Driving along the Mittraphap Highway from Bangkok to the Northeast during a long public holiday can be tiresome for most motorists, given the traffic. The hilly road encourages some drivers to speed, which can result in accidents.
Ms Chantana points out some of the many Otop wares for sale in the new Green Park by Insee, a project in Saraburi province created by her and sponsored by Siam City Cement.
That sparked the idea of creating the "Green Park by Insee" in tambon Tab Kwang of Saraburi's Kaeng Khoi district. Initiated by Siam City Cement Plc (SCCC), Thailand's second-largest cement maker, the 20-rai landmark is now open to the public for relaxation in a green space while exploring environmentally friendly products.
Developed on its own land at an estimated cost of 80 million baht, the park is called Suan Ming Mongkol Chalerm Prachonmapansa 84 Pansa in Thai to celebrate the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King's 84th birthday, which took place in December 2011.
For Chantana Sukamanont, who initiated the project when she was SCCC's executive vice-president for marketing and sales and now serves as a company adviser, the park is much more than just trees and plants.
"I want this park to present the concept of green and clean, allowing visitors to relax and understand the importance of public parks," she said, adding that she hopes it will serve as a prototype for others in the region.
Highlights include the 12-metre King Building featuring an imposing reproduced portrait of HM the King. It is five metres in height inside a modern structure that serves as a permanent exhibition of his work.
There are six wind turbines, one with 5-kilowatt capacity and five 1-kW units. Covering the roof of Baan Insee, a modern building constructed with SCCC and Conwood environmentally friendly building materials, are solar cells.
The park also houses One Tambon One Product (Otop) kiosks offering the best products local communities have to offer in seven categories: herbal products, organic vegetables, fruits, plants, potted plants and decorative items, local snacks and food products. Otop products are hand-picked by a tripartite screening committee, with communities receiving free training on product development, marketing and branding from SCCC experts.
"By using solar and wind power, the park is eco-efficient and will use only a limited amount of electricity from the grid," said Ms Chantana. "Our park is a place for motorists and commuters to rest before continuing their journey safely."
A coffee shop named Coffee Cat after Ms Chantana will help to refresh sleepy travellers, she added.
Open from 6am to 7pm, the park is a welcoming spot for locals to exercise and enjoy more than 30 varieties of flowers.
For professional drivers such as Preeda Mathong, who drives a van along the Mittraphap Highway frequently, having a spot to stop and relax in this area is good for pleasure and safety.
"There are not many areas to rest along this stretch, only petrol stations," he said. "There are frequent accidents down the road, as motorists usually go full speed on downhill tracks."