fah-thai-magazine-march-april-2017-in-flight-magazine-of-bangkok-airways

HAPPENINGS
THAILAND
CHIANG MAI & up north
SPOTLIGHT
Poi Sang Long Festival
Poi Sang Long (Festival of the Jewelled Sons), also known as Buad Luk Kaew
(Ordaining the Beloved Sons), represents one of the most important annual events for
the Thai Yai people in Mae Hong Son province and takes place just before the Buddhist
rain retreat period or Buddhist Lent. Considered a rite of passage ceremony for young
boys entering monastic life, the festival begins soon after the school year ends.
Groups of boys in full Sang Long dress travel from temple to temple to participate
in ceremonies. The ritual climaxes on the third day with an evening event featuring
traditional Thai Yai music and dance. April 1 to 4. festivalsofthailand.com
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Busy Bees
The importance of bees, beekeeping, and the relationship to the
environment can’t be underestimated. This is made most apparent
at Chiang Mai’s Bee Conservation and Breeding Centre, one of
Thailand’s most interesting agri-tourism spots. Located just 10
kilometres from Chiang Mai, the centre undertakes research to
support beekeepers in Northern Thailand. Visitors should contact
the centre beforehand and proceed in learning about the life
cycles of bees in lectures from bee experts. tourismthailand.org
A Potter’s Tranquil
Earth
The verdant hills north of Chiang
Rai provide the natural resources
for Doy Din Dang Pottery (red clay
hill) while the surrounding tranquil
landscape provides the inspiration.
After an apprenticeship with a
master potter in Japan, Somluk
Pantiboon returned to his
native Chiang Rai to set up a
pottery studio in 1991. Now an
internationally renowned artist,
Somluk also spent years training
local villagers to become skillful
potters. His kiln fires and produces
vases, bowls, and teapots with his
signature designs. While serving
an age-old function, his works
also showcase a blend of the
contemporary and the traditional.
dddpottery.com
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