Siam Niramit Cultural Show; I was a Surprise(?} Performer!

An Ateneo Graduate School of Business Advantage

Saturday evening, February 4, we attended a cultural show- Siam Niramit.  There was usual, to justify its astronomic price a buffet.  It was good though.  There was a magician show while we ate, and parade of the performers while we dined.  There were elephants at the center grounds.

The operators of the elephant show and the cultural center understood their business model very well. The tour guides were their partners as well the owners of transportation.  Like the bus drivers here, the tourist guides and drivers get free food.

What are the revenue sources:   buffet  that is about  300 bahts;  picture taking with tiger -  l00 bahts,  orchid show and sales,  elephant feeding and croc feeding.  (I am sure they sell the crocs for meat and leather afterwards) Bundling these together makes for big revenues.

And keeping the customers entertained and filled with food and fun make them happy!

The show was just dance and musical numbers on the history of Thailand - how the Cambodian influence came in as well as the Chinese influence and the Buddhist beliefs.  However we should admire:

l.  The degree of audience participation -  there was a lot;

2.  The stream pond on the stage where boats sailed,  where lotus floats were sent, fountains and where the actors took a bath.

3.  The flying angels  -  there was a lot of scenes featuring this.

4.  The elephants passing through the audience ranks

5.  The stage that opens up and rises with the star from beneath the stage.

Incidentally, the travel agent set me up in the intermission where I was the  missing musician who plays a bamboo instrument.  Boy, I sure made a lot of people laugh that night.

About the cultural show,  the cultural center shows can be made as money maker for DOT or PTA.  We could make our culture make money for us;  tie it up with a buffet.  Do state of the art stage and show.

Siam Niramit

Pictures from the Elephant show

                              The buffet area greets you upon arrival at the Elephant and Croc Zoo

         He said he is just the collector;  actually the owner;s brother;  hands on management

                   Elephant, the iconic symbol of the zoo which is privately owned

                                 The electric fan with mist spray keeps everyone cool

                                   An elegant elaborate carving near the comfort room

                                  Kalachuchi flowers in the toilet is a novelty


When the elephants come rumbling in

Magic is the entree before the elephant show

                                 The brother of the owner (a collector?) is also a spectator