning others to take care of themselves
and not contract the disease. There was also a stage show performed by
AIDS patients, with music and dance, and beautiful costumes. The
performers spoke to the youngsters, telling them at first hand about the
risks of contracting AIDS, and how to avoid the disease.
The students selected by the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control
Bureau will now go back to their schools and colleges and help to train
their classmates in AIDS prevention.
The selected youngsters were from seven Pattaya educational
institutions, namely Banglamung Vocational College, Banglamung School,
Phodhisamphan Pittayakern School, Ban Rotfai School, Pattaya Arunothai
School, Rachamaritime School, and the Pattaya Commercial School.
The Life Museum of people
dying from AIDS provides
a graphic look at the end result of AIDS.
Student representatives
from city schools begin their training.
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