ปาย...เมืองในฝัน สวรรค์บนดอย

ปาย...เมืองในฝัน สวรรค์บนดอย

"ปาย" เปลี่ยนแปลงไปทุกวัน เพื่อนบอกผมอย่างนั้น!!!

ผมเคยได้ยินคนๆหนึ่งเขาเปรียบ "ปาย" ว่าเป็นสาวน้อยไร้เดียงสา สดใส และบริสุทธิ์ ...ผมคิดตาม ว่า เธอเป็นเช่นนั้นจริงๆ

วันนี้ที่ปายเปลี่ยนไปมาก หากมองโดยรวม ความเจริญที่ทะลักเข้ามา พร้อมกับนักท่องเที่ยว ผู้แสวงหาจุดสมดุลในชีวิต ชาวตะวันตกที่เดินสวนทางกับคนท้องถิ่น อย่างเจนตา วิถีคนที่นี่ก็เปลี่ยนไปบ้าง....
ผมเดินเท้าจากหน้า Bank เดินตามถนนคนเดิน เห็นร้านเล็กๆ เรียงราย ร้านเหล่านี้ ตกแต่งร้านแบบศิลปะ สวยไม่ซ้ำกัน

วันนั้น ผมได้ยินนายอำเภอเรียก ถนนสายนี้ว่า "ถนนข้าวคั่ว" บอกเป็นนัยๆว่า คู่แข่งถนน "ข้าวสาร" ที่กรุงเทพนะนี่
ทำไมถึงเป็นถนนข้าวคั่ว ละ??
ท่านนายอำเภอบอกว่า ถนนสายนี้มีผู้คนหลากเผ่า มีทั้งคนตะวันตก คนตะวันออก(ญี่ปุ่น เกาหลี) ตลอดจนคนพื้นเมืองของปาย(ไทใหญ่,ลีซู,กระเหรี่ยง,ม้ง,คนเมืองลานนา)อยู่รวมกันอย่างสงบ
ด้วยเสน่ห์ ความสงบ หลากหลายของเมืองปายนี่เอง...ทำให้ หลายคน ให้ "ปาย" เป็นเมืองในฝันสวรรค์บนดอย
หลังเลิกงานผมมาเดินซื้อโปสการ์ดบ้าง ซื้อขนมพื้นเมืองที่มีขายตลอดเวลาที่นี่ ...

พอเหนื่อย แวะร้านกาแฟ all about Coffee พร้อม บราวว์นี่ ที่ผมโปรดปรานเป็นที่สุด ...หยุดดูวนิพก ติสๆ เล่นกีตาร์เปิดหมวก เสนาะความบันเทิงให้คนสัญจร ตัวตลกจมูกแดงล้อเล่นกับเด็กๆตรงฟุตบาธ
พี่น้องชนเผ่า ขายเครื่องเงินและผ้าปักที่ริมถนน ภายใต้แสงไฟของค่ำคืน
ชีวิตติดเทรนท์ที่นี่ราคาไม่แพง ไม่เร่งร้อน ค่าครองชีพที่ถูกสวนกับการเป็นเมืองท่องเที่ยว...อัธยาศัยดีๆที่คนที่นี่มีให้กัน
ถึึงแม้ว่า คนเหล่านั้นต่างเชื้อชาติศาสนากันก็ตาม หลายคนๆเลือกที่จะเข้ามาอ่านหนังสือเงียบๆ ที่ร้านหนังสือสวยๆที่นี่ หนุ่มสาวนั่งคุยกันในบรรยากาศโรแมนติค ในร้านกาแฟยามเช้า...เคล้าสายหมอก

ภาพพระเดินบิณฑบาต เสียงละหมาดดังขึ้น ระหว่างวัน ระหว่างเวลา เป็นบรรยากาศที่พบเจอที่นี่อีกเช่นกัน

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สาวน้อยที่ไร้เดียงสา ...เธอจะเปลี่ยนไปหรือเปล่า...ไม่ผิดเลยที่เธอจะเปลี่ยนไป แต่ขอให้เธอเข้าใจโลกมากขึ้น ...คนรอบข้างพร้อมจะดูแลเธอ
......

ชมรมธุรกิจท่องเที่ยวอำเภอปาย คนเมืองปาย รักเมืองปายกันทุกคน..เพราะว่าแหล่งนี้คือ "บ้านของเรา" กิจกรรมที่เราจัดขึ้น เป็น Event ประจำถิ่น ที่นี่จึงเคล้าไปด้วยตะวันออกและตะวันตก อย่างผสาน
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หลายคนว่า กลัว "ปายเปลี่ยนไป" ผมมองว่า โชคดีนะที่ ปายเรียนรู้ตัวเองเรื่อยในการปรับตัว กับกระแสการท่องเที่ยว แบบค่อยๆเป็น ค่อยๆไป ...มองในแง่บวก..กระแสการท่องเที่ยวที่แรงแบบนี้ กระตุ้นให้คนท้องถิ่นที่นี่ี่รัก "เมืองปาย"มากขึ้น...
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ปายวันนี้ยังคงสงบ และสวยงามเหมือนปายคนเดิม อาจจะเติบใหญ่ขึ้น แต่ปายยังเหมือนเดิม...
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อุทกภัยเมื่อ สิงหาคม ปีที่แล้ว ผมยังจำภาพที่คนปายทั้งหมดช่วยเหลือซึ่งกันและกัน ภาพของนักท่องเที่ยวฝรั่งที่ช่วยกันคนละไม้คนละมือเก็บกวาดบ้านของเรา และร่วมพลิกฟื้นเมืองปาย...ให้สวยงามกว่าเดิม ในเวลาที่รวดเร็ว
เป็นภาพที่หาดูยาก...
....
เรื่องเล่าของบ้านเกิด...
"สิงหา"ปีนี้ครบรอบ โศกนาฎกรรม น้ำท่วม ที่ร้ายแรงที่สุดอีกหนึ่งปี
ติดตาม "ปาย" บ้านของผมอย่างใกล้ชิด ที่ www.paipost.com ครับ
และ www.paitown.com

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ในระหว่างเขียนบันทึก "เพลงสวัสดีเมืองปาย" ดังขึ้นอย่างไพเราะจากสถานีวิทยุชุมชนแห่งหนึ่ง
(เวลา ๐๘.๐๙ น.)

บันทึกสบายๆวันหยุดของผมและของคุณครับ....

Pai mAnia : UtOpAi

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ขอบคุณครับ.................. (ภาพจากเวปน่ารักๆเหล่านี้ไปเยี่ยมพวกเขาได้ตาม URL ที่บอกไว้ นะครับ)

ภาพเอื้อเฟื้อจากเวปนายไต๋ : www.painaima.com ภาพของTawann@hotmail.com
และภาพอักษรคำว่า "ปาย" ข้างล่างนี้ จาก www.paitown.com
ภาพรูปบ้านจาก www.trekkingthai.com
ขอบคุณมา ณ โอกาสนี้....ครับผม


รับรองเอกสาร กรมการกงสุล เชียงใหม่
นิราศ เมืองปาย...สายๆวันเสาร์

Trip to Mae Hong Son and Pai Thailand by vehicle or motorbike

MAE HONG SON is one of the most beautiful areas in Thailand. The province is still 85% forest with rugged mountains and beautiful vistas. The best way to enjoy the Mae Hong Son area is by motorbike or jeep. While most people think this is the area for trekking. Chiangmai and Chiangrai are still the best areas for trekking by far because of the wide variety of hilltribes not found in Mae Hong Son. Traveling around Mae Hong Son by motorbike or jeep is much more rewarding. The many splendid waterfalls, caves and tall trees adorned with colorful orchids are easy to get to.

Traveling to the area is best by air. There are several nonstop flights daily from Chiangmai to Mae Hong Son. The bird's eye view of Chiangmai and the rugged mountains to Mae Hong Son is worth the trip in itself. The good thing is you don't have to endure a hot 7 hour bus ride and the air fare is unbelievably low. For only 345 Baht you can be there in only 40 minutes or less.

The breathtaking beauty of Mae Hong Son inspired film director Roger Spottswoody to film the movie "Air America" in November of 1989 with Mel Gibson and Robert Downy Jr. One film sequence is where Downy is dangling by a rope from a helicopter and shows a beautiful view of this small town from the air. In the movie, the airport was buzzing with activity resembling an air base in Laos. As a matter of fact most of the scenes in the movie where filmed in the Mae Hong Son area. The airport and town are quiet now with only the daily Thai Airways flights from Bangkok and Chiangmai.

The most refreshing thing about Mae Hong Son is the lack of commercialism. Mae Hong Son is big enough to survive the Thai trade fluctuations and the high pressure tactics for the tourist Baht seem non existent. The locals even talk about how the tiny town of Pai receives many more foreign visitors than they do.

From November through March, make sure you book your flight to and from Mae Hong Son at least one day in advance. Getting a flight there is usually easy but a return flight can be difficult as tour groups arrive by tour bus or van from Chiangmai or direct flight from Bangkok. They tour the area for a few days and then fly on to Chiangmai.

Accommodations in Mae Hong Son vary widely from inexpensive guest houses located along the lake in the center of town to 4 star hotels and garden resorts located just out of town. Once you have checked in you can ask where to rent a motorbike or jeep. There are several places with good transportation and excellent maps of the area both north and south of town. Many interesting day trips are available from guest houses and hotels which include, elephant riding and rafting along the river.

You can head just a few Kilometers south of town to visit a Karen hilltribe village, ride an elephant and return in a few hours on your own if you wish. The place where you rented your vehicle will have the maps and answer your questions on how to get there. You should also go to the temple on top of the mountain overlooking Mae Hong Son around 5 pm and stay until sunset if you wish. Late afternoon is the best time for taking pictures of the valley below from this spectacular vista. Plan to leave early after breakfast and head north toward Pai. Spend one night in Pai then return to Mae Hong Son the next day. Before you leave the city go by the temple on the south side of the lake in the center of town to the old Burmese style temple behind the market. Picture taking here is best in early morning.

The road to Pai is paved all the way but very winding with steep climbs. The views are fantastic. Your first stop should be a waterfall, Namtok Phasua. There is a big sign stating where to turn left. Follow this concrete road to the end where the Namtok Phasua Forest Park is located.

This road is in a fertile valley surrounded by towering mountains with local people working in their fields. You will travel through small hamlets and villages with traditional wooden Thai homes decorated with flower gardens. Smiling faces and warm hellos greet you as you motor down this delightful road. The problem is you'll want to stay at the waterfall most of the day because of its impressive beauty and peacefulness. I have been there many times and have yet to see more than four other people there at the same time. There are no food or beverage stands here but toilets are available. From here head back down to the main road and turn left. Your next stop will be known as the "Fish Cave" located on your left. This is a good place to enjoy a chicken barbecue lunch with papaya salad and sticky rice. There are many vendors here when you make the left turn into the park. You will need to leave your vehicle near the vendors area. Take a leisurely walk along the beautiful gardens and path with meandering stream to the caves. The caves are really holes in the ground along the bottom of a high cliff. Vendors sell fish food for visitors to feed the fish. When you first look into one of these holes, the water is dark but after a few pellets of fish food are dropped in, the water churns with hundreds of huge blue carp. The fish cave is visited regularly by both Thais and western visitors. Although not as peaceful as the waterfall, the "Fish Cave" is a great experience to be had and a superb place to enjoy lunch. The next stop should be "Lod Cave". This by far is one of the best caves in Thailand. The turn off will be on your left just a few meters past the village of SaPong. Again, turn left here and follow the paved road to the cave. This cave is unique in that there is a river that runs through it. You need to stop at the office and hire a guide who has a lantern and will show you where to go. The guide is 100 Baht per group. Once inside the cave you will cross the river on a bamboo raft that holds up to four persons for 10 Baht. You will climb stairs winding through crevasses, stalagmites and stalactites and colorful rock formations. The path crosses the river three times then heads back again. Another tour take visitors all the way through the cave by bamboo raft accommodating up to three persons for 100 Baht accommodating up to three persons. The raft also come outs the other side of the mountain. There is a special treat near the far opening for those who venture this far. You can climb stairs again to see old wooden coffins which have been left in place for over two thousand years. Some coffins still contain petrified remains. When your raft trip finishes at the far opening of the cave, walk through a bird feeding station where hundreds of rare and colorful birds native to Thailand roost in the tall trees. Their beautiful songs echo around the canyon walls. The walk back to the cave office takes about 30 minutes from here. The tour of "Lod Cave" needs about two hours. It's well worth the time, effort and money. From here travel on to Pai and plan on arriving in the late afternoon. Pai has changed in the last few years catering mainly for foreign tourists rather than the Thais. High pressure sales by some guest houses for trekking is annoying and they can be rude if you refuse to join one of their treks. Those traveling by motorbike or jeep may not be welcome at one of these guest houses.

If you like resorts the Muang Pai is one of the best in north Thailand featuring real northern Thai style cabins each with attached toilet and shower. The food and hospitality are as friendly as you would anticipate. I recommend Shan Guest House for a nice clean bungalow. They do not do treks or tours They give great service and even provide towels and soap for 150 to 250 Baht.

The ride back to Mae Hong Son the next day is just as pleasant. You can stop to enjoy the many breath taking vistas that you didn't have time to appreciate. Take time to shop for Lisu handicrafts at the many road side parks on your way back to Mae Hong Son. This is a journey I enjoy doing every year and I know you'll enjoy it also. If you would like to enjoy this tour of Mae Hong Son and Pai contact All Thailand Experiences

The Lang River...straight ahead...through the gates...

The Lang River...straight ahead...through the gates...

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More ricefields in the vicinity of Soppong.

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Upstream view of the Lang River from The Deck.

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News:

The annual Pangmapha Hilltribe Festival will be held from 5 - 9 December 2007 at the county government fairgrounds. This is a local, non-tourist event and will include live music, a local food area, flea market, and the Miss Pangmapha 2007 beauty contest! Soppong River Inn is a sponsor if the event, and that gives us a table with seating for six right in front of the stage. If you are staying with us, you are invited to join us at the table on the 7th. Dinner will be served with food and drinks included. There are only four seats are available, and only available if you book from the internet...just mention that you saw it here and you're in.

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From the progress marches on department, we can report that we have at last been able to obtain a high speed ADSL internet connection. Even better, we have in in-room free WiFi access for all our resident guests.

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We were happy to see that Lonely Planet's new edition (August 2007) gave us their "Our Choice" designation in their review. That said, we should probably provide you with a few corrections if you have a copy and have been reading their description. Have a look at our About Us page for more.

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Pai has nonstop air service directly from Chiang Mai via SGA, using a 12 seat Cessna Caravan turboprop with a flight time of about 20 minutes. With only 12 seats, the new air service is not likely to cause Pai to become any more touristed than it already is, but it does make it much faster to travel to Soppong from Chiang Mai, since Pai Airport is only about 40 minutes from Soppong by car. We recently took the SGA flight between Pai and Chiang Mai and the flight was spectacular. It was probably worth the price of the fare (1450 baht) just for the sightseeing experience of flying at 9000 feet over the mountains, over to the Chiang Dao area, a right turn, and then direct to Chiang Mai airport.

Also, PB Air have resumed their nonstop jet service from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son (Tuesdays and Saturdays only). It's only a one hour flight so including the drive from Mae Hong Son, it's only 2.5 hours from Bangkok to Soppong! Get a seat on the right hand side of the plane for an incredible view of Doi Kong Mu temple as you make the final approach into Mae Hong Son airport.

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A Lisu girl from Nong Tong village (a short walk up the hill from the Inn), dressed in her finest New Years clothes. Photo courtesy of our friend Mark Harrison, who took the photo of her in our garden last year.

Maehongson

Maehongson, Thailand's northern border city, hiding itself in between the towering mountains with densely forested slopes, stretching to the Burmese border.


Maehongson is known for its charm of scenery and culture. The people of Maehongson consists of the Shans who live in the city and the hilltribe people who live in remote villages on mountain tops where elements of lifestyle have changed little in hundreds of years.

The Shans' ancestors came from Shans region in Burma. The hilltribe people consist of Karen, Lisu, Mhong, Lahu, and Lua. Both the Shans and the hilltribemen have their own distinctive cultures. They have their own lilting dialect, their own architectural lifestyles, their own customs and traditions, and their own delicious cuisine. Throughout the year, Maehongson holds many festivals and events. Tourists can observe the distinction cultures from these events. There are different dances, rituals, and ceremonies for different events and festivals. Even the foods are different for each event.

The most remarkable tradition and also the most important event for the Shans is "Poy Sanglong Festival" which is the ordination ceremony for the Shans' boys. The event is held in March and there is one big celebration throughout the city.

The city is covered with the mist all year long. Maehongson gains its nickname of "the City of Three Mists" from the fact that it has dewy mist in the winter, forest fire mist in the summer and rainy mist in the rainy season.

Maehongson

Maehongson, Thailand's northern border city, hiding itself in between the towering mountains with densely forested slopes, stretching to the Burmese border. Maehongson is known for its charm of scenery and culture. The people of Maehongson consists of the Shans who live in the city and the hilltribe people who live in remote villages on mountain tops where elements of lifestyle have changed little in hundreds of years.
The Shans' ancestors came from Shans region in Burma. The hilltribe people consist of Karen, Lisu, Mhong, Lahu, and Lua. Both the Shans and the hilltribemen have their own distinctive cultures. They have their own lilting dialect, their own architectural lifestyles, their own customs and traditions, and their own delicious cuisine. Throughout the year, Maehongson holds many festivals and events. Tourists can observe the distinction cultures from these events. There are different dances, rituals, and ceremonies for different events and festivals. Even the foods are different for each event.
The most remarkable tradition and also the most important event for the Shans is "Poy Sanglong Festival" which is the ordination ceremony for the Shans' boys. The event is held in March and there is one big celebration throughout the city.
The city is covered with the mist all year long. Maehongson gains its nickname of "the City of Three Mists" from the fact that it has dewy mist in the winter, forest fire mist in the summer and rainy mist in the rainy season.

CHIANG MAI-PAI-MAEHONSON THE UNSEEN PACKAGE 3 DAYS

CHIANG MAI-PAI-MAEHONSON THE UNSEEN PACKAGE 3 DAYS

Trip Includes

English speaking tour guide, insurance covered and entrance fees, Transportation, hotel, food

แปลเอกสาร กงสุล

Day 1 start from Chiang Mai

Continue up north of Chiangmai some 30 minutes till arrive to the orchide and butterfly farm. There are mny type of orchids and the rare to find can be spotted. Next carry on for 1 hour then will be Mok Fah waterfall, it is boasted beautiful serrounded with trees and mountain, suitable for nature lovers. Visit Pong Duad hot spring the largest hot spring in Thailand. Next along the hilly snake road to Pai District we will stop for the scenic bird eyes view of the mountain at Huay Nam Dang National Park. Afterwards drive to the temple famous in Pai Wat Nam Hoo,and cotinue to the Chiness community for famous tea testing, named Shing-Shing and Oo-long tea. Chiness yunann constructing their houses follow traditional way by using mud instated of wooden and congrete. Afterthat check in the hotel and spend free time walk around Pai night market and feel the night life of the diamond land.

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Phuklon Country club visitors had mud spa

outside and inside Lod Cave Maehongson

Day 2 Breakfast/Check out

First we visit Lord Cave, here we will do bamboo raft into the cave, after bamboo raft then visit fish cave and have lunch. Then we will go to Phu Klon Country Club or (Mud Spa), where the nature black mud pond for healthy skin care that has become a famous destination for visitors. Phu Klon Country Club is now the popular place for health treatment and therapeutic, hence has been promoted as 5 stars product and Unseen Thailand. Next visit Phat That Doi Kong MooTemple, the most important place of worship and provincial landmark; we can enjoy a panoramic view of Mae Hong Son City from this site. Then check in the hotel and 7.00 pm.dinner at Baiyoke restuarant one of the best in town,afterthat free time to walk around the night market.

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Kaew Komol Cave-Buatong flower field-Miracle Oobluang National Park,Chiangmmai

Day 3 Breakfast/check out

Drive 2 hours to Kaew Komol Cave the only Ice Cave in Thailand and only three caves in the world. Afterwards continue to Oob-Luang national park the land of prehistoric human. Oob-Luang is very famous for ancient wall painting . Then relax at the incredible pine tree forest and head back Chiang Mai.

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More Information - Service Cost
Service Cost		Package 3 Days 2 Nights is 290 us/ Person (Kid under 12 Years Charge 70%)
Price Includes		( TOYOTA) VIP Van + A/C Lunch 3 Times Dinner 1 Time All Admission Fees Insurance Covered An Experience Tour Guide 3 Stars Hotel + Breakfast 2 nights
Degree of Difficulty		(Easy)The package 3 days 2 nights is suitable for all ages
Thing Should Bring		Camera, Sun glass, Sun block, Swimming suite, Your own medicine, Sandals
Reservation Term		1. Deposit 50 % of the full Price/person and confirm us by fax pay-in slip or confirm by mail 2. Personal details (Full Name-Nationality-age)
Remark		The program can be change depend on the weather and situation. Safety of the customer come first

Pai, Maa Hong Son, Thailand

Pai (Thai: ปาย) is a small town in northern Thailand near the Myanmar border, north of Chiang Mai on the northern route to Mae Hong Son. It lies along the Pai River.

Pai was once a quiet market village primarily inhabited by Shan people, whose culture originated in Burma. As it lies at the feet of the mountains it's a good base for trekking and visiting hill tribes like Karen, Hmong and Lisu. Well-known among backpackers for its relaxed atmosphere, the town is full of cheap guest houses, souvenir shops and restaurants. In the proximity of the town are spas, and elephant-camps. Outside of town several hotsprings, natural and man-made, and a waterfall can be found. Another notable attraction is the region's famous Wednesday Market, occurring weekly, which can bring crowds of up to 10,000 local villagers through the course of one day.

Recently Pai has appeared on the Thai tourist map and has received major infrastructure upgrades including two 7-11, several small to medium-size resorts, a couple of live music clubs, beer bars and two traffic lights. This has done little to dampen the small and peaceful spirit of the town. However this has lead to a recent influx of farang (or Europeans) and Thais from the cities, as investors and land owners promises to bring Pai a new age of prosperity. At the expense of this prosperity, Pai has become primarily a tourist town where it is not uncommon to observe more western tourists than locals along the main street.

Pai suffered several bouts of severe flooding in 2005, resulting in major structural damage to homes, resorts, storefronts, and bridges.