Ruinsjan16mccand: Prasat Hin Phimai is one of the most important religious sanctuaries in Thailand, believed to have existed since the time of the ancient Khmer Kingdom, in the 12th century A.D. (McCandless)

Ruralinfrasgroupjan16mcc: Some members of the Rural Infrastructure sub-group pose at the Phimai ruins: (l-r) Kimberly Brown, Katherine Park, Wally Suarez, Stephanie Rodriguez, and Professor Calum Turvey. (McCandless)

Cpf#sjan16mcc: Cornell extension educator Judson Reid (center) learns about the chicken business at the Charoen Phokpheun Foods (CPF), where poultry is very big business. The multi-billion dollar global company, which was established in 1921, is vertically integrated. As the powerpoint slide indicates, this factory farm process 4,700 tons of chicken each week. (McCandless)

Spirithousecprjan16: The grander the house or the company, the grander the
spirit house that is built for the spirits. This one is outside CPF.

January 16, 2008

What another full day! We all spent the morning visiting a poultry processing plant owned by CPF (Charoen Phokpheun Foods), a Thai corporation working in the production, processing, value addition, and distribution of many meat, vegetable, shrimp, and fruit products. The plant we visited receives live chickens ready for slaughtering and prepares them for export to many international locations or for sale at domestic locations. From a separated observation deck in the cleanest plant you can imagine, we are able to see them process poultry, from reception of the live birds through slaughter, evisceration, cutting, cooking to cooling and packaging. After discussing the aspects of the corporation as a whole with the VP of research and development, we were treated to a delicious lunch where they served several of their chicken products.

In the afternoon we toured the Jim Thompson Silk Factory, and the Phimai Historical Park containing a Buddhist Temple built in the 11th century. The Jim Thompson Silk Factory produces world-famous silk products. We observed the workers operating floor looms as well as machine-woven systems. Silkworms are not reared by the Jim Thompson company, but are reared by independent farmers who then sell their raw silk to the company. 

At the Phimai Historical Park we were all free to explore the ruins. It covered several acres and included a number of buildings, courtyards and fortified walls. 

To conclude the evening, we were invited to a party by a wealthy Thai who is friends with Dr. Pongthep Agratanakul, of Kasetsart University, who is the trip organizer in Thailand. From the water buffalo skulls on the wall behind the outdoor bar to the covered wagon Thai food stations, it felt like we stepped into a scene out of Oklahoma. The owner showed us a series of authentic Thai-style guesthouses that he has reconstructed over the last 10 years at this location. They contain 30 bedrooms, an extensive collection of antique furniture and artifacts, and water and flower gardens. We enjoyed his fabulous hospitality and danced the night away to karaoke.

Peter Lundquist, Ph.D. candidate in plant biology