tourismthailand blog

Beside durian, the King of The Fruits , strawberries (Fragaria spp.) was introduced to the  hill tribe peolpe by His Majesty The King as a subsitute crop for Opium Poppy. The experiment paid off. Fresh quality strawberries are plentiful in the local markets and supermarkets of Thailand from December to March.

Once a Temperate plant but it is now cultivated on the high altitudes in Chiang Mai, it is make into organic jam and perserved fruits available in the shopping malls.

Ask for a strawberry ice shake if you are in JJ weekend market.

Fried mackerel (pla too) is a very popular traditional Thai dish. It is served with fresh or boiled vegetable salad eg cucumbers, cabbage, long-beans and spicy shrimp paste sauce (nam prik kapi). It is really tasty and yummy.

I fall in love with it by chance. I visited a friend of mine in the Northeast. Freshwater fishes are abundant in the streams and padi fields and mostly are dried and preserved.I dislike eating freshwater fishes because it has an earthy taste  if not well cooked and very bony.

The fish is often steamed and sold in authentic bamboo baskets or fried in the local markets  and it is meaty and nutritious and pair very well with  nam prik. If you happen to shop in MBK , you can fish it from one of the food stalls or in authetic Thai restaurants. One of the simply Thai dishes that I will highly recomend to travellers if you are a “fish” person. The price is very affordable.

Lamphun is one of the ancient and important cities, it is the smalest city in the north about 700 km far from Bangkok, located at the south of Chiangmai city about 25 km far. Lamphun was the productive land of revered monks in the past.

Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai is the former palace area situated at the middle site of Lamphun city, on a wide area approximately 25 square Rais,  surrounded by four city roads as follows; Atharose  road in the North, Chaimongkol road in the South, Robmuang road in the East and Intayongyot road in the West.

Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai was established by Chao Artithayaraj and is very well known among Thai people, especially in Lanna Thai because it is the most historical  and sacred and one of the two royal temples and a Buddhist education center in Lamphun.

The monastic name was derived from the name of the city. Buddha predicted that there would be people establishing this place as a city, and named Hariphunchainakorn during his brief stopover collecting alms. He was offered some myrobalan fruits by the Lua people. The prediction came true in the year B/E 1204 where two hermits Wasuthep from Suthep mountain and Sukkatanta from Lopburi named the new city as Hariphunchainakorn. Hariphunchainkorn means a town where the Buddha had eaten some myrobalan fruits. (Hari = Myrobalans, Phunchai = Eating , Nakorn = Town)

After the Buddha had eaten some myrobalan-fruits, he gave his hair to Phaya Chompoonagaraj and Phaya Kapuak as he was about to leave for other towns. The two Phayas kept the Buddha’s hair-relics in a cylindrical bamboo and put it into the glassy urn before burying under the site where the Buddha had ever sat down on the big stone. It is the present location of Hariphunchai pagoda and the pagoda was enlarged over the years and standing 46m high having nine tiered umbrella, made of gold weighing approximately 6,498.75 grams, placing on the top. The base is of square shape with 20 meters in length on each side and considered one of the eight holiest chedi in Thailand.

The bones of Queen Chammadevi , the first King of Chammadevi Dynasty , were kept in a quadrilateral pagoda. The people called this pagoda “Suwanjunggoti Jedee” in the past. It was renamed as Wat Chammadevi by Phraya Dhamrongrajanupab located on San Pa Tong Road and built in 1298 B.E. in the Lawo (Lopburi) style.

Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai is not only a holy place, but also a tutelary temple of Lampang city. At present this Wat has been developed and promoted as a tourist place where a lasting impression is left on both Thai and foreign visitors.It is also an important pilgrimage site for people born in the Year of the Rooster.

Getting There:

30 mins drive from the city of Chiangmai

Information extracted from A Historical Chronicle of Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai, Lamphun, Thailand

Useful Addresses & Contacts in Bangkok For Emergencies

Tourism Authorithy of Thailand: Tel: 0-2250-5500, 1672
New Phetburi Road, Rajatavee, Bangkok 10310

Tourist Assistance Centre: Tel: 0-2281-5051, 0-2282-8129, 1155
c/o Tourism Authority of Thailand

Tourist Police: For emergencies: Tel: 1155
Office of the Tourist Police are located in Bagkok and all major towns and vacation areas around Thailand.
Bangkok Offices :
Head Office: 0-2678-6800-9
Suvamphumi International Airport: 0-2132-1155
Regional Offices:
Ayutthaya: 0-3524 2352
Cha-am: 0-3247-1005
Chiang Mai: 0-5324-8974, 0-5324-8130
Chiang Rai: 0-5371-7776
Hat Yai: 0-7424-6733
Kanchanaburi: 0-3451-2795
Koh Samui: 0-7742-1281
Pattaya: 0-3842-9371, 0-3842-5537
Phuket: 0-7621-9878

Immigration Office: Tel: 0-2287-3101-10
Soi Suanphlu, Sathorn Tai Road, Bangkok 10120

The Revenue Department: Tel: 0-2617 3000
Phahonyothin Road, Bangkok 10200

The Fine Arts Department: Tel: 0-2221-7811
Na-Phrathat Road, Bangkok 10200

Thai Airways International Ltd: Tel: 0-2545-1000
89 Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Bangkok 10500
or
Tel: 0-2232-8000
485 Silom Road, Bangkok10500

Land Transportation:

The State Railway of Thailand: Tel: 0-2220-4268, 1690
Hua Lam Phong (Bangkok) Station
Rama IV Road, Bangkok 10500

Northern and Northeastern Bus Terminal:Tel: 0-2936-3659, 0-2936-2852
Phahonyothin Road, Bangkok 10900

Southern Bus Terminal:Tel: 0-2437-7192, 0-243-1199, 0-2434-5557
Charansanitwong Road, Bangkok 10700

Eastern Bus Terminal: Tel: 0-2391-8097
Sukhumvit Road (Ekamai), Bangkok 10110

A trip to the market in the Northern Thailand is an unique experience to travellers. I was brought to this market on the way from Chiang Mai to Lampang.

It was another ordinary market as I had thought as I explored further, it really got me excited.  I could find a lot of exotic stuff from wild mushroom, honey, grubs,frogs, etc. What had caught my attention was Wild Boars  meat were being sold for food in the market. The  display was cool but  it gave  you a history of the people from the different foods they eat.
Paying a visit to the local market and I believe that it is a rewarding and eye-opening experience in many ways.

Long Time Ago…Thanks to His Majesty The King, cultivated fields of opium poppies (Papaver somniferum) were gone. The plant has been grown in generations and it was a traditional slash-and- burn system used by the hill tribes to clear enormous amounts of rainforest for the planting.

The King is the initiator of many programs to replace opium culture by vegetable culture . Vegetables were introduced as a new source of  income for the people. It did pay off  for the buy-back schemes.

I could still remember seeing fields of Poppy flowers on television in the Golden Triangle when I was a child. The flowers are beautiful and attractive but deadly. It has a great history for medicinal properties before the plant was abused by the drug traffickers.

The flower resembles the Tulip. Oil extracted from poppy seeds is used in cooking oil. The flower of the opium plant is used for intoxication purposes whereas its seeds are used for medical purposes.

Today, newly opened opium museum is found in the Northern for educating the future generations about its history and drug abuse. Occasionally, you may come across some live specimen in a medicinal garden for educational purposes.

I was lucky to find one in Ban Doi Pui , a Hmong Hill Tribe Village in Chiangmai:-)

The art of paper making was invented by the Chinese in 105 A.D but in Lampang province, quality hand made paper is being made out of elephant dungs at  the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre.

The  brilliant idea came from Mr Wanchai’s determination to turn the dungs into a pot of gold. He has observed the  simple process to turn natural tree fibers  into quality  paper products. An elephant’s dung is just fiber. Elephants are poor digesters of their food over 50% of what they eat comes straight out the other end. The elephants are kindly doing the first stage of any paper making process – getting the fibers.One elephant  can produce about 50kg of dungs and makes about 115 sheets of paper a day.

With the support from his family, the experiment paid off by using a  home food processor to spin the dungs and cut the fibres. The process involved boiling, bleching, spinning, cutting, sanding and drying before the final products.

Under the Conservation cycle, the dungs are collect from the Thai Elephant Conservation  Centre and turned into quality paper products. The profits generated returned to the Centre for  feeding and caring for the elephants. There is a  medical centre for the elephants  is located within the Conservation Centre and a learning centre to train young elephants to paint.

It is estimated about 6000 elephants left in Thailand. Please kindly support elephant products  in Thailand to save the elephants and stop feeding the elephants on the streets.

What to buy:

Boxes, gifts, stationary, notebooks, photo frames and albums and papers.

Where To buy:

The giftshop within the Conservation Centre, OTOP, Chatuchak Weekends Market etc

Contact Information:

 Elephant Dung Paper, Thai Elephant Conservation Center
Km. 28-29 , Lampang - Chiang Mai Highway, Hang Chat, Lampang 52190
Phone: 081-3872344 Office: 054-224981
Website: www.elephantdungpaper.com
Email: elephantdungpaper@hotmail.com, elephantdungpaper@gmail.com

 
This September, Thailand will roll out the red carpet once again to the world for the 6th Bangkok International Film Festival 2008 from 23 - 30 September 2008. The most glamourous events of the year attracting movie Stars , Film Directors and Producers and movie lovers in the region and across the world to fly into the heart of the City of Angel.

The film programme will present a selection of innovative and exciting  films  from Thailand, ASEAN region and across the world. “Over 20 Films from 7 days from over 20 countries”said Mr Youngyoot Thongkongtoon, Programming Director. Workshops and seminars will be conducted to showcase latest film technology and equpment. World Class Film Directors will share their filming experience in Thailand and also learn from Directors and Producers to secure funding for your own production from prospective investors are amongst the highlights of the seminars.

Golden Kinnaree Award is a highlight of Bangkok International Film Festival. There are three sections of competitions: International Features, ASEAN Features, and Best Short Film. The awards will be judged by an international jury of eminent personalities in the film and arts & culture fields. Past jurors include Fred Schepisi, Julie Delpy, Bruce Beresford, and Derek Malcolm. Additionally, the festival also bestows the honorary award such as the Lifetime Achievement Award the Career Achievement Awards to figures who have made a major contribution to the art of cinema.

Visitors will enjoy the best of contemporary cinema and the best of Bangkok. A World Class event not to be missed.

For more latest update please visit: www.bangkokfilm.org

Click here for more photos on Bangkok International Film Festival 2007 Gala Opening Ceremony

I had one of my best dining experience beside dining on the street at Vertigo Grill & Moon Bar @ Banyan Tree Bangkok. The service and food were excellence and a magnificent view of the Bangkok City. The best is a unique open air dining experience under the glittering stars.

 A perfect place to chill out after a full day trip in Bangkok and watch the sunsets in the capital city of Bangkok. A die-die must visit dining attractions in Bangkok and other dining attractions in Bangkok include Sirocco and Baiyoke Skyline.

 More information:

Vertigo is unlike any other bar-cum-restaurant in the world: some 61 floors above the streets of Bangkok, this open-air rooftop lounge grants views that simply take your breath away. Stylish, sophisticated and reaching for the clouds, there is no better place for a romantic tête-à-tête, glamorous cocktail party or fashion launch than this. Indulge in barbecued seafood, champagne and a wide selection of cocktails, wines-by-the-glass and non-alcoholic drinks. 

Opening hours: 6.30pm - 11pm (weather permitting)

The Moon Bar is one of the highest al fresco bar in the Asia Pacific, offering a stunning venue for any occasion. Premium drinks are served in sumptuous comfort in a sensual, friendly and romantic ambience. Contemplate the heavens close by and star gaze with perfect contentment.

Opening hours: 5pm - 1am (weather permitting)

We have a Smart Casual Dress Code at our restaurants and we apologize in advance for the inconvenience. Long trousers and closed shoes for gentlemen. No torn jeans, sleeveless tops, shorts or flip-flops for ladies and gents.