Author: footloose

Local Weaving Exhibition and Demonstration Centre (Phaichit Weaving Group) is located behind Wat Ban Rai, next to Ban Na Fai Bueng Ta Pho School. Turn into the alley beside the school and go on for 700 metres. It is a group of people weaving cotton cloth with dyes from nature. They also teach others who are interested in weaving passing on the ancient patterns such as Lai Kho Luang, and Lai Kho Kham Duean. There are shops to sell Pha Sin, bedspread, tablecloth, cloth for tailoring and Mon Khit pillow. In this area, there is also a museum of ancient cloth which is more than a hundred years old

Ban I Mat – I Sai Hill Tribe Cultural Centre is located at Mu 4, Tambon Kaen Makrut, under the responsibility of the Hill Tribe Development and Contribution Centre, Uthai Thani, existing in a part of Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary. Most hill tribes are Karen, living peacefully and simply while they still practice their old traditions strictly. The examples of major interesting events are the festival to pay respect to the pagoda where there is a show of sword dancing, and the ceremony to pay respect to the Pho tree.

When the festivals are held, all relatives will return home. Those two events will be held every year in April. The date of the ceremony depends on the readiness of the people in the community; for example, when they finish harvesting. The most important thing is that this village does strictly not allow people to get involved in gambling or drinking alcohol.

Visitors can stay overnight at the Karen village, Chao Wat Yang Daeng Village, or shelters in the cultural centre which houses the Hill Tribe Museum. Please call Tel. 0 5651 2026 from 8.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. It also sells hand-made products, local woven cloth in natural color, bamboo basketry, and seasonal agricultural goods, such as dried chili.

To get there, from Amphoe Ban Rai, drive along Highway 3011, Ban Rai – Phu Bon route for about 20 km. to the end of the asphalted road. Take a laterite road for another 1 km.

Tham Kret Dao is 1 km. far from Ban I Mat – I Sai Hill Tribe Cultural Centre. It is possible to see the walking route leading to this cave. From its entrance, there is a bamboo ladder leading downward to the cave. It is a massive cave with large stones which can glitter when the light shines on them. The ceiling is full of bats. Villagers bring those bats droppings to make a fertilizer for plants in their fields. It is necessary to bring a torch.

Namtok Tat Dao is a little further from the entrance of Tham Kret Dao. The 9-tiered waterfall flows over rocks and is surrounded by fertile forest.

Botanical Garden is about 5 km. from the cultural centre. It has a natural fresh and comfortable atmosphere. It takes about an hour to walk around. In the garden, there are useful local plants and various species of plants; such as Sadao Pa whose fruits and leaves can be made into an organic repellent, Ton Sabu whose fruits can be used in bathing, washing hair and clothes, Rang Chuet which has a medical property to sober up. Some plants are poisonous such as hair of Chang Rong which can make peopleûs skin painfully itch when touching. Ya Nong – upas trees – has a poisonous sap which hunters in the past applied to the end of their darts that used for hunting.

tourismthailand.org/fileadmin/upload_img/Multimedia/Ebrochure/368/uthaithani.pdf

I have turned sixteen and need to apply for a new ID.

I haven’t seen much evidence of a Thai community in Chichester  and was expecting to be reminded that I am ten thousand kilometres away.

But I ate myself to a standstill at the Chichester Thai Festival.

Still no dry curry.

But there was papaya salad, logan juice and the coconut desserts you get wrapped in banana leaf. Mu ping, fried banana and crispy pork.

Khanom krok, nam isan, sai krok isan, and the Chiangmai sausage.

Thai dancing and a young male vocalists who switched easily between between Thai and English who sang exceptionally well.

Stalls selling Thai food products including bamboo shoots, durian and sataw. Others displaying clothes and other typically Thai goods.

Traditional Thai massage

And plenty to keep the kids occupied whilst Mum and Dad relax with an ice cold Singha beer.

My introduction to diving in Thailand was a live abord cruise on a catamaran from Phuket up to Similan, Surin and the Burma Banks. An experience I have never forgotten.

Similan is an archipelago. One of the best dive sites to see manta rays and if you are lucky whale sharks. Best done on a live aboard to dive sites like Richelieu Rock, Elephant Head, and Beacon Point.

The Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park is one of those special places where you kick off your shoes and simply relax.

The main attraction that draws visitors, besides the locals with whom it is popular, is a hike from the Tham Than Lod Noi or small cave and a steep climb to the Tham Than Lod Yai cave. Where Yai is big and its not really a cave. More of an arch. What used to be a cave a long long time ago.

It’s stunning. It’s also exhausting. Especially if you have kids in tow.

Which is when the water and rock slide makes a lot more sense.

They will spend hours clambering up and down, then up those rocks again. While Mum and Dad relax over a prepacked lunch.

There is a restaurant area at the Visitor Centre. But its a bit hit and miss as they only open when its busy and are usually closed during the week. Early on there was also a small restaurant at the gate which used to serve the most delicious som than thai, larb and Thai omlette.

There is a camp site with ablution and cooking facilities and I think you can hire tents. But we always used to book Parks chalet. They are reasonably priced and comfortable.

One look at the car park at Erawan, told me all I needed to know. So we headed for Huay Mae Khamin in the Khuean Srinagarindra National Park.

Despite being popular with locals it is relatively quiet during the week. Weekends and holidays are busy and best avoided. There is plenty of accommodation ranging from camping, to houses which cater for groups as well as chalets.

The chalets are comfortable and well appointed

Offering brilliant views of the Srinagarindra dam lake.

Another of those special places to visit in Thailand

Rick stopped briefly on his way to the dump site I never knew existed, and he mentioned that it looks as if the Municipality is putting in a system to collect methane.