Sunday, January 18, 2015

Day 10 Part II: Farewell Dinner and Goodbyes

CP Intertrade had arranged a very excellent farewell for the SMART team on the last working day. After presentation, the Executive Team of CP Intertrade and Cornell SMART Team along with Dr. Ralph Christy went to Club 99 for the farewell dinner.

Farewell Dinner for SMART Team from CP Intertrade at Club 99
Delicious Thai Food, light and relaxing conversation and the overall environment made the farewell dinner very special. The dinner ended with the Cornell University team presenting thank you gifts to CP Intertrade for all their time spent helping the team learn about their company and Thailand's rice industry. 

Mr. Sumeth, CEO CP Intertrade, while receiving his Cornell thank you gift from Ms. Margaret Lynch, CP Intertrade SMART Project Leader and Coordinator of Cornell's SMART Program
CP Intertrade also kindly presented thank you gifts to the Cornell SMART team


A memorable picture before departing 
I just want to end this blog by saying a final thank you to CP Intertade for helping our team learn so much about rice in Thailand, as well as taking the time to help us understand Thai culture and history.  A particular thank you to Mr. Paradon Munro for taking the time to make sure that all of our objectives were achieved while also allowing the team to have some fun!


Mr. Paradon Munro along with SMART Team



Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Day 10 Part I: Final Presentation to CP Intertrade Co., Ltd.

All geared up for the big day, SMART Team was all set to present their study to the CEO and Executive Team of CP Intertrade Co., Ltd. The presentation was based on the research that the team had done during their two weeks of stay in Bangkok. CP Intertrade had specially reserved a conference room for the SMART team in the office which is located on the 28th floor of AIA tower.

SMART Team getting ready for the Final Presentation
The presentation started at 3 pm and lasted for more than 2 hours which involved an interactive question answer session with CP Intertrade Executive Team. Mr. Paradon Munro, General Manager CP Intertrade, moderated the session. 

Mr. Sumeth Laomoraphorn and Dr. Ralph Christy along with CPI Executive Team
SMART team really appreciates the kind and humble feedback from Mr. Sumeth Laomoraphorn, President CP Trading Group and CEO C.P Intertarde Co., Ltd., Mr. Thithi, Vice-President CP Trading Group, and the Executive Team of CPI. 

SMART team will be giving another presentation at the Cornell University in the United States in the second week of February. The team then will work on writing a Case Study on the Royal Umbrella brand of CP Intertrade Co., Ltd. 

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Day 9: Getting ready for our final presentation

After days of brainstorming and analyzing all the information we have gathered about C.P. Intertrade Co. Ltd (“CPI”), the team worked during the entire day to set up the strategy of the presentation about the main highlights of our research. The presentation will be for CPI’s executives and for the team of CPI international marketing department and will be held tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.

From left to right: Maira Zamir, Maria Jose Sanchez Arrieta and Samantha Yellen

Different packages of Royal Umbrella
From left to right:  Samantha Yellen, Adriana Arango and Maria Jose Sanchez Arrieta, 

Monday, January 12, 2015

Day 8: Work, Work and Eat at Sala Rattanakosin

Monday, as people do not like it, is the working day and actually was a  real work day for us. We worked from dust until dawn, well I am exaggerating this but definitely one of the very productive days for SMART team to work on their project.  We set the stage for our presentation which will take place on January 14th. As usual, Mr.Paradon's continuous motivation and suggestions helped us a lot in preparing for the presentation day.

SMART Team while working in CP Office in AIA Tower


CP HR Office had served us some traditional Thai deserts which really amazed us. They were wrapped in leaves and were delicious. Thank you :-)



The intense working day ended with a dinner at of one of the spectacular places in Bangkok: Sala Rattanakosin (suggested by Mr.Paradon). The striking view of Bangkok Skyline, Temples and Boats decorated with lights surrounded by river makes the place glorious.

SMART Team enjoying dinner at Sala Rattankosin
From left to right: Maira Zamir, Margaret Lynch, Maria Jose, Samantha Yellen and Adriana Arango

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Day 7 Part III: The Amphawa Floating Market



The final stop that SMART team made on Sunday, a day full of new adventures, is the Amphawa floating market. It is such a colorful and vibrant place, full of small restaurants, life music, craft stores and art galleries.  It is the second popular floating market of Bangkok. The market place is 50km away from Bangkok, not too many tourist have the opportunity to visit the market at night, but thanks to Mr. Paradon Munro and to C.P. Intertrade Inc. Ltd (CPI), we were able to experience a traditional Sunday night of the local Thai people at floating market.

The Amphawa Floating Market is busy even at night

We observed that how hardworking and cheerful Thai people are, even it was 9:00 pm when we arrived to the market and the stores and restaurants were still open. While sitting along the riverside, we could watch the interesting life in the market. People enjoying boat rides, singing, dancing, eating delicious food, sailors transporting goods, and even artists painting was making a market more like a fantasy.

The SMART team and having a traditional Thai dinner next to the canal.

We had a very delicious dinner followed by truly local Thai deserts. We were supposed to do boating and watching fireflies but unfortunately we were out of time. Still, one of the best days we had in Bangkok. Thanks again to CPI, Mr. Paradon and the Thai People for making it very special.

Many Thai people rely on the canal markets for their livelihoods

A map of our road trip

Day 7 Part I: A Hike in the Erawan National Park and Waterfalls


Another exciting activity planned on Sunday by CP Intertrade for SMART Team was Hiking in Erawan National Park and Waterfalls. We were already excited to look into the Sunday's agenda planned by Mr.Paradon for us. Hiking, Food, Floating Market, Boating and Fireflies all sounded more than amazing.

At 8:00 am in the morning, Mr.Paradon along with the SMART team departed to West Thailand to a place called Kanchaburi. It was three and half hours away drive from Bangkok. During this time, we continued our in-van discussion about the CP Rice Business particularly the branding and communication strategies with Mr.Paradon, and he provided a very useful insight to us.


Beginning the Hike
From left to right: Maira Zamir, Margaret Lynch, Maria Jose, Samantha Yellen and Adriana Arango
The place was exceptionally beautiful. The natural surroundings, cool breeze, the unusual sea-green color of water, the striking waterfalls and the cheerful attitude of Mr.Paradon made the hiking very special for the team.


One of the Waterfalls in Erawan National Park



The team finally reached the 9th level of the waterfall!

Day 7 Part II: Visiting the Bridge on the River Kwai

After hiking, we visited the Bridge on the River Kwai, made infamous by its historical legacy during World War II. The Thailand-Burma railway is 415 kilometers long and was constructed by Japanese forces using prisoners of war (POWs) from the UK, Australia, the Netherlands and the USA as forced laborers. At least 12,621 Allied forces POWs died during the construction of the "Death Railway". They are commemorated in the cemetery in Kanchanaburi. The horrific experience of the POWs involved in the construction was made famous by the award-winning 1957 movie "The Bridge on the River Kwai"

The team standing on "The Bridge on the River Kwai" 

The infamous bridge


The cemetery in Kanchanaburi dedicated to the POWs who lost their lives building the Burma Railway. Each stone includes a personal message about the soldier who lost his life. It was a very moving experience to visit this place.



Saturday, January 10, 2015

Day 6: Working Day

During this first week, we gained a lot of knowledge about C.P. Intertrade Co., Ltd, their Corporate Social Responsibility Programs and learned how rice is connected to Thai Culture.  Hence, on Saturday we stayed in the hotel to review the information provided and to do more research for our case study.


Maira Zamir and Samantha Yellen
Reflecting of what we have learned so far, I personally found very interesting to see how the government is working with the agricultural sector and exports corporation for the developing a strategy that will ensure the sustainability and the quality as the recognition of Thai Jasmine Rice.

To ensure quality, Thailand Government have issued regulations that established standards and inspection procedures for the different varieties of jasmine rice or “Thai Hom Mali Rice”, a specific term that can be used only for rice grown in Thailand. 

First meeting with Mr. Paradon Munro, General Manager of C.P. Intertrade Co., Ltd. while still at Cornell University 


Cabaret in Thailand: Calypso

From Elvis impersonations to Geisha interpretations, tonight we saw it all at the Kathoey Cabaret show called Calypso. Many of the acts were light and fun; they included songs such as “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” and acts from Chicago. Costumes varied between extravagant gowns and skimpy bikinis depending on the song. It was interesting to us also because dancers touched upon social issues. During the song “Free Your Mind,” they showed protestors who opposed the Kathoey life choices and encouraged people to be more open-minded. The performers celebrated diversity and tolerance. We were glad to have the opportunity to see this unique Thai show.

            


Friday, January 9, 2015

Day 5 Part II: Elephant Rides at the Elephant Palace



One of things that we really wanted to do and which was on our To-Do List during our trip to Bangkok is Elephant Rides. We went to the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal to enjoy the used-to-be royal transport in Thailand. It was so much fun and felt like an enjoyable ride. 

Elephant rides at the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace

Samantha Yellen, Maria Jose and Margaret Lynch while enjoying the Elephant Ride

After the elephant rides, Mr. Paradon Munro, General Manager CP Intertrade, took us for lunch at a nearby local restaurant which is one of the customers of CP Rice. The food and the environment was very refreshing. 

Lunch with Mr. Paradon Munro at a local Thai Restaurant 

Day 5 Part I: Simon Says Clap


Simon Says seems like a simple game until you try teaching it to students that don’t speak any English. We learned this today while teaching English to Thai students. In order to better understand CP Group’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, we joined them for Children’s Day at a school in Narkornluang. The day started with an interactive ceremony about the importance of children to the future of Thailand and included a speech from the CEO. He called up a few students and asked them what they wanted to become when they grew up. Most responded with the usual answers- a doctor, police officer, and a teacher. However, one child exclaimed that he wanted to grow up to eat rice, which made us laugh and further confirmed the importance of rice to Thai culture. Afterwards, a few of the young girls performed a traditional Thai dance. Their intricate costumes and hairstyles added to the gracefulness of the performance. We were all very impressed.







Once the ceremony was over, the children broke up into small groups for activities. We had prepared a game similar to Simon Says to teach the children words such as “dance,” “clap,” “swim,” and “jump.” The students laughed at us as we performed the motions to help explain each word. After the activities finished, CP gave us coconut ice cream with sticky rice at the bottom of the cone. It struck me as an unusual combination, but was surprisingly delicious.


After the activities finished, CP gave us coconut ice cream with sticky rice at the bottom of the cone. It struck me as an unusual combination, but was surprisingly delicious.




            

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Day 4: The Grand Palace and Temples Visits: Must-See in Bangkok

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."
                                                                                                                    ~ Buddha Quote

It seemed like it rained all night when I stepped out at the balcony of my hotel room which made the weather really auspicious for the SMART team to visit the most attractive touristy of Bangkok. At 8:00 am in the morning, we departed to visit the “The Grand Palace in Bangkok”.  People believe that it is a must-see sight in Bangkok and if you do not visit it then your trip to Bangkok is incomplete. Keytapark (Wood) Virat, HR Officer at CP Intertrade, guided us throughout the trip and offered great insight into the Thai culture.

                                   Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)                                        From left to right: Margaret Lynch, Samantha Yellen, Maria Jose, Adriana Arango and Maira Zamir


One of the Monasteries in The Grand PalaceFrom left to right: Margaret Lynch, Samantha Yellen, Maria Jose, Maira Zamir and Adriana Arango 



Built in 1782, The Grand Palace remained a home of Thai King for more than 150 years and also remained the Royal court and the administrative seat of government. Today, the palace remains the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom. The complex constitutes of multiple buildings that attract many tourists. One of these buildings is the Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which is the home of very famous and greatly revered Emerald Buddha that dates back to the 14th century.

We followed a proper dress code to enter the Wat Phra Kaew Temple as Thai consider it as the most sacred place. We were amazed to see the architect of the buildings. The temple communicates the history and culture of Thailand in a very exquisite way. The walls of the buildings show paintings and sketches of Thai Monarchy and depict the religious history of Thai people. 

                            ****************************************************
After the Grand Palace and Temple of Emerald Buddha visit, we went to visit another very famous Buddhist temple "Wat Pho" in the Phra Nakhon District of Bangkok. It is also known as the "Temple of the Reclining Buddha". It is directly adjacent to the Grand Palace. It is one of the largest temples in the city of Bangkok and attract many tourists because of the posture of the Buddha. The Wat Pho Buddha is 15 meters tall and 46 meters long and is covered in gold leaf. 


                                           Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
From left to right: Margaret Lynch, Maria Jose, Samantha Yellen and Maira Zamir



Dropping the small pennies in the ports present in the complex makes a very attractive ringing sound and people here believe that doing this can make your wishes true. This money is used to help maintain the temple. The rest of the temple is also worth visiting because of the attractive architect. We ended the trip with a very nice lunch at a local Thai restaurant. 

The team returned to the CP Intertrade office following lunch to continue research and writing. 


Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Day 3: Meeting the CEO

Dressed in business attire walking through the street of Bangkok, Thailand, the team was ready to experience a regular business day in Thailand. Today we worked on our case study at the office of C.P. Intertrade Co. Ltd. (“CPI”) located at the 28th Floor of the AIA Capital Center Building. 

As part of the agenda the team met with Sumeth Laomoraphorn, president of C.P. Trading Group Co., Limited and Chief Executive Officer of CPI. Mr. Sumeth explained with a distinctive passion the rice industry worldwide, the CPI business and the CPI Corporate Social Responsibility Programs.

The team was able to learn more about the major rice producers and consumers, the major rice exporters and importers, and the unique characteristics of Thai Rice. The company’s main concern is that rice consumption has surpassed the rice production, and they expect this shortage to continue growing due to the expected growth of the global population. With regards to this matter Mr. Sumeth share with the team the vision and strategy of CPI for the future years.


From left to right: Adriana Arango, Samantha Yellen, Maria Jose Sanchez and Margaret Lynch

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Day 2 Part II: A Walk into the Past



“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”

                                                                                                               ~ Bhuddha Quote

After the long working day of CP factories visits and meetings, Mr. Paradon Munro, General Manager CP Intertrade Co., Ltd., took SMART Team for a visit to the oldest temple in the ancient city of Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya is the capital city of Ayutthaya Province and used to be the capital city of Thailand around 400 years ago. The city has now a very small population of around 55,000 people. Wat Phra Sri Sanphet is the oldest temple in Ayutthaya and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. It was built in 1448 and is located inside the compound of the Grand Palace. It served as a model for the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok.

Wat Phra Sri Sanphet

From left to right: Adriana Arango, Margaret Lynch, Samantha Yellen, Maria Jose and Maira Zamir

A statue of the Buddha at Wat Phra Sri Sanphet

We were amazed to see the ancient monastery which gives a remarkable overview of the ancient times. Although the temple is now more like ruins, but it is still a very attractive touristy that conveys the Thai culture.