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Mae Hong Son Province
From Wikitravel
Contents
Mae Hong Son Province is a region in Northern Thailand.
[edit] Cities
- Mae Hong Son - the picturesque little provincial town with lush valleys
- Mae Sariang - slowly becoming popular with those wanting to trek away from the crowds of Pai
- Pangmapha (Soppong) - a small town with a predominantly hill tribe population between Pai and Mae Hong Son
- Pai - a laid-back backpacker atmosphere and a good starting point for trekking tours
- Mae La Noi - small town in the Mae Hong Son loop
[edit] Other destinations
[edit] Understand
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 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. 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 rulers 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 destinations” for visitors. Daily flights into its small airport bring growing numbers of tourists, attracted by the spectacular scenery, numerous hill-tribe communities and soft adventure opportunities.
[edit] People
The Thai Yai (Shan) can be seen 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.
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’ and it is owned by a company. To go or not, that decision is up to you.
Tours can be arranged to the Padaung village from all the travel agencies in town but going with a guide can make it feel even more like a zoo. A better way to go is to simply hire a motorbike and go alone. For a more 'real' experience a local NGO [1] run non for profit tours [2] that help protect the cultural diversity of the indigenous people found in the area.
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[edit][add listing] Do
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[edit] Stay safe
[edit] Get out
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