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Chiang Mai - Khantoke Dinner, Thai dance


Photo Gallery of the delicious dinner "Khantoke Dinner" and Thai dance in Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand.

Chiangmai is the largest city in Northern Thailand, about one hour from Bangkok.  It was the capital of " Lanna Thai ", the ancient kingdom in the north of Thailand.
(Lannathai kingdom: Founded by King Meng Rai in 1296 with Chiang mai as the capital.)
Finger Nail Dance
Finger Nail Dance or Fawn Leb is the well-known Thai dance in Chiangmai in the northern Thailand. The characteristic of the dance is its graceful movements and performers' long finger nails. The dance is held to welcome someone such as welcoming ceremonies for state guests.
One of the special pleasures to visit Chiangmai is, you can enjoy the Northern Thailand's traditional food, "Khantoke Dinner" while watching classical Thai dance show.

There are restaurants where you can watch the graceful Thai dance and the tasty Khantoke dinner in Chiangmai and we visited one of them called the Old Chiangmai Cultural Center.




Chiang Mai - Khantoke Dinner

Khantoke is a low round wooden table with several short legs used as a dining table for special occasions.

There are two types of Khantoke:
  • 1) Yuan Khantoke: made of teak and used mainly in Northern Thailand.
  • 2) Lao KhantokeFmade from bamboo strips and woven rattan and used used in northeastern Thailand, Laos and in the south of China.

Khantoke is explained like below at the Old Chiangmai Cultural Center:
  • It started to be used as a dining table on celebratory ceremonies such as weddings in the era of Lanna Thai, in the 1200s. It is very recently to use Khantoke not only for ceremonies.
  • Soup and a basket of fried banana or potato are served first, and after that, Khantoke is prepared. Typical food on the table are below;
    1. Fried chicken 
    2. Burmese style pork curry
    3. Stir fried cabbages
    4. Pork tomato-chili paste
    5. Crispy Pork Skin
    6. freshly sliced cucumber
    7. Fried vermicelli (fried noodles)
    These food above in each bowl are served on the Khantoke table in the shape of flower. When food in a bowl is gone, they will serve it in the bowl.
  • Sticky rice in a small woven bamboo basket and plain cooked rice are served as well.

From the explanation above, the round red table you can see below is the Khantoke, right ?
The restaurant
Thai old-fashioned style.
Entrance
We came to the entrance by courtesy bus.
Go into the restaurant
Already a lot of visitors.
You'll see
Plates are prepared like this.
The restaurant
Thai old-fashioned style.
Entrance
We came to the entrance by courtesy bus.
Go into the restaurant
Already a lot of visitors.
You'll see
Plates are prepared like this.
Stage in the center
You'll see a Thai dance show on the stage.
Khantoke Dinner 1
Now, Khantoke dinner time has come !
So tasty ! Several kinds of food in each bowl are on the table. You can have refills for free. How wonderful ! :D
Stage in the center
You'll see a Thai dance show on the stage.
Khantoke Dinner 1
Now, Khantoke dinner time has come !
So tasty ! Several kinds of food in each bowl are on the table. You can have refills for free. How wonderful ! :D
Khantoke Dinner 2
The center in the picture is a pork curry (Gaeng Hang Lay) and it's my favorite.
Musical band
Musical band with traditional Thai musical instruments on the stage.
Lamps
Lamps on the ceiling.
Now, it's show time.
A lady has come to explain the Thai dance show.
Khantoke Dinner 2
The center in the picture is a pork curry (Gaeng Hang Lay) and it's my favorite.
Musical band
Musical band with traditional Thai musical instruments on the stage.
Lamps
Lamps on the ceiling.
Now, it's show time.
A lady has come to explain the Thai dance show.

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The first part: Thai dance

The Thai dance show has two parts:
  • The first part: Thai dance on the stage while having Khantoke dinner.
  • The second part: After the first part, the hilltribe show will be offered changing places. Let's follow people around you and check the amazing show.
Finger Nail Dance 1
Finger Nail Dance or Fawn Leb is the well-known Thai dance in Chiangmai in the northern Thailand. The characteristic of the dance is its graceful movements and performers' long finger nails. The dance is held to welcome someone such as welcoming ceremonies for state guests.
Finger Nail Dance 1
Finger Nail Dance or Fawn Leb is the well-known Thai dance in Chiangmai in the northern Thailand. The characteristic of the dance is its graceful movements and performers' long finger nails. The dance is held to welcome someone such as welcoming ceremonies for state guests.
Finger Nail Dance 1
Finger Nail Dance or Fawn Leb is the well-known Thai dance in Chiangmai in the northern Thailand. The characteristic of the dance is its graceful movements and performers' long finger nails. The dance is held to welcome someone such as welcoming ceremonies for state guests.
Finger Nail Dance 2
One of characteristics of the dance is performers' long finger nails. They wear really long nails.
Silk weaving dance ( or Fon Sao Mai)
It's a folk dance from silk weaving as an activity in a village life. It dates back to around 1957 A.D.
Silk weaving dance ( or Fon Sao Mai)
It's a folk dance from silk weaving as an activity in a village life. It dates back to around 1957 A.D.
Magic Fowls Dance 1
The dance is believed to be based on a story of Lampang province and Prae province in northern Thailand around 1100 A.D.
The story is about a prince and two sister princesses.
Finger Nail Dance 2
One of characteristics of the dance is performers' long finger nails.
They wear really long nails.
Magic Fowls Dance 1
The dance is believed to be based on a story of Lampang province and Prae province in northern Thailand around 1100 A.D.
The story is about a prince and two sister princesses.
Magic Fowls Dance 2
Prince ?
Magic Fowls Dance 3
One of princesses ?
Magic Fowls Dance 4
One of princesses ?
Magic Fowls Dance 2
Prince ?
Magic Fowls Dance 3
One of princesses ?
Magic Fowls Dance 4
One of princesses ?
Dance of a celebration (maybe)
It was created in 1927 A.D. to celebrate the tribute of a white elephant when King Rama VII visited Chiang Mai in 1927 A.D.
Candle Dance (Fon Tien)
This dance was created as a night version of Finger Nail Dance in 1927 when King Rama VII visited Chiang mai.
Dance of a celebration (maybe)
It was created in 1927 A.D. to celebrate the tribute of a white elephant when King Rama VII visited Chiang Mai in 1927 A.D.
Sword Dance
This dance was developed from an ancient martial art. They dance with 12 swords.
Sword Dance
This dance was developed from an ancient martial art. They dance with 12 swords.
Candle Dance (Fon Tien)
This dance was created as a night version of Finger Nail Dance in 1927 when King Rama VII visited Chiang mai.
Candle Dance (Fon Tien) 2
Romantic dance with candle lights on the dark stage.
Rumwong Dance (Circle dance)
The last of the first part is a dance with visitors.
Rumwong Dance (Circle dance)
The last of the first part is a dance with visitors.
Bye-bye
Dancers send you off at the exit.
Candle Dance (Fon Tien) 2
Romantic dance with candle lights on the dark stage.
Rumwong Dance (Circle dance)
The last of the first part is a dance with visitors.
Bye-bye
Dancers send you off at the exit.

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The second part: Hilltribe show

After the Thai classical dance of the first part, they will offer the second part at a different place from where you were having Khantoke dinner.
You don't need to hurry, it's okay to follow people around you.

In the second part, you can enjoy hilltribe dances that they inherited from their ancestors.
Stage
This is the stage. Visitors are coming one after another.
Drum dance
The second part starts with a drum performance.
Dance of Hmong ?
They appear and walk around with a piper at the head.
Rolling
Rolling on the ground while whistling the big recorder.
Stage
This is the stage. Visitors are coming one after another.
Drum dance
The second part starts with a drum performance.
This is to encourage warriors before a battle.
Dance of Hmong ?
They appear and walk around with a piper at the head.
Rolling
Rolling on the ground while whistling the big recorder.
Bamboo dance
The kids dance while escaping the opening-closing bamboos.
King Kala dance 1
King Kala is the king of birds in Ancient myths of Shan.
Bamboo dance
The kids dance while escaping the opening-closing bamboos.
Kids dance
Kids dance. Not sure which tribe.
Dance of Mien Tribe
I heard their cultural theme is manners and decorums.
Kids dance
Kids dance. Not sure which tribe.
Dance of Mien Tribe
I heard their cultural theme is manners and decorums.
King Kala dance 1
King Kala is the king of birds in Ancient myths of Shan.
King Kala dance 2
A back shot. Is it a wing of the bird king ?
King Kala dance 3
An animal dances with the king of birds. Lion ?
In the dark
One person dances in the very darkness. I have no idea which tribe.
Fire sword dance
This dance is held before wars.
King Kala dance 2
A back shot. Is it a wing of the bird king ?
King Kala dance 3
An animal dances with the king of birds. Lion ?
In the dark
One person dances in the very darkness. I have no idea which tribe.
Fire sword dance
This dance is held before going to wars.
Fire sword dance 2
This dance is held before going to wars.
Rice growners' dance 1
Dance to celebrate a bountiful harvest.
Fire sword dance 2
This dance is held before going to wars.
Rice growners' dance 1
Dance to celebrate a bountiful harvest.
Rice growners' dance 2
Dance to celebrate a bountiful harvest.
Dance of Akha Tribe
The Akha culture's theme is continuity.
Each Akha sees him/herself as a link in a chain of life.
Rice growners' dance 2
Dance to celebrate a bountiful harvest.
Dance of Akha Tribe
The Akha culture's theme is continuity.
Each Akha sees him/herself as a link in a chain of life.

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