Monday, September 29, 2014

Wat Phra That Lampang Luang

Wat Phra That Lampang Luang : The most important temple in Lampang


About 20 kilometers from Lampang is the old temple of Wat Phra That Lampang Luang. On first glance, this walled citadel sited on a man-made mound of earth has a very fortress-like look to it. That’s because the temple was built on the site of an eighth century fortification, called a wiang, that guarded the routes to Lampang.
Wat Phra That Lampang Luang buildings seen today were built in the fifteenth century, and one of the reasons for the temple’s popularity is the relatively pure state of all the temple buildings. Unlike most of the temples in Chiang Mai, Wat Phra That Lampang Luang hasn’t been ‘improved’ to conform to modern Thai ideas about temples. The courtyard is still filled with sand, and the huge main wiharn (prayer hall) is still open on all sides The large chedi and prayer chapel of the temple.
To enter the temple, you must pass a pair of guardian lions and climb the naga stairway up to the massive main gate. The main prayer hall, the Wiharn Luang, stands close inside the main entrance. The wiharn is open on all four sides, forming a huge covered hall. Sturdy columns support the roof. The columns are finished in black lacquer and stenciled with gold leaf designs. The gilded ‘ku’ containing the main Buddha image in the wiharn.

At the back of the Wiharn Luang sits a massive gilded ku, a sort of Laotian prang sheltering the main Buddha image. The Buddha image is the Phra Chao Lang Thong, cast in 1563. On either side of the Ku are throne-like pulpits, sometimes used by monks but more often used to house other Buddha images on important ceremonial days.
Behind the main prayer hall stands the 45 meter tall chedi. The chedi was faced with copper and bronze sheets, which over the centuries have oxidized into a variety of green and blue shades. The chedi has somehow escaped the gilding which is now universally applied to chedis, even if they weren’t originally built that way.

lanking the chedi on the south side is another prayer hall, the Wiharn Phra Phut, a small chapel built in 1802 with a beautifully carved fascade. Behind the Wiharn Phar Phut is a tiny tower-like structure, the Ho Phra Phuttabat. It houses a Buddha footprint sculpture. The building is generally only open on important festival dates, and may never be entered by women. A 400 year old library building.
On the other side of the chedi and the main wiharn are two other small open chapels. Although very weathered, both have some rather interesting details and murals.
A doorway on the south side of the gallery leads you to several other buildings, as well as the temple’s museum. On the way, you’ll pass an ancient bodhi tree whose branches are supported by a forest of crutches.
The two museums are not very interesting, even though one houses the Phra Kaeo Don Tao, a supposed ‘copy’ of the Emerald Buddha and made at the same time. But it lack most of the subtlety of the Emerald Budda, and the setting doesn’t do it justice. For a close-up look at the Emerald Buddha, you’re better advised to visit Wat Phra Kaeo in Chiang Rai, where they have a recently made copy in a beautiful setting. However, there is a beautiful 400 year old scripture library in amongst the museums that is worth a look

Entrance fee & opening hours
Wat Phra That Lampang Luang open from 7.30 am until 5 pm. Admission is free, a donation will be highly appreciated.
How to get there ?
Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is located in Ko Kah district, approximately 20 kilometres Southwest of Lampang in the Northern part of Thailand. Comfortable way to get there is by private tour to Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang by Car with Air-Condition. Most hotels in Lampang or Chiang Mai Travel Agency will be able to book one for you.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Tour to Phan - Chiang Rai Thailand

Tour to Phan, Chiang Rai


Phan District is a town in the southern part of Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand. If you want to travel by car you can see the driving route and driving distance between Amphoe Chiang Rai and Phan by car total distance from Amphoe Chiang Rai to Phan is 48.88 kms.

Attractions in Phan, CHiang Rai

Wat Jee Kong
From the city of Chiang Rai drive on high way No. 1 toMae Chan District and a doorway of this foundation ison the right (1 kilometer before the doorway of Mae Fah Luang University). Enter the doorway and drive along concrete road, the foundation is at the end of hard soil road.

Wat Sai Khao
Wat Sai Khao is located approx 5 kms north of Phan Township, in Phan District of Chiang Rai Province

Doi Luang National Park
Doi Luang National Park, covers about 1,172 sq km of Chiang Rai, Lampang and Phayao. Mostly mixed deciduous forest, the park has 89 confirmed bird species and 12 mammal species, including wild pig, slow loris and barking deer. Wang Kaew waterfall is regarded as the park's most beautiful - and the nearby Wang Thong waterfall and Nang Phaya Pang Ding Cave are well worth a visit. In the Chiang Rai part of the park, about 9kms from the 773 km marker on the Bangkok-Chiang Rai road, is Namtok Pu Kaeng, the largest waterfall in Chiang Rai with a good flow cascading all year - there are also some caves nearby. In Phayao's area, Namtok Champa Thong is a beautiful waterfall surrounded by rich forests.

How to get there?
Travel Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai travel agency provide a car for your group only. We can serve you all kinds of transfer service throughout Thailand. Tell us where you want to go with what any transport you like then we will check its availability and book it for you.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Chiangmai Trek Mae Tang Area and Karen Long neck

1 Day Chiangmai Trek Mae Tang Area and Karen long neck

Tour Overview
Trekking in Chiang Mai has become enormously in demand with many features in service from the Chiang Mai region. Trekking in Chiang Mai with many features to fulfill everyone’s hope. For the more ardent - Chiangmai is the Trekking Hub of Thailand. We organizing a variety of Trekking in the forest, which features stop at Falls, Hill tribe village tourist, Rubber Rafting, Bamboo rafting and elephant safari.

Itinerary


Chiangmai Trek Mae Tang Area and Karen long neck start to carry from your accomodate or guest house at 8.30 a.m. next runs for thirty min. to Mae rim. Go to see the lovely Orchid Grange, containing greater than fifty various types of colorful orchids. And drive about one hr to see Akha hill-tribe village and Elephant camp after that elephant trekking for 1 hour through the rain forest, meet attractive nature and the way does the gardening of a village. Subsequently, walk five minutes, go across a Mae Tang Waterway. Stopover for have a lunch. Later lunch trekking approx. one hr to wonderful river, loosen up & have a swim at the cascade. After then trek approx. 1 hour to the Maetang stream. Start enjoys rubber rafting about. one hr the length of the Mae Tang River and Wicker rafting about. 40 min.. Subsequently visit Karen Long Neck hilltribe village. After that Come back to Chiang Mai approx. 6.00 p.m.



Include
– Elephant Trekking, Rubber rafting, Bamboo raft, Waterfall, lunch, Karen Long Neck and Akha hill tribe
– Accident insurant
– Experienced guide (Speak English)
– Transportation

Exclude
– All kind of drinks.


What to bring on tour
– Short pants, Walking shoes, Sandal, Towel, Swimming suit, Insect spray, Sun cream

Monday, September 1, 2014

Chiang Mai Khantoke Dinner

Khantoke Dinner

Enjoy a traditional Khantoke dinner, hill tribe dances and cultural shows. Make you more understand about Chiang Mai and way of life of the locals and hill tribes.


Dinner in Northern Thai Style on the floor with the stand tray full with the local food. While having dinner, enjoy the graceful Thai dancing which you can join in the dance.

Sitting down to a well-presented meal of good and delicious food is something most of us enjoy. Then there are those stand-up occasions where we mix and mingle with other guests and enjoy cocktails and finger foods. Finger foods? Eating with one’s fingers? Considered as neither polite nor hygienic in some circles, eating with our fingers is as old as the human race. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it, as we all do it perhaps without thinking.
In Thailand, many people still eat with their fingers and this has nothing to do with social strata. It depends, rather, on the place, the occasion and the meal that is being served. A Thai hostess will follow a set etiquette when offering a meal that will be eaten with the fingers, and those eating will be polite and delicate as they partake of the meal.

Traditional Thai meals are rarely one plate experiences, so the Western concept of having meat, two veggies, and gravy all on one plate is alien to Thai dining. Likewise, the use of an array of cutlery seems to be overkill in Thai minds (most Thais settle for a fork and spoon when not using their fingers). Unless one is invited to a Thai home, the closest most visitors get to dining a la Lanna (northern Thai) is at a Kantoke dinner, so this is something you might like to try. 
Visitors who have been to a Thai dinner show in Bangkok usually decide to give Khantoke dinners a miss because they think the two are similar. The Khantoke Dinner Dance Show is much more enjoyable than other dinner shows because of the pervading informal atmosphere, really different style of cooking, and gentle slow-tempo dance entertainment.
Khantoke is a Lanna Thai tradition, not just something invented for tourists’ amusement. Thai Lanna was a civilized Kingdom that existed in the area of present-day northern Thailand. King Mengrai was the king who founded the capital and the dynasty. He accomplished and contributed to the prosperity of the kingdom in several aspects, e.g. political science, Buddhist religion. art, and culture.
There are several traditions that eventually became northern heritage one of which is Khantoke. Even today, khantoke implies dinner or lunch offered by a host to guests at various ceremonies or parties, e.g. in the home – weddings, housewarmings, celebrations, novice ordinations, life extensions, or funerals. At the temple celebrations for buildings in a temple’s compound, namely bhote, wiharn, sala; Grand Sermons annual festivals such as — Khao Pansa, Og Pansa, Loy Krathong, and new year.
Trays, spatulas, big spoons, and food containers are the essential implements required for eating. Wood, bamboo, rattan, and coconut shell have been used as raw materials for making the food tray and container products. Coconut shells are used to make spatulas and big spoons. Bamboo is used to make dishes, bowls, boxes, trays, and so forth.
Dimensions of the pedestal tray, Khantoke are low, round tables with several legs connected to the top tray that has a round base. Khantoke (or it is sometimes called toke) was originally made with a big solid piece of teakwood. Lathing and carving techniques are employed. After lathing, carving, and polishing, coating with natural polymers was then applied. Bamboo and rattan can be also used instead of teakwood.
Therefore, khantoke lacquerware, which has bamboo as a base, is also popular. Kian is a northern Thai word (similar to central Thai for word of gluing) that means lathe. Therefore, Baan Chang Kian or Wat Chang Kian used to be the community that was the residence of lathe craftsmen (chang) in the old days.
The wonderful thing about a traditional Lanna Khantoke dinner is the combination of classical Thai dance and music with excellent food. To describe Thai Classical Dance, in words, can never do justice to the art form. To view a performance, especially if many dancers are involved, reminds me of a field of sunflowers, or wheat, swaying in unison at the whim of an evening breeze. Or perhaps the soaring of seabirds as they ride the thermals, at one with the wind. Thai Dancing is a pageant of poetry in motion.
Stemming from the Royal Courts of Old Siam (not necessarily within the geographic boundaries of present-day Thailand), the influence of which extended as far East as the Khmer capital of Angkor, Classical Dancers entertained and soothed their local royalty as well as performing before visiting royals and nobility.

When you arrive for your Kantoke dinner, you will have to remove your shoes before entering into the spacious hall built of teak where decoration is from original materials and motifs only. Your hostess in traditional attire will guide you smilingly to your place, comfortably seated on cushions on the carpeted floor or at nearby tables if you prefer. Within moments, the attentive staff will bring your drinks and Khantoke. The Khantoke is the circular wooden tray set on pedestal that serves as a table. It will carry one of the most delicious meals you have ever eaten.
Using the fingers of the right hand, a small portion of sticky rice that is served in little woven bamboo baskets is kneaded into a bite-sized ball (it takes a little practice!) and the ball is dipped into the desired main dish (a portion can be melded onto the rice ball) before being popped into the mouth. The fingers shouldn’t really enter one’s mouth (the food shouldn’t be crammed) as the movements are politely delicate. A rinse of the fingers and the process is repeated again and again. Thais from the humblest to the highest continue to dine in this traditional manner when the cultural or home occasion arises, and they are adept at making it look easy and gracious.

Start with the fried pumpkin as hors d’oeuvres and then alternate as you like between the mildly spicy red chili, tomato and minced pork dip, the succulent fried chicken, and a mouth-watering Burmese pork curry that is so gentle, so soft that you will gladly accept a second helping.

The chili dip is called Nam Prik Awng and is teased from its bowl with pieces of deep-fried crispy pork skin or freshly sliced cucumber, whichever you prefer. The chicken and Hangleh, as the pork curry is called, go well with the stir-fried cabbage and either the sticky or plain cooked rice. The Khantoke also contains a bowl of crispy fried noodles to complement the rice. Dessert, served separately, consists of fried rice crispies and, if you dare to break the spell of tradition, either coffee or tea.
About halfway through your meal, a classical orchestra will begin to accompany troupes of dancers in gorgeous costumes, or occasionally a solo dancer, as they perform the graceful movements of Thai classical dance for your pleasure. These are absolutely authentic Northern Thailand dances, quite distinct from those performed in Bangkok and Ayutthaya. They are rooted in the region’s history, literature, and way of life.
While some, like the Fingernail Dance, which is usually performed only on special occasions such as a state visit, are slow, stately, and exquisitely graceful; others, such as the solo Sword Dance, have a flashing, ferocious beauty. Performances, such as the Magic Fowls Dance, meanwhile, are taken from local folklore and literature while a fourth genre that includes the Silk Reeling Dance depicts various aspects of daily village life.
In some cases, the dances were originally either choreographed or polished by northern court poets and dance instructors to celebrate a particular event such as the royal visits of King Prajadhipok and King Rama the Seventh to Chiang Mai in 1927. In others, members of the old Chiang Mai royal family were themselves the inspiration.

The Shan and Burmese courts are represented in other dances such as the Mahn Mui Chiangta Dance, while the Thai Lue Dance is originally performed by the Thai Lue people of Nong Bua village in Nan Province. The final dance is the Ramwong, or Circle Dance. This is a typical Thai folk dance that was popularised some 60 or 70 years ago. After a few introductory rounds so that you, the guests, can see how it is done, the dancers will invite you to join in on a cheerful, friendly finale to evening’s program.

The total time takes about two hours to eat and enjoy the music and entertainment. This is a dinner you must do at least once while visiting Chiangmai. Many Thai people from Bangkok and other parts of Thailand always visit a Khantoke Dinner restaurant when in Chiangmai.
Reservation now for an enjoyable evening at a khantoke Dinner. We recommend Old Chiangmai Cultural Center or Khum Khantoke. More details are listed in the Restaurants page.