(มิวเซียมสยาม พิพิธภัณฑ์การเรียนรู้)

 Museum Siam Discovery Museum (มิวเซียมสยาม พิพิธภัณฑ์การเรียนรู้)

a learning centre on ethnology, anthropology, and other fields related to Thai society and Southeast Asia.  

        It is located on Sanam Chai Road in Phra Nakhon District, in the former building of the Ministry of Commerce. This building won an outstanding award of art and architecture preservation in 2006 from the committee on art and architecture preservation of the Association of Siamese Architects under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King (ASA). 

        The museum serves as a learning centre on ethnology, anthropology, and other fields related to Thai society and Southeast Asia, in order to instil consciousness and understanding of the Thai people in their history, nation, culture, and localities, as well as connect relative ties with neighbouring countries. New methods of a display with modern media have been applied to enable participation of visitors in learning and understanding historical stories of the Thai nation. The contents on display in the form of the ‘Essays on Thailand’ have been divided into 16 rooms in the three-storey building. The first floor exhibits rooms of ‘Immersive Theater’ and ‘Typically Thai.’ The second floor displays rooms of the ‘Map Room,’ ‘Bangkok, New Ayutthaya,’ ‘Village Life,’ ‘Change,’ ‘Politics and Communications,’ ‘Thailand and the World,’ ‘Thailand Today,’ and ‘Thailand Tomorrow.’ The third floor includes rooms of ‘Introduction to Suvarnabhumi,’ ‘Suvarnabhumi,’ ‘Buddhism,’ ‘Founding of Ayutthaya,’ ‘Siam,’ and the ‘War Room.’ Visitors will gain knowledge and enjoy themselves from visiting each exhibition room. In addition, learning activities are organised for youth and aficionados of museums.

         The museum is open on Tuesdays to Sundays from 10.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. It is closed on Mondays. For further details, call Tel. 0 2622 2599, Fax: 0 2225 2775, or visit the website: www.ndmi.or.th   

         Location: on Sanam Chai Road, near Wat Pho (500 metre walking distance) and Phra Nakorn Police Station.

        How to get there: taking public bus no. 3, 6, 9, 12, 47, 53, 82, 524    or taking taxi boat toTha Tien Pier then continue walking for 500 metres.

More Picture

With the advent of technology, the Internet has provided a whole new world of ways for people to function and do the most common tasks we have. Time constricted but you need to buy some stuff? You can shop online. Need to get in touch with a relative, friend, or loved one who lives on the other side of the world? You can chat and E-mail. Want to go back to school but does not have the time beyond your daily work and household chores? You can get online degrees in education. A lot of people are turning into distance education to acquire knowledge, and for many good reasons.

Time management is the greatest advantage of getting online degrees in education. A lot of people have no time to do schooling traditionally, for example, mothers taking care of their family, others who may have a demanding full-time job, people who may have many responsibilities at home like nursing for sick family members. With the availability of the option to get a degree by studying online at your own time and at your own pace, anyone with a home computer, a high-speed Internet connection, and the discipline to make smart time management choices can now officially call themselves students again. Of course, that’s after you go through all the necessary registration procedures.

There are several reasons why some people prefer online studying, besides the obvious above-mentioned time management issues. For one, the student-centered approach of online courses allows students to learn and study with the style they like best and are more suited for. Also, resources and course materials are available online 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. There is no competition for checking out books from the library or any of those usual references problems such as encountered by university students. Moreover, online teachers hail from all over the globe, which has the advantage of sharing practical knowledge that sometimes cannot be found in books or other available materials.

Online learning is also less intimidating. With the discussion groups and lecture sessions occurring over the Internet, students will be less shy to participate. Anonymity helps especially timid students to be able to ask questions and share their ideas and contribute their thoughts on subjects. Bonding with other students, although they do not actually meet, is not an impossibility. Online chat rooms are available to facilitate student interactions. There, students can discuss both academic and nonacademic concerns. The use of modern technology in studying also opens doors for further improvement in terms of technological know-how.

There is also the advantage of disregarding time zone differences; anytime a student wants to ask an instructor questions or help in course requirements, they can drop an e-mail or messages and just wait for their questions to be dealt with. Students find it easier to approach teachers and thus have their problems with subjects better addressed. Unlike in a regular classroom, a student has the time to process the instructions and subject matter before participating in any discussion and this can only make the learning experience a lot more rewarding for everyone. Although regular classrooms still have much to offer, taking up online degrees in education is a good second choice.

Pai is just a 4-hours bus ride away from Chiang Mai, Thailand. Relatively unknown just a few decades ago, this sleepy, laid-back town within a valley has quickly become a favourite among both Thai and foreign travellers alike. There are many lovely traditional buildings in this town and there a few guesthouses that are just bamboo huts - great for those who are sick of concrete walls.

The first time I stepped foot onto Pai, one of the guesthouse owners shared with me that many travellers come and stay longer than they had planned. Some even stayed behind for years! They just fell in love with Pai.

Getting Here and Around You can either take the orange public bus or the private mini-van from Arcade Bus Station in Chiang Mai. Careful about the mini-vans though: many of these drivers think they are rally racers. Not good to have a heavy meal before your journey! But this journey will take you through many winding and twisting roads, passing through breathtaking views of the mountains. In and around Pai town, you can walk, cycle or rent a motorbike.

Activities and Sights Wat Mae Yen is an easy walk from the centre of town. From this temple located on top of a small hill, you can get a good view of the sleepy town and rice paddy fields below and the misty mountains.

Further away are Mo Pang Falls where you can swim or even water slide during the dry season. Worth a visit too is the Pai Canyon, located on the road approaching Pai from Chiang Mai. A short climb up the hill and you’ll get a panoramic view of the Pai valley and mountains. This is a good place to catch the sunset as it sinks below the mountains. Both places are best reached by motorbike.

Elephant rides and river rafting are other popular tourist activities in Pai. Most of the elephant camps offer riding bare back on the elephants either through the river or jungle or both. If you’re heading to the river, be careful to get wet as part of the program is a rodeo ride on the elephant! For rafting, you can join a two day expedition on the Pai River rapids.

Or just do nothing, sip Chai tea, relax and watch the day go by. That is also a favourite tourist activity in this charming town.

Urban development in recent years has seen Pai losing its small town charms somewhat. During your travel in Chiang Mai or Thailand, be sure to see Pai before it becomes yet another over-developed tourist spot.

Motorbiking Pai, Thailand

Thailand - Chiang Mai to Pai - Motorbike trip

 Pai Thailand - Waterslides (Waterfall)

Elephant Ride in Pai Thailand

Prepare to postpone any planned adventure activities, as this town 120 kilometres north of Chiang Mai has a relaxing effect on most people’s minds that often puts paid to planned itineraries. Activities available are river rafting (on bamboo rafts for a slow ride or on rubber rafts for the real-deal white-water thrill), elephant riding, yoga, rock climbing, off-road motor-biking, reiki and meditation. Due to the remoteness of the surrounding tribal villages a trek from Pai still offers an unspoiled experience of the subtropical rainforest and its colourfully-clad inhabitants.

The leeches are a significant nuisance - like we travel journalists, they are always after a free meal.

If you can’t be bothered to trek then maybe just hire a motorbike and go wandering around the country lanes surrounding Pai, which are edged by wild orchids and, in the green season, pretty deserted. If you feel a bit guilty about being too lazy to go trekking then hire a manual, rather than an automatic, bike - at least your left foot will get a bit more exercise that way. You don’t need to plan your motorbike meander too carefully, just wait and see what happens, but don’t forget your camera. Maybe the setting sun reflected in the rie terraces will take your breath away, or maybe it will take the sight of your beloved, posing as if to hold up a rainbow, to make you realise how lucky you are to be right here, right now.

A major activity in Pai, and one well-practiced by locals and tourists alike, is simply doing nothing at all. Somewhat surprisingly for a little town in the middle of nowhere, there is a thriving live music scene, with DJ’s, buskers and bands from all over Thailand and the world contributing everything from jazz to the blues and from reggae to rock’n'roll. If you like to shake your bits to different music every night and under a cool, starry night sky then this is the place for you.

Many male tourists in other parts of the country rapidly sicken of scantily-clad females calling out “welcome, handsome man, young man” as they hurry past a bar looking the other way, not least as they either know or suspect that the ‘ladies’ in question really mean “your money is welcome, so we’ll put up with your ugly, old face”. If you are one such then you will enjoy the absence of any girly bars in Pai. Whilst the town also lacks any 5-star resorts and gastronomes will bore quickly, for most people the town’s cooler climate and lovely atmosphere more than make up for the lack of truly luxurious establishments. Pai does have several resorts which are more than comfortable as well as having more informal atmospheres than many of the 5-star resorts elsewhere in the country.

Bob Marley - Is This Love? cover at Bee Bop in Pai, Thailand

Honeymoon seat TV Program - Pai Thailand

Thailand has always been an eye-candy for the travelers all over the world. Apart from the beaches and islands, beauty of the small towns of Thailand has also fascinated the travelers. Mae Hong Son is one among them which has drawn the attention of the real nature lovers. This small town in Northern Thailand shares the border with Myanmar. The presence of a satisfying range of Mae Hong Son hotels tempts the visitors to have an extended stay.
 

Mae Hong Son Hotels are scattered all over the town. Whether you are planning to stay near the city center or the riverside, you always have plenty of option to choose from. Since the town is frequently visited by different category of travelers, you can find both the luxury and budget hotels in Mae Hong Son.

Accommodation

For those eager to stay in a luxurious hotel of Mae Hong Son can select from a number of 4-star hotels near the city center like, Golden Pai & Suite Resort, Imperial Tara Hotel and Rooks Holiday Hotel. If you are looking for some more luxury hotels you can come to Pai, a small town between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son. Belle Villa Hotel, Muang Pai Resort and Phu Pai Art Resort are among the popular luxury hotels.

These luxury hotels pamper you with their host of modern facilities and amenities. The exclusivity of the guestrooms and perfection in business and other facilities make you feel relaxed. The guests get the privilege of venturing out on an organized trip to Phasua Waterfall National Park, the Fish Cave near the village of Huay Pha and Pha Sua waterfall.

Like other 3-star hotels in Thailand there are some mid-range hotels in Mae Hong Son. To suit the taste and needs of the travelers various Mae Hong Son hotels have been developed which are little less than luxurious. Some of the popular Mae Hong Son hotels like, Riverhouse Resort and Riverside Hotel are very close to the river.

Pura Vida Resort and Baan Krating Pai Hotel are among the other mid-range hotels which has a satisfying range of facilities to please the guests. Staying in any of these Mae Hong Son hotels offer you the scope to go for trekking in the surrounding mountains, arranged by the hotel staff.

There is no dearth of budget hotels in Mae Hong Son, especially near the city center. Mountain Inn & Resort and Fern Resort are the well-maintained economy class Mae Hong Son hotels which meet the needs of the budget travelers. Transportation around the town is not a problem as you can always hire a private tuk-tuk or opt for a horse cart ride to reach any of the hotels.

Blogs are the smartest way of sharing your mind with the others. Then, you can make some extra cash while you share your opinion with the world. And the amount of the cash can be well over six digits per year.

The best part of making money out of your blog is you don’t need to spend much to generate the income. What you need are the right strategies.

The first strategy–use AdSense to the right effect Until yours become a big hit on the web, the option of direct advertising sales is ruled out. Till then you can keep on using Googl’e AdSense program. The free AdSense program really works and it is simple—readers click on the ad-links for further information and you get paid for that. This works even without a large audience and so it is particularly useful for the new bloggers.

Secondly you can make money by helping other people sell their product on the web. This is another click and pay method of making money where you have to create your blog on a niche theme and posts should be key word rich.

Amazon.com is the commonest choice of the bloggers—mention a few books on your article and the link will directly take the reader—who looks for further information about the topic— to Amazon.com. You get paid as the link converts into a sell.

This kind of affiliate program can be established with any other businesses selling shoe polishing products to time shares.

Third and the smartest—sell text links to businesses Well this proves to be a smart choice only when you too are smart enough, that is knowledgeable in your niche. If your blog contents happen to center around profitable niche and they fare well in the PageRank, then link buyers will be flocking in to buy text links from you.

A small tip here; webmasters’ forum is the best place to look for potential link buyers.

Any one of these three strategies can prove a money spinner for you; only choose discreetly keeping an eye on your interests and skill level. Be a strategist and blogging can go beyond just a hobby.

How To Choose The Right Domain Name For Your Internet Home Business   by John McRae

If you are researching the many benefits of having a Internet home business to start earning extra retirement income hopefully you understand the value of owning your domain name versus using a free domain name service.

Choosing the correct domain name is the first and a vital part of succeeding with a Internet home business. It can also be a confusing and daunting task if you are unsure of how to proceed. There are a few basic approaches you can use to help determine the best domain name for your particular situation.

Using keywords in your domain name is a popular and easy way to get quickly recognized by the search engines and traffic to your site. Once you determine what the focus of your Internet home business will be choose one or two keywords that customers search to find your product.

One easy method to search for keyword ideas is by using Google Adwords. This allows you to enter a keyword and then get results of how many searches per month for that phrase along with different variations of the phrase.

Chances are that the particular keyword you choose will have a very high amount of searches each month but more than likely someone is already using it for a domain name. With this tool you will get many variations and eventually you should be able to find one that works for you.

Using your name or your company name as your domain name. Many people will choose to brand there name and drive traffic to their site that way.

Think of Ebay, or Amazon or even Google. There are no keywords in those domain names and nothing to tell you what service they provide. However virtually everyone knows those company names and what service they provide. By constantly branding their name people automatically go to these sites without even searching other sites.

Of course the chances of ever achieving this type of brand recognition is not very feasible however with the proper amount of marketing simply using your name as the web site address can bring substantial traffic. This method usually takes longer to start bringing traffic but over time the quality of traffic can be better.

Instead of searching by a particular keyword customers begin to search for your name. This usually mean that you have begun to make a presence on the web and people trust your opinion. If they trust your opinion chances are they will purchase from you .

Regardless of what method you choose remember that simply having have good domain name will not guarantee success with a Internet home business. There is still much work that needs to be done but your domain name is key to start earning extra retirement income.

Miss Mae Hong Son Years 2009 การประกวดนางสาวแม่ฮ่องสอน ปี พ.ศ. 2552

When we talk about the Beauty Contest arranged in the countryside, we think of the Miss Mae Hong Son Beauty Contest, one of the most popular Beauty Contests …
Because all of her born in Mae Hong Son.(native-born)

Mae Hong Son (The City of Three Mists) is nestled in a deep valley hemmed in by high mountain ranges, Mae Hong Son has long been isolated from the outside world. It is the most mountainous province in Thailand and composed of a total of 13, 814 square kilometers. It is virtually covered with mist throughout the year, the name refers to the fact that this terrain is highly suitable for the training of elephants. Former governors of Chiang Mai used to organize the rounding up of wild elephants which were then trained before being sent to the capital for work. Today, Mae Hong Son is one of the “dream destination” for visitors. Daily flights into its small airport bring growing numbers of tourists, attracted by the natural scenery, numerous hill-tribe communities and soft adventure opportunities.

Location and boundaries

The Salween river, left is Myanmar, at Mae Sam Laep, Amphoe Sop Moei

Mae Hong Son Province is situated in northern and northwestern Thailand at 17° 38′ - 19° 48′ N and 97° 20′ - 98° 39′ E and furthest from Bangkok in the north at a distance of approximately 924 km. It boasts an area of approximately 12,681.259 km² or around 7,925,812.5 rai, which is third largest in Northern Thailand and seventh largest in the country. It is approximately 250 km from north to south and approximately 95 km from east to west.

To the north and west it connects to a total of three states in the Union of Burma, namely the southern portion of Shan State; Kayah State and Kawthoolei State via the West Thanon Thongchai Mountains and the rivers Salween and Moei which serve as natural boundaries between the countries. To the south it connects to the district of Tha Song Yang, Tak via the rivers Yuam and Ngao which serve as a provincial boundary. To the east it connects to the districts of Wiang Haeng, Chiang Dao, Mae Taeng, Mae Chaem, Hot and Omkoi in Chieng Mai Province via the Central and East Thanon Thongchai mountain ranges that serve as a boundary line between the two provinces.

Every district in Mae Hong Son Province shares a common border with the Union of Burma approximately 483 kilometres in total length. Of this, approximately 326 kilometres is land and 157 kilometres are rivers (not counting the Salween, 127 km, and Moei, 30 km).[2]

Geography

Most of the areas of Mae Hong Son Province are complex mountain ranges and likely still pristine virgin forest. Of the approximately 6,976,650 rai of national forest reserves, 88.02% is thought to be pristine virgin forest. Mountain ranges run unbroken from north to south with important mountain ranges being the Lao-territory mountains located on the northernmost portion of the province that serve as a boundary between Thailand and the Union of Burma and the Thanon Thongchai Mountains which are in fact three adjoining ranges, the East, West and Central Thanon Thongchai mountain ranges respectively; the West Thanon Thongchai Mountains serve as a boundary between Thailand and the Union of Burma. The mountains in the east of the province serves as the boundary between the provinces of Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai. The tallest point is Mae Ya Peak (ยอดเขาแม่ยะ) of the East Thanon Thongchai Mountains in the Pai District in the province’s northeast, at 2005 metres above sea level.[3]

[edit] History

It is believed that the lands of Mae Hong Son had already been settled before the arrival of Lord Kaeo of Ma (เจ้าแก้วเมืองมา; Chao Kaeo Mueang Ma) and his consequent resettlement in the area. However, there is no evidence as to what time or period they arrived, nor of their migrations thereafter. These former inhabitants have left evidence of their activity in the area and are believed to have been Lua, or Lawa, hill tribes’ people. Evidence to date includes gravesites and discarded housing structures such as those found in the vicinity of the Mae Hong Son Municipal Hall (หอประชุมเทศบาลเมืองแม่ฮ่องสอน), nowadays the Morning Markets (ตลาดโต้รุ่ง) and Dharma School (โรงเรียนปริยัติธรรม), by the Chong Klang (จองกลาง) and Chong Kham (จองคำ) monasterial compound. These first settlers were likely depopulated by either malaria or war, with survivors then dispersing out to safer areas.

The old, pre-Rattanakosin lands of Mae Hong Son was merely a collective of forest settlements without a central government, with Shan peoples who had crossed into the area from beyond the frontier with the Union of Burma in search of a means to find food, working in agroforestry and joint plantations as the seasons permitted. During this period the area was significant only as a passage for Burman troops marching on the capital at Ayutthaya or to the various Siamese capitals of Northern Thailand.

Mae Hong Son historical records state that in the year 1831, which corresponds to the reign of King Nangklao (Rama III) of the Rattanakosin Period, in the mueang of Phing Nakhon (เมืองพิงค์นคร) known today as Chiang Mai, in the lands of the Kingdom of Lannathai, was Phraya Chiang Mai Mahawong (พระยาเชียงใหม่มหาวงศ์), who was later to ascend to the rank of Phra Chao Mahottraprathet Racha Thibodi (พระเจ้ามโหตรประเทศราชาธิบดี), who knew that to the west of Chiang Mai, which meant the lands of today’s Mae Hong Son, was a geography of tall mountains and dense forests inhabited by a myriad of forest creatures of which wild elephants in particular were in great abundance, and thus ordered Lord Kaeo, who was a relative of his and a local military chief and governor, to herd these elephants out into the custody of mahouts, to survey the feasibility of this task on such western frontierlands and to be of further service in the capturing of the elephants so that they might be trained for labour thereafter.

Lord Kaeo assembled his troops, lure-elephants and mahouts and set out from Chiang Mai, bound for a shortcut which entered northeast along a brook leading them to complex mountain ranges. After a short trip they arrived in the hamlet of Wiang Pai (เวียงปาย), or Amphoe Pai as it is known today. Here, Kaeo and his commission stopped a while before resuming their expedition. They then headed south to find a shortcut along the Pai River, so that they might ascend into the mountains once more.

After travelling for a longer period this time, they then headed back towards the Pai River. On arrival, they found a tiny community living in the area, either Shan or otherwise Tai, with hamlets along the Pai River amid vast areas of thick, virgin forest. Lord Kaeo deemed this location most suitable to build a village, with ample land to extend the scope of the village in the future and abundant saltlicks nearby the houses for boars; all one required in maintaining a successful village.

Lord Kaeo then rehabilitated the various scattered settlements into a single village and had them elect a leader referred to as a heng (เหง); Phakamong (พะก่าหม่อง), a Shan, was thus elected as the village heng. (The village elder, or kamnan, ruled over the village, and it was then named Ban Pong Mu, or Village of the Boar Saltlick (บ้านโป่งหมู). It later became Ban Pang Mu (บ้านปางหมู ), Tambon Pang Mu, Amphoe Pang Mu, Changwat Mae Hong Son. Lord Kaeo, together with Phakamong, then travelled further south with a number of their elephants in tow into the realm of what is today’s Mae Hong Son. Finding it a suitable location with a stream flowing by from east to west into the Pai River and a second brook running further north, he decided it would be most fitting to establish his elephant training camp there along with a residential base for personnel. Subsequently, he constructed an elephant pen on the banks of the stream and the area became another village for the Shan settlers, although with a smaller population than that of Ban Pong Mu. After Lord Kaeo had captured the satisfactory quota of elephants and had trained them as instructed, he decided to head back, and so elected the son-in-law of Phakamong, Saenkom (แสนโกม), as the kang (ก้าง) or village chief to oversee the village and it was then that the village was named Ban Mae Rong Son, or Village of the Elephant Training Camp Bayou (บ้านแม่ร่องสอน); later, the name Mae Rong Son was corrupted to Mae Hong Son, as pronounced in the brogue of the Lannanese (initial r’s are often pronounced as h’s), and the aforementioned second brook that ran north was named Lamnam Pu (ลำน้ำปุ๊) on finding water there splashing up from the earth (lamnam refers to any body of flowing water; pu is the sound produced when throwing a stone or brick into the mud or against a soft substance).

The village of Mae Rong Son flourished and prospered and Shan began migrating there in increased numbers. Aside from this wave, in around the year 1856 there arose much political unrest on the western banks of the Salween River which furthered the influx of peace-loving Shan, and again in 1876 when war broke out between the blood-princes of the principalities of Nai (เมืองนาย) and Mok Mai (เมืองหมอกใหม่) respectively. Prince Kolan (เจ้าฟ้าโกหล่าน) of Mok Mai, unable to sustain the battle, moved his family to live with Saenkom in Mae Rong Son along with his wife Nang Khiao (นางเขียว), their son Khun Long (ขุนโหลง), their grandson Khun Ae (ขุนแอ) and their granddaughters, Chao Nang Nu (เจ้านางนุ) and Chao Nang Mia (เจ้านางเมี๊ยะ).

By 1874, with the village of Mae Rong Son having become a huge community with a constant influx of migrants and so it was agreed that it should change its status to that of a fully fledged mueang. Lord Inthawichayanon, Lord of Chiengmai, thus elected a Shan named Chankale (ชานกะเล) to be its first partasakti (บรรดาศักดิ์; bandasak; somewhere between a count, in non-prerogative terms, and a governor) and bestowed on him the title of Phaya Singhanat Racha, or Sacred Voice of the King of the Singh (พญาสิงหนาทราชา), who would govern the mueang of Mae Hong Son from 1874, corresponding to the Rattanakosin Period of Rama V.

Later, in 1884, after caring for the mueang of Mae Hong Son for a decade, Phaya Singhanat Racha died. The next ruler was Chao Nang Mia, who ruled for seven years, bringing the realm to further great prosperity before passing away in 1891.

The next Lord of Mae Hong Son was Tho (โท้ะ), referred to as Pu Khun Tho or Old Man Tho the Mandarin (ปู่ขุนโท้ะ), who was made partasakti with the title Phaya Phithak Sayam Khet, or Lord Protector of the Fertile Soils of Siam (พญาพิทักษ์สยามเขต). He governed the mueang of Mae Hong Son between 1891 to 1905 before his own passing that year.

The next figure to rule as Lord of Mae Hong Son was Khun Lu (ขุนหลู่), the son of Pu Khun Tho, who reigned in his place as partasakti with the title Phaya Phisan Hong Son Buri, or Lord of the Metropolis of Hong Son Most Vast (พญาพิศาลฮ่องสอนบุรี). He governed over Mae Hong Son between the years 1905 to 1941. To follow was a period of change in government administration and there would be no more such ranks and titles.

In 1890, during the reign of Rama V of Bangkok, Phraya Si Sahathep (พระยาศรีสหเทพ), Plat Thun Chalong (ปลัดทูลฉลอง) of the Ministry of the Interior, completed an inspection tour of the cities in the Northwestern Mandala (see also Mandala (Southeast Asian history) and Mandala for perspective) and consulted with High Commissioner Phraya Ritsaratchakit (พระยาริศราชกิจ ข้าหลวงใหญ่), who oversaw the Northwestern Mandala, to organise a new order of governance, namely, he would incorporate the partially independent city-states of Mae Hong Son, Khun Yuam (เมืองขุนยวม), Yuam (เมืองยวม) (Mae Sariang) and Pai into a single unit of government to be called the Boriwen Chiang Mai Tawantok, or Shire of Western Chiang Mai (บริเวณเชียงใหม่ตะวันตก), and placed the government of the shire (which was now comparable to that of a single mueang) at Khun Yuem by appointing Nai Mot (นายโหมด) as shire reeve (as stated by the Minister for the Interior on July 11, 1901).

In 1903, the seat of government was moved from Khun Yuam to Yuam and the administrative division was renamed from Western Chiang Mai (บริเวณเชียงใหม่ตะวันตก) to Northern Phayap (บริเวณพายัพเหนือ). In 1910, a royal decree saw the merging of Mae Hong Son, Yuam and Pai into a fourfold realm alongside the Mandala of Phayap, and moved the administrative capital to Mae Hong Son with Phraya Sonsurarat (Plueng) (พระยาศรสุรราช (เปลื้อง)) as the first Governor of Mae Hong Son Province. In 1933, governance as a territory was ceased and then reinstated as a constitutional administrative government as per the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand as remains in place today.[4]

[edit] Demographics

63% of the population in the province are members of the hill tribes, among them the Hmong, Yao, Lahu, Lisu, Akha and Karen. Another big ethnic group are the Shan. The province has the lowest population density of all the provinces of Thailand.

[edit] Symbols

The provincial seal, Rup chang nai thong nam (รูปช้างในท้องน้ำ), is a reference to the training of wild elephants to be able to take orders in battle and for various types of animal labour.

The decision behind the selection of Rup chang nai thong nam, meaning Image of an Elephant in a Body of Water, as the provincial seal was because this was the origin of Mae Hong Son’s founding, which first began with Lord Kaeo of Ma being sent to capture elephants for the Lord of Chiang Mai (1825-1846). Once in Mae Hong Son, he gathered the scattered Shan settlements to establish two main villages to be ruled over by their elected leaders, the villages of Ban Pang Mu and Ban Mae Hong Son. Indeed, the reason for the name Mae Hong Son or Village of the Elephant Training Camp Bayou was simply because the elephant training camp established there was in an area with a nearby brook.

The provincial tree is Millettia brandisiana, and the provincial flower is the tree marigold.

The official province slogan as promoted by the Thai government is:

Thai: หมอกสามฤดู กองมูเสียดฟ้า ป่าเขียวขจี ผู้คนดี ประเพณีงาม ลือนามถิ่นบัวตอง

RTGS: mok sam ruedu, Kong Mu siat fa, pa khiao khachi, phu khon di, prapheni ngam, lue nam thin bua tong

Mists thoughout the three seasons, the Kong Mu (Monastery) that scrapes the sky, verdant forests, gentle people, beautiful customs; renowned land of sunflowers

[edit] Administrative divisions

The province is subdivided in 7 districts (amphoe). These are further subdivided into 45 subdistricts (tambon) and 402 villages (muban).

[edit] Transportation

Air

Both Mae Hong Son Town and Pai District and are connected with flights to and from neighbouring Chiang Mai.

Motorbikes

Due to the lack of public transportation in the province the preferred mode of travels with local is motorbike. Mae Hong Son’s roads however, are not in the best of condition.

Bicycles

These are popular with both locals and tourists and are the preferred mode of transportation in the own districts.

Car

Four-wheeled drive is the very much recommended form of transportation for travel into the mountains. The roads though, are known to be extremely dangerous.

Foot

For travel into the remote areas to visit hill-tribes, the only way to go is may be on foot.

Hitch-hike

This mode of travel in Thailand is only advised for routes which have no kind of public travel whatsoever. Army and police are always happy to pick up foreigners, but it is Thai-style when hitching for hikers to help pay the cost of the petrol.

[edit] Tourism

Mae Hong Son, bordering Burma, is one of the remotest provinces in Thailand. Tourists are attracted to the area due to its pristine virgin forests, spectacular mountains, lush valleys, indigenous wildlife and unique hill-tribes. Pai district has now evolved as Thailand ‘hippiest’ hang-outs, second only to Koh Pha-ngan.

[edit] Sights / Attractions

• Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu (วัดพระธาตุดอยกองมู) erected by the first governor of Mae Hong Son, this temple reflects the strong influence of the Burmese. The highlights of this attraction are the two lavishly decorated pagodas. Also, this hilltop temple affords an exceptional aerial view of the city and surrounding mountains and valleys.

• Tham Pla – Pha Suea National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติถ้ำปลา-ผาเสื่อ) This comprises the following attractions:
• Tham Pla (ถ้ำปลา) about 17 kilometres from town, is a popular attraction in Mae Hong Son. The surrounding areas are brooks and cool hilly forests. A special feature is the hollow cave filled with numerous freshwater fish known as Pla Mung or Pla Khang, which is of the same family as the carp. The fish are quite safe from being caught as they are believed to belong to the gods.

• Namtok Pha Suea (น้ำตกผาเสื่อ), this waterfall is in Tambon Mokchampae about 26 kilometres from the provincial seat. It is a large fall with its water source in Burma and runs full during the late rainy season.

• Ban Rak Thai (บ้านรักไทย), this village is situated 44 kilometres from Mae Hong Son via Namtok Pha Suea near the Thai-Myanmar border. Founded by Kuomintang Chinese soldiers, the village is famous for its views and tea cultivation. An annual Tea Tasting Festival is held at Ban Rak Thai in February.

• Wat Nam Hoo (วัดน้ำฮู) at Tambon Wiang Tai, located 3 km. from Pai hospital. This temple housed Phra Un Mueang, sacred Buddha image in Lanna style, 500 years of age, in the attitude of Subduing Mara (victory over Mara). The head of the image could opened and always appears water seepage inside.

• Huai Nam Dang National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติห้วยน้ำดัง) 65km from the district town has excellent views of the sunset, sunrise and misty mountains. Cherry blossom during January adds charms to the attraction.

• Bua Tong Fields at Doi Mae U-Kho (ทุ่งดอกบัวตองดอยแม่อูคอ) The Dok Bua Tong (may be classified as wild sunflowers) blooms during November painting the entire hilly area of Doi Mae U-kho in colorful yellow draws flocks of visitors to Khun Yuam district.

• Namtok Mae Surin National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติน้ำตกแม่สุรินทร์), given national park status in 1981, this natural wonder, which straddles Mueang and Khun Yuam districts, encompasses a wildlife and botanical reserve, a huge waterfall and a terraced mountain.

• Wat Chong Kham (วัดจองคำ) is located on the bank of the swamp Nong Chong Kham and was built in 1827 by Thai Yai artisans. The pillars are gilded with gold flakes. The temple houses a large Buddha statue with a lap width of 4.85 metres cast by Burmese craftsmen.

• Phu Klon Country Club uses natural black mud which has skin care and therapeutic benefits. The area has now been developed into a spa resort.

[edit] Activities

• Rafting along the Pai River is a popular recreation. There is a lot of rafting pass rapids and natural scenery including waterfalls.

• Mountain Biking is a suitable mode of travel for those wanting to experience the forest and some of the tracks are very narrow.

• Treks are popular with visitors who wish to enjoy the nature and view the variety of hill-tribes. The trek is often combined with jungle walks with elephant riding and river rafting.
  • Elephant Trekking is known all over Thailand for its sturdy and strong elephants and many tourists take the opportunity in Mae Hong Son to ride an elephant.

• Spa Mae Hong Son is not well-known for its spas but spa service is given at a few of the top places-to-stay in the provincial town and Pai district.

[edit] Local Products

Being in a cool valley, Mae Hong Son is suitable for tea-growing. The main area of tea plantations is at Ban Rak Thai, a village near the border between Thailand and Burma.

The traditional headgear called “Kup” worn by the Thai Yai is wide-brimmed with taper top. Together with bamboo blinds and Karen woven fabrics, they are quite popular items to buy among visitors. Centers sell a variety of hand-made products from woven fabric to wickerware.

[edit] Nightlife

In regards to nightlife, Mae Hong Son has very little besides the odd karaoke joint and open air restaurants selling alcohol and playing music. Pai District on the other hand is a mini Costa-del-sol with a countless amount of bars and live music venues – they can get very rowdy though.

[edit] Local Culture

[edit] Culture & Life-style

Thai Yai (Shan)

The Thai Yai are resident along the northern border with Burma. They may at one time have been the most numerous of the ethnic Thai tribes that stretch across Southeast Asia. A large group settled in Mae Hong Son.

The Thai Yai culture has had a strong influence on the province, as can be seen in its architecture. Although a part of the Lanna region, the indigenous Thai Yai people living in Mae Hong Son are faced with very cold weather during winter and extremely hot weather in the summer, with mist or fog practically throughout the whole year. Not surprisingly they have had to adapt to the environment. As a result, their architectural style has developed into something different from other Lanna communities. Their living quarters are usually built with tall floors and low roofs, the sizes differing according to one’s social status and position. Homes of the ordinary folks are usually with one single level of roof, while those of the local aristocrats have two or more levels forming a castle-like shape. The space thus provided is believed to help air circulation. An interesting feature of the Thai Yai style is the perforated designs along the eaves which are an architectural identity of the area.

Padaung (Long-necked Karen)

The Padaung are a sub-group of Karen refugees originating from the eastern Burmese state of Kayah on the Thailand border.

The Karen themselves are not one single group but rather a loose mix of closely related tribes. Among the smallest of the Karen tribes in Thailand are the Karen Padaung. This group’s women are strikingly recognized for the large brass rings they wear around their necks, thus lengthening them. They number less than 40,000 people in total. The Padaung call themselves “Lae Kur” or “Kayan” and they have their own unique language which originates from Tibeto-Burmese.

Located very near the provincial town is a settlement of Padaung and this village is one of the major tourist attractions in the area. Some people do complain though, that the village looks a bit like a ‘human zoo’.

[edit] Events & Festivals

• Poi Sang Long Procession (งานประเพณีปอยส่างลอง) This is in fact the celebration of novice ordination which the Thai Yai tribe people hold to be a highly meritorious occasion. Traditionally, the candidate-novice, his head cleanly shaven and wrapped with head-cloth in the Burmese style, will don a prince-like garment and put on valuable jewels and gems, and ride a horse or be carried over the shoulders of a man to the city shrine. On the ordination eve, a procession of offerings and other necessary personal belongings will be paraded through the town streets and then placed at the monastery where the ordination will take place the next day. It is usually held during March-May before the Buddhist Rain Retreat period.

• Chong Phara Procession (งานประเพณีจองพารา) The Chong Phara in the Thai Yai dialect means a castle made of wood, covered with colourful perforated papers and decorated with fruits, flags and lamps. It is placed in the courtyard of a house or a monastery as a gesture to welcome the Lord Buddha on his return from giving sermons to his mother in heaven, according to traditional belief. Other activities to celebrate the occasion include dances where performers are dressed in animal costumes. The rite is held during the post rain retreat season from the full-moon day of the 11th Lunar month (around October) to the waxing moon night of the same month.

• Bua Tong Blossom Festival (งานวันดอกบัวตองบาน) Each year in November, the hillsides of Khun Yuam and Mae Sariang districts are filled with a host of golden Bua Tong Blooms. As gay as a daisy and almost as large as a sunflower, the Bua Tong only blossoms for a month. At Doi Mae U-Kho, the blossoms appear profusely. Finally, the golden blooms become part of the scene. Some specialists have classified these Bua Tong as weeds and because of this, they may be cleared to make way for cash crops. Fortunately a group of researchers have discovered the flower’s insect-repellent properties. And perhaps that is why the Bua Tong, a symbol of Mae Hong Son, is still preserved on the hillsides.

• Loi Krathong Festival (ประเพณีลอยกระทง หรือ งานเหลินสิบสอง) Loi Krathong Festival is held on the full moon night in the month of November every year. Villagers make “krathongs” to float in rivers. At Nong Chong Kham, various entertainments and a contest of large krathongs are held near the central pond. Lamps and candles are lit all around the area. Moreover, at Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu, there is a ceremony of releasing candle-lit krathongs bound with balloons to the sky (known as “Loi Krathong Sawan”).

[edit] Local Food

Typical northern food consists of:

• Nam Prik Ong is a type of chili paste which is made of minced pork and tomatoes. It is usually eaten with soft-boiled vegetables, pork crackling or deep-fried crunchy rice cakes.
• Nam Prik Noom meaning in English Chili Paste Young Man, is another kind of paste that is extremely popular in the north and eaten also by Thais of all regions. It is often eaten with pork crackling.
• Sai Ua is a local sausage that is very aromatic and spicy and usually is eaten with sticky rice.
• Kaeng meaning curries are not made of coconut milk in the north.
  • Kaeng Hang-Le is northern-style pork curry.
  • Kaeng Om is a spicy curry consisting of intestines.
  • Kaeng Khae is a spicy curry consisting of vegetables.
• Khanom Chin Nam Ngiao is a traditional noodle dish with chicken of the North.
• Khao Soi is another popular noodle dish which can be made from chicken, pork or beef. What makes it unique is that it contains coconut milk and it is garnished with garlic.

• Thai Yai Specialities Kaow Som is cooked rice mixed with turmeric. It is then mixed with tomato into a small ball and eaten with fried chilies and green peas.

• Kaow Lhueng is cooked rice mixed with turmeric. It is then made into a small ball and sprinkled with fried onion. It is usually eaten with pork balls.

• Kaow Kan Jeen is cooked rice mixed with the blood of fowls and steamed with fried onion. It is eaten with fried chilies.

• Tua Pae Yee & Tua Pae Lau looks like normal bean .Tua Pae Yee is a dipped fried soybean and Tau Pae Lau is a fried soybean with salt.

• Souy Tamin is a dessert, made of sticky rice, coconut milk and sugarcane sugar.

[edit] Medical Health Care

There is a hospital in the provincial town, Mae Sariang district and Pai district. For serious cases, patients are usually sent to Chiang Mai.

[edit] Media/Contact

Local television, satellite TV channels are available. English language newspapers and magazines are available in some bookstores.

Landline telephone, satellite phone and all mobile phone systems are available at Mae Hong Son downtown and village areas. Internet can be had in hotels, resorts and internet cafés. There are Post Offices in every district.

[edit] Further reading

• Goodden, Christian. Hinterlands: Sixteen New Do-It-Yourself Jungle Treks in Thailand’s Nan & Mae Hong Son Provinces. Halesworth, England: Jungle Books, 2001. ISBN 0952738333

[edit] See also

• Nai Soi Community Learning Center

[edit] External links

• Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand
• Website of province (Thai only)
• Mae Hong Son provincial map, coat of arms and postal stamp

Landing Mae Hong Son

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