A border town largely isolated from city light and a modern convenience, Mae Hong Son offers a rich cultural feast and great natural beauty.
Hidden deep in a valley ringed by misty mountain ranges, Mae Hong Son is rich in texture of green; rolling mountains , dense forests and lush foliage.
Mixed into this setting is a permanent blanket of soft fog, owing to heavy mountain mists, red dints or smoke from highlanders burning their plots.
Locates 1,100 km from Bangkok, Mae Hong Son’s remoteness presents a rich tapestry of ethnic minorities. The Burmese influence is seen in architecture, clothes and customs , and in the writing of the Shan or Thai Yai people, The largest single group in the province.
A majority of the population (almost 60 percent) is a member of one of the hilltribe. Of the tribes, the Karen outnumbers the combined strenth of Meo, Lua , Lahu and Lisu by about five to one.
Recently, the Pradong , or long-necked people migrated from Burma.
For centuries.the densely forested peaks of Mae Hong Son were the domains of these hillfolk and wild animals. In the 19th century, the area was used to round up wild elephants---the province name is a dialectical distortion of “elephant training ground” in Thai.
Tourism is relatively new in Mae Hong Son. Although only 120 km from Chiangmai, the road is dusty , windy one , which takes up to five hours to traverse. Thai Airways now has flights to Mmae Hong Son daily and international hotels have opened up in and around the city. Most of the five-star resorts are situated just outside of town , in secluded places amidst the mountains and mist.
Nowadays , many tourists go to Mae-Hong Son to see the Pradongs. The women of this special tribe stretch their necks with brass coils. Originally, it was meant to frighten away the togas, but in modern times, they are seen as a status symbol; the more rings , the wealthier you are.
Of course, there are othe interesting sights, even spectacular. In the city proper , the temples are sights to go for history, culture and architecture. In the country-side, the views are varied from caves where stalactites and stalagmites are presented in their glittering beauty to blooming sunflowers to the tranquility of the untarnished sky to the Mae Surin waterfall , believed to be one of the highest waterfalls in Thailand.
Chiangmai can be reached by the local bus or air-conditioned coach from Arcade Terminal, Chiangmai, It takes roughly 10 hours over mountain slopes and winding roads to get there. For those in a hurry the plane service takes just 105 minutes, including a stopover in Chiangmai.
