Northern city. ChiangMai is the pro-vincial
capital of a largely mountain-ous province, also called Chiang Mai, which is some 20,000
square kilo-metres in area. Chiang Mai city is 700 kilometres north of Bangkok, was
founded in 1296, and is located in a fertile valley some 300 metres above sea level.
Chiang Mai was the capital of Lanna Thai (Kingdom of One MillionRicefields), the first
independent Thai kingdom within the fabled Golden Triangle. Chiang Mai
flourished as a major religious, cultural and trading centre until 1556 when a Burmese
invasion reduced it to a vassal state. The Burmese were expelled in 1785, where upon Lanna
Thai once again became part of northern Thailand. Many lowland Thais regard Chiang Mai
city and province as being something of a national Shangri-la, thanks to its beautiful
women, distinctive festivals, historic temples dating from the 1300s, arresting scenic
beauty, temperate fruits such as apples peaches and strawberriy and a crisp, invigorating
cool season climate.
Local Culture
The people of Chiang Mai enjoy one of the most distinctive cultural identities in the
whole of Thailand. Largely farmers and artisans, they have their own lilting dia-lect,
their own customs, their own festivals, their own architectural traditions, their own
indigenous handicrafts, their own dances and their own distinctive cuisine. Hilltribes
also lend a great deal of character and colour to the crisply beautiful mountainous
landscape.
TREKKING TOURS
Meo, Lisu, Yao, Akha, Lawa
and Karen hilltribes live throughout
northern Thailand's mountains. They share animist beliefs and honour numerous forest and
guardian spirits. Each tribe has distinctive ceremonial attire, courtship rituals, games,
dances, agricultural customs, puberty rites, languages or dialects, aesthetic values and
hygienic habits. Popular 'Jungle Treks', lasting from 2 to 7 days, take visitors through
forested mountains and high valleys and meadows, and include visits to remoter
high-altitude hilltribe settlements for overnight stays. The best guides are hilltribe
youths who customarily speak English, Thai and at least three tribal dialects. Treks
commonly feature travel by foot, sometimes by boat, elephant-back, horse-back or jeep,
frequently a combination of two or three modes of transportation. Prospective trekkers are
advised to shop around companies offering such tours for the best conditions. All treks
must be registered with the Tourist Police. This is done for trekkers' protection. Avoid
companies that do not abide by this law. Visitors are welcome to enquire from the Tourism
Police to confirm which tour companies have negative or bad reputations. Also, avoid
narcotics, essentially everything from 'soft drugs' such as marijuana to 'hard drugs' such
as opium and heroin, both during travel and at hilltribe villages. There are severe
penalties for such usage. Valuables, such as passport, jewelry and money, should be
deposited in the safe of your hotel or guest house while you are trekking up country. Wear
sensible clothing to protect your limbs and sleep under a mosquito net at night. Malaria
is a real threat, and sensible precautions should be taken to avoid it. Visitors should
remember to
a) Respect hilltribe beliefs and religious symbols
and structures.
b) Dress modestly. Hilltribe people are generally
modest. Inappropriate attire may offend them.
c) Ask permission before photographing someone. Some
villages do not permit photography.
d) Avoid trading western medicines and articles of
clothing. Contributions to their welfare, items such as pens, paper, needles, thread,
cloth and material used for embroidery are perfectly acceptable.
Bird- Watching
Although bird-watching has been a popular activity a mong Thais for many years, it is only
relativelyrecently that overseas visitors have recognized the potential of this
fascinating pastime. In total, almostone thousand different species of birds some
local, others migrating here- have been spotted in Thailand. Most of Thailand's national
parks offer good opportunities for bird-watching such as Khao Yai National Park, Kaeng
Krachan in Petchburi and Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai province.
Elephant
Training
Centres Each morning, at Km 10 on the Mae Rim-Samoeng route, trained elephants demonstrate
their formidable and highly-valued forestry skills from 9.30 until 11.00 AM, at the Mae Sa
Elephant Training Centre. The centre is some 30 kilometres from town. Admission is 80 baht
perperson. A jungle tour on elephant back, lasting more than two hours through adjacent
forests, is offered after the show and costs 250 baht per person. Elephants can also be
seen at the Pong Yaeng Elephant Centre at KM 19 on the same route.
Taeng Dao
Elephant
This riverside enclave, at KM 56 on Highway 107, features daily shows of elephants at
work, from 9.00 AM until 10.00 AM, and from 10.00 AM until 11.00 AM, and offers elephant
rides, and opportunities for bucolic river-rafting through largely pristine and tranquil
forests, or jungle treks to neighbouring hilltribe settlements.
Wat Phra Singh Sam Lan
This lovely temple dates from 1345 and is one of the focal points of Songkran festivities
each April 13-15 when people bathe the revered Phra Buddha Sihing image. The temple
compound includes the lovely Lai Kham chapel with its exquisite woodcarvings and
northern-style murals, and a magnificent scriptural repository with striking has relief.
Wat Suan Dok
Suthep Road
This temple was built in a 14th century Lanna Thai monarch's pleasure gardens and is a
favourite spot for photographers, particularly for striking sunsets. Several of the white
chedis contain ashes of Chiang Mai's former royal family. The 500-year-old bronze Buddha
image in a secondary chapel is one of Thailand's largest metal images.
Wat Chiang Man
Ratchaphakkinai
Road This is Chiang Mai's oldest temple and probably dates from 1296. The temple was the
residence of King Mengrai, who founded Chiang Mai, and is noteworthy for a chedi supported
by rows of elephantine buttresses, and a small ancient Buddha image, Phra Kaeow Khaow.
Wat Chedi Luang
This
temple is the site of an enormous pagoda, originally 280 feet high, and which was
partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1545. At one time, Wat Chedi Luang housed the
revered Emerald Buddha image now enshrined in Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaeo. A magnificent Naga
staircase adorns the chapel's front porch.
Wat Chet Yot
SuperHighway, north of the Huai Kaew-Nimmanhemin Roads intersection This temple dates from
1458. The seven-spired square chedi was inspired by designs at Bodhagaya, the site of the
Buddha's Enlightenment in north India over 2,500 years ago, and was built by Lanna Thai
architects after visiting the holy site.
Wat U-Mong Suthep
Road
This
delightful meditation temple is completely different from Chiang Mai's other major temples
and enjoys a bu-colic forest setting. The ancient chedi is of particular interest.
Wat Ku Tao near
Chiang
Mai
Stadium This temple is noteworthy for an unusual bulbous pagoda. The structure is
decorated with colourful porcelain chips and is believed to represent five Buddhist monks'
alms bowls which symbolise five Lord Buddhas.
Chiang Mai
National
Museum
Beside Wat Chet Yot The museum houses a collection of Lanna Thai works of art, ancient
Buddha images, and war weapons. The museum opens daily, except Mondays, Tuesdays and
official olidays, rom 9.00 AM until noon, and 1.00 until 4.00 PM. The people of Chiang Mai
enjoy one of the most distinctive cultural identities in the whole of Thailand. Largely
farmers and artisans, they have their own lilting dia-lect, their own customs, their own
festivals, their own architectural traditions, theire own indigenous handicrafts, their
own dances and their own distinctive cuisine. Hilltribes also lend a great deal of
character and colour to the crisply beautiful mountainous landscape. Lakhon and Likay are
popular derivations of khon,but without the masks. Lakhon can be seen regularly at popular
shrines, such as the Erawan shrine in Bangkok, where performers are commissioned to dance
by worshippers. Thai Etiquette What is considered polite in your country is probably
considered polite in Thailand, too. However, there are a few cultural pitfalls, mainly
social and religious taboos, the breaking of which can cause offense. For example, Thais
revere their royal family .Even social malcontents, who ignore legal and community
standards, refuse to tolerate a faintly impliedslur on the monarchy. Outward expressions
of anger are regarded as crude and boorish. Visitors who remain calm and smile will find
all sorts of doors opened to them. Visitors should dress neatly in all religious shrines.
They should never go shirtless, or in shorts, hot pants or other unsuitable attire. Shoes
should be removed when entering a private Thai home, a Buddhist temple chapel, any of the
Islamic community's mosques. Each Buddha image, large or all, ruined or not, is regarded
as a sacred object. Never climb onto one to take a photograph or do anything which might
indicate a lack of respect. Public displays of affection between men and women are frowned
upon. Westernized Thai couples may hold hands, but that's as far as it goes in public. It
is considered rude to point your foot at a person or object. Thais regard the headas the
highest part of the body, literally and figuratively. Therefore, they do not appreciate
anyone patting them there, even as a friendly gesture. Thai customarily ask questions
which are regarded elsewhere as being personal. If the visitor is asked, 'Where are you
going?' or 'How much do you earn?' such questions are asked in a friendly manner and
signify genuine interest. Joking answers such as, 'I'm not sure' or "Never enough!'
are perfectly acceptable. |
