Escati Tiger Team – Walking to Suanthip Vana Resort

Friday 31st July, 1998. 2,000 kms day for William!

We left our bungalows at 07.00 hrs after having fresh juice and coffee. Our walk was flat through many villages and we stopped at “Cabbages & Condoms” and had breakfast near a lake and fed the fish. We started to enter the hills aiming for a resort, then saw a sign for “Suanthip Vana Resort” in 5 kms. The hills were steeper and more frequent. We arrived at the resort at 17.30 hrs after an enjoyable day’s walking of 28 kms. The walk to reception at “Suanthip Vana Resort” was up a very steep slope:

http://www.suanthipresort.com

We immediately met the hotel Manager after William had informed the staff at reception that we had walked there from Chiang Mai and the Manager gave us his best room at a special discounted rate of 999 baht including VAT and service charges. This generous offer from the hotel Manager was to celebrate William’s achievement today of reaching 2,000 kms “Walking For Thailand” and we had beautiful views from the sun deck across the hills and valleys. The hotel was a part of the Felix Group of hotels and was the best hotel we had stayed at so far. We had a nice meal in the hotel restaurant and celebrated William’s 2,000 kms with several bottles of Heineken and Leo beer! During our meal there, a group of local Thai businessmen arrived at a reserved large table close to us and then the leader of the group came across to talk to us.

He spoke firstly to William in Thai and then to me in English. He said that his group had heard about our “Walk for Thailand” from the TV and the Thai media and asked if William would like to say a few words. Now this is right up William’s alley. Once he starts, it’s hard to stop him! Here is a brief summary of what he said that evening:

I saw Dennis Peacock “Walking For Thailand” on the Channel 7 News in Krabi Town on 27th February 2541 (1998). He was “Walking For Thailand” on highway 4 on his own and heading for Krabi Town. He arrived at 21.00 hrs the next day 28th February. I said to myself ‘Dennis, your actions speak so loud I can’t hear what you say and I want to join you “Walking For Thailand” as you need a protector, a companion and an interpreter, so you can communicate effectively and properly with the Thai people who will give you great respect’. I arranged to meet Dennis, with the help of the Royal Thai police, who knew where he was staying and we became great friends. I made my proposal to him to join him “Walking For Thailand” and he was absolutely delighted for us both to be now “Walking For Thailand” for 60 million Thai People.

While we are “Walking For Thailand” we are telling the Thai people, that they live in the Greatest Country in the World and that the current Thai economic recession is only temporary and good times again are just around the corner. The Thai economy is currently under the good stewardship of H.E. Chuan Leekpai, Prime Minister and his Team of very able Government Ministers. We have total confidence in the future Success and Prosperity of the Kingdom of Thailand and it’s People.

William was given a very enthusiastic applause from his audience and all the staff in the hotel, who were listening to him. I was very proud of William that evening, as I was throughout our walk together, through 32 provinces and a total of 3,063 kms in 98 walking days, in 2541 (1998):

http://www.escati.net/02/2008/01/the-power-of-attitude

Yours truly,

Escati Tiger Team Walking For Thailand.