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I navigated the street in true Virginia Beach fashion (dart and run) and was rewarded with scowls from the Thai motorists. My guide informed me that running and darting as I did was most unfavorable as one it to walk slowly and calmly through the traffic, even traffic as chaotic as that in Bangkok! Once in the taxi, I was told about the little shrines made of flower ropes, images of Buddha and when the cab started through these chaotic streets I understood why they would want these little shrines! That evening of my first day in Thailand it had been arranged for me to meet with Laurie Rosenthal. I knew that Laurie wrote for the Bangkok Nation and was an animal advocate so I was looking forward to get her perspective on animals and animal breeding in Thailand. Laurie was a very pleasant surprise. After a gracious welcome to her lovely apartment and introductions to all her cats, turtles and fish, Laurie informed me that she did not like breeders! Laurie told me stories of abuses and neglect by “breeders” who sold their kittens and puppies at the Weekend Market in Chukalorn. Of course I was sympathetic and presented our version of responsible breeding. I showed her the Korat Cat Fanciers Association Sales Pledge and explained how we breed for health, and good temperament and are primarily concerned with the welfare of the Korat. Later, Laurie and I discovered that we were much in agreement about many things concerning cats Laurie is a fountain of knowledge about the Thai Cats and t heir welfare. We made our way to a local Thai restaurant where we ordered the dinner, Thai style, meaning that everyone makes a choice that compliments the other diners’ choices. All at the table share these choices making for very enjoyable dining experience. Needless to say we closed the restaurant talking about Thai cats! Tuesday, Professor Vichit
0 It had been arranged for Mr. Nick Able to join us on the visit to Professor Vichit’s Cattery, an hour’s drive outside of Bangkok. The drive enabled me to see much of the surrounding area and the unique Tropical foliage. Trees bearing fruit. What a paradise! I attempted to ask if Professor Vichit had any experience with genetic disorders, but my translator was not schooled in the medical terms that I was using. I was able to convey if he had witnessed in any of his breeding the symptoms of GM, that I listed for him, which he replied he had not. I also asked him if he had any other color kittens from Korat breedings, and he replied, via the translator “ No, the Korat is pure” From the tone of his voice
and the look on his face, I was The Bangkok Times article titled Origin of the Species, which told of the determination of the Thai breeders to maintain their Korats, f eatured Professor Vichit in an article that discussed the preservation of these ancient and treasured breeds. Vichit then gave me several of their brochures that they pass out to the public at their cat contests. Upon leaving, I was offered the gift of a lovely bronze trophy. The trophy is the most exquisite rendering of a Thai cat, which was provided at a show in Phimai, Isan (Korat), and I enthusiastically accepted. Leaving Professor Vichit’s home, I felt that we had indeed established new ties and friendships. The rest of the day was spent having noodle soup at Nicks’ house, and relocating to a more suitable hotel that Nick had suggested. I was also getting ready for the trip to Phimai, and to meet Mr. Choo Chai, President of the Si Sawat Preservation Society.
Wednesday, Phimai
It had been decided that the best way to travel to Phimai was by bus, so first thing Wednesday morning we arrived at the bus terminal in Bangkok and arranged for tickets on an air-conditioned bus. The trip was 3 ½ hours long and enabled me to see more of the countryside. There were several temples with the characteristic Narga roofs; farms’ being tended to by farmers and oxen and of particular interest was the steep ascent to the Korat plateau and the significant increase in the jungle foliage.
Upon arriving at the teak home surrounded by ponds, there was cages set up with Si Sawat kittens in the entrance, under a carport. At the end of the Carport, attached to the house were cages separately housing Burmese, Siamese and Khao Manee cats. Above these cages were trophies and statues won at Thai cat shows. Professor Vichit greeted us and escorted us to an outdoor sitting area at the edge of a pond. Professor Vichit is a quiet spoken Thai who welcomed us with cold sodas and water. We talked about his The Siamese Cat Lovers’ Club of which there are over 100 members. The goal of these breeders is to preserve the ancient Thai breeds and to keep them as they have always been kept and to increase the publics’ knowledge of their heritage. I asked Professor Vichit why he started to breed cats. He was responded, through the translator, that his family had always loved them and he thought that the Thai cat breeds needed to be preserved. We were then shown many of his Korats, Siamese, and Khao Manee’s. The Professor went to the Indoor cattery and brought out a lovely male Korat who was very much like my Kon Lek Lek Dan Neung Jataka and I was very pleased that our Korats had not deviated from the Thai Korats. As we wandered around the cattery and surrounding area, I noted the special chickens in their pens. the braids of garlic from his garden and lime trees bearing fruit. What a paradise!
if he had witnessed in any of his breeding the symptoms of GM, that I listed for him, which he replied he had not. I also asked him if he had any other color kittens from Korat breedings, and he replied, via the translator “ No, the Korat is pure” From the tone of his voice and the look on his face, I was most embarrassed by asking this question of him! The Bangkok Times article titled Origin of the Species, which told of the determination of the Thai breeders to maintain their Korats, featured Professor Vichit in an article that discussed the preservation of these ancient and treasured breeds. Vichit then gave me several of their brochures that they pass out to the public at their cat contests. Upon leaving, I was offered the gift of a lovely bronze trophy. The trophy is the most exquisite rendering of a Thai cat, which was provided at a show in Phimai, Isan (Korat), and I enthusiastically accepted. Leaving Professor Vichit’s home, I felt that we had indeed established new ties and friendships. The rest of the day was spent having noodle soup at Nicks’ house, and relocating to a more suitable hotel that Nick had suggested. I was also getting ready for the trip to Phimai, and to meet Mr. Choo Chai, President of the Si Sawat Preservation Society.
Wednesday, Phimai
at the bus terminal in Bangkok and arranged for tickets on an air-conditioned bus. The trip was 3 ½ hours long and enabled me to see more of the countryside. There were several temples with the characteristic Narga roofs; farms’ being tended to by farmers and oxen and of particular interest was the steep ascent to the Korat plateau and the significant increase in the jungle foliage. At the Nakhon Ratchasima bus terminal, we got on another bus for the hour ride trip to Phimai. Phimai is a very clean and friendly little town, and its most interesting feature are the Khmer ruins. At the Choo Chai residence a lovely Si Sawat kitten greeted us on a leash tended to by Choo Chai’s wife. We were given sodas and then led back to the cattery. I immediately pulled out my cameras and went to work photographing and videotaping all I could of this lovely little cattery adjacent to a garden. It was bright and airy and the large cages were immaculate. The Si Sawats were all very healthy and friendly and I was struck by how silver they were.
Choo reference to Pampas grass as he pulled out a Pampas grass broom and showed me where the tips of the green grass are a light gray color. This, he explained, is the association of the silver tipping on the hairs of the Si Sawat, which he and others refer to as Dork Lao. Choo Chai asked me who the breeder in Bangkok was that the western world had received their Si Sawats. They had not heard of Mdm. Ruen Abhibal Rajamaitri. I thought this odd that they wouldn’t know of her, but it was explained that it wasn’t until the last ten or so years that transportation was readily available to and from other regions making communications and trade in the past difficult. Again I was reminded that I was in a third world country and of the harsh and difficult terrain that surrounded the Korat Plateau.
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This page was last updated on 12/11/2005 |
