Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, THAILAND

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is located atDamnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi Province, about105 kms from Bangkok. According to history around1866 King Rama IV ordered that a 32 kms long canalbe dug at Damnoen Saduak.

This canal would connectthe Mae Klong River with the Tacheen River. The excellent quality soil beside the canal is very fertileand suitable for growing many kinds of fruits and vegetables.The area is famous for Malacca grape, Chinese grapefruit,mangoes, bananas, and coconut.

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a very attractiveplace for tourists to see the old style and traditional wayof selling and buying fruits, vegetables, etc., from smallboats. Tourists will also see traditional Thai houses, the way they live and travel by boats, and please try ridingon a small boat to experience the floating market and to see more. This is a worthwhile trip.

How To Get There :

Travel from Bangkok via Thonburi-Paktoh Highway to Samut Songkhram Town. Follow the sign to Damnoen Saduak (Highway No.325).

Aticle source : http://www.bangkoksite.com/Ratchaburi/FloatingMarket/FloatingMarket1.htm

Loi Krathong Sai Festival , THAILAND

Loi Krathong Sai Festival

Date : 8 - 12 November 2008

Venue : Banks of Ping River,Tak

“Loi Krathong” is traditionally performed on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, which usually falls on some day in November. The floating of a ‘Krathong' – a banana–leaf cup – is intended to float away ill fortune as well as to express apologies to Khongkha or Ganga, the River Goddess. Some believe that the ritual is meant to worship the Buddha's footprint on the bank of the Narmada River, while others say that it is to pay respect to Phra Uppakhut, one of the Lord Buddha's great disciples.

Highlights :

An exceptional opportunity for you to experience the atmosphere of joining the Krathong Sai (floating coconut-shell krathong in line) contest, in order to win His Majesty the King’s trophy. Other remarkable activities will include the floating lanterns of the Royal Family, the procession of the Royal Krathong and lantern, the illumination of Krathong Sai, light and sound presentation, fireworks, water curtain presentation in “The Legend of Krathong Sai”, the longest Krathong Sai, local cultural shows, food and OTOP products.

On Saturday 8th November 2008 at 18.00 hr.The Parades of invitation His Majesty the Royal lamps, Royal Krathong, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Cup, and 15 teams of Krathong Sai parades. Opening ceremony of competition on Floating Krathong Sai with A Thousand lights at Mae Ping River Centre Stage.

On Sunday 9 - Wednesday 12 November 2008Compitition on floating Krathong Sai with a thousand lights to be awarded His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Cup 4 teams each night.

Contact: TAT Tak, Tel : 66 (0) 5551 4341-3

Website :

www.loikrathong.net ,

www.krathongsaitak.net

www.tourismthailand.org

E-mail : tattak@tat.or.th

Chiang Mai, THAILAND

Chiang Mai

Popularly known as the Rose of the North, Chiang Mai is blessed with stunning natural beauty and unique indigenous cultural identity. Founded by King Mengrai the Great as the capital of the Lanna Thai kingdom by merging the various city states in the region in 1296. Today Chiang Mai is the economic, communications, cultural and tourism centre of Northern Thailand.

About 700 kilometres from Bangkok, Chiang Mai is situated on the Mae Ping River basin some 310 metres above sea level. Surrounded by high mountain ranges, it covers an area of approximately 20,107 square kilometres. The terrain is mainly jungles and mountains, parts of which are within national parks which are still fertile and verdant with plentiful flora and fauna. There are many sites and locations where tourists prefer to visit to study the lifestyle of the tribal people who live on high hills.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai_Province

Op Luang National Park, THAILAND

General Information

The Mae Chaem River was originally called the “Salak Hin”. The river created a big but narrow canyon , which is called Op Luang. The rocks and cliffs are subject to erosion by the strong currents of the river and have formed the canyon and strangely shaped rockformations. The water has to force its way past rocks and boulders obstructing the course which is a magnificent sight.From 1966 to 1991 the park was administered as a forest park.

After more surveys by the Royal Forest Department it was gazetted, in 1991, as the 68th national park of Thailand. The area supports a wide variety of natural attractions like waterfalls, caves, hot springs and historical sites, which serve people's education and recreation. At present the entirel park measure 553 km2 and is entirely located in the Chomthong, Hot and Mae Chaem districts, Chiang Mai province, Northern Thailand.TopographyThe extensive, north-south running, mountain range of the park is the same as the range Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain of Thailand.

Climate

The park receives a monsoonal climate and has three distinct occasional heavy thunderstorms and strong winds.Flora and FaunaDue to this national park consists of the mixed forest, drydipterocarp forest, dry-evergreen forest, hill-evergreen forest and moutain-pine forest lets you can find many kinds of plant such as Tectona grandis Linn.f., Dipterocarpus, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Xylia kerrii, Hopea odorata Roxb, Toona ciliata, Afzelia xylocarpa, Diospyros mollis Griff., D. fusca, Rose wood, Terminalia alata Heyne ex Roth., Queen's Crape Myrtle , Queen's Flower, Anisoptera costata Korth., Mammea siamensis (T. Anderson ) Kosterm., Stereospermum spp., Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb., Shorea obtosa, Shorea siamensis and Pteridium aquilinum var. wightianum, etc. Moreover, the important low-level plants such as bamboo, palm and fern also have been found here.Found animals here are Serow, Tigle, Bear, Deer, Common wild pig, Common Barking deer, White-handed gibbon, Monkey, Viverra megaspila, Rabbit, Silver Carp, Idian or Bengal Monitor and 200 kinds of birds also could be found in this national park, such as White-rumped shama, Scarlet Minivet, Spotted dove, Emerald Dove, Eudynamys scolopacea, Guineafowl, Coucal, hill myna, Parrot, Crested Serpent-eagle, Green peafowl, Siamese Fireback, Red Junglefowl, etc

Op Luang National ParkP.O.BOX 2, Hang Dong Sub-district, Amphur Hod Chiang Mai Thailand 50240Tel. 0 5331 5302 Fax 0 5383 1432

Credit Source : http://www.dnp.go.th/index_eng.asp

Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park

General Information

Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park, located in Amphur Mae Eye, Amphur Fang, Amphur Chai Prakarn of Chiang Mai Province, consists of complicated geography which is a part of a watershed called Dan Lao Mountain Range. It is the productive forest which not only has a great number of plants and animals but also beautiful natures, for examples, Huai Bond Cave, Hot-mineral Water Pond, Hot Spring and Mae Jai Stream. It is an importantly traveling place of Chiangmai Province. Traveler can take convenient ways to get there. It is 524 square kilometers, and has been declared a national park since September 4, 2000.

ClimateThe temperature in this area is approximately 25 degrees Celsius all the year round; it is about 14 - 19 degrees Celsius on November to February, the highest temperature is 39 degree Celsius on April and heavy rain on May to September approximately 1,184 mm. of rain all the year round.

Flora and FaunaThe forest is productive and consists of semi-evergreen forest, montane forest, pine forest (coniferous forest), mixed forest and deciduous forest which have many kinds of economically valuable plants such as Malabar ironwood, wild Euphorbiaceae, Yang, Burmese ebony, Lagerstroemia, Teak wood, wild champak and emblic myrabolan etc. And more importantly, there are rare floras such as Impatiens jurpioides T. Shimizu and Rhododendronwhich which can be normally found in Doi Pha hom Pok.

The forest of Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park is on complicated mountain and in contact with the forest of Myanmar so that makes many kinds of wild animal migrating into this area regularly. And because it is the productive forest so that makes it have a number of animals, for examples, mammals such as barking deer, deer, bear, wild bore, loris and mountain goat—a reserve animal of Thailand, birds such as turtledove and purple cochoa--found only in Northern Thailand, and nearly extinct butterfly such as Imperial Butterfly, Kaiser Butterfly and Phutan Butterfly.

Doi Phahompok National ParkP.O. Box. 39, Pong Nam Ron Sub-district, Amphur Fang Chiang Mai Thailand 50110Tel. 0 5345 3517-8 Fax 0 5345 3517-8 ต่อ 104

Credit Source : http://www.dnp.go.th/index_eng.asp

Doi Suthep National Park , THAILAND

General Information

Doi Suthep-Pui used to be known as Doi Oi Chang. Its new name comes from the name of a hermit, Prarusiwasuthep who lived at Doi Suthep-Pui was a protected forest. In 1973, The Royal Forest Department decided that Doi Suthep and 13 other forest areas in the country should eventually be national parks. The Royal Forest Department sent Mr.Panya Boonsomboon to survey the area.After that, the national park committed decided that only forest in good condition should be included in Doi Suthep-Pui National park and areas occupied by villagers should be excluded.

In 1981, as the 24th national park of Thailand which encompasses 161.06 square kilometers. The following year, an additional 100 square kilometers were annexed to the park, bringing the total to 261.06 square kilometers.TopographyDoi Suthep, Doi Buakha and Doi Pui are the three main peaks in the park. The highest peak, Doi Pui, rises to 1,685 meters above mean sea levels.ClimateBecause of the high altitude, the weather on the upper slopes of the mountains is cool and pleasant all year even in hot season, average temperature is about 20 - 23 degree celsuis. In the cool season, the air is cold and clear. Temperature can drop as low as 6 degree celsuis in February, August and September are the wettest months with rain falling daily.Flora and FaunaThere are two basic types of forest on the mountain: Deciduous forest below about 1,000 m elevation and evergreen forest above. The deciduous is further divided into two kinds, deciduous dipterocarp-oak Forest in the driest areas and mixed evergreen deciduous forest along streams and gullies. Common species are trees of the families Dipterocarpaceae, Fagaceae and Magnoliaceae.Wildlife in the park includes common muntjac, wild boar, macaque and other small mammals. More than 300 species of birds can be seen here, including red junglefowl, pheasants, eagles, parrots, bulbuls and minivets. Rare species of amphibian, the crocodile salamander that can be found in only four localities in Thailand, one in Doi Suthep.

Doi Suthep-Pui National ParkHuai Kaew road, Suthep Sub-district Amphur Muang Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Thailand 50200Tel. 0 5321 0244 Fax 0 5321 2065

Credit Source : http://www.dnp.go.th/index_eng.asp

Link to …http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_MaiMap Chiang Mai

Doi Inthanon National Park

Doi Inthanon National Park covers the areas of Sanpatong District, Chomthong District, Mae Chaem District, Mae Wang District, and Toi Lor Sub-district of Chiang Mai Province within an approximate area of 482 square kilometers. The National Park consists of high mountains, including Doi Inthanon, which is the highest mountaintop in Thailand and the source of many rivers such as Ping River, where the Bhumipol Dam is situated and generating the electrical power. The National Park has beautiful natural scenery such as waterfalls, particularly Mae Ya Waterfall, which is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand.

Historically, the mountain of Doi Inthanon was refered to as Doi Ang Ka. Prince Intharawichayanon, the last ruler of Chiang Mai, realized the importance of the country’s forests, especially in the north, where the forest serve as the watershed for the country. He was interested in helping and supporting people who were investigating the history in his area. So he requested that his body must be placed on the summit of Doi Ang Ka. After his death, the mountain was renamed Inthanon, a short version of his name. Today, visitors can see the Inthanon Wichayanon stupa on the summit of Doi Ang Ka.

Topography

The geographical features of the National Park consists of high mountains, including Doi Inthanon, which is the highest mountaintop in Thailand (2,565 meters above the sea level), followed by Doi Huamodluang (2,330 meters above the sea level). Doi Inthanon is the source of many rivers including Mae Klang, Mae Pakong, Mae Pon, Mae Hoi, Mae Ya, Mae Chaem, Mae Khan, and being part of Ping River, where the Bhumipol Dam is situated and generating the electrical power.

Climate
Since the National Park is located at 2,565 meters above the sea level, it has cold weather and high humidity throughout the year, particularly on the top of the National Park. In winter, the temperature at the National Park is below 0„ac. And in summer, despite hot weather in central Chiang Mai and nearby districts, it is still freezing on the top of Doi Inthanon and tourists should be prepared with thick clothes.

Flora and Fauna
The forest in the park is one of the country’s very significance and valuable heritage. Forests include Moist Evergreen Forest, Pine forest and Mixed Deciduous Forest, worth in economic like teak and mountain pine. Dipterocarp spp. Xylia xylocarpa, Pterocarpus, macrocapus Terminalia sp. and Lagerstroemia sp. to name a few. In addition to these, there are many beautiful flowers including vanda orchid, phycastylis and rhododendron. Sphagnum Moss and osmanda fern are found at higher levels in the park. fifty years ago, the mountain peaks were home of hill tribe people. The biggest village was Ban Khun Klang, whose agriculture method was often destructive to the forest ecosystem. Currently the several Royal Projects, assists the villagers in growing cold-climate fruit such as strawberries, grapes and apples as well as flowers. The number of wild animals in the park is decreasing the encroachment. The animals are hunted and their habitats are destroyed for agriculture. The remaining animals include serpent, gibbons, tigers, deer, wild boars, Siamese hares and Red Jungle fowls.

Because of its broad altitudinal range and the cool climate of its upper reaches, the park supports the largest number of bird species of any site in Thailand. The Center for Wildlife Research at Mahidol University records a present total of 362 species and expects addition many at the summit are migrants from northern Asia. Species restricted to Doi Inthanon are Ashy-throated Warbler and an endemic race of the Green-tailed Sunbird; the park is the only site where the Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush and the Yellow-bellied Flower pecker are known to over summer and probably breed.

Doi Inthanon National Park119 Ban-Luang Chomtong Chiangmai 50160 Amphur Chom Thong Chiang Mai Thailand 50160Tel. 0 5328 6728, 0 5328 6730 Fax 0 5328 6728

Credit Source : http://www.dnp.go.th/index_eng.asp