Phutok is the single mountain in the northeast of Thailand

Phutok is the local name that means the single mountain. It is the location of Chetakiriwihar temple, in Sriwilai District, Beung Kaan Province. It consists of Phutok Yai and Noi. Tourist can visit just only Phutok Noi, meanwhile Phutok Yai  is not allowed. In the past, this area was the massy forest and many wildlife crowed. A monk started to found meditation place for people who need the peace. Before the dead of founder monk, he constructed the wooden bridge around this mountain to promote as religious tourism place and make income to local people.

Way to up to Phutok is the linked seven stair, it was constructed for 5 years since 1969. Each floor of Phutok can be described as follows, The tourist will reach the first stair by entering to the zone of various vegetations. The second is the further long wooden stair from the first (see the picture). At this point, you can see the temple radio station is on the right hand. The third stair is the zone of evergreen forest, you can see the stone patio and the short cut way to the 4 and 5^th stair. The 4^th stair is the floating around the Phutok. At the bottom view, you can see the hill and forest of DonCompoo.  Although, the 5^th is not most beautiful but it is important stair. Here there are the monk house, meditation pavilion and the tomb of the founder monk.  Furthermore, many caves and cliffs are on this stair. 

The last stair constructed by wooden bridge is on the sixth stair, it has the length about 400 meters. This place is the most beautiful, and visitor can see panorama with the best view. After this point, visitor can up the seventh stair by indirect walking or climbing up the tree. This zone cover nearly one ha area that there is very massy. 

Due to this place is a zone of temple hence some activities of habits are prohibited. For example, Food and drink are not allowed to take to this place. Making a noise to disturb the monk is the strict rule. In addition, lady who wear unsuitable dress is very strictly prohibited to up to Phutok.  

The Thai highest mountain, Doi Inthanon

Doi Inthanon national park area covers Mae Wang, Doi Loh, Jomtong and Mae Jam districts of Chiang Mai. It is recorded as the highest point of Thailand by 2,565 meters in height. This mountain is the water shade of several rivers and streams, including Mae Ping River. Geographically, Inthanon is located on the Tanon Tongchai mountains where are a part of Himalaya mountain. They pass Nepal, Bhutan, and Burma, hence some wildlife are similar. Unfortunately, they are heavily being threatened by the hunting of the hill tribes. Doi Inthanon has the former name as Doi Luang meaning the big mountain. This name was established to celebrate the former King of Chiang Mai, Chao Intharavichanon who was conservative naturalist. Since he died, some his remaining bone part was buried on this place and this name is used up to now. Doi Inthanon was elevated to be the national park in 1972 and is the sixth national park of Thailand. 

The highlight of Inthanon is the highest point and similar weather to the Western countries. It also is the source of several waterfalls such as Mae Klang where has the ancient painting. Furthermore, during travel to Doi Inthanon, you can visit the two big pagodas of Mahatatnapamethaneedol and Mahatatnapabhumisiri. These places were constructed by royal Thai air force to celebrate His Majesty the King Bhumibol and His Majesty the Queen Sirikit. As well as you can use the home stay to learn and touch the life styles of some hill tribes who live on the mountain i.e. Mung and Karen . A place where you can not miss to visit that is royal project station. Here, temperate plants are grown also fresh water fish such as rainbow trout are cultured. They are operated and promoted to be illustration for elevating the life quality of the hill tribes. These projects were initiated by the King Bhumibol to introduce the hill tribe to cancel planting the opium.

If you travel using the car, you can run on the highway no.108 from Chiang Mai to Jomtong district and change to road no.1009 that takes you to Inthanon. The park office is located on the 31^st Km, where you also can set the camp on the allowed area. The camp tent price is approximately 280 – 800 Baht/night. If you take the tent yourself, the fee about 30 Baht/night is charged. Furthermore, if you want the bedding sets, their fees are approximately 150 -200 Baht/night.       

The Pa hin ngam national park

The Pa hin ngam national park is located in Chaiyaphum province, approximately 6-7 hours from Bangkok. This place has important attractions for anyone who that loves in nature and peace; you will touch it closely. May be it is new your experience in Thailand.  There are attractions in Pa hin ngam national park.

Firstly, the Pa hin ngam is located on west of the park, it consists of large and many bizarre rocks.  There are 1.6 ha, rock patio originated from soil erosion millions years. it has the shape like Trophy and frog, imagination is other people.

Second, the tuk dok krajeaw is around in the Park, it has various species. Its flower is pink and greem trunk.  Krajeaw flower produce in during the rainy season and you will see it throughout.  It’s highlight of the park.

Last, the viewpoint is located on north of the park, It is the cliff and craggy rock and High end , the viewpoint originated from lifting of earth.

The Pa hin ngam national park is open during June to September. Other information, please contact at Pa hin ngam national park, District Thepsathit , Province Chaiyaphum, postal code 36320 and Tel. +66-4481-0222. 

Walking street: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand

Chiang Mai is a first choice of both Thai and foreiner tourists who favour in good weather and culture. It only has not as an inetresting tourism attraction source, various sold goods is a dominance. Since every tourist arrive Chiang Mai, most ot them can not neglect to visit walking street (Tanon Kondeun). On the weekend, municipality closes a part of city street to serve selling the handicraft by the local people. This activity is being popular in particular winter season. Every years, four popular walking streets have welcome several domestic  and foreiner tourists from other parts of the world.

The fist and most popular place is located on Tha Pae city gate, also called "Thanon Kondeun Tha Pae. It is the night meeting market where open only on Sunday during 5.00 – 10 PM. Several goods and souvenir have direcly been sold and closely negotiated between seller and customer. Handicraft goods is mostly sold such as cloths, decorates, furniture, scalf, including fashionable goods. Both local and normal foods are served to tourist with various menus, Sai ua a kind of sausace.

Wua Lai is the second walking street in Chiang Mai where is located on Wua Lai street (Thanon Wua Lai), it means stripped cow in English. Contrary to Tha Pae, it is open only on Saturday with the same time. Here, most sellers are people who dwell on this street and may include some of customers. This street has been popularized about producing and distribution of hand silverware.

The third place is walking street at Gaad Kantong where open only on Saturday morning. Gaad is local northern language which mean market and Kantong refer to a branch of a banna plant. Since you visit here, several menus of local foods and handicraft are shown  for shopping. Selling organic vegetables, artificial and also local culture show and demonstartion of rearing quail are also highlight for visit. Another activity which can be attractive is boat crusing in Ping river and visiting cooperative group of producing handicraft and ancient drum. 

The last place is handicraft street in San Kampaeng, a district of Chiang Mai. It is far around fifteen to twenty minutes from Chiang Mai city. This walking street is open on Saturday during 3.00 – 10.00 PM. You can buy souvenir both food and handicraft and attend in local show performance. You can visit Chiang Mai with three ways, two are a self drive and routine passenger bus taking 8 – 10 hours from Bangkok. Catching airplane to Chiang Mai international airport takes time around an hour and half from Bangkok. 

Chao Sampraya national historical museum

Chao Sampraya is a national historical museum in Ayudhya province, approximately an hour and half from Bangkok. You can easily visit here due to it located in downtown, opposite Rajabhat Ayudhya University. This place was constructed to respond to royal initiative of His Majesty the King Bhumibol that gave the idea about ancient treasure conservation. This construction was in responsibility of Department of Fine Art and collected the ancient treasures from Rajaboorana temple and other places in Ayudhya to show at this place. His Majesty the king also allowed use the name of the former king in Ayudhya era "Pra Choa Sampraya" who was founder of Rajaboorana temple to be the name of this museum. 

The significant treasures of Chao Sampraya museum were collected from Rajaboorana temple. For example, the golden sword has 115 cm in length and 5.5 cm in width. And golden elephant has 15.5 cm in length and 12 cm in height. In addition, this place also shows the other ancient things found in Ayudhya and other ancient kingdoms in Suvarnabhmi (Golden) peninsula such as Dvaravati, Srivijaya, Lopburi, Chiang Saen, Aoo Thong, Ayudhya and Ratanakosin. They are shown in the three buildings of ancient earthenware, monetary representatives and dish sets.  This museum is also aimed to as a source of comparative historical study.

This museum is open only on Wednesday to Sunday during 09.00 AM – 04.00 PM. Attention fee are 10 and 30 Baht for Thai and foreigner, respectively. Other information, please contact at Chao Sampraya national historical museum, postal code 13000, and Tel/Fax +66-3524-1587. 

The Emerald cave, Trang southern Thailand

If you live in the land-locked country, the beautiful sea will make you wonder. At here Thailand, except Sa Mui and Pattaya where well known. We introduce the East coast of Andaman Sea covering six provinces in Thailand. Trang is a peaceful province, here you have many menus for journey, waterfall, beach, island and cave as examples. If you visit the Emerald cave, you can enjoy both cave and island. This cave located on the west of Mook island, around 30 minutes from the shore. At here you have to wait until the sea water level decrease to safety level for through from outside to inside. If you cannot understand, please imagine to the volcano with is dug from beside. When you travelled to inside, small beach will show to you, including the sunshine from the upper hole.

The Emerald cave is an area of Chao Mai national sea park, in Kantang district. The adventure through the cave takes time around 15 minutes for 80 meters of distance from outside. One by one tourist is required to swim to the cave due to the passing way is narrow. Historically, here is talked for a long time that is the place for the hijack. The local people said it was used to keep the stolen value things. Now it is just only the tourist attraction place. 

The suitable time for visiting here, should be on December because you can see the emerald sea water and the sun shine through the cave during 10 AM – 2.00 PM. Your journey should start from the rental boat from the pier at Pak Meng beach and trip on boat to here within 30 minutes. Since you have arrived Thailand at Suvarnabhumi international airport. You can continue to catch the domestic flight to Trang by Nok Air that serve only one flight per day and takes time around two hours on the plane. It can help you to save time compared with catching the train or passenger bus. Since you have ever heard about nice Thai habit, at here you can feel as well as other provinces.    

Thai culture

When the word of culture is discussed, many people may immediately understand. However, its meaning may be so different for Thai people. It not only any habit can be culture. Before you will learn more about Thai culture, you should understand well about its definition, particularly in Thai meaning. There are several words which refer to human habit and each of them obviously shows a unique. We start from the word of tradition that refer to social habit, mostly in Thailand involves religion. For example, Songkran is a popular festival holding on the middle of annual April. 

You can see the throwing water in everywhere, but the actually abstract meaning refer to during summer season; we should do anything without furious feeling like the cool of water. Another implication is we should respect and return the good thing back to the elder, particularly parents. The second word is custom, it is like a rule, you may be socially punished when you against it. Now there are few customs exist in Thailand, except some groups of ethnic in Northern parts of Thailand still hold them. Nevertheless, the simple custom we can learn that is harassment to parents or monk. Thai people can not accept to the bad people and they may be heavily against or expelled from the community.

There are three words in set of belief, that they are quite similar meanings. But some of you may not exactly be clear. Firstly, you should know about the meaning of belief. Generally, it refers to long term of attitude that automatically by you or is transferred from the elder. It may be still is the belief or develop to other two words as following.   If you are Christian, Muslim or Buddhist, you suddenly know the meaning of faith. It refers totally belief in the good thing or the holy thing, like doctrines of Jesus or Buddha. Contrary, delusion is strong belief in the bad or false thing. A faith that you can learn from Thai people is faith in the virtue of our king. His several activities make also us to intensively respect him. 

Now you are understood that most Thai culture that refer to transmission of the good thing through generation. Also the root of this word means growth of the plant or animal. Hence, this word should be meant only in the good thing. And now most of you may be ready to learn Thai culture and some may be similar your culture. In this blog only show some culture of people habits because they may be useful for foreign tourist. The first thing you can touch that is smiling, it is a symbol of nice and welcome habit. You may be familiar with checking the hand for greeting, for Thai, "Wai" or closing the two hands under the neck also refer to warm greeting.

Please don not touch any Thai without permission, particularly lady. Respect to the elder is an example of Thai culture; sometime you can not do freely anything. You may against this that is a bad in democratic society. But for us, we know that the elder have more experience and can teach us to go to the right way of life.

Continuous care the elder is a dominant culture of Thai, they are taught that respect to the valuable person, particularly, parents is very critical. Nowadays, many Thai destroy some cultures and they may make you incorrectly understand in Thai culture. It is the best that you should ask before practice.