Kao Tom Moo

Kao Tom Moo

(Boiled Rice with Pork Spare Ribs)

For 4-5 person

INGREDIENTS:

           3        cups          Milled Rice

         500     grams       Pork Spare Ribs

           3        tbsp          Dried Shrimp

           2        pcs.           Knor Soup

          10       pcs.           Shallot

           2        tsp            Pepper Powder

           1        tsp            Salt

           2        tbsp          Thin Soy Sauce

           5        tbsp          Celery & Spring Onion

           5        tbsp          Garlic

         3/4      pot           Water

PREPARATION:

           Wash the milled rice and Pork spare ribs.

 

               -     Small cut of celery and spring onion.

               -     Chop the pork spare ribs into small pieces.

               -     Soaked dried shrimps.

               -     Half cut of shallots.

               -     Pound the garlic and stir fries into a pan with oil until golden.

Pour water into a small pot (about 3/4 of a pot), bring to boiled on the stove with high heat.

            -   Put the pork spare ribs into boiled water with Knor soup, salt, dried shrimps with low heat and boiled about 15 minutes.

            -   Put washed of milled rice and boiled to 10 minutes, then put shallots and seasoning with thin soy sauce until the rice is cooked and soft.

            -   Add the pepper powder, celery and spring onion mix together into the pot to taste.

            -   Turned off the heat.

Sprinkle celery, spring onion, pepper powder and the fried garlic on top before serving.

Chu Chi Pla Thod

        

Chu Chi Pla Thod

(Fried Fish in Curry Sauce)

INGREDIENTS:

1                Ruby Fish or any kind of river fish

2 cups       Oil (for deep-frying)

2 tbsp       Oil (for curry sauce)

4 tbsp       Red curry paste

2 cups       Coconut milk

3 tbsp        Sugar

1/2 cup     Drinking water
1 tbsp        Kaffir lime leaves (thinly sliced if possible)
2 tbsp        Red spur chili (cut into fine strips)
                    Fish sauce

PREPARATION:

Clean the fish, cut across into 4 pieces and drain well. Retain the head and tail.

Fry in hot oil over medium heat until cooked same as golden and done.

Remove from the hot oil and drain on the plate.

Prepare the red curry paste, coconut milk, sliced of kaffir lime leaves and red spur chilli.

Saute' the red curry paste with some oil and coconut milk in low heat until fragrant (just 1-2 minutes) season with sugar and drinking water or a little of fish sauce.

Stir-fries for 3-5 minutes with low heat.

Pour in the curry sauce on top with fried fish and sprinkle of faffir lime leave and red spur chili before serving with steam rice.

Doi Suthep Temple

          The " Must Place" is very important for the tourist need to visit here is " Wat Phardhatu Doi Suthep" or " Doi Suthep Temple" is one of the most sacred places in Northern Thailand since it is the place where a relic of the Buddha, the sacred object of worship for Buddhist people everywhere, has been enshrined.  The people of Chiang Mai, in particular, have regarded the temple as the tutelary shrine of Chiang Mai since ancient times.  Perched on an imposing hilltop and surrounded by picturesque scenery, it's stands 1,053 meters above sea level and it is a symbol of Chiang Mai for more 600 years.

             The "wat" or temple has become a must for the vistors from other provinces ans well as from abroad.  There is a popular saying that those who go to Chiang Mai without visiting Doi Suthep are no better than those who have never been to Chiang Mai at all. (The word " Doi" is a Northen Thai word meaning mountain, the word " Phardhatu" is a Buddha relics and the word "Suthep" is a Thai word which was the name of a hermit who according to tradition, had lives there before the shrine came into being.)

             Today I and my mother depart home at  Mae Wang around  10:30 pm.  Destination is Doi Suthep Temple, we dropped at the mini bus station or " Red Car" at Chiang Mai Zoo.  We waited for minutes until the tourist fulfil the car, then the driver took us direct to Doi Suthep temple with one way price is 40 baht/person.  It took time in about 20 minutes for 11 km. of distance.

             

             The road to the summit of Suthep Mountain which is 11 km. long was completed in B. E. 2477 (1934 A. D.) by Kruba Srivichai, the most revered monk of Lanna Thai, initiated the road construction project with himself supervised.  After 5 months and 22 days of construction by volunteers from many other provinces, even hill trib men who revered and respected Kruba Srivichai.

 

              The Reverend Kruba Srivichai was the first person to ride in a car up the newly completed highway to the peak of Doi Suthep.  The Revernd Kruba Shrivichai had made great contributions to the country and to Buddhism.  Those who enjoy a comfortable journey when they travel along the highway to Doi Suthep should, as they the pass the stutue of Kruba Srivichai, pay respect ( wai) or at least remember him with deep gratitude.

 

The opening ceremony of the road took place an April 30 B. E. 2478(1935 A. D.)

After reach to the peak of Suthep Mountain we have two choices to revere Doi Suthep Temple.

First choice is by the 300 steps of Naga ladder

Second choice is by the automatic cable 20 baht/person.

But we choose to go there by 300 steps of Naga ladder.

Along the 300 steps of Naga ladder we will see the name of people who donated to build the Naga ladder in previous time.

            For the Naga was decorated belong the way to the temple or image hall they say that if we will do the merit at the temple by walk pass the Naga gate it seem that we walking to the heavens.

            For the end by 300 steps of Naga ladder, we will see the Giants (formidable guardians) hold on the stick at 2 sides of the temple gate.  They are guardians all people who make merit inside the temple from other spirit.

            On the left hand we can see the White Elephant statue that King Kuena put the relic on the back of an anointed white elephant and set the elephant free.  The elephant gave three trumpets, went out of the city and headed west towards the mountain.

            The King, Phramahaswami, and a convoy of people were following the elephant at a distance.  When the white elephant finally arrived at Suthep Mountain with the Buddha's relic on its back, it gave three trumpets and made three counter-cokwise circles and knelt down at one spot.  The King were contain that the spot was the appropriate site for the home of the relic.

             Before we go to inside the sermon hall (Viharn) or revere a Buddha relic, we need to take off the shoes and put inside the locker or rack, dress politely to show that we respect for the places, no bare shoulders, no short or miniskirts.  If you wear impolite dress they have "Sarongs" for you.  But better to dress politely before you go to visit all temples.

Most of Thai people and some foreigner who want to revere a Buddha relic, they need to buy a set of flower, incense and candle only 10 baht per set.

Under Restoration Phradhatu( a Buddha relic) or Pagoda.

           On many-tiered state of umbrella contain the gold 3,224 gram with the crystal ball on top. (Before that it was be the beautiful cut of glass ball, but it's broken from the lightning discharge on B. E. 2522 ( 1979 A. D. ) and earth quaked on B. E. 2532 ( 1989 A. D. ) included the state of umbrella broken too.)

Most people will made three counter-clockwise circles "Phradhatu" with a set of flower, incense and candle in hand to respect and revere.

After that to respect, cleansing of the soul and ask for a blessing.

The Buddhist monk will give the moral precepts, to sprinkle holy water and to tie of sacred cord on wrist to protect for the devil and spirit.

The mural painting of Lord Buddha story since is born until Nirvana show up on the cloister that connecting around 4 sermon halls.

I have opportunity to shake the fortune sticks here too.  I am very happy that I got the lucky one that you can see on my fortune-telling paper.

          After that we went out from Phradhatu and walked around the temple, we can see many big bells hang around the temple.  They belived after made merit or donated we should to ring the bell to inform the heaven.

Most of a tour guide liked to take tourist sight-seeing for Chiang Mai view on the East of monastic compound.

The Sri Maha Bodi Tree(from BUDDHA GAYA India)

After finished our visiting we went down back again to 300 steps of Naga ladder.  They have many restaurant and souvenir shops over there.

             The red car still waiting us at the station in front of the temple, it's the same place that we get off when we arrived here.  We need to waited  for a while until the passenger fulfil the car the price in one way trip still 40 baht/person to station at Chiang Mai Zoo, if we want to go to somewhere else in Chiang Mai city just asked the driver to take you to and pay him more 20 baht.

             We spened our time here for the temple about 2 hours, then arrived back to home in Mae Wang around 5 pm with good deeds and happiness.

Mae Win

         Last Saturday I went to Mae Win sub-district with my relative.  Mae Win is about 15 km from my house and driving there, we can see Mae Wang River on our left with many activities such as Elephant Riding, Bamboo Rafting, White Water Rafting and many restaurants in traditional bamboo huts beside the river.

          Our destination was the " Wat Tham Doi Ton" or Doi Ton Cave Temple which is famous as the place for Buddhist Vipassana Meditaion. It was very calmly inside the cave.  My grandmother loves this place so much that she told me she will definitely back here again for the Vipassana Meditation.

          Near to the temple, there are many waterfalls and the most famous among both locals and foreign tourists is the "Mae Sa Pok" Waterfall.  Apart from relaxing and playing in the water, they can also enjoy elephant rides at the elephant camp situated here.  It will only cost 300 baht per person for a ride into the jungle and crossing the river for an hour. 

          On our journey home, we dropped at another tourist spot by the Mae Wang River for a bamboo raft ride.  It was a fun-filled and exciting ride costing only 300 baht per raft for 4 persons without a paddler for an hour.  The price including a paddler who will assist and guide the vistiors is 400 baht per raft for an hour.

          For those who enjoy more extreme activites, White Water Rafting is available here.  Or visitors can just relax and enjoy traditional Chiang Mai food at low prices in a traditional bamboo hut restaurant here.

          In the "OTOP" ( One Tambon One Product) souvenir shop here in the village, it was really unbelievable that the Wood Toys and Model Ships on sale here are actually made in the villages of this sub-district.  Many types of model ships such as " Scorpion Thai" , " Chinese Junk", " Thai Junk", "Dhow", "Sailing Warship", "Fisher Boat" etc. are available in this shop.

          It is said that the "Chinese Junk" or "Thai Junk" is the symbol for wealth and travel.  And if we put or decorated on of those model ships in our house, it is believed that we will be blessed with opportunities  to travel oversea and with a lot of money and profit from our businesses.

          I should say that there are many interesting activities here in Mae Win sub-district of Mae Wang.  Most of locals there are Thai and Hill tribe people who live together happily and harmoniously.  Here, and in the whole of Thailand, we never segregate ourselves based on race or different origin.  We can live, study and work together happily and harmoniously as one Thai people and subjects under the same King who is the Father of the Kingdom whom we all love and respect.

My lasting visit with friends at Mae Wang Elephant camp.

Old Man Day in Mae Wang

               Welcome everybody, My first trip is "Old man day". Let's start at Mae Wang Municipality on Nov 20, 2009.  First of all, before talking about my trip, I would like to introduce Mae Wang district  ( Amphur Mae Wang) where is the place I stay here most of my life in the north of Chiang Mai about 35 Km or just 30 minutes driving.  The district is subdivided into 5 subdistricts (tambon) with population of 31,120 people and in the area of 601.68  km².

                I got the tour guide license for more than 4 years but I never used it. Luckily, I was joined the government training course again last month and it makes me more exciting and alert to be a tour guide again.

            

             Therefore, I think about how to work it, Um..., start from my place  (Mae Wang) first,  and if it got a good feed back  I will continue in other place of Chiang Mai and nearly province.

            I hope my blog can enjoy all of you who want to travel in Chiang Mai.  If you have any comments please do not hesitate to let me know. Thank you in advance and hope to see you in Chiang Mai.

             By car, from Central Chiang Mai you go south using Highway No.08 (Chiang Mai - Hod). After going about 21 km. you turn left towards Mae Wang District and after about another 8 km. you will see the Mae Wang Municipal Tourist Information Center on your right. In the center, we have a libraly & internet center, a fitness center and an "OTOP" souvenir shop.

             You can use many kinds of fitness equipment in the fitness center by just paying only 10 baht per day or become a member for 4 months by paying a membership fee of just 100 baht. You can also enjoy free aerobic dance class every evening at around 6 - 7 pm.

           Most of the products in the " OTOP" souvenir shop are made by villagers living within Mae Wang District.  We named these products "OTOP" which means One Tumbon ( or sub-district) One Product.  I am personally amazed and surprised that I have never seen some of these products before.

          The" Old Man Day" will begin with competitions among the villages to make products such as coconut brooms, coconut shell dippers and bamboo baskets. Then there will be a competition to see who can play the Singing Bamboo Top (an amazing and funny handmade toy that makes loud noise!) in the longest time.

          In the event they have many activities such as traditional Northern Thai dancing & Singing show, the old man health check up and demonstration how to make umbrella, molding, dessert, herbal juice and traditional toy etc.

           The highlight of the event is the free distribution of towels to all old people. Uhm! unfortunately I still young and pretty ... :P

                The event finishes at around 3 pm.  Most of the old people seems happy. Judging from their smiles and laughters, I think this is one of the best event for these old people because it is not often that you can find them participating in events like this.  We have to thanks the Mae Wang Municipal for arranging this wonderful event.