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.