Empire of joy
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Empire of joy

Continuing our Female Leadership series, Life interviews Pornthip Asadathorn about a drive to develop her Buri Ram hometown into a well-known tourist attraction

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE
Pornthip Asadathorn, founder and CEO of Play La Ploen Boutique Resort and Adventure Camp. (Photos by Karnjana Karnjanatawe)
Pornthip Asadathorn, founder and CEO of Play La Ploen Boutique Resort and Adventure Camp. (Photos by Karnjana Karnjanatawe)

The midday sun is almost unbearable. During the dry season, farmlands crack. Nothing is growing. It is hard to imagine that the area along Highway 2074 (the Buri Ram-Nang Rong road) in Khu Muang district in Buri Ram province can one day become fertile land.

Almost a decade ago, one woman initiated a plan to turn her family's farmland into a lush green garden with a large outdoor children's playground.

"I wanted to have a place where kids in Buri Ram can play and learn," Pornthip Asadathorn, a successful businesswoman, said recalling her dream.

She decided to build a large park where students can roam under the shade of trees, enjoy fun activities and have first-hand science experiences including a chance to see different types of plants and flowers.

"I like to grow cold-climate flowers like lilies and tulips. I wanted to plant flowers that no one thought we can have in Buri Ram. I wanted to have a place for children in my hometown to enjoy knowledge outside their classrooms like kids in big cities," she said.

In 2013, she opened Play La Ploen Boutique Resort and Adventure Camp. Starting from a 50-rai site, the project has gradually expanded to a 380 rai plot of land. It is now known as one of the popular tourist destinations in the Northeast. Play La Ploen draws visitors from all regions in the Kingdom as well as visitors from neighbouring countries.

Herbalists introduced herbal tea and snacks at Arokaya Wellness Sala. KARNJANA KARNJANATAWE

Herbalists introduced herbal tea and snacks at Arokaya Wellness Sala. KARNJANA KARNJANATAWE

THE BEGINNING

Pornthip has more than 20 years of experience in running an education company -- The Bright Group. Her company partnered with McGraw Hill, one of the world's largest educational companies, to run English programmes for almost 100 schools nationwide. She has four other companies and is the daughter-in-law of the wealthy Asadathorn family, one of the big players in the hotel business and sugar factories.

At first, Pornthip regarded the Play La Ploen project as corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme of her business. Little did she know that it would turn out to be another blooming investment. It also opened a new opportunity for her to tap into the health and wellness industry.

About a decade ago, Pornthip was told by locals that her plan to plant cold-climate flowers in Buri Ram was ridiculous.

"My project faced challenges from the start. I had to find a way to overcome the heat before I could plant anything," she said.

Her solution was to use agricultural technology and knowledge from experts like Suebsak and Kanitta Senawong, specialists in growing cold-climate flower plants and soil nutrient of the Royal Project Foundation in Chiang Mai. Soil quality was improved with the help of horticulturists while a well-known landscape architect was hired to design the park.

To battle drought, pounds were dug and a water system was implemented. Greenhouses were built and equipped with an evaporative cooling system. During the first six months of the development, she remained on-site to make sure things were executed as planned.

"I found challenges every day. It is part of making something new so I was learning by doing," she said.

The facility for medical cannabis cultivation. Karnjana Karnjanatawe

The facility for medical cannabis cultivation. Karnjana Karnjanatawe

GROWING BUSINESS

Located about a 30-minute drive north of the city of Buri Ram, Play La Ploen Boutique Resort and Adventure Camp opened on Children's Day eight years ago. In the Adventure Zone, kids can practise rock wall climbing, rope climbing, zip-lining, walk on a rope bridge among others.

Overnight stays are possible in a camping zone or a 73-room hotel, which features a restaurant, meeting and function space that can accommodate up to 500 participants, exhibition halls, galleries and colonial-style houses to offer various kinds of workshops.

"Before I started the project, I thought I would keep it small. But when I see a new opportunity, I won't say no to any possibility so the project kept growing," she said.

Almost a year after the official opening ceremony, Play La Ploen introduced six greenhouses to the 100-rai plot of land. Each dome has a unique theme to house different plant species like orchids, ferns, cactuses, local plants and cold-climate flower plants where visitors can have a closer look at various types of lilies and tulips.

Later, as the business kept expanding, Play La Ploen introduced integrated organic farms by working with local farmers to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit trees such as grapes, strawberry and mulberry. The farm produce is used for the kitchen of the hotel and also provides supplies to the nearby Khu Muang Hospital.

"I support farmers living near our site to use our land for farming. I also buy their farm produce and help distribute them in our gift shop," she said.

When it became legal to grow cannabis plants for medical use two years ago, Play La Ploen joined the bandwagon. It supported a group of 30 farmers to establish Play La Ploen Herbal Community Enterprise (PHC). The group partners with Khu Muang Hospital to farm the Charlotte Angel variety and supplies the flowers to the hospital for producing medical cannabis oil for curing epilepsy.

They use the plant's leftovers for producing cosmetics or herbal products such as cannabis tea, toothpaste, skincare or anti-ageing treatments. Those products are available in a newly opened Arokaya Wellness Sala centre, which also has in-house traditional Thai and Chinese doctors.

"We work with academic research teams to develop new cosmetic products. Each item must be tested and certified before making them available for consumers to ensure the safety," she said.

The ambience of the ancient forest. Chanat Katanyu

The ambience of the ancient forest. Chanat Katanyu

LOOKING AHEAD

At present, Play La Ploen grows countless tall and big trees, herbs and flower farms and fruit orchards. It also has several decorative gardens, a water park, a coffee and gift shop where it sells One Tambon One Product (Otop) products of communities in the province.

Visitors can explore the farmland by riding a bicycle or an electric tram, a modified truck with wooden benches for passengers. Although the number of visitors might be less during the Covid-19 pandemic, the site is still open daily.

During day time, groups of students always arrive in a coach for their field trip and team-building activities. Other groups of visitors head to flower domes for a chance to see tulips while some other groups stop by the one and only Cannabis and Hemp Museum in Buri Ram. Those who are interested in growing cannabis can have a peek through a glass window of the cannabis greenhouse. Soon, the hemp farming project will start.

Play La Ploen has grown from a kids' camp to a tourist destination. Her project also creates hundreds of jobs and improves skills for locals.

"I am glad to have a chance to shape my community from remote farmland to a place people want to visit. Above all, Play La Ploen is the place where people can relax, play and learn. It is our motto since the start and it will continue to be in the future."

About 10 species of lilies are in full bloom from March to May. Play La Ploen

About 10 species of lilies are in full bloom from March to May. Play La Ploen

A bird's eye view of Play La Ploen. Pichaya Svasti

A bird's eye view of Play La Ploen. Pichaya Svasti

Dok krachiao or Siam tulips are planted in the greenhouse. Chanat Katanyu

Dok krachiao or Siam tulips are planted in the greenhouse. Chanat Katanyu

Green plants and flowers are used for decorating the public areas of the hotel. Play La Ploen

Green plants and flowers are used for decorating the public areas of the hotel. Play La Ploen

Vivid colours of tulips always draw the attention of tourists. Play La Ploen

Vivid colours of tulips always draw the attention of tourists. Play La Ploen

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