What does Hua Hin need?

[Jaime]

Tomorrow I plan to go to the Thai Mass instead. The music seems much more appropriate (from what I have heard) and I plan to just keep telling myself that it is Latin. . .though my Latin is pretty good and I probably wont be fooled for a minute.

Chas - where did you go to mass that is still being held in Latin!!??

Just before Easter two years ago I wandered into a Catholic church near my wife's village that has mainly Muser but also some Kaliang and Meo tribes people as its congregation. I think you'd have loved it Chas. As I ambled up a hill through the Muser village of rudimentary bamboo shacks, I could hear beautifully sung hymns in Thai coming from further up the hill. As I got closer, a small whitewashed church with a steeply pitched tin roof came into view amongst a clearing in the palm trees and I entered. As I did so the choir practice that was being directed by a young Thai Catholic nun with the sweetest face I have ever seen came to a momentary halt as they saw the farang. Some of the kids were drop-jawed and then the nun smiled at me, nodded a self-conscious acknowledgement and motioned for the practice to continue. It really was a sublime moment to savour - quite angelic and genuinely moving. I sat there listening to the kids for about half an hour, meditated a while and was then invited into the parochial house by the priest, Father Tony. Not his 'real' name as he is Thai. He said that the Catholic community in Thailand is sufficiently strong that virtually all the Catholic clergy in Thailand is made up of Thais, rather than foreign missionaries, which I found very interesting.

With very limited resources the church seemed to be doing a great job of educating and improving the general physical welfare of the local tribal population and the place had an atmosphere of real clarity and happiness. The kids I saw were getting ready for a number of special services for Easter and I am looking forward to going there and seeing them all again this coming Easter.

[Chas]

Where do I hear a Latin Mass Jaime? In my DREAMS. You misread my post a bit. . as I was saying that I would pretend that the foreign language of the Thai mass was Latin. I do find that Thai liturgical music is very nice to listen to. I spent a week recently at the Jesuit retreat center in Chaing Mai and went to Thai mass every day. Very pleasant, though I understood very little.

Jaime, I LOVE your story of visiting the village. Makes me want to go there for Easter ( can't take any more Whitney Houston so I won't be going here)

Yes, the Thai Catholic church seems very strong and I have met mostly Thai clergy since I have been here. (Curiously, since it is a Buddhist country I keep wondering why these people are not in a temple.) The church here does great work in the poor villages, with hill tribes and with schools. I totally agree.

Part of the problem here in Hua Hin is that the majority of the congregation on a particular Sunday, especially in high season, is European. Nobody seems to have asked them what they like or what things are like in their ( mostly Nordic) countries ( They sit like lumps throughout the mass) The Thai pastor feels he has done quite enough by doing it in English and getting the Filipinos to do the music . . . perhaps not realizing that Catholicism in the Phillipines and Catholicism in Finland are two very different animals.

[Big A]

I saw some Philippino ladies singing in a club and I reognized them but could not place where I had seen them. But now I realize where I saw them b4, it was at the church for Salasian school.

I did not realize it was closed game on content until Chas enlightened us.

[playboy]

I think what does Hua Hin need is a well designed conservatory which can educate visitors and locals about anythings from sciences, cultures and socials. It will well situe at the top of Kha Takiab with telescope looking toward the sky and sea. The conservatory will have large area for walking, sitting and look over the ocean. The one likes Griffit park Conservatory in Hollywood. So people can go out enjoy their evening.

Hua Hin also need big fresh and salt water Aguarium conservatory or museum since it is on the coastal area, with different species of water animals from fishs, corals,anemanes, crabs and etcs. That will also educated young kids, adults and many visitors.
Hua Hin also need municipal library which the visitors can easily borrow the books, read international news paper and use free internet. Thinks about how school can no longer provide long trip of field trip for our kids. So Hua Hin does need those educational institutions to provide their kids(your kids) knowledge and skills for the 21st century.

[Jaime]

Hua Hin also need big fresh and salt water Aguarium conservatory or museum since it is on the coastal area, with different species of water animals from fishs, corals,anemanes, crabs and etcs.

Sadly, I dread to think what form something like this would take in Thailand. Anybody ever been to Pata Zoo in BKK? If you have then you will know what I mean.

[buksida]

Hua Hin also need big fresh and salt water Aguarium conservatory or museum since it is on the coastal area, with different species of water animals from fishs, corals,anemanes, crabs and etcs. That will also educated young kids, adults and many visitors.

There is actually an aquarium in Prachuab, while they seem to have done a nice job with the small tanks I wasnt impressed to see baby sharks and turtles in such small enclosures.

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/vi ... php?t=1594

[PeteC]

Hua Hin also need big fresh and salt water Aguarium conservatory or museum since it is on the coastal area, with different species of water animals from fishs, corals,anemanes, crabs and etcs.

Sadly, I dread to think what form something like this would take in Thailand. Anybody ever been to Pata Zoo in BKK? If you have then you will know what I mean.

Over here, a bit south of Pattaya proper..along the west side of Sukhumvit Hwy., we have Underwater World. Or, as I call it, Underwear World as that is what it sounds like when a Thai pronounces it. It's quite popular and a well designed facility with a tube you walk through under water, and seems to have all the local sealife Playboy mentions. Very educational for the kids especially, and many school trips go there. I also heard something similar is going up in Phuket. If any of you are up this way, have a look. Pete

PS: No, there are no white eels on display..LOL.

[Jaime]

Sorry - my cynicism knows no bounds! Especially after my one and only visit to Pata Zoo, which occupies the top few floors of a shopping mall somewhere over in the Pinklao (I think, from memory) area of BKK. The hippo in an oversized, scum lined bath tub did not look amused.

[Wesu]

A Good movie theatre.

[Jaime]

Wesu, do you mean that the one they've just built is no good?

[Wesu]

Hmm... I don't know about that... maybe I am lacking information. Last time I was there in Jan. '06 no-one could show me a way to a movie theatre, so...

[Norseman]

But I guess you know it by now Wesu?

[VincentD]

Tomorrow I plan to go to the Thai Mass instead. The music seems much more appropriate (from what I have heard) and I plan to just keep telling myself that it is Latin. . .though my Latin is pretty good and I probably wont be fooled for a minute.

Hi, Chas

Only just spotted the post as I don't drop by as often as I should. I used to go to the Holy Redeemer in Bangkok (behind the US embassy in soi Ruamrudee) but that was years ago.

I found a Thai church out near the military base and have been going there for the last nine years. They only have Thai mass, but I do help out as one of the organists on Sunday, at least I can read the music scores. The people here are really nice, there were two Italian priests before, then a Thai and now a Filipino and a Thai. All the masses are said in Thai, it took me a while to learn the Thai hymns and I still have a long way to go.
The point is, I don't have to drive into town anymore, parking isn't a problem, everyone knows everyone else (I never knew anyone while attending services at the Holy Redeemer) so I'm quite happy with the outcome.
My eldest son was baptised at the Holy Redeemer - it was a quick, family-only ceremony between services. My second son was baptised at this church. It was in the middle of the main Sunday service, and after the ceremony, everybody stood up and gave a round of applause before continuing with the service. Amazing.
You can always volunteer your services with the priest. The books for the Thai hymns can be purchased fom the Cathedral bookshop; it's behind the Assumption College Bangrak and next to the Oriental Hotel in Bangkok.

[MartinJ]

So right about Zoo in BKK. I would have thought it be a lot beter than that, but i guess did not help that i was raining so much and i never stoped all the time i was there.

Not too many places to have shelter.

Now any know about a Cinema, that be a good idea

But not too sure to many would go.

Martin

[MartinJ]

Wesu, do you mean that the one they've just built is no good?

Do you mean there is a Cinema

if so do you know it is

thanks

Martin