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The Tham Lot Forest Park is situated in a forest in Pang Mapha district some 77 kilometres from town. Here nature has created an exotic subterranean wonder of darkness and mystery. A brook runs from the cave mouth through to the other side of the mountain. It is a route where visitors may travel by raft or by foot to explore the 1 kilometre-long cave along which can be found beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Also discovered are 2,000 year old remains of utensils and coffins. There are services provided by villagers to guide visitors in their exploration. Another site where stalactite and stalagmites can be found is the Mae Lana Cave. The stream inside the cave is habitat to eyeless and colourless fish that live in a dark environment. Rafting along the Mae Pai is an exciting and delightful recreation. Mae Pai itself is the longest river of Mae Hong Son originating from mountain ranges in Laos which flows through Pai district of the province and eventually joins the Salawin river in Myanmar, a total distance of 180 kilometres. With an average depth of some 7 metres, the river bed is mainly pebbled. There are several sectors eminently suitable for rafting past rapids and natural scenery including beautiful waterfalls. Tour operators in Mae Hong Son town or in Pai district can provide the necessary service, some are also able to provide elephant rides. The best time for rafting is from October to March. Mae Ngao River is a good water route for shooting the rapids. Adventure travel tourists can enjoy the unspoiled scenery along the river banks. Services available from tour operators in Mae Hong Son. At Km. 65 on the Pai-Mae Malai route (No. 1095), there is a turning leading to the headquarters of the Huai Nam Dang National Park. Visitors can spend the night in tents to wait for the spectacular views of sunrise and mist-shrouded mountain views in the morning. Cherry blossom during January adds charms to the attraction. The Tha Pai Hot Spring two kilometres off Route 1095 at KM. Marker 87, has an average temperature of Celsius. Steam from the spring permeates the site in the morning creating fascinating sights. The area is also rich in teak woods and suitable for overnight camping. The Khun Yuam lndigenous Cultural Centre located at Km. 200 on Highway No 108 has a considerable collection of Thai Yai and other hilltribes handcrafted products. lt also displays military accessories and equipment of the Japanese army which entered Khun Yuam district during World War ll. Wat To Phae is located 7 kilometres from Khun Yuam having a large beautiful Burmese-style Wihan. According to the legend it is said that raft assembling people used to gather up in this area prior to making a teak trees raft trip to the marketing places. The Dok Bua Tong on Doi Mae U-kho blooms during November painting the entire Khum Yuam district in brilliant yellow drawing flocks of visitors to the area. A camping site is located about 26 kilometres from the district town on Highway No 1263. A little further on is a huge waterfall, the Mae Surin cascading one hundred metres down below. Here camping can also be set up. Covering an area of 721 square Kilometres the Salawin National Park is on the bank of the Salawin river on the Thai-Burmese border about 164 kilometres south of Mae Hong Son. Transport can be hired to travel to Mae Sam Laep village and proceed on hired boat to reach the park headquarters. Scenery along the Salawin banks is captivating with forest and mountains and dotted with small hamlets. On the sandy beach in front of the headquarters camping is permitted. |
Poi Sang Long Procession 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 games, and ride a horse or be carried over the shoulders of a man to the city shrine. Then he will visit abbots of various monasteries to beg for forgiveness. On the ordination eve, a procession of offerings 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 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 gesture to welcome the Lord Buddha on his return from giving sermons to his mother in heaven, according to traditional belief. The rite is held during the post rain retreat season from the full-moon day of the 11 the Lunar month (around October) to the waxing moon night of the same month.
Other activities to celebrate the occasion include dances where performers are dressed in animal costumes. This is based on the belief that during those long-gone days, both humans and the animal kingdom were equally joyful of the return of the Lord Buddha and therefore joined in a jubilant performance as tribute of the Enlightened One.
Bua Tong Blossom Festival Each year in November, the hillsides of Khun Yuam and Mae Sariang districts are filled with a host of golden Bua Tong Blossoms. 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 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")
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