Phi Ta Khon Festival (June 26-28)
Dan Sai District, Loei District and Province

The Phi Ta Khon festival (phi means ghost) is unique to the Dan Sai district in Loei Province and reflects the local Isan belief in ghosts and spirits. Held once a year, it is part of a grand merit-making festival known as the "Boon Luang" festival.

The origins of the Phi Ta Khon Festival can be found in the tale of Lord Buddha's last great incarnation before attaining Enlightenment. In Buddhist accounts, it is said that when Prince Vessandara, the Buddha's penultimate incarnation, returned to his city, it was such a joyous occasion that the village spirits came forth to join the welcoming parade. This very colourful and vibrant Phi Ta Khon procession is the central focus of the celebrations.

In a lively re-enactment of the tale, the young men of the community dress up as "spirits" wearing long trailing costumes made from colourful strips of cloth sewn together.

The hideous-looking Phi Ta Khon mask which is made of dried sticky rice husk is painted in bright red, green or other colours, and features the characteristic long pointed nose.

This completes the transformation. The clanging sound of the square cowbells worn around the waist announces the presence of the spirits who wield phallic-shaped long-handled swords decorated with red paint. The good-natured, fun-loving spirits mingle among the crowd, teasing and amusing all who take part in the procession. Spectators and visitors are welcome to join in the fun.

There are two types of "spirits" featured in the Phi Ta Khon procession namely the "Phi Ta Khon Yai" — the supreme Phi Ta Khon, and the "Phi Ta Khon Lek", the ones that are commonly found.

Villagers dressed up as ghosts with long colourful marks who participlate in entertaining processions honouring spirits of long ago. Phi Ta Khon processions are part of the merit-making activities during June-July in Loei province, especially Den Sai district, on the border with Laos.

The festival begins early the first morning when the ghosts appear to tease villagers on their way to Den Sai. The ghostly procession, with dancers and entertainers, frolics its way towards the main temple, all the while teasing onlookers.

The second day, the Phi Ta Khon reappear to parade a sacred Buddha image around town, while monks recite the story of the Buddha's reincarnation. The Phi Ta Khon tease and play with their audience, cavorting around in grotesque, long-nosed marks made from coconut husks. Many are decorated with small bells, which jingle as the "ghosts" jump and dance around. Other Phi Ta Khon are armed with knives whose handles are carved into huge red phallic symbols. As can be imagined, the knives are prodded at women in the audience to provoke screams and laughter.

Thadition requires that the ghostly costumes must be hidden while they are being made, and always in a rice storage area. After the festival is over, the marks are usually thrown into the Man river, because the wearers are afraid of real ghosts. These days, however, the marks are sold to the hordes of tourists, who want them as souvenirs and wall decorations.

The making of the Phi Ta Khon Yai involves the performance of a sacred ritual to seek the blessings of the supreme powers before work on the Phi Ta Khon Yai masks can be initiated.

The ghosts, or Phi Ta Khon, wear fanciful clothes with beautiful and comic designs, or covered with blankets painted or drawn with different symbols. Although most of them are dressed to scare people, the occasion is truly fun-filled with performances, dancing and prancing. Cans and other apparel make up the decorative items, with cans tied to the leg or waist, creating noise that add to the fun of both performers and spectators.

It is also a task reserved exclusively for the descendants of families in which the tradition of making Phi Ta Khon masks has been practised for several generations. The Phi Ta Khon Yai is made of bamboo and is dressed in either male or female attire.

 

Phi Ta Khon Clip VDO

Thai food is known for its enthusiastic use of fresh (rather than dried) herbs and spices as well as fish sauce.

Thai food ranks as one of the world's great culinary arts. Today thousands of Thai restaurant are to be found around the world and the cuisine has earned a deserved reputation for its creativity, variety and of course, superb taste.

Although popularly considered as a single cuisine, Thai food would be more accurately described as four regional cuisines corresponding to the four main regions of the country: Northern, Northeastern (or Isan), Central, and Southern, each cuisine sharing similar foods or derived from those of neighboring countries. Southern curries, for example, tend to contain coconut milk and fresh turmeric, while northeastern dishes often include lime juice. The cuisine of Northeastern (or Isan) Thailand is heavily influenced by Laos. Many popular dishes eaten in Thailand were originally Chinese dishes which were introduced to Thailand mainly by Teochew people who make up the majority of the Thai Chinese. Such dishes include Jok, Kway teow Rad Na, Khao Kha Moo (also known as Moo Pa-loh) and Khao Mun Gai.

Instead of a multiple main course with side dishes found in Western cuisine, a Thai full meal typically consists of either a single dish or rice khao (Thai: ข้าว) with many complementary dishes served concurrently and shared by all.

Nowadays, Thai food is eaten with a fork and spoon but traditionally, it was eaten with the right hand. Only noodle dishes (and then mainly only the noodle soups) are eaten with chopsticks and a spoon.

Now, we recommend Thai food for health.

 

Nam Phrik Kung Sod

Key Benefits:

• Proper energy distribution
• Relatively low in total fat and saturated fat
• Fair amount of Cholesteral
• Fairly good source of dietary fiber and iron

 

Som Tum Thai (Papaya)

Key Benefits:

• Balance energy distribution
• Source of Protien
• Relatively low in total fat and saturated fat
• Fair Cholesteral content
• Good source of iron
• Vitamin C and dietary fiber-rich source

 

Som Tum Thai (Papaya-Carrot)

Key Benefits:

• Balance energy distribution
• Source of Protien
• Relatively low in total fat and saturated fat
• Fair Cholesteral content
• Good source of iron
• Vitamin C and dietary fiber-rich source

 

Tom Yum Kung

Key Benefits:

• Balance energy distribution
• Appropriate proportion of total fat, saturated fat and Cholesterol
• Good source of dietary fiber, Vitamin C
• Fairly good source of Calcium and Iron

 

Kaeng Liaeng Kung Sod

 

Key Benefits:

• Balance energy distribution
• Appropriate proportion of total fat, saturated fat and Cholesterol
• Good source of dietary fiber, Vitamin C
• Fairly good source of Calcium and Iron

 

Kaeng Phed Ped Yang

Key Benefits:

• Fair energy distribution
• Fairly high fat and saturated fat content
• Source of Protein
• Vitamin C-Rich source
• Good source of dietary fiber
• Fair source of Calcium and Iron

 

Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai

Key Benefits:

• Balance energy distribution
• Fair good proportion of total fat, saturated fat and Cholesterol
• Good source of dietary fiber
• Fairl amount of Vitamin C and Calcium

 

If you need learn to cook Thai food, Please see clip VDO and follow up their instruction, Have fun.

THAI FOOD Papaya Salad (Som Tum)

Baby panda joins celebrity list

 

Thailand animal lovers celebrate birth of a panda at Chiang Mai Zoo.

This has to be the Southeast Asia’s most famous zoo after global TV networks turned their lens on a remarkable new born baby; a female panda born at Chiang Mai Zoo, late May.

Mum and Dad, Lin Hui and Xuang Xuang, have lived at the northern Thailand zoo for the last six years, under a loan agreement with the Chinese Government that lasts just 10 years.

TV cameras from all major channels focused on the tiny tot made all the more famous because it was conceived by artificial insemination and marked a first for the Thai veterinarian team.  Thailand joins the US and Japan as the only countries to breed pandas in captivity.
Born 27 May, after six years of almost comical efforts to get the female panda pregnant, the birth surprised even zoo officials.  It turned out to be the month’s good new story rising above the usual negative news that swamps TV viewers.

It was all the more fascinating in the context of past efforts by zoo officials to get the two Chinese pandas to mate naturally.  Zoo keepers arranged a mock wedding and even showed them porn movies of other pandas mating. It was a dismal failure, until medical science came to the rescue.

Overnight, the baby was a world celebrity and the only sad note was news that within two years the baby panda would have to return to its homeland.

The panda family is the biggest draw at Chiang Mai Zoo, earning a treasure chest in gate fees that have reached an astronomical figure. You would have to be a football star to attract a fan club of the size the panda family has drawn to the zoo.

Tourists and residents flock to this northern zoo to watch these rare creatures in their posh quarters.

Leading the family’s admirers, Thailand’s Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjaijiva, says he will check out if China might be prepared to relax regulations and allow the baby to stay beyond the two years stated in the loan contract.
If successful, the baby could possibly remain with mum and dad until their stay in Thailand concludes in another four years.
While sensitive talks between PMs unfold the zoo is planning to celebrate the panda’s birth in style.

Thousands of visitors are expected to visit the zoo just to see this tiny tot a rare site for travellers interested in these cute and iconic creatures.
Since the grown-up pandas arrived, the zoo’s gate rose to around 3,000 visitors on a weekend.  But there is a good deal more to see at this zoo. It is credited with being probably the best in the country and even has a night safari zoo.

There are various activities arranged by the zoo to attract visitors. This month, 12 to 21 June the zoo hosts the World Animal Art and Photo Gallery, that encourages visitors and residents to enter their favourite animal photos in a contest. They have to depict animals smiling, not an easy task if the subject is a crocodile.  In addition, the zoo features a water colour painting workshop; rare animal photo auction, finger paint, photo fair and gallery. Check out www.a-plusgroup.com

Chiang Mai, Thailand, is the second largest city, is considered the capital of Northern Thailand. Chedis gold and elaborately decorated temple abound.The atmosphere and slow pace of life is very good to say the least. This is a market where more frenetic. Northern and pace of travel experience that is not Thailand.

 
If you travel it is possible for the local residents of Northern Thailand, and shopping, you will get a much more satisfactory price. The problem is that without a two-tier structure for local people and tourists.

 
All displays are manufactured in the surrounding villages in the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar of the goods. BORSANG TAWAI and burn villages, such as handicrafts, representing the best value in its own time-limiting factor if the exhibition, Night Bazaar, is available in all areas of craft.

Also be found in the Night Bazaar, you can quench your thirst in bars and restaurants, there are a lot of the rest of the foot. To provide entertainment in a rational manner, then Chiang Mai is Thailands north of the most attractive tourist destinations in the price.

Night Market is best known in CHENMAINAITOBAZARUTAI is about 10 square blocks Chang Klan in central Chiang Mai up in the road. However, hundreds of street stalls in the past, spend a night exploring the indoor arcade is easy. Near the village  engineer to create a local artisan crafts and handmade products in the exotic beauty of the Night Bazaar is a great place to shop. In general, some very good values can be discovered by the quality, especially if you have experienced, the exchange is quite high.

 

Doi Suthep is the case, some distance to find the middle of the city of Chiang Mai Zoo. Waterfalls surrounded by magnificent forests and among the most popular day trip from Chiang Mai. Feeding the crocodile, is always a popular sight, mammals, reptiles, animals of all kinds can be seen in a natural setting for all kinds of birds.
If I have seen everything, they are a small cost to get from point to point you have to walk the Mini Zoo, you can jump the bus is pretty, and exhausting.
 

and the north of Thailand and home to real estate transactions, multi-task in that many of the state enterprises will immediately recognize the names of most visitors. Lamphun, and moat of its own, there are several historical temples. Haripunchai Lamphun is the former capital of ancient kingdom. Along the highway south 11 to Lampang, in the city by attracting tourists to the temple of it.

No more chat Kho Han car is near the temple. Claim to fame was the original home of the Emerald Buddha. It was the first monarch of the Buddha is stolen, now, GURANDOPARESUKURUNTEPU (you and I are present in Bangkok).

Mark is visible from the weapons of the time, the stone Chedi, which is made because there was a great play battle. There are original wooden temple, and visit with the great respect faithfully to this day.

It is worth visiting the city of Chiang Rai. To the north by car from Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao peak encountered in the identification of the end - another peak sustantial requires a cave under the possession of a great complex.
Further north, the DOI can leave a journey in the mountains and passed to the root key Angkhang - one of the last true wildernesses in Thailand before the hills of Myanmar, the stretch before.

The main road swings past Chiang Rai and Phayao input from the North and South. In addition there are about 30 more points in the northern part of Thailand's demand for prestige km north of Mae Sai. The border of Myanmar and Thailand called the Freedom Bridge.

 
Northern Thailand from the Myanmar, crossing is certainly not miss the experience. On the bridge is a hotbed of immiediately market and smuggling of cheap goods of all the colors.

The Maesai Market A steady flow of ruby rough is usually a daily occurrence with parcels ranging from several stones into 10’s and 20’s of carats, to smaller carat stones in 1/2 to 1 kg parcels. There are many temptations on the market, but one should spend the time in the market to sort out its many trends.

Also found on the market are sapphires from Sri Lanka, Cambodia and
Laos. Wherever there is a gem market, it seems that gem merchants find
the opportunity to travel to this northern destination to trade or sell gem goods from as far away as Africa, Afghanistan and Australia.

There are several small factories available for all the services required for gemstone production, including cutting, polishing, heat treatment and carving if necessary.