Thailand - Mae Hong Son 2 (etc)
Photo Gallery of Mae Hong Son 2 (etc) in Thailand.
" Mae Hong Son " is about 300 km to the northwest from " Chiang Mai ", and it's close to the border btwn Thailand and Myanmar. If you go there by air from Chiang Mai, it will take about 40 minutes (if my memory is correct. :D ).
(From Bangkok, flew to Chiang Mai, then changed to an around 80-seat small airplane.
I had a little difficult time on the way back to Chiang Mai. (See appendix at the bottom)
This city is famous for " Long Neck Tribe " reported on a different page, " Wat Chong Kam " and so on.
Our guide says, " This city is, no thief (even if leaving a motorbike not locked, no one takes it away), no movie theater, no department store, but we have 7-Elevens. :D
- Around the airport
- Scenery of the city
- Wat Chong Kham / What Chong Klang
- Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu
- Wat Kam Ko
- God fish ?
- Pha Bong Hot Spring
[Mae Hong Son] Around the airport |
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| I went to Mae Hong Son by air transferred at Chiang Mai. I had really wanted to visit here at least once for a long, long time with high expectation, but unfortunately, it was rainy... :( (It was in the rainy season (it was in August) and not so a lot of tourists.) |
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| On the cloud (It is very fine, but ...) |
The airport 1 (Finally, reaches at Mae Hong Song airport.) |
The airport 2 (Mae Hong Son airport looks a train station.) |
The airport 3 (Scenery right after getting out there.) |
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| The airport 4 (I saw a picture of native costume list at the airport.) |
The airport 5 (" Tuk Tuk "; Thai convenient taxi in front of the airport.) |
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[Mae Hong Son] Scenery of the city |
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| Strolled in the city, but it was raining. I felt very sorry but I couldn't walk and check around enough... :( |
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| Before raining (Big parasol... ?) |
Rainy 1 (Scenery of the city.) |
Rainy 2 (A lot of people were riding a motorcycle holding an umbrella.) |
Rainy 3 (Scenery along the street.) |
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| Traffic signal (It shows how many seconds left to a green light.) |
Market (A market near the airport.) |
City mayor (The first mayor of Mae Hong Son.) |
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The old suspension bridge is a bit of a tourist spot these days. I tried and walk on the suspension bridge. Quite scary. :D ) |
Leaves of dye (In the picture, the left big leaves can be used as stock for making dye and as drug also. The red is not blood but from the leaves.) |
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[Mae Hong Son] Wat Chong Kham / What Chong Klang |
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Talking about Mae Hong Son, they have beautiful temples called " Wat Chong Kham " and " Wat Chong Klang " at the edge of a lake.
History of Wat Chong Klang(From an explanation board of this temple) - The temple was at first a pavilion for people to rest when they came to Wat Chong Mai (now in the area of Phra Pariyattitham school). Devout Buddhists then contributed money for the construction of the present building to replace the old one. 
Looks like the temple is illuminated at night. I'm afraid that this picture
is from their picture displayed on the wall. |
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| Wat Chong Klang 1 (Close-up.) |
Wat Chong Klang 2 (More close-up.) |
Wat Chong Klang 3 (Unfortunately, it's cloudy and rainy..) |
Wat Chong Klang 4 (Big Buddha statue in another building.) |
History of Chong Kham(From an explanation board of this temple) - Wat Chong Kham was built in 1827 by Phraya Singhanat Racha and Chao Mae Nang Mia, the ruler of Mae Hong Son, and his wife. It was the first temple built in the province. It was promoted to a royal temple in 1984. |
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Exhibition building(From an explanation board of this building) - Other objects of interest include thrty-three wooden human and animal figures representing scenes from the Vessantara Jataka. |
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| Display 1 (Inside of the building.) |
Display 2 (Painting.) |
Display 3 (Dragon.) |
Display 4 (A cat hiding from the rain. :D) |
[Mae Hong Son] Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu |
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" Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu " is located at the 424-meter summit
of Mt. Kong Mu. The view from the summit is wonderful. (I'm really afraid it was cloudy and rainy, though.. ) This temple is by the first king of Mae Hong Son. |
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| The Temple 1 (Close-up.) |
The Temple 2 (More close-up.) |
The Temple 3 (What is this ? Tiger ?) |
The Temple 4 (Bells.) |
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| The Temple 5 (Unfortunately, rain drops on the lens... ) |
The Temple 6 (Another angle.) |
The Temple 7 (Another building.) |
The Temple 8 (View from Mt. Kong Mu.) |
[Mae Hong Son] Wat Kam Ko |
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| " Wat Kam Ko " stands lonely. (The rainy weather gave me the feeling more...) Wat Kam Ko (From an explanation board of this temple) Kam Ko is a Tai word for Dok Bunnak in Thai or Ceylon ironwood flower. Wat Kam Ko is an old temple build in 1890 A.D. in a beautiful architectural style. |
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| Wat Kam Ko 1 (View of Chedi.) |
Wat Kam Ko 2 (Close-up.) |
Wat Kam Ko 3 (To inner shrine. Looks like Torii (shrine gate) in Japan.) |
Wat Kam Ko 4 (The yellow flag indicates Buddhism.) |
[Mae Hong Son] God fish ? |
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| By the way, this is a cave called " Tam Plaa " (Fish Cave). People say that fish of God is there. (Plaa: fish) Fishes called " Soro Brook Carp " swarm in this cave. Including this cave, this is a big national park. It has walking trails to enjoy nature. |
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| Tam Plaa 1 (This is " Tam Plaa " you might hear often.) |
Tam Plaa 2 (Fishes called "Soro Brook Carp" is gathering together.) |
Tam Plaa 3 (A lot of fishes. See ?) |
Tam Plaa 4 (Looking down into a hall, you will see it is very crowded with a lot of fishes.) |
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| Tam Plaa 5 (A monk statue (?) in the cave.) |
In the park 1 (Walking trail to enjoy nature.) |
In the park 2 (Tree, told that it grew up from the stone.) |
Water wheel (In old days, they got electricity using this wheel.) |
[Mae Hong Son] Pha Bong Hot Spring |
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| This is a hot spring called " Pha Bong Hot Spring ". In a big area, a vast hot spring spreads. But no one was in. :D (Only in winter, people enjoy hot springs .. ??) |
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| Hot spring 1 (Scenery of the site.) |
Hot spring 2 (Big pond, hot water comes from. Not so clear but the pond was giving off steam.) |
Hot spring 3 (This is where hot water comes from. A little away from the bridge in the picture left. It you touch the water, it is quite hot. :D ) |
Hot spring 4 (Bath houses around the pond. - Small bath: 50 Bahts. - Big bath: 400 Bahts.) |
Appendix: A little difficult time
Mae Hong Song where I wanted to visit with high expectation for a long, long time. I was really afraid that it was rainy but no one can control weather.
After visiting a lot of places including Long neck tribe, we went ahead to the airport to go back to Chiang Mai in the evening.
(We were planning to enjoy Thai northern diner at night in Chiang Mai.)
They have two flights to Chiang Mai. We were told that one of them had a problem and can not fly and it seemed our flight was being delayed. (Hey, prepare another airplane !)
Anyway, I thought this kind of thing might happen and tried to relax. Still, no announce.
One hour passes, and time passes more and more. It makes us worried more and more also.
Then finally the announce comes, " Attention please, attention please. Sorry, it's canceled today... " Great Scott !
In a moment, all tourists rushed away to somewhere in fevered haste. My wife and I also went crazy and asked the counter clerks what was happening, if they really didn't have another flight, or outcried ... however, canceled was canceled.
(Our dinner is running away ! Hungry !)
By all means, we wanted to go back to Chiang Mai and went out from the airport to find something to help us. Some mini buses were in front of the airport to go to Chiang Mai. (Really Quick !)
A lot of tourists started negotiating how much with them. While I didn't notice that, my wife also was negotiating with them. I didn't know how much but the deal was completed. (Great job !) With other 4 couples, we left Mae Hong Son toward Chiang Mai. It was almost sunset...
This bus was very speeding. From Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai, most of the roads are in mountains, that means they are winding like a snake. If I fell asleep, it's fine but this made me keeps awake because really scary.
While seeing the darkness of night lit by the light of the bus to kill time, sometime dogs went across slowly or 5 or 6 cows were sleeping on the road. Hair-raising... (Fortunately, the drive's skill seemed great. :D )
We took a restroom break once at a 7-Eleven on the way.
When we arrived in Chiang Mai at last, it was already past midnight... Whew !
Have a good sleep... :)
- Related Links:
- Mae Hong Song (Hotel Thailand - Thailand Hotels & Resorts Reservation Service)
- Mae Hong Song (Thailand for Visitors)
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