Thirteen members of the Friendship Force of Baton Rouge
traveled to Thailand for a two week exchange. “Ambassadors” from Baton
Rouge making the trip were: Frances and Charles Bennett, Thornton
Cofield, Bob and Gayle Duncan, Linda Dudley, Marva Jacques, Guy Luno,
Darwin and Linda Knochenmus, Lynn Robbins , Marilyn Waguespack and
Barbara Wittkopf. Joining the Baton Rouge group were Gene and Bob Burke
from the Sarasota, Florida Friendship Force Club and Elizabeth Allen
from the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Club.
Exchange members were hosted the first week (Nov. 2 through Nov. 8) of
the exchange in the homes of Bangkok Friendship Force members. On the
first night of the exchange, all of Thailand was celebrating “Loy
Krathong” (Festival of Lights) at the Chayo Praya River and we were
invited to attend the celebration as special guests. At one point during
the festival, attendees place a tray of banana leaves with flowers,
candles and incense in the river to float downstream. The “Ambassadors”,
as participants are called, met with Dr. Vallop Suwandee, the Chairman
of the Advisers to the Governor of Bangkok. Governor M. R. Sukhumbhand
Paribatra was called out of town on urgent business and unable to meet
with the “Ambassadors”. Dr. Suwandee was presented with an Honorary
Mayor’s Certificate from Baton Rouge Mayor Melvin “Kip” Holden for
Governor Paribatra. He also was presented with a Baton Rouge Mayor’s
medallion, a key to the city and a Louisiana lapel pin. Lt. Governor
Mitch Landrieu of Louisiana sent a certificate of appreciation to
Governor Paribatra for hosting the Friendship Force members of Baton
Rouge. The presentations were made by Baton Rouge Exchange Director
Linda Dudley.
A trip to Pattaya, a resort area south of Bangkok, to attend the grand
opening of the Five Star Centra Grand Mirage Beach Resort was most
enjoyable. Roberta Flack was the main entertainment for the event. Other
activities included a trip to the Danernsaduark Floating Market and the
Rose Garden. After lunch at the Rose Garden, a Thai Cultural Show was
enjoyed. On a trip to Ayutthaya, a visit to the summer palace of the
royal family was followed by lunch on board the Grand Pearl and a cruise
back to Bangkok on the Chayo Praya River. The Thai Spectacular
Performance ‘Siam Naramit” at the Ratchada Grand Theater was inspiring.
Activities such as these open windows for viewing some of the Thailand
culture.
At the Farewell Dinner, the Baton Rouge group treated the host families
to some Louisiana culture with a Mardi Gras Parade with masks and plenty
of beads.
On Monday, November 9, the group boarded the train for a long ride to
Chiang Mai where they spent the next week with host families. One of the
highlights of this visit was the trip to Lampang to visit the Elephant
Conservation Center. We watched the show – even saw the elephants
actually paint some pictures which were purchased by the attendees.
Everyone rode the elephants, which was a new experience for us, and also
enjoyed a horse carriage ride around town. We met some Friendship Force
members from Lampang. On the way back to Chiang Mai, we stopped at
Lamphun to visit the temple and met with a few Friendship Force members
there. We visited the Doi Suthep Temple in Chiang Mai. We met with
students at Wattanothal Payap School and were interviewed by the
students! Following the interviews, the students showed us around the
school. After the tour, we had a Thai cooking class and cooked our own
lunch. Of course, we had a lot of help. After lunch, we visited the
classrooms and talked with the students. After the visit to the school,
we were all ready for a Thai massage at the Neurological Hospital!
A Farewell Party was held on Friday night and our Mardi Gras Parade
again was enjoyed by all.
|
