Mae Sariang - Northern Thailand http://www.mae-sarieng.com Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:13:43 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Auk Paansa Celebration 2009 http://www.mae-sarieng.com/auk-paansa-celebration-2009.html http://www.mae-sarieng.com/auk-paansa-celebration-2009.html#comments Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:47:42 +0000 http://www.mae-sarieng.com/?p=206 Khow Paansa – or Buddhist Lent -  is a time when monks renew their commitment to follow the precepts of Buddhism. For the three months of the Rainy Season, monks generally remain in their temples, intent on study and meditation.

Wat Prathat Chom Thong

Awk Paansa Day marks the end of both Lent and the Rainy Season. It is traditionally held on the first day of the waning moon in the 11th lunar month. In 2009, that was the first weekend of October.

Lantern Balloons at Wat Prathat Chom Thong

The streets are brightened up with masses of coloured lights, palm leaves and illuminated paper lanterns, sculptures and structures.

It Rained on the Parade

The celebration culminates with a colorful noisy procession which, in 2009, unfortunately coincided with a torrential downpour!

More images in the Gallery

]]> http://www.mae-sarieng.com/auk-paansa-celebration-2009.html/feed 0 1194 – Ban Mae Sam Laeb http://www.mae-sarieng.com/1194-ban-mae-sam-laeb.html http://www.mae-sarieng.com/1194-ban-mae-sam-laeb.html#comments Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:34:25 +0000 http://www.mae-sarieng.com/?p=166 Ban Mae Sam Laeb is a small border trading village perched on stilts along the steep banks of a stream flowing into the Salween River. Basically a single lane, with shop-houses on one side and a mountain-side on the other, its the entrance to the Salween River for boat trip excursions (also spelt Salawin, Salaween).

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The river is the border between Thailand and Myanmar for approx 250 kms. Boat trips in Wet Season are not without dangers!

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The road is not without its problems either and adds a new dimension to travel in Wet Season. A severe rain event caused some headaches for the local authorities in Aug/Sept 2009, as the following images illustrate.

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No idea what the driver of this truck did – location was just over the crest of the ridge-line, on the Ban Mae Sam Laeb side… He’d made it up ok and the only explanation is I could guess at was that as he went over the top and started down, he discovered his brakes weren’t working… and opted for the ditch and the bank.

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There are some scenic gems along the way, and the luxuriant greens of rice paddies with a jungle backdrop are stunning.

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