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	---> MORE Destinations: _________________________________ New Perspective of Chiang Rai at Latitude 19 VISITING A BORDER TOWN: Mae Sot – then and now The Poy Sang Long Festival in Mae Hong Son The Samoeng Strawberry Festival Far Out and Cool in Fang District PICTURE PERFECT Mon Jaem Chiang Mai Reflections and a Night Safari Adventure Wat Palad: The Temple below the Temple The Bua Tong Waterfall Park The Cave and Hot Springs of the Mae On Area A DAY TRIP TO DOI INTHANON Two wheels good four wheels…er… The Sino-Thai Dragon Temple of Wat Tha Ton Doi Inthanon - Thailand’s Highest Mountain Kad Mua - an all-you-need market Chiang Dao High! Chiang Mai’s Red Cross and Winter Fair Loy Krathong at Tak A RETREAT TO... Kwan Yin Bodhisattva Hall Living with nature: Galyani Vadhana District Treasures of Myanmar A Journey to Shangri-La Pha Wing Choo – A Lover's Cliff Wiangtakan – The Past Remains Rural Life and Natural Mystery in Chaiprakarn Taking Aim at Chiang Mai's Shooting Gallery Chiang Mai - Maerim - Samoeng Route Hot Springs (and eggs) Ratchaphruek Festival 2009 The 5th Lanna - Japan Festival 2009 Make a Day of it at the New Look Night Safari Mae Sa Snake Farm Marine Lives in a Mountainous Zoo X-Centre Mae Hong Son, Pang Oong and much more along the way... Mae Kampong Village Tiger Kingdom Pai: The Hub of Joy Flower Festival Annual Bo Sang Umbrella Festival at Bo Sang Village Wiang Kum Kam: The Underground Ancient City Loy Kratong: The Town's Joyful Festival Monkey Centre Maerim, Chiang Mai Baankwai Thai Maerim Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden THE ROYAL PALACE ON DOI SUTHEP The Night Safari Ban Saonak Chae Son National Park Lamphun's Wat Chamathevi Doi Tao Lake Mae Sai Bai the Beautiful Wieng Kum Kam Mae Klang Luang Village Doi Pui - Hmong Tribal Village Nan Province Wat Suan Dok Chiang Saen: a city in myth and reality One Night in Chiang Rai and a day across the border A trip full of tour guides Two Days and a Night in the Country The Sumptuous Angkhang Gourmet Tour AWAY FROM IT ALL IN NEARBY MAE WANG Children's Day at the Westernmost Point of Thailand To Lamphun Along the Road of Histories ESCAPING TO PAI A WINTER TRIP ON THE PING RIVER To the Back of Beyond, right on your doorstep Visiting the Shrine of the Elephant-Headed God Visiting Samui Back to Nature at Opkhan National Park Lost in the Chiang Mai Zoo Three Days through the Northern Countryside DOING A NINE-TEMPLE KARMA TRIP - Right Here in Chiang Mai An Early Summer Trip to the Thi Lo Su Falls Nan: Forest, Temples and the Salt of the Earth TREKKING AND TUCKING IN: Wawee Coffee Plantation Mai Long Yee - Lovely Whatever Else You Call It Magnificent Creatures at Wat Changkham Off to See Some Mural Paintings in Lampang The Salawin and the People of Tha Tafang A Hike in the Forest A Journey back in time A Long Night of Luxury in the Chiang Dao Valley Ice-cold in Omkoy A Quick Visit to a Karen Wedding Strawberry Fields Forever A quick ride to Jaesorn National Park A Journey to Wawee A Birding Trip for Newbies Nam Bor Phi Cave A Breath of Sea Air Shopping With a Difference: Kad Luang Airport ELEPHANTS AND ORCHIDS AND THE SNACKS IN BETWEEN Monsoon Miscellany MAE RIM LAGOON AN IMPRESSIVE TRIP - to the Sukantara Resort Visiting Luang Prabang, the Pearl on the Mekong River Phrae: refreshing trip, auspicious visits Up on the Mountain (again) at Khun Wang UP THE MOUNTAIN TO THUNG LUANG SINGAPORE - City of Parks A Short Sight-Seeing Trip to the Monkey Centre GIVE PAI A TRY! You won’t regret it A BUSY DAY’S VISIT TO SANKAMPAENG A Rainy Day Outing to Phrao Monsoon Miscellany TRIPPING AND TASTING ALONG THE HANDICRAFT HIGHWAYS

Mae Hong Son, Pang Oong and much more along the way...

Mae Hong Son is one of Thailand's northern border provinces, hiding itself in the mountains with densely forested slopes. The little town of Mae Hong Son gives its visitors something different from other cities in the North as most of its residents are of Shan race who still maintain their ancestors' characteristics from the Shan region in Burma. Today, Mae Hong Son is one of the dream destinations for visitors from all over the world because of its spectacular scenery, numerous hill tribe communities and soft adventure opportunities, and daily flights from Bangkok and Chiang Mai into its small airport bring a growing numbers of tourists.

Pang Oong, or Baan Ruam Thai, is a recommended destination if you take a trip to the north. Pang Oong Park, established in 1984 under the Royal Project, is known for being an eco-travel destination, where you can spend your time relaxing under the pine shade that surrounds the large reservoir. Taking photos of Pang Oong's most romantic scenery is another popular activity because around every corner is an opportunity for a nice shot. Staying overnight is recommended when visiting Pang Oong in order to appreciate the morning scenery of the sunrise above the reservoir shining its golden rays through the mist about the water's surface. Pang Oong is beautiful in every season but the most crowded is the cool season. There are camping areas and rented houses, but during festive and high seasons you are recommended to make a booking for accommodation in advance.

There are many more attractions along the road up to Pang Oong. Baan Rak Thai is a village nearby Pang Oong and is the last village before the Thai- Myanmar border, around 44 kilometers from Mae Hong Son, whose villagers are mostly Chinese immigrants who moved from South China many years ago. The village is notable for its tea and wine industry and you can see how the tea is grown and harvested here, and taste some delicious Oolong tea; an annual Tea Tasting Festival is also held at Baan Rak Thai every February. Not far from the village is Pha Suea Waterfall, a beautiful spot for taking photos and trekking during the rainy season. If you feel exhausted from a long trip, stopping by Phuklon Country Club may be a good idea, because you can get face and body skin treatments using mud from a natural spa rich in minerals. Fish Cave or Uthiyan Tham Pla a small, relatively unknown national park by Highway 1095, around 17 kilometers from Mae Hong Son City, is a nice resting area because of the many Thai, northern and local food stalls and restaurants located here. At the mouth of the cave natural springs from beneath the mountain create a pool in which many large fish live. There are many different kinds of trees and plants around the cave in the area of the national park and a small river with such clear water you can see the sand at the bottom.

For more information about these and other tourist attractions along the road to Mae Hong Son, please contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mae Hong Son Office; Tel. 053-612 982-3 Fax. 053-61 2 984, email: tatmhs@tat.or.th or website www.travelmaehongson.org. Or discover them by yourself by flying or taking public buses from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son. From Mae Hong Son, follow the Mea Hong Son - Pang Mapha Route for approximately 10 kilometers. Then, take the left turn on the same route to Phuklone passing Pha Suea Waterfall. Turn left at the sign on the left which reads 'Baan Ruam Thai', and stay on the narrow road through Huai Makeua Som to Baan Ruam Thai or Pang Oong. The easiest way however may be to start from Pai district, where a number of tour agents offer tour packages to all the attractions along the way to Mae Hong Son.

Text: Pon
Images: W.B.