A POPULAR place to spend the day among Thais and foreign visitors who simply don’t have time to visit our best-loved historical attractions, the Ancient City is again spreading its reach with the opening of the resplendent Great Hall of Vajra Dhamma, which it’s promoting as Lord Buddha’s museum.

Completed just in time for Visakha Puja Week, the new hall opens its doors this Friday and offers the first visitors a chance to greet Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Maha Muneewong who will be on hand for the official opening ceremony.

The beautiful architecture of the Great Hall of Vajra Dhamma transports visitors back to the golden days of the Ayutthaya era.

This is the latest addition to Thailand’s biggest outdoor museum on which more than Bt80 million has been spent building a tranquil sanctuary to enshrine statues of 38 Buddhas from the past, present and future based on the Buddhist canon.

Spread out over a five-rai compound called Buddhavas of the Substanceless Universe, the Great Hall has been built in strict accordance with Ayutthaya-style architecture.

“Founder Lek Viriyaphant is interested in history and Buddhism. He spent several years researching old paintings and documentaries before designing the Great Hall of Vajra Dhamma in his own style. The construction took five years and the finished building blends Buddhist principles with the uniqueness of Ayutthaya architecture,” says Natchaporn Thammathinno, deputy director of the Ancient City.

“The Great Hall has a five-spire prang, which represents a divine king and kingship under Dhamma, on its roof. The walls, both inside and outside, are adorned with millions of gilded low-relief sculptures of the Buddha, while the floor is made of fragrant Hinoki wood, a species of cypress native to central Japan and imported from Laos,” she explains.

Buddhavas of the Substanceless Universe combine replicas of 12 pagodas from India, Thailand and Myanmar, representing the Thai zodiac years.

Inspired by Buddhist cosmology, Intrachai is the towering doorway to the heavens, where symbolic Mount Meru is hemmed in by seven oceans. On the ground, the legendary Himmaphan forest is replaced with a sacred pagoda complex representing 12 Buddhist zodiac years.

Each replica contains soil from the original site and allows people to pay homage with flowers. For example, the highly-revered Mahabodhi Temple in India is reproduced for those born in the Year of the Small Snake, Myanmar’s Shwedagon Pagoda for the Year of the Horse, Thailand’s Phra That Doi Tung for the Year of the Pig and Phra That Ket Kaew Chula Mani for the Year of the Dog.

Made from cement and finished with gold, the 32-metre-tall Phra Buddha Sri Sanpetch Dayan of Ayutthaya (Luang Po To) pays testament to the kingdom’s outstanding craftsmanship. The Buddha’s relics are installed over its head and Buddha images of seven days sit on its glittering arch, making it a one-stop corner for pilgrims.

The Great Hall is enshrined with statues of 38 Buddhas based on Buddhist canon.

Also on view is the pavilion of Phra Buddha Ramannat Nirawan, a Mon-style Buddha statue in reclining posture, and the imitation abode of Indra. Next Wednesday, the Great Hall will be transformed into the site of Buddha’s cremation ceremony to wrap Visakha Puja Week.

In the meantime, visitors wishing to take part in the rites of this all-important celebration can take part today and tomorrow in making rice porridge at the assembly hall of Wat Yai Suwannaram to pay respect to the Buddha and ask him for fortune and protection.

To really enjoy the Ancient City, visitors should hire bikes or hop on the tram for a sightseeing tour. It’s laid out in the shape of Thailand and is divided into six zones, all of them home to spectacular replicas of historical temples, palaces and ancient markets that transport visitors back in time to several periods of Siam.

A short walk from the Great Hall is the central region where Ayutthaya Kingdom’s Sanphet Prasat Throne Hall has been rebuilt, based on historical accounts written by Thai and foreign archaeologists.

A replica of the Sanphet Prasat Throne Hall once served as the reception hall for Queen Elizabeth II.

Erected during the reign of King Phra Baromtrai Lokanat, it served as a ceremonial site for the coronation and other important events as well as the Audience Hall for foreign ambassadors and envoys during the reign of King Narai the Great.

In 1972, His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej transformed Sanphet Prasat into a reception hall to welcome Queen Elizabeth II and her consort, Prince Philip. Its walls are covered with beautiful murals of the Hindu god Narayana, and are lined with 28 Buddha statues and a private collection of old porcelains and silver and gold nielloware.

The Northern region is home to Wat Chong Kham and its display of Tai Yai-style craftsmanship. This 100-year-old wooden structure was relocated from Lampang and today is used to illustrate the culture of this ethnic group.

Built of solid wood, the two-storey monastery complex has quarters for the monks and a main hall for daily religious rituals, which houses a collection of Tai Yai-style Buddha statues and other artefacts.

Wat Chong Kham from Lampang has been restored to showcase elaborate Tai Yaistyle architecture and antiques.   

Next door, Wat Chiang Khong, also relocated but this time from Chiang Rai, showcases Lanna wisdom in using traditional carpentry techniques to shingle the roof. Perched on the summit of a 54-metre artificial hill, Prasart Phra Wihan in Si Sa Ket province has been painstakingly recreated to a scale of 1:3, using concrete rather than laterite.

The ancient Khmer-style castle takes visitors back to the reign of King Suriyavarman I and presents picturesque panoramic views of the Gulf of Thailand and the Ancient City surrounded by a shady tropical forest.

We stop briefly at the Recreation zone, where the Pavilion of the Enlightened was built to pay homage to Mahayana Buddhists. It’s a perfect combination of Thai, Burmese and Chinese arts, with old wood used to build the octagonal pavilion and sprawling walkways. The religious teaching is reflected through statues of Mettaya and enlightened monks.

The Old Market Town is a favourite stop for visitors, who snap up the traditional Thai snacks and beverages. It looks like a living museum, home to a barber, antique shops, old-fashioned boutiques, theatres for the Nang Yai shadow play and Chinese opera, and even a traditional casino and bawdy house.

IF YOU GO

>> The Ancient City offers several religious rituals until June 6 at a free zone that includes the Old Market Town, the Great Hall of Vajra Dhamma and the assembly hall of Wat Yai Suwannaram.

>> Admission is Bt350 for adults and Bt175 for children (Bt700 and Bt350 for foreigners). From 4pm, visitors can enjoy 50-per-cent discount on a sightseeing tour, inclusive of bike rentals and tram service.

>> Find out more at http://www.AncientCityGroup.net.

Visitors can feast of all kinds of seafood fresh off the boat, including fish, shrimp, crab, shellfish, squid and jellyfish, caught during the 12-day festival.

There will be more than 100 seafood stalls, local Thai gastronomy demonstrations and local shops serving the fruits of the sea daily from 4pm to midnight.

Seafood is the highlight of event, but Thai stars and entertainers are also set to shine with live performances by Pinky Savika, Lamyai Hai Thongkam, Maleehuana, Mike Piromporn and others.

Other activities include a local art performance and the Miss Samila 2018 beauty pageant.

The Songkhla Seafood Festival is hosted by Songkhla City Municipality, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation to promote Thai gastronomy and food tourism in a city famed for the freshest seafood in the Kingdom.

This upcoming festival is themed “No Alcohol and Styrofoam-free”.

Find out more by calling the TAT Hat Yai Office at (074) 231 055, (074) 238 518 and (074) 243 747, or email: tatsgkhl@tat.or.th.

AFTER ALMOST two years of keeping kids of all ages happy for hours on end first in Pattaya, then in Sri Racha and Ubon Ratchatani, Harborland, the largest indoor playground in Thailand, has now brought the fun to Bangkok, opening the first Bangkok branch at Fashion Island shopping complex.

The safe indoor playground is both comfortable and stress free for parents though they might find themselves crawling on all fours as they follow their little ones into child-sized spaces.

The new venue is divided into four zones: an indoor playground called simply Harborland, Laser Battle, Roller Land, and Little Bike.

Staff have all been trained to operate the playthings effectively and safely, so mums and dads can rest assured that their little darlings are in good hands.

Harborland is filled with diverse play activities for all ages.

And in a move that’s unique to the Bangkok branch, Haborland’s owner LT Group, a leading real estate developer in Eastern Thailand has joined with Verasu Group’s Vista Cafe to offer kids and their families healthy snacks and drinks in the new shoe-free and clean playground.

Prakarn Nokhong, owner and managing director of LT Group, tells Explore that he wanted to keep the same successful concept for his latest playground, which is specifically designed for the three to 13 year olds and invites all family members to spend quality time together.

“Our experience with Harborland in Pattaya has underlined our confidence in the international safety standards of our play structures such as the slides and climbing stations. Our installations are imported from SPI Global from Sweden, Play Installation from Slovakia, and Zone Laser Tag from Australia, with a total investment of Bt100 million,” he says.

“I’ve invited Vista Cafe to join us to complete the mission. I’ve known the family for a long time and Witara Roongtanapirom is like a sister to me. I’m delighted that she’s decided to come on board. A healthy diet is one of the family’s main concerns these days and Vista is the perfect place to teach children about quality diets and organic food.”

Witara adds that she named the new branch Vista Cafe Kids and Family to further underscore the brand’s healthy and tasty philosophy. “Since launching Verasu, Vista Cafe and Vista Kitchen, we have never let our customers down and have always promoted the idea of eating right for your blood type. We also introduced the spelt flour bakery to Thailand. Our aim is to gradually instil nutrition knowledge in the little ones,” she says.

“For the menu, we focus on high-quality ingredients such as organic jasmine rice, spelt buns and bread, free-range eggs, chicken and pork sausages from a trusted supplier, and organic vegetables, as well as sugar-free ice cream.”

Noting that kids grow up fast these days and at best, will only have 10 years of playing experience at Haborland before growing out of it, Prakarn stresses the importance of concentrating on the physical and mental development of young children.

“An indoor playground is an invitation for kids to enjoy their own space in this grown-up world,” he says.

GO ON, PLAY A LITTLE

>> A three-hour session is free for children aged 12 months and those measuring less than 80 cm. Tickets for kids between 80 cm -100 cm in height is Bt280 and for those taller than 100 cm up to 13 years of age, admission is Bt380. Tickets for adults cost Bt140 and the elderly get in for free.

>> Find out more and join the conversation at Facebook/harborland

KNOWN AS the city of three mists, Mae Hong Son is the seat of the most mountainous province in Thailand and spoils the visitor with amazing views of sprawling mountain ranges and massive rice paddies, all of them shrouded in mist, making it a wonderful holiday destination even in summer.

Sitting on the border of Thailand and Myanmar, this highland served as an elephant camp before Chiang Mai’s last king Inthornwichayanon established it as a city in 1874. Today, it’s populated by eight hill tribes – Hmong, Yao, Lahu, Lisu, Akha, Karen, Tai Yai and Chinese Yunnan – and despite a rise in international tourists, has managed to conserve both its charming culture and rural way of life.

Su Tong Pae Bridge stretches across the river and rice paddies to link the temple and the community. 

The roads are full of twists and turns, making it something of a challenge for the carsick prone who have to spend at least five hours driving around 4,088 curves from Chiang Mai. Fortunately I am not among them so the ride is more of a smooth sleeping marathon to recharge my batteries after a long day.

We arrive in the late afternoon to be greeted by the stunning Tai Yai-style Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu on the summit of its namesake hill. Standing 1,300 above sea level, this venerable monastery is home to an assembly hall with a Burmese-style Buddha image and two beautiful whitewashed stupas that stand out against the bright blue sky.

Built in 1860 by Tai Yai merchant Jong Thong Su, Mae Hong Son’s biggest and oldest stupa is adorned with several octagonal-shaped tiers at the base and enshrines the ashes of Maudgalyayana, one of Buddha’s closest disciples, which were brought here from Myanmar.

Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu has a revered whitewashed stupa that enshrines the ashes of Maudgalyayana. 

Influenced by Mon-style architecture, the smaller structure was erected in 1874 by Mae Hong Son’s first ruler Phraya Singhanatraja to install the ashes of his son. Lions and Naga sculptures stand guard at each of the four corners.

Images of the stupa are still in our minds as we head up to the iconic Su Tong Pae Bridge early the following morning and join the daily ritual of almsgiving with villagers of Pang Moo district. The name, we’re told, refers to “fulfilled prayer” and this 500-metre woven bamboo walkway stretches across green rice fields and the Mae Sa Nga River to link the Phusama Buddhist Meditation Park with the hamlet of Ban Kung Mai Sak.

Tourists of every nationality and faith are invited to join the ritual and those come empty handed can buy rice, instant noodles, milk and water already packed in a plastic bag for Bt30. The enterprising villagers also offer colourful Lanna-style umbrellas for rent for those who want a lovely prop for their photos.

Pang Ung Garden is a popular camping spot.

It’s a one-hour drive from the bridge to the Pang Ung Garden, often referred to as the Switzerland of Thailand. Situated on the banks of Huai Pang Tong Reservoir, it was set up in 1985 as part of the Pang Tong Royal Development Project.

Hemmed in by lush coniferous forests, it has become a popular camping spot and is the perfect place to spend a weekend. Every morning, the reservoir is blanketed with mist and the magical sight of the swans – both black and white – given by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit swimming in the cool waters.

The name combines the words for a shelter for woodsmen and a wetland in the northern dialect. This land was once covered with opium poppies and just as he did to combat the poppy growing areas in the Golden Triangle, His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej built a reservoir to support horticulture.

Thanks to the year-round cool climate, the garden now boasts several experimental plantations of temperate fruits and flowers such as avocado, persimmon, Chinese pear, Chinese bayberry, Alaba nuts, roses, rhododendrons, hydrangeas and orange trumpets.

Phuklon Country Club offers a wide range of mineral foot and body bath and spa treatments using pure black mud from the Phuklon hot springs. 

Not too far away is Mhok Jum Pae district, home to Phuklon Country Club and its wide selection of mineral baths and spa treatments using the pure black mud from the hot springs bubbling away at 60 to 140 degrees Celsius.

Discovered in 1995 by French and Thai geologists, Phuklon is one of the world’s three natural mud hot springs following the Dead Sea in Israel and the mud from a Romanian dormant volcano. Flowing into a creek nearby, this hot spring is rich in beneficial minerals including calcium, bromine, chlorine, magnesium and potassium that get rid of germs while repairing and nourishing the skin.

“Every April, we dig the mud from hot spring and dry it. Our mud has no unpleasant smell of sulphur and has undergone a disinfection process to ensure safety for all types of skin. It is mixed with natural-flavoured yoghurt and Thai herbs like curcuma and lemongrass. We offer both facial and body mud treatments that are designed to clean, nourish and repair skin,” a staff member tells us.

Perfect for those with weary legs, the club also provides six mineral hot pools for foot bathing as well as outdoor and private pools for mineral body baths at 35 to 40 degrees Celsius that will help stimulate blood circulation and relieve stressed muscles. And going home doesn’t mean leaving empty handed. The club stocks a full range of mud and mineral products.

After a hot foot bath, we stroll to the Fish Cave, a pleasantly cool place to escape the summer heat. Tham Pla Nam Tok Phasuea National Park, as its known in Thai, is home to thousands of big soro brook carp that can be found in flowing water and rivers throughout Southeast Asia.

In Pang Ma Pha district, a Black Lahu community known as Ban Ja Bo has collaborated with the Thailand Community-Based Tourism Institute (CBT) to create homestays and interesting handicraft demonstrations as a way of conserving its unique cultural heritage and generate income.

Ban Ja Bo is home to 63 families, who live mostly off their livestock, rice and corn, and the 22 houses whose owners have been

trained in homestay services. A night’s stay is priced Bt200 with meals costing an extra Bt100 and a fee of Bt50 for trekking based on distance. Travellers can design their own routes to explore Phu Pha Mok, crop rotations, open pigpens and the pre-history coffin cave.

Ban Jabo is a black Lahu community offering interesting cultural workshops, trekking and homestays.

Three handicraft workshops are available, offering the basics of making traditional costumes, handmade bamboo home furnishings and the Lahu-style khaen, a type of wooden flute.

“Women are responsible for sewing here. We cut and sew clothes for all our family members. They are adorned with ribbons and fabric in red, yellow, green, blue, white and black, inspired by pig blood, tea, vegetables, a New Year dessert called Khao Pook and the black pig,” Nakor Phraipetchrathip tells us.

“We also create a bamboo amulet with seven eyes called Ta Laeo. It’s placed over the door to dispel ghosts, misfortune and illness. The men produce khaens to use in religious ceremonies and celebrations.”

Pai’s walking street market has a variety of local and western dishes, fashion accessories and handmade keepsakes on sale.

We spend our evening browsing the walking street market in Pai district, today a trendy hangout among foreign tourists with beer bars, boutiques and stalls selling both local and Western delicacies.

Our last day starts at Nam Hoo Temple, believed to have been built by King Naresuan as a tribute to his older sister Phra Suphankanlaya. The temple was refurbished in 1932 by the monk Kruba Srivichia and a wooden Chiang Saen-style assembly hall was built to enshrine a Buddha statue called Aoon Muang, from whose head water flows. This is the third generation of the Singha Buddha made with bronze and with a hollowed head and top cover.

We spend the remainder of our stay cafe hopping enjoying the European architecture, home-made pastries and the romantic ambience of the hills.

IF YOU GO

>> Nok Air has three flights a week from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son. Buses travel regularly between Chiang Mai’s New Arcade Terminal and Mae Hong Son town.

The Geopark, known for its limestone mountain ranges, abundance of fossils and network of beautiful islands, was recognised for both its diverse geological and cultural heritage as well as efforts at the site to promote conservation, education and tourism best practices in a holistic manner.

The endorsement of this nomination was made during the 204th Session of Unesco’s executive board in Paris. This inscription was recommended by the Unesco Global Geoparks Council.

Satun Geopark covers four districts in Satun province – Thung Wa, Manang, La-Ngu and Amphoe Muang. As with all Unesco Global Geoparks, the Satun site has been granted the Unesco status for four years (20182021), after which a revalidation process will take place.

The board endorsed 13 geoparks, including another seven in Asia-Pacific – Cao Bang, Vietnam; Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu and Rinjani-Lombok, Indonesia; Guangwushan-Nuoshuihe and Huanggang Dabieshan, China; Izu Peninsula, Japan; and Mudeungsan Area, South Korea.

The other sites receiving the label this year were Beaujolais, France; Conca de Tremp-Montsec, Spain; Famenne-Ardenne, Belgium; Ngorongoro Lengai, Tanzania; and Perce, Canada.

The Unesco geoparks network covers 140 parks in 38 countries, including 58 in the Asia-Pacific region.

Satun Geopark boasts a diverse abundance of fossils from the Paleozoic Era, as well as diversified karst topography. There is evidence of a submerged landscape dating back more than 500 million years, a time when early organisms thrived, including trilobites, brachiopods, stromatolites, conodonts, graptolites, tentaculites and nautiloids.

It is also home to the largest cave in Thailand, Phu Pha Phet Cave.

Unesco Global Geoparks also celebrate humanity’s bonds to the land, and the Satun site is exemplary in this regard, being home to many ethnic groups with rich cultural traditions, such as the Maniq and Urak Lawoi.

Twenty million years separate the two rock groups that come into contact at the popular geological site of Khao To Ngai mountain: Cambrian sandstone from about 500 million years ago and Ordovician limestone from 480 million years ago.

A footbridge runs on the side of the mountain along the seafront, marking the fault boundary. The site is popular for wedding ceremonies, with couples enjoying a walk along a footbridge that marks the fault between the two rock groups – a symbolic way to mark a “love that spans time”.

The three-times-weekly service will operate from November 13 to February 18 by Airbus A350-900 aircraft and complement Cathay Pacific’s existing daily non-stop flights to Johannesburg.

“We are very pleased to be able to expand our services in Africa, a booming aviation market. Growing our reach to destinations that are not otherwise served from Hong Kong creates considerable new opportunities for business, trade and tourism, in addition to strengthening our home hub,” said Cathay Pacific chief executive officer Rupert Hogg.

He added that the new service will meet customer demand for travel to the scenic Western Cape throughout the southern hemisphere’s peak summer months, as well as provide an additional option for South African-based travellers looking to fly on Cathay Pacific to Asia and beyond via Hong Kong.

The Cathay Pacific group has expanded its network significantly in recent times. In 2017, services to Tel Aviv, Barcelona and Christchurch were launched, while last month saw the inaugural service to Nanning. Other regional and international routes to commence in 2018 include Jinan and Brussels (March), Copenhagen (May), Dublin (June) and Washington DC (September).

“We are thrilled that Cathay Pacific is launching a direct flight to Cape Town. This will allow us to unlock massive tourism potential from the East, a market which is already very important to us,” said Alan Winde, Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities.

Tim Harris, chief executive officer of Wesgro, the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, added: “This vote of confidence will help boost growth, help us land even more investment, and create additional jobs for the people of the Cape. We look forward to welcoming the first flight, and our team will work closely with the airline to help make the route a success.”

Cape Town, a major financial and business services centre and also the gateway to the Western Cape’s flourishing wine and agricultural region, is set against the backdrop of the famous Table Mountain plateau and its enviably long list incredible attractions make it a true multicultural marvel.

From jaw-dropping scenery to centuries-old architecture contrasting with minimalist modern design, bustling Cape Town encompasses it all. Its lively harbour and streets house nightlife and storefronts, and its beaches and mountainous surroundings are bursting with flora and fauna.

Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragons provide flights to connect passengers from Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket to Hong Kong with flights departing from Bangkok to Hong Kong on an average of eight to nine flights a day, two daily flights from Phuket and one flight a day from Chiang Mai.

Get updates at http://www.CathayPacific.com/TH.

Visitors can also enjoy an exhibition that uses interactive multimedia technology to tell the history of Thai kites, a musical performance, a stunt kites competition, a Chula and Pak Pao show to the sound of a traditional ensemble, plus a workshop on making and painting a kite and a boomerang class.

Learn more from http://www.TatNews.org.

Big bargain in Phuket

Best Western Patong Beach hotel will participate in the Thai Tiew Thai fair 2018 fair by offering a special promotion for any stay between April 1 and October 31.

Priced at just Bt1,299 per room, the package includes breakfast for two, free Wi-Fi and a free upgrade to a Pool View Room. Those planning a longer stay can take advantage of a Bt3,699, two-night package for a Superior Room that includes breakfast for two, free Wi-Fi and a complimentary airport transfer.

Find out more at http://www.BestWesternPatongBeach.com.

Singapore celebrates Chingay

On Friday and Saturday, Singapore’s festive season continues with the Chingay Parade that was mooted over four decades ago as a way to compensate for the ban that had been placed on firecrackers, a customary New Year practice to drive away evil spirits.

This is the largest street performance and float parade in Asia that extends from the original F1 Pit Building to the NS Square (Marina Bay floating platform). It features multi-ethnic cultural performances by local talents and international acts with elaborately decorated floats, dazzling array of colourful costumes, creative props and wearable art, Street Party, a colourful display of lights, lasers, pyrotechnic and fireworks.

Find out more details at http://www.Chingay.org.sg.

WITH TEMPERATURES dropping well below 20 degrees Celsius during the winter, Chiang Mai province has long been a popular destination for local and foreign travellers alike. This year, it is upping the ante to cater to visitors concerned about their carbon footprint, with a series of eco-cultural tours and handicraft workshops guaranteed to delight.

An hour’s drive from the city’s downtown is Chiang Dao district where the tiny hamlet of Ban Hua Thung offers lessons in living according to the sufficiency philosophy of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The hamlet of Ban Hua Thung is surrounded by rice paddies. 

Spread over 8,000 rai, it is the poster child for the community forest model, having restored to its former glory a forest concession that produced teak and pradu wood for business. Today the land is divided into two parts: 4,000 rai is used for agriculture and the residences of the 150 families who live there, while the remaining 4,000 rai is pure forest, providing a home for creatures of the wild.

“This land was totally degenerated because of the forest concession and shifting cultivation. We have spent many years rehabilitating the forest and its precious water resources because water is important for agriculture,” says village head Siriwan Rudee, 40.

“During the rainy season, the forest becomes a ‘supermarket’, a place where residents can ‘shop’ for edible mushrooms, mulberries, vegetables and herbs. The wildlife has returned too and we often see wild boar, hornbills, peacocks and barking deer. We want to maintain our community’s way of life so we have a limit on the number of cultural tours and homestays that can be booked each month.”

Perfect for a one-day trip as well as overnight stays, the village can accommodate up to 50 visitors in five comfortable houses and provides a pick-up truck service for sightseeing.

Water gushes from a limestone cave in the forst and flows into the Ping River at the heart of Chiang Mai. 

We receive a warm welcome on our arrival and are invited to attend a Bai Sri Su Kwan – a traditional version of the Lanna-style ceremony for welcoming guests and bringing them luck and success.

Extensive organic rice paddies as well as fields planted with glutinous rice, longan, chilli and corn stretch as far as the eye can see. At the heart of village, a trekking trail leads visitors deep into the forest, where local herbs and java coffee beans nestle under the towering trees, and the water flowing freely from a limestone cave makes for a perfect picnic spot.

“Our forest is an important source of water. During the rains, water flows from this limestone cave and continues past the village to the Ping River. We build check dams to retain water for agricultural use during the dry season and use water from natural ponds for daily life, which is regularly tested and is clean and potable,” Siriwan says.

Bamboo proliferates and we learn how to weave bamboo baskets with a group of villagers who generate additional income from this skill between harvests. The environmentally friendly baskets are popular with market vendors because of their strength and capacity for holding more than 10 kilos of vegetables.

A local artist has converted his house into a small art studio and displays wood sculptures and paintings inspired by the wild life and surrounding scenery.

Wat Srisuphan is home to the world’s first silver ubosot and is a fine example of Lanna craftmanship. 

Returning to Chiang Mai town, we stop off at Wat Srisuphan, a popular centre for amateur and professional silversmiths. Last year, the temple opened Thailand’s first ubosot made from silver as a testament to top-class Lanna craftsmanship.

Twelve years were spent in the construction of the ubosot. Designed by Kriangkrai Muangmoon from Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, the masterpiece uses aluminium and silver in a proportion of 70 to 30.

“Thanks to the collaboration between the community, temple and schools, this beautiful ubosot is designed as both a sacred sanctuary and a learning centre, a place where the young generation can come and learn about their roots, religion and Lanna-style silverware,” says Sawan Kwaenthaisong, who works as a public relations officer for Wat Srisuphan.

“We have used local wisdom to create an elaborate lighting rod that looks like the Lanna-style flag and reduces the electric power from 220 to nine volts to prevent current leakage in the ubosot.”

The engraved tells the story of when Buddha visited to Thailand and created his footprints in Saraburi and Mae Rim. 

Costing Bt35 million, the silver ubosot is surrounded by aluminium walls engraved with the 12 zodiac signs and a deep blue staircase inspired by the vast sea at the foot of Mount Meru representing the cycle of birth and life in Buddhism.

It houses a statue of Luang Pho Phra Pratihan and the biggest carved silver banknote illustrating King Bhumibol’s sufficiency economy philosophy. Visitors can also admire the murals engraved on the exterior, which feature 37 scenes from the “Story of Mahajanaka” written by King Bhumibol and iconic landmarks from both Thailand and the rest of the world including the Great Wall of China, Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy and Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.

Silversmiths are on hand to lead workshops that teach visitors to create key rings, small home decorative items and jewellery.

The writer travelled courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand as part of its Asean Connectivity campaign to promote travel between Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.

Noppol Toochinda, ofo Thailand’s general manager, says the bike-sharing service in Khon Kaen has been an overwhelming success with thousands of transactions every day, higher than in ofo’s launches at other universities.

In addition to promoting and supporting ofo bike riding, Khon Kaen province is a strategic area where ofo is aiming to expand in line with the government’s Smart City policy which includes cities of Phuket, KhonKaen and Chiang Mai. ofo has already launched in Phuket and Chiang Mai.

Assoc Prof Dr KittichaiTriratanasirichai, the President of Khon Kaen University notes that Khon Kaen University is located on an important green area of over 2,175 acres, which is like the lung of Khon Kaen city, and currently has a total student population of over 40,000. Though using cars and motorcycles are popular, they have continuously supported the use of bicycles to reduce the pollution in the campus.

“We intend to support bike riding inside the campus, not only for environmental conservation and to promote a healthy lifestyle among students and staff, but also because it provides safe and affordable transportation in the university.”

Co-organised by Vana Nava Hua Hin Water Jungle and DEX [Dream Express], the festival doesn’t only allow fans to meet the One Piece characters, but also to join “One Piece Run” with five and 10 kilometre routes. Fans of all ages can run with the nine members of One Piece’s Straw Hat Pirates gang led by Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, and Brook. The run will be held on December 17 at the Vana Nava Hua Hin Water Jungle.

This festival is held to mark the celebration of the 20th anniversary of One Piece, said Vichien Vangveravongsa, general manager of DEX – a sole licensee of One Piece in Thailand.

At Vana Nava Hua Hin Water Jungle, there are four activity zones where visitors can have fun and set off on an adventure with the characters. The Play Ground Zone offers a large One Piece plaything imported directly from Japan and the Exhibition Zone where fans can meet a seven-metre high giant Luffy model and snap pictures at many photo corners around the Thousand Sunny Ship model. The Game Zone is where visitors can play engaging games and get a chance to win souvenirs and the Souvenir Zone offers exclusive official One Piece merchandises.

Book the tickets at http://www.VananavaHuahin.com. It costs Bt1,500 for adults and Bt1,000 for children. The first 5,000 people will receive a specially designed One Piece wristband exclusive to this event.