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Kids' Corner
Marvin really likes sunflowers, so he
decided to grow some of his own. When he looked at the seeds he wanted to
know how it turned into a flower because it was small and hard. I explained
to him that when you put the seed in the ground and give it water the
outside of the seed becomes soft and dies and falls off. The new shoots
begin to grow until you can see some of the plant poking through the top of
the soil. Marvin decided to grow a bean seed using a glass jar and some
paper towel so that he could see what happens as the seed begins to grow and
change into a plant. Do you like growing plants? Write to Marvin and tell
him what sort of flowers you like the best. You can send your letters to:
 Marg
and Marvin
Chiangmai Mail
156-158 Im-boon Housing Estate
Muangsamut Road
T. Changmoi, A. Muang,
Chiang Mai 50300
Email: kids@chiangmai-mail.com
Fax: 053 234 145
JOKES
1) Which flower is like a well-dressed animal?
2) What kind of flowers do you wear on your face?
3) What did the bee say to the rose?
4) What did the rose say to the bee?
ANSWERS
1) A dandelion (dandy lion)
2) Tulips (two lips)
3) Hi bud!
4) Buzz off!
Bye from Marg and Marvin
HM the Queen
honored by a charity walkathon
Saksit Meesubkwang
The probation volunteers, Justice Ministry, Drug Addicted
Rehabilitation Club and Chiang Mai Probation Office held its first charity
walk and mini marathon on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary celebration
of Her Majesty the Queen this year.
The
winning team from Mae Hong Son.
Chamaiporn Baude, the wife of the French consul, was the
event organizing chairperson and she and Chiang Mai deputy governor, Prinya
Panthong, presided over the start of the competition which was held at Royal
Lanna Ror 9 Public Park.
Deputy
governor Prinya with some of the participants.
The winners in each category were: (boys aged 12-15
years) Kasem Laomee from Prachanukroah School, Mae Hong Son; (girls 12-15
Jinda Plertoh also from Prachanukroah School, Mae Hong Son; (youths aged
16-19) Norkaew Noimoh; (adults 20-29) Direk Pinthip (men) and Vichitra
Khamjunwana (women); (adults 30-39) Poonsawas Ariyanont, (adults 40-49)
Vichan Duangsaket, (adults 50-59) Thaweep Hengwan. The overall winning team
was from Prachanukroah, Mae Hong Son which featured in seven categories.
Deputy
Governor Prinya presents a cup to the one of the contestants.
The winners also received trophies in the name of the Minister of Justice
Pongthep Thepkanchana, permanent secretary of the justice minister, Somchai
Wongsawas, the director-general of the Probation Department Dr Kitti
Kittipong Kittayarak, Chiang Mai Governor Suwat Tantipat, and the chairman
of Thai Product International Dr Santi Pongphandecha.
Tony Ball’s Bird Watching Diary
Tony Ball
To start with: a little bit of Thai bird history - the
number of species documented in Thailand over the years is 962, this
represents approximately 10% of the world’s bird population. Out of these
roughly one third are migrants and they leave April-May, going north to
breed, and return September-October for a well earned rest.
We are now at the stage (April 2004) when the birds have
itchy wings and have been building up their energy to make the long flight.
The birds of northern Thailand don’t have that much of a struggle as they
don’t have to cross the large expanses of seas and oceans as some birds
do. Those unlucky birds can lose great numbers on migration due to loss of
energy and only the sea below them - quite tragic. So that feeding binge is
very important. The land traversing migrants don’t get off scot-free, they
are predated on by the many raptors that line the route and sometimes
migrate with them, a sort of meals-on-wings to be partaken of whenever the
hunger pangs strike.
A little about how I employ my time: often it is walking
around lakes, tramping up and down mountains, mostly down and whatever flat
stretches I can find due to a leg condition which produces cramps when I ask
them to do too much. But all-in-all a very satisfying pastime seven days a
week, usually mornings. I have in the past done checklists of birds for
various National Parks but this is dying out because I am running out of
parks who want a checklist done.
One problem which is becoming a major one is the
destruction of habitat and it really is major. Slash-and-burn, which is
traditional in Thailand, is a cause for real concern. Not only does it take
away cover for the birds to skulk in but quite often it is done in the lead
in to the nesting season. It is also done during the nesting season with
tragic results, disintegrating nests, broken eggs and dead nestlings.
The next Diary will cover my daily travels and any
interesting birds I come across.
Northern kindness builds the future for the disadvantaged
Many hands get behind charity projects
Marion Vogt
Close your eyes and imagine you live in a remote village
in the mountain. You live there, because you always lived there, your family
lives there, and now you have a family of your own. Times have changed since
you were young, and you know how hard it is to survive without education.
You want your own children to lead a better life. You want them to be
educated and at least have a chance, and a choice, but the schools are so
far away from your village, which you can’t leave because you have to take
care of your parents, and your children walk kilometers after kilometers,
day after day. During the rainy season you are always worried that something
might happen and most days your precious little ones leave at dawn and come
back at sunset.
 H.E.
Palakorn handing over the first cheque of 50,000 baht to Khunying Yao
Raveepan Sucharekul. (Photo by Michael Vogt)
Fortunately there are many people with kind hearts who
try to relieve the burden on these parents. The Narong Sakdatorn Foundation
aims to provide educational assistance for poor children and destitute
children in Chiang Mai. According to the foundation’s philosophy all the
money will be spent on the needs of poor children, such as previously the
foundation gave annual scholarships to children in Chiang Dao, Fang, Mae Ai
and Mae Jam.
 Wanphen
Sakdatorn and Hagen Dirksen were delighted to pass on the cheques to H.E.
Palakorn. (Photo by Michael Vogt)
In 2003 some people involved in the Narong Saktadorn
Foundation saw the deterioration of the Nong Bua School’s dormitory
building, and asked their chairman, former governor of Chiang Mai, and now
Privy Councillor H.E. Palakorn Suwanrath to help them build a new dormitory.
H.E. Palakorn then started collecting money from his relatives and friends
and spent almost a million baht to build the new dormitory for Nong Bua
School, which is located 45 kilometers from Chiang Dao District Office and
117 kilometers from Chiang Mai City Hall.
 Monchai
Tesaphaet receives his share for the project.
Most students are Karen and Lisu, and their parents are
exceptionally poor. 24 of the students come from remote villages especially
from Huay Dindam village, over five kilometers away and much too far for
little ones. Since the school does not get any financial assistance from the
government, it allowed students to stay at their classrooms, but the number
increased to 50, which made even this solution hopeless, however early in
March, the Narong Sakdatorn Foundation started to build a dormitory for this
school. H.E. Palakorn together with his team built the Baan Nong Bua School
a dormitory for student whose houses are too far from the school. The dorm
will provide protection and relieve the worry for the parents. H.E. Palakorn
together with his wife Khunying Dhasaniya Suwanrath, presided over the
handing over ceremony on March 27 at Nong Bua village.
The day before, Wanphen Sakdatorn and the Hon. Consul of the Federal Rep.
of Germany, Hagen Dirksen donated 500,000 baht for ten different foundations
and organizations which all support physically disabled or socially
disadvantaged children. These 10 foundations included Baan Ging Keaw
Wiboonsanti, the Innocent Child Assistance Center of the northern region,
Baan Thammakorn, the Blind School of the North, Auditory Education
(Sottasuksa Anusarn Sunthorn), Chiang Mai Handicapped Rehabilitation Center,
Chiang Mai Eyes Foundation, Su Kwan Doi Luang Club, Special Education Center
Educational Region 8 and the International Foundation for Northern
Handicapped.
Some of
the lucky students in front of their new building at the Nong Bua School in
Chiang Dao District.
Chiang Mai’s Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders
Natural wonders for some - really disgusting for others
Dominique Leutwiler
It is hard to believe that the usually annoying insects
could provide great interest for any first grader, but that was indeed the
case. At the Christian German School (CDSC) the first graders took a closer
look at the world of insects and suddenly a fascination for these creatures
started to grow day by day.
 Ask
a first grader to paint a butterfly, and the image will be filled with the
most amazing colors and shapes. Even when it comes to the bees, then
suddenly they look pretty in the black and yellow stripes and the children
will be creatively placing them in beautiful green surroundings. Bugs
suddenly don’t look quite that scary, once they have been put on a piece
of paper. And everybody who learns for the first time how ants live can
suddenly look at those little animals from a new point of view. All this,
was enough to get the first graders from CDSC excited about a field trip to
the Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders in Chiang Mai.
 1st
Grade CDSC pupils in the Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders in
Chiang Mai
The collection in the Museum includes thousands of
specimens of insects, butterflies, seashells, fossils, rocks and natural
wonders from Thailand, all collected over a period of more than 50 years.
The two story building is filled with enough insects and natural wonders to
satisfy the curiosity of the first grade, but of course there was also one
girl commenting, “Yuk, this looks really, really disgusting!” when one
of those big ugly bugs was found.
The museum also carries other interesting items such as rare stamps,
strange coins and other rarities. It is an interesting place to visit not
just for children, but also for anybody who has an interest in the world of
insects and natural wonders.
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