Learning how to Shop in Thailand

Shopping in Thailand can be fun or a nightmare. There are a few things to remember before spending your hard-earned cash. Here are a few guidelines and recommendations to make your shopping experience enjoyable, purchasing high quality products at great prices.

Shopping is one of the great pleasures here in Chiang Mai. We have the famous night bazaar, Baan Tawai wood carving village, Bosang Sa paper and umbrella village and Sankampang with its many handicraft factories.

When friends visit, they always ask - what should I purchase and where? Here are some guidelines that I give them that may help you.

Wood carving

Craftsman carving wood

The night bazaar has some excellent bargains but be careful. The night bazaar is great for t-shirts, fake designer clothes and watches but not handicrafts. Lacquer ware and wood products purchased here will split and crack after a year or so. It is not real lacquer ware but only painted with a couple coats of sprayed-on lacquer paint. Wood products are not treated correctly unless you are from a hot and humid climate like Thailand.

This is also a big problem when purchasing wood products from Baan Tawai. These products are made for Thailand and should be purchased by those living here only. The problem is the wood should be dried outside in the weather for two years then heat treated in an oven. This way if you take the wood home to a cooler and drier climate or keep it an air-conditioned home it won’t crack or split. The wood products at Baan Tawai and the night bazaar are not treated properly.

For wood and lacquerware, go to the factories in Sankhampang. I recommend Sudaluck for wood products and Lai Thai for lacquerware. Here the wood is treated properly and the lacquerware is treated with real gum lacquer with seven coats. Every coat is dried and polished.

We have all heard about the gem scams Thailand is famous for. Make purchases of jewelry and gems from a reputable dealer or shop such as Princess Jewelry or Gems Gallery. The prices are a lot cheaper than western countries and the quality excellent. Remember, if the price seems too cheap to believe, then don’t believe the gems or jewelry are real.

Silk is another great bargain here in Chiangmai and much cheaper

than, say, Jim Thompson’s in Bangkok. Here again be careful, if you don’t know much about silk then make purchases from a reputable shop such as Jollie Femme. Most of the silk at the night bazaar is partially polyester or made by machine in Chinese factories. Real Thai silk is handmade so the weave is very tight and will stay together after many years of wear and hand washing much longer than Chinese machine made silk.

Tailor made suits and clothes are also perfectly made here if you go to the right tailor. Be careful of these one coat, two pants, tie and shirt deals for $99 USD. The material is very low quality and one sleeve may be longer than the other. The biggest complaint is the pockets are way too shallow. Niramit Tailors in Chiangmai is probably one of the best in Thailand.

While the Night Bazaar has its flashing neon signs advertising the western food chains and merchandise, crowded narrow walkways crammed with hawkers and tourists, the Weekend Bazaars offer a more relaxing experience. Large wide avenues are blocked off from vehicle traffic at 4pm until 11pm. Talented craft persons and northern Thai fresh food vendors politely sell they wares along the sidewalks and on colorful temple grounds.



Rajdumnern Road seams to have one temple after another. The temple grounds are where almost all the food stalls are set up. Here they have tables and chairs where you can sit and have everything from french fries to papaya salad, soups, and grilled Thai dishes. Lots of different foods and desserts you probably have never seen before are available. Soft Thai music is usually played on the temple sound system to add to the eating experience.

I hope this will help you avoid problems when it comes to shopping in Thailand, enjoy.

Written by Randy Gaudet
Founder/Director
All Thailand Experiences

Thai food recipes with video classes

Delicious Thai food should be a wonderful experience while on tour in Thiland. Thai food cooking class are available every where in Thailand. If you Love Thai food it would be a good idea to add a cooking class to your itinerary. Here are the list of dishes, click on the dish you would like to learn how to cook for the recipe and to see the on line video.

Many people come to Thailand and want to learn to cook Thai food. Here we will show you by on line video how it's done. Each dish will have a recipe and tips so you can print it out and follow along while watching the video. Your teacher is Thai Chef Mr. Chanrat Karatna, nickname Air, the owner of Air's Thai Culinary Kitchen. You will listen as he talks about each dish while his staff cooks the dishes. Here are the list of dishes, click on the dish you would like to learn how to cook for the recipe and to see the video. Thai Green Curry with Chicken or Vegetarian style. Gaeng Khiew Waan Gai Thai Style Fried Noodles. Phad Thai Hot and Sour Prawn Soup. Tom Yam Goong Thai Spring Rolls. Por Piah Thod Chicken and Galangal Coconut Cream Soup. Tom Kha Gai Thai Stir Fried Chicken with Chilies and Holy Basil. Phad Ga-Praw Gai Thai Spicy Seafood Soup. Po Taek Thai green Papaya Salad. Som Tom Malakaw

THAI FOOD CULINARY TOUR Enjoy Local dishes, Thai farm, cooking class, food made of flowers, Thai sweets Created by All Thailand Experiences

Thailand Military Coup, not again. May 23, 2014

Praying for peace

Living in Thailand since 1989 this is not my first military coup or martial law decree. The first one was in January 1991 when Thai Prime Minister General Chatichai Junhavan was flying in a military C-130 to Chiang Mai and had a gun put to his head and arrested by the military. The next 2 prime Ministers were ousted in a Parliament Dissolution and the May crisis in 1992. The first ever elected Prime Minister to do a full term in office was Mr. Chuan Leekpai from 1992 – 1997. Then 2 more Prime ministers were ousted and the military took over until Police Lieutenant Colonel Thaksin Shinawatra was elected for 2 terms from 2002 – 2005 and ousted during his second term in 2006 when the military took over again. The next 4 Prime ministers were appointed by House of Representatives Resolution then ousted by Constitutional Court ruling except Mr.Abhisit Vejjajiva before he lost in a General Election in 2011 to Miss Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin Shinawatra’s sister, who was just ousted resulting in the military coup in Thailand has today.

White water rafting

Has my daily life been affected by the military coup? Only slightly as local and cable TV has been taken over by the military so all programming has been cancel. I have a satellite dish so I get TV from Viet Nam and Laos with all the western programs. Also there is a curfew from 10PM to 5AM which doesn’t affect me as I do not go to bars or pubs. In Chiang Mai where I live there are no military troops posted anywhere that I have seen and everything is normal and peaceful.

Wat Thaton Temple

Tourists here are taking it all in stride doing their day time activities of visiting temples and markets, trekking and hiking and enjoy adventures. They go out in the evenings to have dinner then return to their guest house or hotel by 10PM with beer or wine purchased at the local stores. They are listening to music or watching movies provided by the establishment where they are staying.

I am not going to get into politics here as there are many others blogging about this and I don’t truly
care. As mentioned I have been here and seen this several times and never once seen any tourist or visitor harmed. My advice is to just come and enjoy the warm and friendly people, great food and natural beauty of the Kingdom. Avoid any place where protests are being held in Bangkok, the rest of Thailand is fun, happy and peaceful.

Written by Randy Gaudet
Founder/Director
All Thailand Experiences

Trekking and tour at Doi Inthanon National Park Thailand information

When it gets too hot to stay in Chiangmai city, no worries, just go to Doi Inthanon National Park a short 90 kilometers away. Bring a jacket, believe it or not, you will need it. We load the pick-up truck and head to the highest mountain in Thailand at Doi Inthanon National Park. The park is very large with no public transportation so if you want to visit the park best to rent a motorbike or better yet take a 2 or 3 day tour or trek. Soon after entering the park gate, the road climbs steeply through a cutting before leveling out, passing the Doi Inthanon National Park Information Center, overlooking the Mae Klang river on the left. The road passes through open dry forest and after crossing over to the left bank, follows the course of the river, overlooking it. In the dry season, the leaves of the trees become yellow and red, before being shed. As the road climbs gradually, an evergreen gallery forest begins develop along the banks of the river, supporting many tall and stately trees. Soaring birds of prey can sometimes be seen over the steep ridge on the north side of the road. The more level areas in the vicinity of the river are now cultivated and support small areas of orchard or vegetable gardens. Above the waterfall, the road once again crosses over the Mae Klang River and continues to ascend the mountain, following the north bank. The surroundings change very abruptly in character, and pines predominate in many areas. The next area supports Hmong and Karen villages, there are many government offices and residential buildings, including the headquarters of the National Park and various highway and construction works. Here is where the campsites are but you first must check in at the Park Headquarters. There are also cabins for rent however most are rented well in advance. Here we are above 1500 meters and the temperature is like a beautiful spring day. Time to find a camping spot. Its lunchtime, so we travel up the road about 100 meters from the Park Headquarters to the Doi Inthanon Birding Center. There are several restaurants near the park headquarters but the food is not very good. Mr. Dang and his wife at the birding center are excellent cooks and fun to be around. Here is where all the bird watchers gather to talk about sightings. We will talk about bird watching later. From here the road winds uphill sharply and past a park checkpoint. Just a little further is a mountain ridge with excellent vistas on both sides of the road. If the weather is clear, at one spot you can see the city of Chiangmai on your right. Just a little further on your left is the twin Chedi dedicated to the King and Queen. These beautiful Thai structures are a must visit. You will need to walk up several flights of steps to reach them but well worth it. Next stop is the summit. Here we get out of our vehicle and walk up the steps to the shrine dedicated to the Lanna Thai King who first designated this area as a national park. Walk behind the shrine to a concrete pillar and stand on it. You are now on the highest point in Thailand. We departed Chiangmai at 9 am it was already 35 degrees C. and started the short 1 1/2 hour drive to the park. We left Chiangmai by highway 108 through Hang Dong and Sanpatong and then about one kilometer before Chom Tong turned right on highway 1009. There is a big sign in English stating "Doi Inthanon" where you turn so it's easy to find. Continue 8 kilometers to where the road forks and then keep to the right where you will see the park entrance. The entrance fee is 200 baht and they have free maps and information for you that you will need. A copy of the park map can be seen online and might be a useful reference as you read this article. Your first stop should be the Visitor's Center a kilometer or so past the park entrance on the left side. There they have more information and many exhibits and a slide show about the park in English. You need to know the park rules that levy stiff fines if broken (such as for picking flowers); these rules are written on the back of all the maps and brochures. After getting all the information we needed we headed straight to the Park Headquarters at Kilometer marker 31. As we approached the booth for accommodations reservations both we noticed a thermometer and found it was a perfect 26 degrees C. We decided to spend our first night in a tent and second night in a bungalow. We made our reservations for the bungalow. Since we were going to ride around the park the park ranger kept our bags for us and we proceeded to the campgrounds to pitch our tent. Tents can be rented for 60 baht and blankets at 15 baht each. After putting up the tent we were getting hungry and headed back to see our friend and birding guide Boontom and went to eat at a restaurant serving delicious Thai food at great prices near the hydroelectric plant. While having lunch we were told that a 7- man soccer match was being played this afternoon on the soccer field next to the restaurant on the Park Headquarters grounds. The match was between a Karen hill tribe village and a Hmong hill tribe village located in the park so we stayed and watched the action under the shade trees drinking ice-cold beer. We made plans to do some hiking on the Gew Mae Pan Trail near the Doi Inthanon summit (above 2000 meters tomorrow) so today was for relaxing, which I myself am very good at doing. Just before dark we ate our dinner, again at the bungalows at Baan Mae Klang, got our things from the park ranger and went to our campgrounds. In May there aren't many people in the park so a secluded place to put our tent was easy to find. We built a nice campfire and I spent the evening reading while my wife did her crochet. The only sound was that of the crickets and with the smell of pine and clean fresh air drifting off to sleep was a total pleasure I haven't experienced in many months while living in the crowded city. The next morning we awoke early and packed up the tent and returned to the park ranger and again he kept our bags for us. I checked the thermometer and it was a cool 18 degrees C. We had our breakfast at the birding center headed toward the summit passing fruit and flower stands owned by Hmong Hilltribe people. Here we stopped to have a look and across the street were green houses filled with beautiful flowers. The growing of flowers is a Royal Project so the hill tribe people can live in harmony with the park's conservation plans instead of doing their traditional slash and burn farming. The 2.5-kilometer Gew Mae Pan Trail begins about half a kilometer past the twin Chedis at kilometer marker 42. We decided to leave our vehicle at the Chedi and walk the horseshoe shaped trail to the end and return the same way. This turned out to be a good idea as the mountains were covered with mist and clouds and the view although beautiful was limited on our way out. On the way back the clouds had lifted and the view was spectacular. The trail begins through dense forest with lush ferns and moss covering the tree trunks. Wild orchids and colorful birds are plentiful. It's uphill most of the way, crossing streams and climbing over and ducking under logs. The temperature is perfect for hiking and the sounds of the many birds and creeks are very enjoyable. After about an hour you come upon a clearing looking toward the west. When we arrived clouds were rushing up from the valley floor to meet us. The next portion of the trail is through dense forest again crossing several streams. The park has provided small bridges to make crossing the streams easy. The last part of the trail is through a lovely evergreen forest with pine trees much different and larger than those found at our campsite. We returned the way we came following the trail to the clearing and this time the clouds had lifted leaving a spectacular view of the valley floor and surrounding mountains. Two hawks were circling above, diving to the valley floor then lifting again on the air currents along the cliff edge, their screeching echoing through the canyon below. We spent a total of six hours on the trail and saw only two other people. They were Thai photographers doing a story for a nature magazine. We could have stayed longer but hunger was setting in so we returned to the restaurant at the Baan Mae Klang Bungalows. Trekking at Doi Inthanon National Park Chiang Mai Thailand Video This evening was spent in our comfortable bungalow. We made reservations the day before. The bungalow has electricity and is equipped with a king size bed in the bedroom and a single bed with table and chairs on the porch. It has simple bathroom with shower and western style toilet. The next day we spent visiting the many waterfalls in the park. The first one was very close to our bungalow and actually two waterfalls named after the King and Queen and called Siriphum waterfalls. The next two waterfalls were also close together and the road getting there was a little difficult but worth the effort. We went just past the second check point at kilometer marker 38 and turned left toward Mae Chaem and traveled about 8 kilometers. Here there is a sign where you turn right and travel the dirt road for 2 kilometers to the ranger station. From there it's a 500-meter walk to Mae Pan waterfall and 200 meters to Huai Luaeng waterfall. Forest hike at Doi Inthanon Nationap Park video Our last stop was on the way out of the park at Mae Ya waterfall. To get there you need to go back to Cham Tong and just before you get to highway 108 you will see the sign Mae Ya waterfall. Follow the signs for about 14 kilometers from here. There will be a checkpoint where they collect a 200 baht fee to enter. Just tell them you have been staying in the park and show them the receipt and they will let you in for free. This waterfall is great for photographs and over 250 meters tall. Try to go on a weekday, as the weekends are very crowded with Thais picnicking and swimming. We had a great time although we didn't see everything such as Brichinda cave. We would also like to spend some time bird watching. The Park staff was a great help and very friendly and I would recommend this trip to anyone. Karen hill tribe villagers geting the rice fields ready for planting video Written by Randy Gaudet Founder/Director All Thailand Experiences

The Chiang Mai Thailand Loy Krathong Festival

Loy Krathong has an unequalled charm and mystique, whether it is celebrated on a grand scale in a major city or quietly in a small village, but for a truly breathtaking experience, the north of Thailand is the place to go. So if you like colorful paper lanterns, fireworks, beautiful girls in traditional dress, parade floats, lots of food, and parties, do not miss the Loi Krathong festival November 5 - 7, 2014.

Join us for the Loi Krathong Festival in Sukhothai and Chiang Mai Nov. 4 - 8, 2014. Click here for tour information.

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Loi Krathong Festival Parade

This festival is held on the night of the 12th full moon of the year in most of the countries where it is celebrated, except in Laos, where it coincides with the 11th full moon at the end of the rains retreat, the Buddhist Lent. In many of the Thai provinces facing Laos across the Mekong River, there may also be a major festival of floating lights at that time, such as Nakhon Phanom's spectacular Lai Rua Fai (many illuminated boats). Loy Krathong may have originally been timed to coincide with the end of the life-giving rains, as a kind of harvest festival giving thanks for the abundance of the crop now filling the granaries and wishing for further bounty in the year to come. There is also a great deal of symbolism involved in the floating away of the Krathong, representing a cleansing of sins.

Loy Krathong has an unequalled charm and mystique, whether it is celebrated on a grand scale in a major city or quietly in a small village of just a few rude huts, but for a truly breathtaking experience, the north of Thailand is the place to go. Even from the end of Lent, the build-up starts with firecrackers banging and booming in the night and, gradually, there appear what seem to be moving orange stars in the sky. As Loy Krathong itself nears, coconut frond archways spring up at the gates of houses, earthen lamps glow in the night, and paper streamers and lanterns appear everywhere. With the rainy season gone, the night sky is clear and coolness fills the air. On the night of Loy Krathong itself, the full moon sails over the horizon into a sky filled with light and sound, for the Lanna folk celebrate Loy Krathong in three dimensions. Giant hot air balloons, called Kome Loy, rise into the sky, their fires visible, like some galaxy of orange stars, into the far distance. Traditional rockets known as Bok Fai outdo the myriad of other fireworks crackling and popping everywhere in the crisp night air. And beneath this frenzy of noise and light, the gentle, quiet, and touching act of floating (loy) one's Krathong. The traditional months of Lanna are different from the rest in Thailand, and Loy Krathong is always celebrated in Duan Yee - the second month - and the period of the festival is called Yee Peng. It is an important time with Krathong and a different Buddhist ceremony, called Tang Tham Luang, falling within this month. The decorations around houses and temples come alive during Yee Peng with the Kome paper lanterns glowing a host of bright colours. Walls surrounding compounds are decorated with the earthen lamps called Phang Patit. The number of these lamps must correspond with the total age of all family members combined, and their flickering yellow flames give warmth to the cool evening.

The Krathong are traditionally made from cut sections of bamboo, with neatly folded pieces of banana leaf around the edge, giving the appearance of a lotus leaf. Each must be decorated with a candle, an incense stick, and some flowers, though many are more elaborate. Often some grains of sand and good luck charms are placed on the Krathong, and a few coins are often added; though these usually end up as some young boy's extra pocket money. At home in the water, they swim from Krathong to Krathong and a little brown hand gropes around for what it may contain. These days the convenience and buoyancy of Styrofoam have largely and, unfortunately, replaced traditional materials, as they litter bank and shoreline for weeks after the event. This year, 2013, the Loy Krathong festival is from November 13 to 17. In Chiangmai, there are raft races on the river on the first day, and boat races for the next two days. The Yee Peng opening ceremony takes place at Tha Pae Gate early on the first evening, followed by a lantern parade and contest at the Night Bazaar. Beauty contests will be held at Tha Pae Gate on the second and last evenings, and parades of individual Krathongs and giant Krathongs start from there on the second and third evenings. Every night, there will be fireworks, Kome Loy launchings, Lanna cultural performances at the Municipal Offices near the river, and, of course, there is nowhere better to loy your own Krathong.

The Krathong

Tradition has it that the very first Krathong was made by a beautiful young lady at the royal court of the ancient Kingdom of Sukhothai some 700 years ago. Her name was Naang Noppamart, and she was blessed with great artistic skills. Others imitated her and there was a competition on the night of the 11th full moon of the year. The king judged the competition. Naang Noppamart's talents were repaid as her Krathong was declared the clear winner. The king decreed that henceforth this one night of the year should become a festival of thanks and should be celebrated by the floating of boats in the shape and form of lotus leaves. The legend lives on and the beauty queen selected at each of the Loy Krathong celebrations around Thailand is, to this day, the winner of the Naang Noppamart parade. Dating back to ancient days, the decorative ceremony of lanterns was based on Brahmin beliefs, or Brahmanism. At this ceremony, the people of long ago paid respect by worshipping three different gods. These gods were Pra I-Suan, Pra Narai, and Pra Prom. For this reverent ceremony, the candles used to light up the lantern were made from cow's fat or a wax that came from within the royal gates of the reigning monarch. Usually these candles were made by a Brahmin priest, and of course, the process of making the candles strictly followed the requirements of a Brahmin ceremony. Formerly, lantern decorations were commonly seen hanging on all mansions in the grand palace. The great numbers and the beauty of the lanterns reflected the status of the royal family members. (Next to the king, the titles of royalty were Jow Fah, Pra Ong Jow, Mom Jow, Mom Rajawong, and Mom Luang). There were also three classifications of lanterns, which were the Kome Chai, the Kome Pra-Tiab, and the Kome Boriwan. Up until the present time, a tradition developed wherein people sacrifice their time to design and assemble various kinds of strong, beautiful, and creative lanterns. The worshippers donated the lanterns to the temples, asking their wishes to be fulfilled. Usually the person would say a prayer requesting his desire to be a sharp, brighter, and more clever person in the future. This belief is based on the comparison that a bright light would lead a person out of his present darkness into a lustrous future. As mentioned earlier, these lanterns were devoted to the three different gods. The lanterns were also presented to high ranking officials and wealthy people. It is then interesting to understand why Komes were so presentable and how these lanterns are made. The main structure of these lanterns are usually made with bamboo and covered with a coarse palm paper or cloth. Inside, a bamboo cylinder was necessary to protect the possible burning of the paper, since, altogether, 24 candles were required to light up the lantern. This large number of candles made illumination possible for about three hours. Candles were not always used to light these lanterns. Oils, such as sesame seed, castor, or coconut oils, were also used. The creation of these lanterns is open for the public to see and study during this festival. People thought that lanterns could only be lit during Buddhist holidays or ceremonies, but, actually, lanterns can be lit every evening or night. These lanterns can be hung on gates, fences, doors, windows, or the roof, or any place an individual wants to adorn with these delightful creations. There have been four different purposes for the northern Thais to hang lanterns. They are for beauty, to pay respect to Buddha images, to make one's home or mansion brighter, and for propitious purposes. Nowadays, there are four traditional Komes in the north that attract visitors every year. They are 1) Kome Thuea (carrying lantern) or Kome Gratai (a rabbit's ear), 2) Kome Kwaen (hanging lantern), 3) Kome Paad (revolving lantern), and 4) Kome Loy (hot air floating lantern). A Kome Thuea or Kome Gratai has a lighted candle inside. A Buddhist believer will carry it along during the Yee Peng Parade. When the parade is over, the worshippers will take the lanterns and decorate the temples, vihara, and other buildings. If there are other celebrations other than the Yee Peng Festival, beautifully made lanterns are used to decorate a stage. Usually, a lantern shaped as a lotus is used to pay respect and the citizens will pray to the Buddha images and make offerings to the monks. Kome Kwaen are also offered to pay respect, and prayers to Buddha images are made. There are several shapes of this certain lantern. They are the Baat Pra (Alms bowl), Dow (Star), Ta Gra (Basket), and Tammajak (the wheel of law, which means to have a thorough knowledge about religious discourses). The Buddhists will hang these lanterns around a temple, vihara, alms-house, sala, or house. The Kome Paad is an interesting lantern since it revolves on an axis. This is done with the aide of the heat from the candle's smoke. In order to make it revolve, the candle is placed inside the lantern where little gadgets take the energy from the smoke and then revolves. The lantern is shaped like a circle, almost like the earth. Usually there are pictures glued on, such as the 12 characters of the horoscope. This revolving lantern will give the effect of shadow puppets. Kome Paad can only be seen during the Yee Peng Festival. It is placed in the temple gates and is not allowed to be moved from one place to another.

The Kome Loy is a lantern that is similar to a hot-air-balloon. It is also quite similar to that of a normal lantern except it does not require 24 candles for illumination. Because the air lantern must rise up to float in the air, it must be lightweight; therefore, it does not have a bamboo cylinder inside. In order to send the lantern into the air, it requires a method to heat the air. This is done by tying a small bowl underneath the open section of the lantern. Oil is then placed into the bowl along with a cotton cloth. As the oil catches fire and commences burning, the hot air quickly travels into the lantern and it soon rises into the air.

It is believed that by sending off these lanterns an individual can send one's sins and bad luck into the air. Usually before the lantern soars into the sky, an individual will pray that one's sin or bad luck will be transported on the lantern and floated away high into the sky. Sometimes an address is left inside. The purpose of this is when the lantern come back down to the ground, and individual can follow an address and seek for money from whoever wrote the address. Or even sometimes, the maker will put some money inside the lantern. The purpose of the hot air lantern is to worship and pay respect to the Phra Ged Kaew Ju La Manee. An old legend tells that during war, these lanterns were sent into enemy territory and exploded.

In Chiangmai, visitors will be treated to an air of festivity in the weeks leading up to Loy Krathong. People begin constructing their Krathong, a small raft to float down the river as an offering. They are traditionally cut in a circular slice from the trunk of a banana tree and decorated with intricate leaf-patterns and flowers. A candle, incense sticks and a few small coins are typically placed as offerings. Archways of banana stems suddenly appear outside homes and businesses, and hanging lanterns, or Kome, are hung anywhere possible. With their beautiful colors and delicate paper streamers, these lanterns glow with a warm charm in the night, along with yellow flames of thousands of miniature terra-cotta nightlights flickering on walls and gateposts in the city. While Kome are put up all over the city, hot-air balloons, or Kome Loy, are set off into the sky during the festivities. Be careful: there are also fireworks, and the locals often set off their own with no rhyme or reason. And there's a lot of drinking. Created by All Thailand Experiences

Birding at Doi Inthanon National Park Thailand

Bird-watching at Doi Inthanon National Park can be a fun and an interesting way to discover nature at a leisurely pace. As you read this article you will learn more about Doi Inthanon than just birds but also about the environment in which they live.

Of the total of 382 species of birds and 1600 species and subspecies of Butterflies are so far known from Doi Inthanon, at least 266 bird species are resident or were formerly resident on the mountain. The status of a further 12 bird species is unclear, but breeding is suspected in many of these. The remainder (104 species) are non-breeding winter bird visitors or passage migrants.

Here is my up to date list of birds I have spotted in the park with videos. You can go to our Thailand birds pictures page to see photos of some of the birds at Doi Inthanon National Park.

Birds spotted

See the video of us birding in the park and many colorful birds found only at Doi Inthanon or see the video below. Included are the Golden Throated Barbet, Chestnut-crowned Laughing Thrush, Green-tailed Sunbird, Siberian Blue Robin, Oriental Magpie Robin, Yellow-cheeked Tit, maroon Oriole, Grey-chinned Minivet, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Streaked Spiderhunter, Common Buzzard, Red-throated Flycatcher, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Grey Wagtail, Blue Whistling Thrush, Grey-backed Shrike, White-throated Kingfisher, Flavesent Bulbul, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Dark-backed Sibia, White-capped Water Redstart, Dark-sided Thrush, Duarian Leafbird, Blue-throated Barbet, Blue-winged leafbird, Pied Bushchat, Plumbeous Redstart, Short-billed Minivet, Black-crested Bulbul.




In this next video (click on this text or see the video below), got a real good shot of the Blue-whistling Thrush and Green-tailed Sunbird. Other birds include the Grey-cheeked Fulveta, Asian Emerald Cuckoo (female), Blue-winged Leafbird, Grey-eyed Bulbul, Rufous-backed Sibia, Scarlet Minivet, Ashy Drongo, Ashy Bulbul, Black-crested Bulbul, Pale-blue Flycatcher, Blue-throated Barbet, Crested Serpent Eagle and Barn Swallow.





If the known distribution of species is examined in relation to ecological zone, it can be seen that by far the highest species total has been recorded in the moist, tall hill evergreen forest lying between 1500 and 2000 meters (Zone 2). While this may be partly due to coverage (some other vegetation types, for example, pine forest, are less frequently visited by birdwatchers and certainly support a few more species than recorded here) this nevertheless does appear to accurately reflect the real differences in bird species diversity among these various zones. The small area of hill evergreen forest above 2000 meters (Zone 1), has probably been covered even more intensively than Zone 2 and although it supports a number of rare and local high elevation species which are not found elsewhere, it yet supports fewer species overall than does Zone 2.

Our guide shows the bird in the birding book

A surprisingly large total (139 species) has been recorded from deforested areas and cultivation above 1000 m (Zone 4). However, only 59% of the species in this zone are resident, compared with 78% in Zone 2. Fewer species still have been recorded from the deciduous habitats (Zones 6 and 7).

Coppersmith Barbet

Doi Inthanon is of particular conservation importance for those species which inhabit the moist hill evergreen forests of the upper slopes. Some, such as the Chestnut-tailed Minla and White-browed Shortwing, which are abundant around the summit of Doi Inthanon, occur in Thailand only on those few higher mountain summits which have considerable areas of hill evergreen forest above 1800 m. Doi Inthanon contains the only significant protected populations of such species in Thailand. The Ashy-throated Leaf-Warbler is found nowhere else in Thailand while an endemic race of the Green-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga nipa/ensis angkanensis) is also completely confined to the summit of Doi Inthanon. Both species are among the more abundant birds found around the summit of the mountain.

Doi Inthanon comprises some of the tallest and best preserved montane forest found anywhere in the entire country. The predominance of massive, huge-boled trees may be of particular significance for trunk-foraging species such as the Brown-throated Treecreeper. The profusion of epiphytes and the lush, moist understorey also contribute to the great variety of foraging niches for small, insectivorous birds.

Many larger birds, such as the white-winged wood duck and most hornbills, have probably been extirpated due to hunting pressure. Great hornbills were last reported by Dickinson ( 1964) and although a single rufous-necked hornbill (a species which is threatened throughout its world range from the Himalayas across to Northern Indochina) was reliably seen as recently as 1986, it is however, appear to have fared better: black eagle, rufous-bellied eagle, and mountain hawk-eagle are all frequently seen. Although both galliformes and pigeons have also suffered adversely from illegal hunting, some species are still fairly common.

Blue-throated barbet, Green-tailed Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter, Siberian Rubythroat

WHEN TO WATCH BIRDS ON DOI INTHANON

Doi Inthanon is good for birdwatching throughout the year though perhaps the best time is from February through to April when most resident species are breeding and, in addition, a full complement of winter visitors is usually present. Also, during the early part of the breeding season many of the resident species are more inclined to be singing or calling and are therefore more easily located.

The early wet season, during May to July, is also a very interesting time for the birdwatcher, especially since many species are still feeding fledged young. In addition, some ground feeding species such as pittas and thrushes, which favor wetter conditions, now start to breed. Though showers are fairly frequent at this time, the weather is seldom bad enough to interfere too much with birdwatching, unless you are unlucky enough to time your arrival on the mountain with the passage of a deep monsoon trough. Later in the wet season, however, rain is more of a problem, particularly around the summit, which can be blanketed in mist and rain for days on end. This period, from July onwards to October, is usually the quietest period for birds, though even then, many interesting observations can be made. It is a particularly good time to look out for passage migrants and for the return of the first winter visitors.

In the video below we wake up at the bungalows, have breakfast and see some very colorful and rare birds at Doi Inthanon Nation Park near Chiang Mai Thailand.



Jan.31, 2014
The Spences and Carol and I all enjoyed our 3 day 2 night Doi Inthanon birding trip very much. Mr. Boon, our birding guide, was a pleasant companion and asuperb guide, and Mrs. Boon's meals were wonderful. I would gladly recommend this tour to any birders headed for Thailand. Sleeping inside the park near Boon's village was a big advantage as well as an essential part of the whole experience, and I would be sorry to have missed it. Thanks so much.
Charles Austin
Garden Grove, CA
USA

Thailand Video Page

Here are our short streaming videos of interesting sightseeing tours, festivals, bird watching, hill tribe villages, trekking, hiking, camping, Thai cooking lessons, boating and shopping in and around Thailand. From ancient ruins to Zip line through the forest watch our clients enjoying the wonderful sights, sounds and food of Thailand.

• Bangkok
• Bangkok Temple, Grand Palace and Canal tour
• Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) and Wat Po temple
• Thai cultural show at The Rose Garden
• The famous Floating Market outside of Bangkok
• The orphan Children's homes we support


• Chiang Mai
• Wat Doi Suthep Temple
• Royal Floral Exposition
• Chiang Mai Night Safari
• Tiger Kingdom
• Family Fun In Chiang Mai
• The Chiang Mai Zoo
• Traditional Khantoke Dinner
• Be a Thai Farmer for a Day 1
• Be a Thai Farmer for a Day 2
• Bicycle Tour
• Warorot Market
• Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture Center and Museum
• Wedding at a beautiful Thai Garden Resort
• Lunch at the Chiang Mai Floating Reataurant.
• Our Local Weekly Monday Market
• Day trip from Chiang Mai to Lampang


• Festivals
• Loi Krathong Festival
• Loi Krathong Festival Part 2
• Loi Krathong Festival Parade
• The Chiang Mai Flower festival
• Songkran Festival, The largest water fight on the planet
• The Songkran Festival or Thai New Year Parade
• The Songkran Festival or Thai New Year Fun


• Phuket, Phi Phi, Island Adventures and Tours
• Island hopping in from Phi Phi island
• Island hopping in from Phi Phi island part 2
• Island hopping in from Phi Phi island part 3
• Sea Canoe Adventure from Phuket
• Seaplane flight from Phi Phi Island to Phuket
• 
  
• North Thailand Adventures and Tours
• Parts of our North Thailand Tour
• Hill Tribe Village Tour
• Chiang Dao Cave Shrine
• 3 Days in North Thailand Tour
• 3 Days in North Thailand Tour part 2
• Villages along the Thai Burma Border
• Looking into Burma from a Thai Army Outpost
• Looking into Burma from a Thai Army Outpost part 2
• Boat ride on the Mae Kok River to Chiang Rai Thailand part 1
• Boat ride on the Mae Kok River to Chiang Rai Thailand part 2
• Doi Inthanon National Park Tour
• Trail Hiking at Doi Inthanon National Park part 1
• Trail Hiking at Doi Inthanon National Park part 2
• 2 Day Trek at Doi Inthanon National Park
• Thailand rafting and elephant safari part 1
• Thailand rafting and elephant safari part 2
• Thailand rafting and elephant safari part 3
• Thailand rafting and elephant safari part 4
• Thailand rafting and elephant safari part 5
• Summit of Doi Inthanon and Green-tailed Sunbird
• Birding at Doi Inthanon National Park
• Video of the birds of Doi Inthanon part 1
• Video of the birds of Doi Inthanon part 2
• Video of the birds of Doi Inthanon part 3
• Flying through the trees adventure
• ATV Adventure on dirt in the mountains part 1.
• ATV Adventure on dirt in the mountains part 2.
• ATV Adventure on dirt in the mountains part 3.
• North Thailand Motorbike Tour part 1
• North Thailand Motorbike Tour part 2
• 
  
• Thai Food Cooking Lessons
• Go to our Thai food cooking page where you will
  see the videos and recipes of your favorite Thai dishes. 

Chiang Mai Information, Tours and Adventures

Doi Suthep Temple

Amidst the rolling foot hills of the Himalayan Mountains some 800 kilometers north of Bangkok is the culturally rich city of Chiang Mai, the longest continuously lived in settlement from the ancient days of Siam. Chiang Mai could only be reached by an arduous river journey or an elephant back trip until the 1920's. Chiang Mai's distinctive charm is still intact up to the present day.

Inside Chiang Mai's remaining city wall are more then 30 temples dating back to the founding of the principality in 1296. Doi Suthep temple which is on the mountaintop at 3500 feet above and overlooking the city is a shrine to both Thai and foreign visitors. These Temples are a combination of Burmese, Sri Lankan, and Lanna Thai styles decorated with beautiful wood carvings, Naga staircases, leonine and angelic guardians, gilded umbrellas and pagodas laced with gold filigree.

Hiking to a waterfall at Doi Inthanon National Park

Chiang Mai is not only the home of culture, charm and hospitality but adventure as well. Elephant riding, trekking, hiking, camping and long tail boat riding are all very popular activities and are offered in our excursion. Orchids, colorful rare birds, butterflies, and exotic plants and fauna will
 surround you. Friendly hill tribe people greet you. Waterfalls and spectacular mountain top vistas will dazzle you.This is the best way to enjoy the unique natural beauty of the north Thailand country side and it's people.

During your stay in Chiangmai you will see talented crafts persons at work that has been an important part of Chiang Mai culture for hundreds of years and be able to purchase their finely handcrafted products at unbelievably low prices direct from the factories. No evening is complete without shopping at the famous Chiangmai night bazaar for incredible bargains for everything from clothes to jewelry.

As countless travelers have discovered, Chiang Mai's many attractions enthrall, delight, and capture your imagination. To visit this northern city just once is to remain forever enchanted.

All Thailand Experiences Excursions

All of our excursions are by large, comfortable, Air Conditioned vehicle. We take only six persons per van to insure your comfort and better personal attention. We provide a wide choice of excellent accommodations to fit any budget or need. So, if you have from 2 days to 9 days; enjoy culture, nature, adventure or just shopping; we have the holiday package for you.

Have a look at our example itineraries below with photos and videos that can be shortened, combined or changed to meet your needs. We can make reservations for the hotel, resort or guest house of your choice, also air and train tickets.

TOUR ITINERARIES WITH PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

1 to 2 Day Chiang Mai City Tour Visit beautiful temples and exciting markets, enjoy delicious Thai food, Ride a bamboo raft, ox cart and elephant. See talanted crafts persons at work. 2 Day Culture and Nature Tour You will be experiencing Thai and Hill Tribe culture in one of the most beautiful areas in Thailand at Doi Inthanon National Park. 4 Day North Thailand Tour Includes the Golden Triangle, hill tribe villages, long tail boat ride, excellent food, handicraft shopping, beautiful temples, overnight on the river in nice bungalows in small hamelts with friendly people. 6 Day Thailand Nature and Culture Tour Includes the Golden Triangle, Doi Inthanon National Park, long tail boat riding, Akha, Lahu, Karen and Shan hill tribe villages, Thai army outpost, overnight on the river in nice bungalows in small hamelts with friendly people. 8 Day Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai Tour Tour includes Chiang Mai, The Golden Triangle, Hill Tribe Villages, Chiang Rai, Doi Inthanon National Park, long tail boat riding, and elephant riding. 1 to 4 Days Bird Watching Tour Because of the different altitudes from 100 to over 2000 meters, a wide variety of species can be seen..

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ADVENTURE ITINERARIES WITH PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

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4 Day Soft Adventure Includes 4 wheel ATV, Hiking in real cloud forest, Village Home stay, white water rafting, flying through trees on Zip Line cables.

Chiangmai to Chiangrai Village Trek Interaction with the daily life of the villagers is encouraged and their customs, traditions and lifestyle will be explained to you, family home stay, long tail boat ride.

Trek in Real Cloud Forest and Jungle Trekking and Hiking in a real undisturbed cloud forest and jungle on the highest mountain in Thailand, any difficulty from very easy to hard

VOLUNTEER TOURS HELPING HILL TRIBE PEOPLE
AND ELEPHANTS WITH PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

Tour of Lampang and helping Friends of the Asian Elephant Hospital Foundation 2 days 1 night includes train ride, tour of lampang's famous temples, overnight and volunteering at Friends of the Asian Elephant Hospital.

Helping hill tribe people and elephants in North Thailand Tour 5 days 4 nights. You will get close up and meet these wonder people and beautiful giants of the jungle, make new friends. Also a long tail boat ride through beautiful mountain canyons.

How to Find Real Sustainable Eco Tours and Treks in Thailand

Now a days everyone is doing Eco-tours and treks in Thailand, but what is it? Do you know the questions to ask a tour or trekking operator to find out if they are for real or just a ploy to get you to go with them?

Family visiting an Akha hill tribe village

Do you know the questions to ask a tour or trekking operator to find out if they are for real or just a ploy to get you to go with them?

First of all, most operators care only about making you happy. They will say yes to what ever you want to do. This is fine if you are doing a normal commercial tour to the handicraft factories or city tour however if you want to visit a hill tribe village or a nature area this is not acceptable. The reason is because that is what the consumer wants and the operators want to meet the needs of their clients, which might not be in the best interest for the environment or local people. This means it is up to you to be well informed about what is and what is not Eco-tourism.

Here is a list of subjects and whys that separates the Eco-culture and nature friendly tour and trekking operators from those that are not. It is then up to you to decide which companies properly adhere to the true meaning of Eco-tourism in Thailand.

Tour and Trekking operators first must meet at least the three basic standards to be called Eco tourism.

• 1. The willingness and ability to maintain or improve the environment.

Resting at a waterfall

Did you know that most of the plants and animals on the endangered species list are because of destruction of habit and not poaching, hunting or gathering? There are many examples of this in north Thailand. Not so many years ago there were lots of rare species of birds along the Mae Kok, Ping, Fang and Mae Teang rivers. Now because of clear cutting of bamboo for tourist for rafting all of the large and many rare species of bamboo are now gone. This means no more places for the birds to roost or nest, insects to eat and the beautiful stands of bamboo that were once abundant along the river banks are now gone forever.

So what can you do?

Try to find operators that use recycled bamboo rafts when ever possible They pick them up at the take out point and bring them back to the starting point by large truck. The rafts can be used again and again for a year or so. Others just take them to the end of the rafting trip and sell them for other uses or most are disposed of along the bank to rot and they cut fresh bamboo for new ones. Finding these operators will be difficult, as many tour operators will say yes they reuse the rafts when in fact you will find out at the end of your rafting trip they do not. Better yet find an operator that use rubber boats, kayaks or canoes with out gasoline engines if possible.

Another major problem is water pollution. With the large numbers of travelers wanting to trek and visit hill tribe villages they are the number 1 source of water pollution in remote areas. I know of many hill tribe villagers that used to go to streams for small fish, frogs and insects to gather and eat. Because of the trekkers using soap and shampoo at waterfalls and in streams the animals that depend on clean water along with the plant life that supports them are now gone. It is a fact that the hill tribe villagers before the tourists arrived used to gather the water and wash their clothes and body away from the streams or waterfalls so as not to pollute.

Many villages now also use the streams to wash in because they know there is nothing left to gather or fish for. They don’t know why everything is gone but it was all-fine before the tourists arrived. They also figure if the well-educated, smart and rich tourists are using the water to bath why should we carry water when we can just do what they do.

Karen hill tribe children playing in the stream

Do not bath in streams or waterfalls using chemical soaps and shampoos. There are biodegradable soaps and shampoos made that do not pollute so use these products. Another thing you can do is to carry the water down hill and away from the stream at least 20 meters. The best is not to use soap or shampoo at all while in or near the stream or waterfalls. Bring along a face cloth and add a little soap to clean your body and rinse off far away from the water source.

The people who lived in the rain forest or jungle knew in the past how important their water source was. It is a tragedy that these peoples had to give this up because of tourism. There are still several villages in Thailand that are pristine and still follow these good environmental practices. Their villages are in very remote areas far away from the normal tourist crowds.

These are the two main problems with tourism and the environment in Thailand today. For sure there are many others such as waste disposal that most of us already know about.

• 2. The ability and the willingness for proper control when visiting ethnic peoples and villages in such a way that they can continue to maintain their natural being, customs, traditions and lifestyle.

Building a Lahu home

These are the worst horror stories not only in Thailand but also throughout the world today. Almost all of the villages visited by tour operators today have lost everything their elders have taught them going back hundreds of years. Villagers are starving, addicted to drugs and they are selling their children to be used as prostitutes or slaves. Believe it or not the villages that accept tourists have the biggest chance of falling into this problem. Here are the ways it usually (but not always) happens.

Building a wall at Lahu home

A guide goes out looking for a new area and villages to take tourists. He (or she) meets the people in the villages and wants to bring tourists with the promise of a more prosperous life (money) than what they have now. There are no rules or guide lines set except that the villagers can sell trinkets and handicrafts (most bought and not made by them) to the tourists. The family that has guests overnight receives a small sum of money, a meal but must supply the rice (in most cases). Many tour operators call this sustainable tourism because they give the villager only 50 Thai baht to sleep and cook food for the tourists.

After a year or two here is what happens to this once beautiful village. The once shy villagers rush to
meet the tourists with souvenirs for them to buy. Most of these are made in Burma and not by the villagers themselves. They will not stop bothering people until they buy something and then leave.

Happy Lahu children

The children ask and beg for money. Now, the villagers are looking at the tourist as a source of income not as a visitor. Most have quit working their fields just to meet and beg and sell junk to the tourists. Most of the hill tribe villages do not own land but are given an area to plant crops. If it is not used then another village will take over the fields. This is usually a nearby village that does not accept tourists.

It is now a year later and the village has no culture to speak of any more. There is no cultural interaction between the villagers and tourists as the visitors are looked upon only as a source of income. The tour operator and guides decide to now leave this village for new villages without tourists and the process starts all over again. Now this village has no more tourists. They have no place to plant crops anymore as the fields they stopped planting have been taken over by nearby villagers. This means they now have to buy food and basic necessities but have no money.
This is a worst-case example but has happened and continues to happen to this day.

Akha woman giving us free Tamarind

So what can you do?

Please be careful with trekking operators that advertise new area or village. Find out why they have to go to a new village or area. Most good Eco-culture friendly operators go to the same area and villages year after year. They have an excellent relationship with them so everything is in balance and harmony so they do not need to go to a new area.

Most hill tribe villages do not have handicrafts as they spend most of their time working in their fields. There may however be elderly women in the village taking care of young children that do make handicrafts. In this case there will be one home or area where handicrafts can be viewed and bought. No one will bother you to buy anything and you are not looked at as a major source of income.

Make sure you are not allowed to give candy to children or money for pictures. As a matter of fact nothing should be exchanged directly between you and anyone in the village. A village is a very communal place and what belongs to one belongs to all. Jealousy and hate between villagers can arise because one family or person received something from you and they didn’t. It is true that many villages that are visited by tourist drop drastically in population because of jealousy. It is the lucky ones that move away to a different village, usually that of another family member that has already moved because of marriage to a village member.

Lahu boy greeting us with a Thai "Wai"

Ask to meet your guide first. Talk alone with your guide. Find out how much your guide knows about the village as you can. Tell your guide you want to smoke marijuana or opium and if he or she says no problem find a different operator and guide. Many tour operators don’t know their guides are selling drugs to tourists so you need to ask your guide. If you go on a trek and the guide tries to sell pipe loads of opium and you see the tourists smoking turn the guide into the tourist police as soon as you return to the city. Do not say anything to the guide or tour operator just go to the police. This is the only way this can be stopped.

Visiting an Akha hill tribe home

Ask how many persons are going on the trek with you and get it in writing as part of your receipt. Many people are told a small number later to find out there are up to 15 persons going on the trek. If they come to pick you up and there is more than what they wrote on your receipt when you paid for the trek get your money back. Go to the tourist police and file a complaint. If they do not give you a refund just make sure you have the number of persons in your trekking party written in your receipt. 6 persons should be the maximum and the fewer the better and a private trek is best. An Eco-culture tour and trekking operator will keep the number of persons visiting a village small. The impact of even 50 visitors a month in a village is devastating and should not be allowed. Some excellent operators take visitor to village only once a week and then no more than 6 persons. They have many villages they can visit so they can take tourists daily to different villages.

• 3. The ability and willingness of the tour operator to donate some profits to the people in the villages they visit and in helping protect and improve nature and the environment.

Planting trees

There are very few tour and adventure operators in Thailand that are willing to support this belief. The ones that do started their business out of love for nature and the people and wanting to share their experiences with travelers not just for the money. They know the profits will rise once previous clients talk to their friends and others about the wonderful time they had on their holiday. This means more money for the locals and the tour operator. They must work together without exploitation.
The relationship that develops between the operator, guides, local people and communities when the tour or trekking company helps them is very important. This means you as a visitor can enjoy something special and richly rewarding instead feeling like of a source of income. You can develop true friendships with the people you meet and enjoy a spectacular natural unspoiled environment. You and your guide will be well respected by everyone you come in contact with. They also know that some of the money you paid for your holiday to visit them goes to help them and the local environment. They know their customs will be respected and their culture and way of life will remain intact.

Tour operator giving supplies to villagers

Good Eco-aware tour operator helps in many ways in Thailand. They buy books and other supplies for local schools. They pay to build schools and pay for teachers to live in the remote villages. They provide blankets and clothing yearly to families and children. They pay for doctors to visit remote villages on a regular basis and provide medicines and money for treatments if needed. Some pay local remote villagers to keep a watch out for poachers in the jungle and rain forest and report any potential problems to local authorities. They also work with local police, park rangers and forest ranges providing funds for rewards when poachers or tree cutters are caught. They pay locals to plant trees where needed and teach the people about waste disposal and hygiene. Build toilet facilities and water wells or water gathering reservoirs in small mountain canyons. They pay for pipes and plumping from the wells and reservoirs to the village. The list goes on and on but the important thing is the tour or trekking operator wants to help.

Painting a village school

So what can you do?

Try to find such a tour or trekking operator. The most important thing is being willing to pay more for you tour or trek. The fewer people on the trek or tour the better the experience. This costs more but well worth it. Most guides that work for these Eco- culture friendly operators are very dedicated to helping people including you. They go out and visit these villages and natural areas regularly if they have people to take or not. They have extensive training about the environment, animals, birds, insects and about the local people you will see and meet. They are paid much more than the normal commercial guide and are well worth it so be willing to pay more.

Eco-tourism is not cheap so before you go out to find the best price for a trek or tour, first think about who wins and who looses on a cheap tour or trek. No one wins. Think about it.

Written by Randy Gaudet
Founder/Director
All Thailand Experiences