IBM ESC Team travels to Chonburi, Thailand

Reflection of IBM ESC work in Thailand

Having just returned home few minutes back, I am reflecting on this great work that our team has delivered to the City of Pattaya and the Port of Laem Chabang to become a Smarter City and a Smarter Port. This work culminated about 12 working days of activities not including the evenings and weekends that the team worked flexibly between various locations including a separate room in our hotel dedicated as an Office room. The IBM team is very touched by the outstanding support and dedication of the local IBM team and the teams that we had worked with at both Pattaya City and Laem Chabang Port. Our big thanks to Governor of Chonburi K.Komsan, Mayor of Pattaya K.Ittipon, Laem Chabang Port Managing Director K. Sutthinan and IBM Country GM K. Parnsiree for their support to our work.

This was my second assignment in Thailand after a long stint in 2007-2008 and Thailand has yet again impressed me with their hospitality truly deserving to be called "The Land of Smiles".

Final Presentation, Press Conference and Farewell

Krishnan delivering the ESC team's work to the local Press and Media

Group Photo after the press conference : Krishnan, Anna, K.Sutthinan, Mauricio, K.Parnsiree, Michael, Denise, K.Ittipon, Dr. Pradhan representing Chonburi Governor K. Komsai

IBM ESC Team with K.Kittipong IBM at Laem Chabang Port

Our work was well received and appreciated by all which called for a celebration and some very difficult farewell with the teams whom we had just started interacting over 10 days back. But it is the hospitality, the respect and the dedicated attention to our work that made this departure harder. As Denise had said it, "we all will go through a withdrawal for sometime before our real life catches up again". Right from the day one, there was a lot of expectation built in to the outcome of our work for both Pattaya City and Laem Chabang port. This is based on the messages delivered by our 3 key stakeholders - Governor of Chonburi, Mayor of Pattaya City and the MD of Laem Chabang Port. We are just glad that we have exceeded in their expectations by their remarks, but more so given the impact this is going to have on the local society, economy and the greater benefits to Thailand as a country.

IBM Thailand team and ESC team group photo with Jean from ABV

Farewell dinner with IBM Thailand team

Thailand Culture

Spirit House at the HolidayInn Hotel Pattaya and a local Budhist temple

Having had my roots in India, I found Thai culture to have lot of similarities with Indian culture specifically on the religious and social aspects. Most businesses and houses have a spirit house at the entrance of the property to entertain any spirits that may want to return to the house. By having a nice spirit house where offerings are kept daily, there is a belief that the spirit will be comfortable in the spirit house and will not have to enter the actual house / business.

Holiday Inn Restyled

Holiday Inn Hotel Pattaya

I have not been a huge fan of Holiday Inn Hotel, but our stay in Pattaya was at a newer style of Holiday Inn properties being developed across the world and Pattaya happens to be one of the earliest. On many days our work would carry on from the hotel meeting room in to the Havana restaurant in the hotel. I figured out a good bargain for us to order pizzas at 6:45pm before the 7pm deadline for 50% off on Pizzas and then ordering the drinks at 7pm when the happy hour started.

Holiday Inn Lobby area

Pattaya bay Day view - closeup

Pattaya bay night view

Pattaya bay Day view

Local Culture, Pattaya City and Bangkok

Pattaya City Store signs in Russian

Pattaya has been long favored by Western tourists and Bangkok residents due to its proximity to Bangkok and as an affordable beach destination in comparison with Phuket and others. But more recently the highest concentration of tourists and business investments seem to be coming from Russia, China and India as they find Pattaya to be a cheaper alternative for real estate investment compared with their respective home countries. This in itself has become a challenge for the city to continue to excel in the citizenship services.

Songthaew - Michael's favorite

Common modes of transportation included Songthaew - a grander size pick up truck with two rows of seating - can get on / off anywhere and the fare is only 10 baht ($0.33 cents) for each trip. Other mode includes a motorcycle taxi. Michael got very fond of Songthaews that he almost contemplated taking one back home to Maryland.

Motorcycle Taxis - common transport mechanism

Michael, Denise and Krishnan at Pattaya Floating Market

Denise trying local costume at Pattaya Floating Market

Big Salute to Dr. Mechai Viravaidya

Kids educating the ESC team on their school

Denise and Michael savoring the fruits grown by these kids

In closing this blog entry, I want to salute Dr. Mechai Viravaidya, for what he has done for Thailand that has gained him global recognition including the Gates Foundation Grant. As Michael has posted, our highlight of the ESC work included an innovation workshop at the local Mechai Pattana School founded by Dr.Mechai. He has clearly demonstrated that having a great school and creating bright future does not require huge tuition fees. This school is geared towards brightening the prospects of impoverished kids from farming households in northern province of Thailand. Students getting accepted to this school can do along with their parents 365 hours of community service and plant 365 trees. When the IBM ESC team asked the students what excites them to be at this school, we heard from one bright kid that it was "Thinking Out Of The Box". As we left the kids to eat at the Mechai foundation's restaurant that supports the school, we were all very touched at the simplicity of these bright kids....