The pitter-patter of tiny feet resonating from the football field was unmistakable sign that children were having a good time.
I was visiting Beluga School for Life Charity Travel _ an aid project initiated by German shipping magnate Niels Stolberg _ which aside from sheltering and educating children orphaned by the tsunami and other underprivileged kids since 2004, offers visitors an opportunity to familiarise with the local culture and customs, and understand the concept under which the school was set up via campus tours and outdoor activities.
The school located in a valley in Ban Na Nai village of Phangnga's Thai Muang district is a short distance from the popular tourist resort of Khao Lak, not long ago witness to a tragedy, the tsunami that ravaged south Thailand that fateful morning after Christmas in 2004, which caused huge damage leading to extensive loss of life and property.
There is a beautifully landscaped resort within the school compound for tourists. Proceeds from what guests spend on accommodation, meals and excursions go to support the students' education and welfare.
The morning we arrived, students from kindergarten to sixth grade could be seen scampering in line to start their day for daily exercises. Joining them were an eager group of elderly German tourists. The children seemed delighted at having visitors in their midst.
To make the most of your stay it is advisable to orient yourself to the school's environs by getting involved in activities on offer there. Guided tours enable you to mingle with students and teachers.
During the campus tour I got to observe their self-sufficiency programme which is inclusive of organic farming and bakery classes. There is also a centre for religion where students of all faiths are welcome.
Popular activities among tourists include fruit carving, native Thai dances and cooking classes, market tours and trekking.
While excursions can be tailored to request, I decided to explore Thai Muang district on my own. A 10-minute drive from the school is Na Nai Boon, a Buddhist monastery atop a mountain complete with meditation facilities in the form of stand-alone huts, each set in lush surroundings to get participants close to nature. The abbot, a slimly built man, reminded us that meditation is not for the faint-hearted as everyone had to adhere to strict rules and just one meal, usually breakfast, was allowed a day.
My next stop was the Leng San Keng shrine, a few metres from the entrance to Thai Muang market. A popular place for worship, locals usually come here asking for good health and end up praying before the statue of Cho Su Kong, the Hokkien god of medicine, one of the many Chinese deities enshrined there.
Also worth checking out is the Bangklee Pakistan Mosque in whose vicinity is a restaurant that serves trademark milk tea and delicacies, much patronised by the locals.
A factory churning out exquisite bamboo furniture was my last stop before heading back to the school, where I said my goodbyes to the students the following day.
Beluga School for Life offers pickup service from the airport to the school and vice versa. To take public transport, take an airport bus from Phuket airport to Thanon Main (80 baht) and then hop on inter-provincial buses on the route to Surat Thani. Get off at Ban Thung Maphrao village (80-90 baht) and take a motorcycle taxi to the school (40-50 baht).
For more information on Beluga School for Life Charity Travel, call: 085-473-3615, fax: 076-445-168, website:www.charity-travel-thailand.com/.
Given its lush vegetation and mountainous location, the school is popular among trekkers. Archarn Charniwat, who heads the school’s organic farm project, usually leads excursions that reward visitors with a view of the area’s exotic flora.
The cheerful mood of these girls reflects the love and attention they have received since becoming part of the Beluga family. Apart from the teachers and administrative staff, the students are looked after by wardens male and female, each of whom is in charge of 10 children. Their homework and general needs are also closely monitored.
Tourists learn Thai cooking from experienced hands and in the process get to appreciate the value of spices and herbs that are an integral part of every dish. The school’s organic farm supplies a portion of the ingredients used, but soon it plans to expand cultivation so that the produce can be sold in the market to generate income for the school. For a small donation, guests can also plant commemorative plants.
Baking classes conducted by career chefs are popular with children and visitors.
The statue of Cho Su Kong.
The Leng San Keng shrine is 131 years old. Visitors with health problems come here seeking cure from the Hokkien god of medicine Cho Su Kong. Sharing the same roof are Chinese gods of wealth and prosperity. Located in Thai Muang district, it is the venue for all major Chinese festivals held in town.
Morning workout with the kids is a nice time to recharge your own batteries. The pleasant weather plus the beautiful natural setting is refreshing to the eyes and soul. The smiling faces of these little children is a real treat to experience up close.
Beluga’s tourist accommodation compromises 18 cosy villas fitted with basic amenities, while the presence of a swimming pool more or less makes up for the lack of a beach. Its Thai chef has years of experience working in four-star hotels, so guests can expect decent local, international and fusion food, while there is a conscious attempt to make the dishes as nutritious as possible.
Budding talents enjoy a game of football. Sports are very much part of their extracurricular activities and upbringing.
Despite their tumultuous past, these children now enjoy a new lease of life, best in evidence on the playground when they let their emotions go. Play time is based on age and most of their playing kit comes from donation. The children are polite and friendly, often greeting you with a ‘wai’.
Colorfully painted dormitories and their scenic ambience make for a neat accommodation for students.
Beluga is school, as well as home, to about 150 boys and girls who study there from kindergarten to sixth grade, and beyond that at provincial schools. Manoon Kalapat, director of Beluga’s Hotel Training Institute, is happy lending his services to these underprivileged children because he himself was the recipient of such support from a charity organisation when still young.
Five-minute ride from Beluga school takes you to Uncle Vean’s bamboo furniture factory, for the past 10 years source of chairs and tables to resorts operating in the vicinity. He and his staff are happy to demonstrate to visitors how they put together a piece of furniture from scratch.
One of the meditation huts at the Na Nai Boon monastery. Soon there will be similar facilities for women—at the foot of the hill. Meditation sessions begin with chants led by its abbot and can be quite taxing, particularly to city slickers. So think twice before joining!
This coffee joint without a name belongs to 63-year-old Samina. Located opposite the mosque, it is a good place to enjoy a delicious cup of hot milk tea. She uses charcoal fire to boil tea leaves sourced from Trang province. She also serves Thai coffee. It is a good spot to observe how the locals go about their daily chores. Dress modestly when visiting!
Yummy dishes worth sinking your teeth into. Krua Muslim is a popular openair eatery five mintues’ walk from the mosque. The food it serves is high on spices and condiments. Well, its owner is of Pakistani ancestry. But the dishes are essentially a blend of Thai-Muslim flavour.
Sitting in Na Toei village is Bangklee Pakistan Mosque built three years ago on the site of a former one over 70 years old. ‘Pakistan’ is in the name because the forebears of Ban Bangklee community came from there. The mosque is heart of the community where Muslims, no matter their origins, come to say daily prayers
Muslim boys dressed in traditional attire leave after saying their afternoon prayers.
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