Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CHARITY SQUAD
A natural counterpoint to the city's prominent debauchery is the city's solid network of charitable organisations.
Among the many benevolent servants in Pattaya, Father Ray Brennan, an American priest with the Redemptorist
Order who died in 2003, established a lasting and inspiring legacy that today includes six charitable programs
under the umbrella of the Redemptorist Foundation. He also founded the Pattaya Orphanage and School for the
Deaf, both of which are now operated by the Catholic diocese. All of them succeed thanks to the generosity of
benefactors and volunteers.
Pattaya Orphanage
( 0 3842 3468;
www.thepattayaorphanage.org
;
Th Sukhumvit, North Pattaya) was
founded in the 1970s when Father Ray was given a baby by a parishioner who could not care for the child. This
first child led to many more as word spread that the priest could care for the unintended consequences of the US
military presence in the area during the Vietnam War. Today the orphanage cares for children orphaned by mod-
ern misfortunes (poverty, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS) and helps find adoptive parents. Those interested in helping
the orphanage can sponsor a meal, donate useful items and volunteer for an extended period of time.
Redemptorist Foundation
( 0 3871 6628;
www.fr-ray.org
)
operates schools for the blind and disabled
and a home and drop-in centre for street children, many of whom may be involved in Pattaya's child-sex in-
dustry. The foundation also runs a day-care centre for children of labourers who would otherwise accompany
their parents to dangerous work sites. Volunteers rotate through the different centres, teaching English, playing
with the children and leading art projects. A six-month commitment is required; contact the foundation for a vo-
lunteer handbook that outlines the application process.
If you don't have the time to commit to volunteering, stop by
Thais 4 Life
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.thais4life.com
; Soi Yen Sabai Condotel, Th Phra Tamnak; noon-6pm Mon-Sat), a charity bookstore
whose proceeds go to medical treatments for destitute patients, orphanages and school uniform scholarships.
Anek Kusala Sala (Viharn Sien)
( 0 3823 5250; off Th Sukhumvit; admission 50B; 9am-5pm)
A popular stop for tour groups, this
museum contains more than 300 very impressive pieces of Chinese artwork, mainly
bronze and brass statues depicting historical figures as well as Buddhist, Confucian and
Taoist deities. Founded by Sa-nga Kulkobkiat, a Thai national who grew up in China, the
museum was intended as a friendship-building project between the two countries.
The 1st floor is a crowded pavilion of Chinese immortals, from Pangu, the cosmic gi-
ant, to Guan Yin, the goddess of mercy. The 2nd-floor terrace is the museum's most dra-
matic, with larger-than-life-sized statues of Shaolin monks depicting different martial arts
poses. Nearby, is a touching collection of daily life statues (a fortune teller, dress maker,
liquor seller) that visitors place 1 baht coins on.
The museum is 16km south of central Pattaya; take Th Sukhumvit to the turn-off for
Wat Yan Sangwararam. There is a Pattaya-Sattahip
sŏrng·tăa·ou
(25B) that will take you
to the turn-off; from there you can hire a motorcycle the remaining 3km to the museum
(50B) but finding a ride back to the main road is difficult. You can either negotiate with
the driver to wait or come with your own transport.
MUSEUM
