Maehongson- Mae Hong Son -

Mae Hong Son (Thai แม่ฮ่องสอน) (also Maehongson, Mae Hong Sorn or Maehongsorn) is one of the northern provinces (changwat) of Thailand, and at the same time the westernmost. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Shan State of Myanmar, Chiang Mai and Tak. To the west it borders Kayin State and Kayah State of Myanmar again. It was formerly called Mae Rong Son (also Maerongson, Mae Rong Sorn or Maerongsorn).

Mae Hong Son (The City of Three Mists) is nestled in a deep valley hemmed in by high mountain ranges, Mae Hong Son has long been isolated from the outside world. It is the most mountainous province in Thailand and composed of a total of 13, 814 square kilometers. It is virtually covered with mist throughout the year, the name refers to the fact that this terrain is highly suitable for the training of elephants. Former governors of Chiang Mai used to organize the rounding up of wild elephants which were then trained before being sent to the capital for work. Today, Mae Hong Son is one of the "dream destination" for visitors. Daily flights into its small airport bring growing numbers of tourists, attracted by the natural scenery, numerous hill-tribe communities and soft adventure opportunities.

Administrative divisions

The province is subdivided in 7 districts (Amphoe). These are further subdivided into 45 subdistricts (tambon) and 402 villages (muban).
1.Mae Hong Son 2.Khun Yuam 3.Pai 4.Mae Sariang 5.Mae La Noi 6.Sop Moei 7.Pangmapha

How to get there and Transportation

How to Get There : Mae Hong Son is a province in the northern part of Thailandand can be reached from Chiang Mai either by Highway No.108via Mae Sariang, for the distance of 349 kilometers, or by HighwayNo.1095 via Pai, a distance of 274 kilometers. Travelling will taketime due to winding road through several mountains.

The easiest way is to go by airplane from Chiang Mai which takesabout 30 minutes.

By bus

Bangkok-Maehonson-Bangkok ** about 17 hrs.
There are not so much for the bus service company for BKK-Maehongson-BKK , and I also don`t know many bus companies but the famous one that I think their service and car`s condition are good and I usually used for BKK-Choangmai-BKK is SombatTour companies and I heard that they are also have the bus service for BKK-Mahongson-BKK.

This is their bus information that I search from their company website
BKK-Maehongson **Departure from Mho-chit (northern bus station of Bangkok)
Departure - Arrive
15.00 - 7.00
18.00 - 10.00
20.25 - 10.25

Maehongson-BKK
Departure - Arrive
13.00 - 3.00
14.00 - 6.00
15.00 - 7.00

** This information may be changed , please confirm again in their Website http://www.sombattour.com/html/route/961.php or calling to them 02-9362495 to 9.

Chiangmai-Maehongson-Chiangmai

From Bangkok to Chiang mai and Chiangmai to Maehongson :
By bus, it takes 9-10 hours to travel from Bangkok to Chiangmai. Form Chaingmai to Maehongson about 7 hours. Bangkok to Chiangmai with more than 10 bus companies, you have the option of taking an ordinary bus, an air -conditioned private bus, an air -conditioned goverment bus. The bus finish at the Arkade ( bus station ) in Chiangmai city.

From Chiangmai to Maehongson province you can ask for schedule and take a ticket from many bus companies at Arkade bus station. From Chiangmai to Maehongson have 2 routes, first route is 1095 (Number hiways) pass Mae ma lai, Pai, Pangma Pha and go to Maehongson. The second route is 108 pass Sanpa tong(Chiangmai), Hod (Chiangmai), Maesa Riang, Maela Noi, Khun Yuam, and go to Maehongson.

Air
There is no directly flight for Bangkok to Maehongson but you can take a flight from Chiangmai to Maehongson or from Chiangrai with your convenience.
**Check more flight information here http://www.thaiair.com/

Internal transpotation

Motorbikes
Due to the lack of public transportation in the province the preferred mode of travels with local is motorbike. Mae Hong Son's roads however, are not in the best of condition.

Bicycles
These are popular with both locals and tourists and are the preferred mode of transportation in the own districts.

Car
Four-wheeled drive is the very much recommended form of transportation for travel into the mountains. The roads though, are known to be extremely dangerous.

Foot
For travel into the remote areas to visit hill-tribes, the only way to go is may be on foot.

Hitch-hike
This mode of travel in Thailand is only advised for routes which have no kind of public travel whatsoever. Army and police are always happy to pick up foreigners, but it is Thai-style when hitching for hikers to help pay the cost of the petrol.

Tourism

Mae Hong Son, bordering Burma, is one of the remotest provinces in Thailand. Tourists are attracted to the area due to its pristine virgin forests, spectacular mountains, lush valleys, indigenous wildlife and unique hill-tribes. Pai district has now evolved as Thailand 'hippiest' hang-outs, second only to Koh Pha-ngan.

Sights / Attractions

Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu (วัดพระธาตุดอยกองมู) erected by the first governor of Mae Hong Son, this temple reflects the strong influence of the Burmese. The highlights of this attraction are the two lavishly decorated pagodas. Also, this hilltop temple affords an exceptional aerial view of the city and surrounding mountains and valleys.

Tham Pla – Pha Suea National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติถ้ำปลา-ผาเสื่อ) This comprises as the following attractions:

Tham Pla (ถ้ำปลา) about 17 kilometres from town, is a popular attraction in Mae Hong Son. The surrounding areas are brooks and cool hilly forests. A special feature is the hollow cave filled with numerous freshwater fish known as Pla Mung or Pla Khang, which is of the same family as the carp. The fish are quite safe from being caught as they are believed to belong to the gods.

Namtok Pha Suea (น้ำตกผาเสื่อ), this waterfall is in Tambon Mokchampae about 26 kilometres from the provincial seat. It is a large fall with its water source in Burma and runs full during the late rainy season.

Ban Rak Thai (บ้านรักไทย), this village is situated 44 kilometres from Mae Hong Son via Namtok Pha Suea near the Thai-Myanmar border. Founded by Kuomintang Chinese soldiers, the village is famous for its views and tea cultivation. An annual Tea Tasting Festival is held at Ban Rak Thai in February.

Wat Nam Hoo (วัดน้ำฮู) at Tambon Wiang Tai, located 3 km. from Pai hospital. This temple housed Phra Un Mueang, sacred Buddha image in Lanna style, 500 years of age, in the attitude of Subduing Mara (victory over Mara). The head of the image could opened and always appears water seepage inside.

Huai Nam Dang National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติห้วยน้ำดัง) 65km from the district town has excellent views of the sunset, sunrise and misty mountains. Cherry blossom during January adds charms to the attraction.

Bua Tong Fields at Doi Mae U-Kho (ทุ่งดอกบัวตองดอยแม่อูคอ) The Dok Bua Tong (may be classified as wild sunflowers) blooms during November painting the entire hilly area of Doi Mae U-kho in colorful yellow draws flocks of visitors to Khun Yuam district.

Namtok Mae Surin National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติน้ำตกแม่สุรินทร์), given national park status in 1981, this natural wonder, which straddles Mueang and Khun Yuam districts, encompasses a wildlife and botanical reserve, a huge waterfall and a terraced mountain.

Wat Chong Kham (วัดจองคำ) is located on the bank of the swamp Nong Chong Kham and was built in 1827 by Thai Yai artisans. The pillars are gilded with gold flakes. The temple houses a large Buddha statue with a lap width of 4.85 metres cast by Burmese craftsmen.

Phu Klon Country Club uses natural black mud which has skin care and therapeutic benefits. The area has now been developed into a spa resort.

Activities

Rafting along the Pai River is a popular recreation. There is a lot of rafting pass rapids and natural scenery including waterfalls.

Mountain Biking is a suitable mode of travel for those wanting to experience the forest and some of the tracks are very narrow.

Treks are popular with visitors who wish to enjoy the nature and view the variety of hill-tribes. The trek is often combined with jungle walks with elephant riding and river rafting.

Elephant Trekking is known all over Thailand for its sturdy and strong elephants and many tourists take the opportunity in Mae Hong Son to ride an elephant.

Spa Mae Hong Son is not well-known for its spas but spa service is given at a few of the top places-to-stay in the provincial town and Pai district.

Local Products

Being in a cool valley, Mae Hong Son is suitable for tea-growing. The main area of tea plantations is at Ban Rak Thai, a village near the border between Thailand and Burma.
The traditional headgear called "Kup" worn by the Thai Yai is wide-brimmed with taper top. Together with bamboo blinds and Karen woven fabrics, they are quite popular items to buy among visitors. Centers sell a variety of hand-made products from woven fabric to wickerware.

Nightlife

In regards to nightlife, Mae Hong Son has very little besides the odd karaoke joint and open air restaurants selling alcohol and playing music. Pai District on the other hand is a mini Costa-del-sol with a countless amount of bars and live music venues – they can get very rowdy though.

Culture & Life-style

Thai Yai (Shan)
The Thai Yai are resident along the northern border with Burma. They may at one time have been the most numerous of the ethnic Thai tribes that stretch across Southeast Asia. A large group settled in Mae Hong Son.
The Thai Yai culture has had a strong influence on the province, as can be seen in its architecture. Although a part of the Lanna region, the indigenous Thai Yai people living in Mae Hong Son are faced with very cold weather during winter and extremely hot weather in the summer, with mist or fog practically throughout the whole year. Not surprisingly they have had to adapt to the environment. As a result, their architectural style has developed into something different from other Lanna communities. Their living quarters are usually built with tall floors and low roofs, the sizes differing according to one's social status and position. Homes of the ordinary folks are usually with one single level of roof, while those of the local aristocrats have two or more levels forming a castle-like shape. The space thus provided is believed to help air circulation. An interesting feature of the Thai Yai style is the perforated designs along the eaves which are an architectural identity of the area.

Padaung (Long-necked Karen)
The Padaung are a sub-group of Karen refugees originating from the eastern Burmese state of Kayah on the Thailand border.
The Karen themselves are not one single group but rather a loose mix of closely related tribes. Among the smallest of the Karen tribes in Thailand are the Karen Padaung. This group's women are strikingly recognized for the large brass rings they wear around their necks, thus lengthening them. They number less than 40,000 people in total. The Padaung call themselves "Lae Kur" or "Kayan" and they have their own unique language which originates from Tibeto-Burmese.
Located very near the provincial town is a settlement of Padaung and this village is one of the major tourist attractions in the area. Some people do complain though, that the village looks a bit like a 'human zoo'

Local Food

Typical northern food consists of:
Nam Prik Ong is a type of chili paste which is made of minced pork and tomatoes. It is usually eaten with soft-boiled vegetables, pork crackling or deep-fried crunchy rice cakes.

Nam Prik Noom meaning in English Chili Paste Young Man, is another kind of paste that is extremely popular in the north and eaten also by Thais of all regions. It is often eaten with pork crackling.

Sai Ua is a local sausage that is very aromatic and spicy and usually is eaten with sticky rice.

Kaeng meaning curries are not made of coconut milk in the north.
Kaeng Hang-Le is northern-style pork curry.
Kaeng Om is a spicy curry consisting of intestines.
Kaeng Khae is a spicy curry consisting of vegetables.
Khanom Chin Nam Ngiao is a traditional noodle dish with chicken of the North.
Khao Soi is another popular noodle dish which can be made from chicken, pork or beef. What makes it unique is that it contains coconut milk and it is garnished with garlic.
Thai Yai Specialities Kaow Som is cooked rice mixed with turmeric. It is then mixed with tomato into a small ball and eaten with fried chilies and green peas.

Kaow Lhueng is cooked rice mixed with turmeric. It is then made into a small ball and sprinkled with fried onion. It is usually eaten with pork balls.
Kaow Kan Jeen is cooked rice mixed with the blood of fowls and steamed with fried onion. It is eaten with fried chilies.
Tua Pae Yee & Tua Pae Lau looks like normal bean .Tua Pae Yee is a dipped fried soybean and Tau Pae Lau is a fried soybean with salt.
Souy Tamin is a dessert, made of sticky rice, coconut milk and sugarcane sugar.

festival and Religion

As most of the people in Maehongson were (and many still are) farmers, the traditional ceremonies that take place throughout the year reflect the rhythms of rice cultivation.

In December(Shan people call this month duan jeng) and January (duan gum), during the cold winter months after the rice has all been harvested, the local people make khao lam, which is a kind of sweet made from cooking rice inside bamboo sticks, and khao buk, which is steamed sticky rice pounded with sesame seeds. These sweets are made as offerings to Buddha and also to give out to friends and neighbors. During this time there are no specific religious festivals.

In February(duan sam) the people celebrate the tradition of khao ya goo by giving out red sticky rice parcels. They make these by first of all steaming the sticky rice and mixing it with sugar cane, coconut and peanuts. They take the rice cakes to the temple to make offerings and also give them out to their friends and neighbors.

In March(duan see) heralds the start of the very important festival of Poi Sang Long, which is the ordination of young Shan boys as novice monks.

In April (duan ha) there is the festival of Songkran, during which time the people prepare food and offerings to take to make merit at the temples.

In May (duan hok) the festival of Poi Ja Dee takes place, during which time the people collect sand and take it to the temples to make little chedis in the temple grounds during the time of the full moon and they all join together to make merit.

In June(duan jed) the people make offerings to the village spirits at various sites throughout the area.

During July, August and September (duan bet, gao, sip) the tradition of Dang Som Doh Long is held, which consists of making offerings of specially prepared food for the older people who are spending the Buddhist Lent months in the temples.

In October(duan sipet) the festival of Hen Som Go Ja is held, which consists of making offerings to relatives who have already passed away. There are also celebrations to mark the end of the Lent season, or Jong Para. During the evening the people make processions carrying hand made castle like structures (to welcome the Buddha back from heaven where he went during the Lent season to visit his mother) to the temples, or else place them outside their homes to bring merit to their families. During these ceremonies there is music and dancing. Mostly the dancing is done by dancers dressed up as mythological creatures, such as the mythological half bird-half human ginaree and the mythological yak, which is held by two dancers, rather like a pantomime horse.