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During March 17th - April 6th, 2006 after his first visit in the past 4 years, Mr. David Butler followed by his wife, Mrs. Lynn Sokolov traveled aboard from Iowa USA to visit WFCC ceremony of "Handover of Radio Network Communication System Construction, Solar Cell System Construction, and The Central Radio Communication Station Construction". Mr. David is a nature lover who cares for survival of Thungyai Naresuan the World Heritage and has been gradually support WFCC several missions. Apart from the devotion, his article "Thailand Trucks & Thungyai" was written and published on his journal in America, intended to introduce WFCC to the eyes of Americans and to call their nature awareness; especially on the wealthy of the natural world heritage site. Nearly midnight of March 17, 2006, WFCC representatives were appointed to received Mr. David and his wife at Bangkok International Airport and drove them to a five stars hotel which reserved by WFCC chairman, Mr. Tewet Uttawichai. During their first two days in Bangkok, the itinerary was set to introduce some of the first attractive and significant places in Bangkok, so that they can learn more about Thailand and help publicize Thailand in another way. The visited places are; The Royal Grand Palace, The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, The Temple of the Golden Buddha or Wat Trimit Witthayaram Woraviharn, Wat Phra Chetuphon or Wat Pho, and Wat Arun Rachawararam Rachaworamahawiharn (The Dawn Temple or Wat Chaeng). Moreover, leaded by Mr. Tewet, they also visited Jatuchak Open Market for souvenirs. In the afternoon of March 19, 2006, Mr. Tanomsri Vichienrat was in charge to drove them to Nakornprathom for welcome party which would be held that night. In this chance, WFCC officers leaded them to Wat Phra Pathom Chedi or The Temple of Thailand First Pagoda, also described its history and Buddhism civilization through Suvarnnabhumi territory of Thailand after the first group of Buddhist monk came from India to propagate Buddha principal and Buddhism was firstly settled in Thailand.
During the welcome party, Mr. David revealed his appreciation and happiness as to meet such old friends. He said the return was not only for his business opportunity in Thailand, but also to participate WFCC mission of Handover of Central Radio Communication Network, Solar Cell System, and Hermit Hill Central Radio Communication Station which WFCC had dedicated for 4 years.
After his personal business at Nakorn Ratchasima Province, Mr. David with his wife were leaded to visit another important and attractive places in the Northern part of Thailand, including the other site of Thailand western forest during waiting for the date of handover mission which was set on 3rd April 2006 at Hermit Hill of Thungyai Naresuan. March 2006 at Pimai District of Nakorn Rachasima Province, Mr. David and his wife took a long time admired to Pimai Stone Sanctuary. On this chance, Mr. Visith Samarnvanich, WFCC officer whose inhabit at Nakorn Rachasima came to give a warm welcome and join the trip. Then he separated in the evening that day before the other companions continued to Sukhothai provice and arrived at 9 pm.
Sukhothai is where Mr. David and his wife had learnt more about Thai history when the next day came and they visited Sukhothai National Historical Park which was declared by UNESCO as a cultural world heritage site. At 9 pm of 21st March 2006, the companions continued to Doi Inthanon National Park to stay uphill at a resort among the wonderful natural scenery surrounded.
The first light of the next morning came and called us to visit colorful flora garden around the twin pagoda of HM. The King and HM. The Queen. Underneath the glister starlight among pine jungle that night, Surin together with Mr. David and his wife has a discussion about WFCC decade and on-going projects, also the upcoming ones that all require a great support of cooperation, mind, and especially financial to drove all of them to their succession of sustainable conservation objective.
In the evening of 22nd March 2006, we reached Fang National Park which won a site management award from Department National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), and stayed at the resort of Mr. Kittipong Suriyathongchuen the sculptural artist who designed The shrine of King Naresuan Maharajaat Thungyai Naresuan WS in commemoration of the 400 years of the passed away great king. A dinner for that night was prepared by Suriyathongchuen family as to welcome Mr. David and his wife. At Fang National Park, we visited the production and management of electricity energy from natural underground energy resources which is friendly to environment.
In the following day before returned to Chiengmai province, we intended to visit Dr. Krai Darbtham the director of Mae-eye Hospital but we missed because he was very busy that time. Then, we went to visit Mae-tang elephant farm where Mr. David and his wife had learnt many things about elephant, including the relationship of elephant with Thai culture before. The we went to stay at a resort beside Chiengmai airport since the night of March 23rd until the morning of March 26th. During stayed at Cheingmai, we met Mr. Mr. Arther and his wife, the old friend whose during the way back to America after traveled in India. Moreover, we met Mr. Mathew M. Morison; another one who had relocated away from Hurricanes in America to settle a new home in Chiengmai, and Mr. Prasert Yudee another old friend who has been an attorney of Lampoon province. At that period of time therefore liked a warm alumni party.
In the morning of March 26, 2006, Mrs. Lynn was left at Chiengmai under cares of Mr. Mathew whereas Mr. David and WFCC officer continued the way to Khao Nangrum (KNR) Wildlife Research Station at Huai Khakhaeng WS to joint with another member who went to take back a tiger collar which WFCC had support reparation to the wildlife research station. Along the way to Huai Khakhaeng WS that day, many species of wildlife founded that very appreciated and interested to Mr. David. At 6 pm, all the companion arrived KNR wildlife Research Station and we unexpectedly met Mr. Dave who was an expert and experienced in tiger research field. So along the discussion, we received several useful information for WFFC West Thungyai Tiger Research Project Support, especially when Mr. Saksit Simchareon the head of KNR Wildlife Research Station arrived and joined. The discussion made Mr. David and WFCC officers more understand about the project procedure and the important of all part supports that will drive the project to reach its succession.
In the late morning of 27th March 2006, all the companions leaved for Western Fishery Patrol Center at Kanchanaburi province to join another WFCC officers who would arrived in the morning of the next day, in the mission of Ongtang-Huaikue Marine Wildlife Checkpoint Renovation Project. That evening, we had a warm welcome dinner, including breakfast and lunch of the following day, prepared by Mr. Veera Rattanajinda, the head of Western Fishery Patrol Center that empowered the mission though it success.
After the speed boat berthed, some of the companions returned to their place while some separated to join another WFCC members who was preparing material and would prior transported to setup worksite before the forthcoming date of handover at the Hermit Hill. We stop the car and stayed that night at Mae-Khamin Waterfall before continued to Thungyai Naresuan. There, Mr. David visited the production and management of electricity energy from the whole year rich of waterfall resource energy to supply for electricity instrument in the office and buildings around. April 1,2006, we arrived the head office of Thungyai Naresuan, and joined with other members who had prior arrived. Then we continued to Sesawo wildlife protection station, intended to setup and prepare for the handover ceremony. In the evening of the same day, we the first team finally reached Sesawo wildlife protection station by the time the sun set at Sesawo Field. That nigh, the weather was a little bit cool at 12 degree Celsius. April 2, 2006 the following day, after morning coffee, Thungyai officers with WFCC officers installed Sesawo National Flag Pole which WFCC had supported construction expense and transportation. And the day was the first time National anthem was sung and Thai National Flag flew over Sesawo wildlife protection station that made everyone happy.
Not only an engine technician, also Mr. David was a good construction technician who helped a lot in construction details and build up temporary tent for the ceremony and exhibition zone up on the top of Hermit Hill from the beginning until April 3rd. Mr. David then firstly met the present chief in command of Thungyai-Mr.Urb Choeng Sa-ard, the vice director general of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP)-Mr. Chaval Talhikorn, the director of 3rd Protected Area Regional Office and other followers.
After a conversation with Mr. Chaval Talhikorn, the vice director general of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) and his thank you speech for WFCC supports during the ceremony, via email, Mr. David expressed his admiration to the vision of Mr. Chaval Talhikorn regarding site management direction to preserve the western forest world heritage site. And, he said that the western forest can surely be reserved under the direction of sustainable conservation management by his great vision and attitude.
In the same occasion Mr.David planted a tree with Mr.Tawet by Sesawo stream just in front of Sesawo wildlife protection station as Thungyai wildlife sanctuary prepared to mark this great event and honor to Mr.David and WFCC.
April 6, 2006 the night before the date Mr. David and his wife returned to America. WFCC prepared a farewell party on board a cruise for both of them. Participated by WFCC members, volunteers, supporters and consultants, the farewell party impressed to Mr. David and his wife. It can be said that, the return and missions of Mr. David in Thailand this time was very successful as he had learn a lot about Thai culture, history, attractive and significant places, etc. He got an idea of a new business in Thailand. And, especially, he had learnt a lot about WFCC missions and direction both ideally and practically. Hopefully, his visit this time would lead to a very strong friendship, also a permanent cooperation on help saving our world heritage site and extending our conservation ideal to be sustainable in the future.
During the party that night, Mr. David revealed his impression and admiration toward all WFCC teamwork who has been devoted for the conservation tasks for a decade, and that created several obvious successive outputs. He said; for the Natural World Heritage Site, for Thailand and humanity, he would not let WFCC missions to be ceased or broken off. His speech was greatly empower WFCC staffs to continued and keep forward. Moreover, he also composed a poem called Forest Protector for WFCC.
Surin / reported
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