Chiang Rai: Khantoke Dinner (Chiang Mai), Hot Spring, Wat Rong Khun, Golden Triangle & Karen Long Neck Village

Khantoke Dinner

Khantoke dinner at Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center. 

When I reached, I was required to remove shoes and leave in the reception. I ushered to sit on the floor-open area which near to the hill tribe shows

Once I sat down, I was served with a red tray of foods as well as drinks. Besides that, a flower necklace was given and the waiter took picture.

Because of extra charges, I rejected the drinks, flower necklace and picture taking services. Then, I saw the hostess sold the pictures to the guests as well as additional charges.

So, be careful!

Afterwards, hill tribe shows both inside or outside Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center was presented. Hill tribe shows involved classical and folk dances

One of the hill tribe dance-fingernail dance, performed on special occasions like greeting guests or visitors

That's what Khantoke Dinner consisted of 

This dinner ended with the cup of coffee or tea, fresh fruits and fried rice crackers.

"Fried chickens very "ho chiak". I had been not eating chickens since I stepped in Chiang Mai". said Rosamond. 

Khantoke dinner took 2 hours to enjoy the dinner and hill tribe shows. You should try if you wanted to experience the eating culture of hill tribe people. 

 Hot spring

Different types of chicken and dug eggs. 

You could hang the egg baskets at the edge of the pool

Wat Rong Khun

My first impression of Wat Rong Khun- the building was all in white. Glass and mirror attached with the buildings to make it sparkled in the sun and matched with the blue sky. 

White symbolized purity. Plus, Wat Rong Khun was built based on the Buddhist’s birth circle-hell and heaven.

Coming over a lake with fishes before crossing the bridge. 

The bridge to the main hall of Wat Rong Khun with endless outreaching hands symbolized greed, desires and temptations.

 Skull and demons heads remembered me the existence of hell.

Oh wait, this was the restrooms. Not the temple. 

It was my first time to encounter gold toilets. The reason behind was the humans appeared nice and good in the surface area but it could be opposite in their hearts and mind.

Oh well, it was the nice restroom in the Thailand.

Everything in Wat Rong Khun was photo worthy

 Wealth Buddha 

Offering flowers and holly sticks with 20 Baht 

Wat Rong Khun was the masterpieces of Chalermchai Kositpipat, national artist Thailand. 

He’s still alive. He sometimes could be seen in the Wat Rong Khun. I was unlucky though, didn’t see him when I at there.

I marveled Chalermchai Kositpipat’s determination in choosing and expanding Thai arts. All his art classmates of the university chose western arts. Because of his Thai arts’ love, he back to his hometown to rebuild and restored Wat Rong Khun when the earthquake destroyed it. 

In order to rebuild it based on his own styles, he spent his own money without soliciting the funding from the governments or anyone else. He really devoted himself to Wat Rong Khun. It eventually became the famous Buddhist arts in Thailand. 

The souvenir of Wat Rong Khun-free postcards with stamps

Golden Triangle

Golden triangle was the history trip. In the past, it was the place in Asia where opium produced.

 

Myanmar 

I got the boat ride to Mekong river (300 Baht) and realized Mekong river separated Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.

I didn’t expect Myanmar, Laos and Thailand reached within together. Yeah, I went to 3 countries in 1 day.

When comes to Golden triangle, it’s the empty island with grasses. 

Through the boat trip, I went to Laos free trade zone area. I saw some tour members did shopping there.

Many animals related wines (e.g snakes, tigers)

cigarettes 

Laos skin cares and cosmetics 

Honestly, nothing interesting in Laos free trade zone area. All the so called LV, Gucci bags were fakes.

Laos' visiting ticket 

I thought Laos passport stamps would be my only souvenir for Laos trip, but no immigration and passport check. That’s the reason my passport was taken by the tour guide and returned after the Laos trip.

It’s different if you went for gambling in Myanmar. Visa was necessary.

Karen Long Neck Village

Karen hill tribe women well known for wearing neck ring.  

Neck ring important for them to protect from tiger bites.

Karen hill tribe women started to wear neck ring during 5 years old. Over the years, the neck ring smacked their shoulders and ribs down making their necks seemed longer. So, Karen hill tribe women had long necks.

Karen hill tribe women not removed the neck rings when sleeping, thus they have their own sleeping styles and patterns.

Tour guide told me it’s their tradition. Not the shows for the tourists.

A street with stalls. It seemed every household had their own stalls, where they sell keychain, scarf and textiles.

I was proud of their handmade scarf and textiles. But all households’ keychain, scarf and textiles exactly same. No differences at all.

Karen hill tribe women very friendly to let me taking photos

Overall, it’s an interesting visit.

Will be continued, guys. Stay tuned!

Chiang Mai: Hill Tribe Village, Doi Inthanon National Park, Doi Inthanon Royale Project

2 Days Lanna Highlights Chiang Mai-Travel Hub Chiang Mai

I traveled with Travel Hub Chiang Mai for 2 days Chiang Mai tours.

The Highlight of This Tour:

Doi Inthanon National Park

Katonke dinner & hill tribe show

Karen long necks

Chiang Rai

The golden triangle

This Tour Included:

English speaking tour guides

Air-conditioned mini bus

Entrances fees

2 lunches & 1 dinner

Pick-up & drop-off from the hotels

Reviews of Travel Hub Chiang Mai:

This travel agency was not the tourist traps. It was the good travel agency that didn’t bring me to the tourist shops and restaurants that I’ll be overcharged. It was the important concern when I travelled. As a tourist, I might not know where I was, how to speak to the locals and how to go where I wanted. I depended everything on the travel agency. I trusted on the travel agencies’ services. This travel agency delivered its’ promises in bringing me to all the listed attractions of the itinerary.

Tour guide, Mr. Oak, Mr. Peter deepen my knowledge. They shared the histories, significance, cultures of the places and people very well. In fact, they were the good story-teller. They knew when they should tell the story as well as the story not too lengthy.  Other than that, these 2 tour guides really had good sense of humors that being able to live up the local foods and places with funny jokes. They helped to reduce the boredom in the road journey. Additionally, the help of the tour driver, Mr. Yoyo in taking care of me and sister in pointed out the mini bus and toilets really deserved a mention. He made me felt very pampered and special.   

If you’d like to find out more Travel Hub Chiang Mai or sign up its other tour packages, kindly check out its website http://www.travelhubchiangmai.com/

Hill Tribe Villages

Hill tribe people was the minority groups of Thailand living in the mountain. They actually migrated to the Thailand from Myanmar and Thailand took over them. 

They had their own languages. cultures, beliefs and dressings. 

Hill tribe women specialized in weaving. This was the main requirement of the hill tribe single women to get a husband.

Hill tribe men belonged to the hill tribe women once they married. That meant, it was necessary for women to support men.

“Do you have pigs and chickens?”-common questions of women before married.

“No pigs and chickens, no marriage”

long white V neck tunics of single women

single or married men's 1 piece tunic

Single women wore long white V neck tunics meanwhile single or married men wore the same tunics.

The hill tribe women continued weaving and just gave me a smile. They had familiar with tourists already.

They planted basil leaves, chilies, lychee, Arabica coffees, egg plants, lemon  grasses, rice, etc.

“Let me bring you to the Starbucks of the Hill Tribe Village”-Mr Oak. 

 The playful tour guide, Mr Oak behind sister, Rosamond. #photobomb

peaceful and serene 

 Grandmother out from the toilet since it separated with the house  

Grandmother's long house 

Doi Inthanon National Park

3 Things to See in Doi Inthanon National Park:

1: Waterfalls

There were numbers of waterfalls in Doi Inthanon National Park. All of them located near the main roads and easily accessed.

I visited two waterfalls: Sirithan and Wachiratan Waterfalls

Sirithan waterfall

Wachiratan Waterfalls

Both waters were clear and surroundings were cold.

To be honest, Wachiratan waterfall was bigger and impressive than Sirithan waterfall. Its’ water flows was strong till my glasses wet.

The reason could be Sirithan waterfall was lower down than Wachiratan Waterfalls

It’s possible to hike up to the top of the Wachiratan waterfall (which most of the Ang Moh did so). Plus, no safety reminder to prevent the visitors to climb to the top of the Wachiratan waterfall. 

2: The Summit: Highest Point in Thailand

Of course I had to take picture as the evidence of my visit.

Wooden trails that took me to the shrine that held the ashes of the King of Chiang Mai.

While going through wooden trails, I observed flora and fauna. They were unique. 

Everywhere in the wooden trails were misty.

It turned out to be my perfect pictures backdrops. I wondered if any movies and drama had been filmed there?

The environment was quite cold due to the raining, 12’c. So, warm clothes and umbrellas must be prepared.

Indeed, this place considered as the nature beauty of Chiang Mai.

 Shrine of downed helicopter pilots 

parts of the helicopter

3: King & Queen Pagodas

Two words I described King & Queen Pagoda- “beautiful and magnificent”.

 Since both pagodas at the top of mountain, an elevator was provided but I climbed the stairs when I came down.

Inside both pagodas were Buddha statues whereby the Thais paid respect to. The stories of the Buddha were well-depicted from the walls.

I walked further to the nearby flower garden.

The view of the flower garden was breathtaking. I awed with the fresh air.

In a nutshell, Doi Inthanon National Park had the mountains, waterfalls, flower gardens. 

Doi Inthanon’s Royale Project

For me, it was a vegetable and fruits plantation initiated by the Thailand King. 

Highly recommended shitake mushroom crackers (25 Baht), which rare to found. 

Mr. Oak: A western guy shared a packet of uncooked shiitake mushrooms crackers in the mini bus.

Us: Har? *shocked*

Mr.Oak:  I ask them how does it tastes? They answer very delicious except too hard. 

Us: Hahahaha.

Mr Oak: of course the crackers extremely hard since they're uncooked. 

#funnyjokestourguide #thingstourguidesay

Disappointing with the small portion of lunch and limited choices. 

Will be continued. Stay tuned!