Children’s Day must be the most delightful of all national holidays, when participating countries recognise that their children are their future and need to be valued.
In Koh Samui, schools and other institutions have their own individual parties, but close to Nathon Pier, there is a party for every child who wishes to attend. Everything is given freely, food, toys, games and displays. There are talent shows for the youngsters to show off their performing skills, and plenty of loud music to help everything along.
ROCKS have taken art in this jamboree since its inception so this one was ROCKS 5th time in attendance. We have always provided ice cream, usually scooped out of deep drums into cornets, but this year, we decided to buy individual ice creams for ease of dispensing. On the day, President Adèle, husband and Rotarian Wally Smith, Nicolas Emmert and Peace Ambassador Jeffrey Reiss, arrived with 500 ice creams. These were soon being passed out to eager hands, and within the space of one short hour, they were all gone. We felt that we needed to check the bottom of the cold box in case an over eager youngster had tumbled in unseen. Afterwards, there was an opportunity to look around the arena to check on other attractions. There was an area with huge bouncy castles, and in the centre, a display being done by an army unit. Bizarrely, given that it was Children’s Day, the soldiers were busy firing blanks at the audience!