"Backpackers are intellectual tourists. They are adventurous, generally well behaved and I regard each of them as seeking a better understanding of our culture. Why don't we welcome them? They are decent people and they will come back again and again."

After many months of different messages from the government, some indicating that Thailand is now interested only in big-spending tourists, Dr.Suvit Yodmani, Tourism Minister in the military government, spelled out a clear and unequivocal welcome to 'Good Morning Chiang Mai News'.

Dr.Suvit, answering a question from GM Deputy Editor David Hardcastle, said that on several occasions he had walked down Khao San Road, the Bangkok backpacker's haven, and been impressed by the people he met.

"They wear shorts, they are high risk adventurers and they become ambassadors for Thailand. They are quality people. Two American Ambassadors came to Thailand first of all as backpackers. The head of Bloomberg Thailand at the age of 32 or 33 came first as a backpacker. Now he probably earns more than I do as a Minister aged 65!"

We at GM would welcome Dr.Suvit's view of backpackers being maintained by the new government. After all, they are the tourists who first put Chiang Mai on the map!

Dr.Suvit was in Chiang Mai to launch a 2008 charity calendar featuring 13 paintings by pupils of Prem International School, a calendar which is now on sale to raise funds for children's charities. (http://chiangmaicalendar.googlepages.com:80/samples-personalisedcalendarsforcompanie).
He is pictured above awarding a certificate to one of the young artists, all of whom donated their works for an auction sale to raise even more cash.

In his final words of the night, Dr.Suvit praised all concerned with the project, including 'Citylife' magazine and Digital Mixes, 2 organisations which are collaborating to produce in-depth film to promote Chiang Mai. "This is so good that I will try to put it on national television to show other provinces what can be done."

There is now a fuel pump at the temple. With the residue oil left after the filtering processes, Phra Ajaan uses it for cooking. Nothing is wasted!
You can hear English on his radio station from 9-10.00am every Sunday, one of my contributions to the temple, the other being English conversation for the monks afterwards.
Anyone coming here will love the place as much as I do, the surrounding countryside is breathtaking. Don’t expect a Wat Pratat Doi Suthep, but expect a lovely warm feeling at a very simple temple with this exceptional Abbott.
Take the Super Highway out of town, past the Big C Supermarket, and continue due south along the Lampang road (route 11). Some 30kms from Big C you will see a blue sign written in English: ‘Community Forest’. Do a U-turn here, drive past a small police station and turn left at another ‘Community Forest’ sign and follow your nose.

Derrick Titmus