Readme before you journey
Nan and the Missing Flowers
Nan Province: A Haven of Temples, Nature, Art, and Tranquility
Original Text: เมืองน่าน ' อาราม ธรรมชาติ งานศิลปะ และความสบายใจ '
Nan Province: A Haven of Temples, Nature, Art, and Tranquility
Notes:
- The translation maintains the original tone of simplicity and brevity.
- The translation avoids personal pronouns and colloquialisms.
- The translation is concise and uses the active voice.
- The translation is objective and does not evaluate the original text.
- The translation is of the same quality as a local speaker.
- The translation maintains the original HTML structure.
- The translation only translates the sentence or phrase, without answering questions or evaluating the task.
A year has passed since the trip, but the good memories remain.
It feels like just yesterday.
This trip was another one we took with my father.
The journey began with a desire to explore the north, but to a different province than Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai.
Images of 'Nan' have appeared online many times. The most memorable image for many people is probably the green rice terraces.
However, our free time will definitely not be like that.
An intriguing discovery emerged from my chronological search: the existence of unique "flowers" found exclusively in Nan, Thailand.
This is our mission for this journey.
DAY 1
On a Saturday morning, my father and I set out from Bangkok and arrived in Nan in the late morning.
Backpackers, worry not about travel.
From the airport, there are shared taxis available that will take you directly to your accommodation in the city for only 50 baht per person.
Upon exiting the airport, look to your left and you will find a shared taxi. If you have any questions or are unable to find a ride on your return trip, feel free to call Auntie Nui.
I must confess that this trip was planned on a very tight schedule.
Our first two nights' accommodation was booked at Hug Her Him, located in the city center for one night.
And another night, we will go up the mountain to look for flowers ^^
The final night's plan... has not been decided yet. True no-plan.
The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.
We were warmly welcomed by Jack, who was incredibly hospitable. As we were the only guests, we felt as if the entire house was ours.
Within walking distance from our accommodation, there are vehicle rental shops offering a variety of options for you to explore the local culinary scene and attractions at your own pace.
Having cycled for miles with my father in Chiang Khan.
This trip, I didn't want to be tough anymore because the Thai sun is so hot. So, I decided to be a "เด็กแว้น" (a young person who rides a motorcycle) instead. ^^
The first place to start exploring Nan in a simple way without any plans.
The correct starting point is at Wat Phumin.
Just as a first visit to Bangkok requires familiarity with Victory Monument, so too does a first visit to Nan necessitate an understanding of Wat Phumin.
This area is surrounded by temples, which are all major tourist attractions. Importantly, the "Tourist Information Center" is located directly opposite.
We can start everything here.
We request a map and various instructions from here.
For those seeking a more immersive tourist experience, the city offers a tram service. Despite having rented a car, my father and I decided to take a ride on the tram to enjoy the narrated tour. It was a delightful experience.
The main tram lines will take us along the route of historically significant temples, with stops at two locations:
**Ban Phra Koet community**, renowned for its traditional hand-crafted tung flags, and **Wat Tal Khu**, featuring an ancient well.
There is a passage through the ancient wooden house of Chao Fong Kham, but unfortunately it was closed for renovation during that time.
The Ban Phra Koet community, where the tradition of hand-weaving tung flags is still practiced.
Ancient wooden house
Apart from the locations visited by the tram, we, father and daughter, continued our exploration on our own.
Nan: A Tapestry of Temples and Unique Artistic Expressions
Nan, a province in northern Thailand, boasts a remarkable collection of temples, each possessing its own distinct character and artistic flair.
Wat Hua Wiang Tai, with its vibrant colors standing out against the sky, also features statues of Pu Man and Ya Man.
Wat Phra That Chae Haeng, the auspicious temple for those born in the year of the rabbit.
However, walking around the temple in the sun can be a bit jumpy, like a rabbit.
Golden Sri Pan Ton Day
Wat Phra That Chang Kham Worawihan
Another must-see attraction in Nan is the **legendary whispering love painting at Wat Phumin**.
“My love for you, my younger sister, I dare not keep it in the water, for fear of the cold.
I dare not keep it in the open air, for fear of the mist and the stars falling down and covering it.
I dare not keep it in the palace, for fear that the lord will see it and take it away.
So I keep it in my heart, in the chest of this man, so that it will make me laugh and cry, when I wake up in the middle of the night..."
After a tiring day of sightseeing, it's important to refuel and take care of your stomach.
Besides the beautiful temples, Nan's local cuisine is also a delight to the palate.
Visitors to this region should familiarize themselves with "Makhuen," a local plant.
It has a light, refreshing, and slightly spicy aroma, reminiscent of coriander seeds.
Fried chicken with ma-kwan (a type of Thai herb) at Huen Chaonang Rim Mae Nam Nan.
After a satisfying meal, take a stroll along the ancient city walls and capture some stylish photos for a memorable experience.
Or, if you prefer, you can go jogging like the city dwellers and enjoy the same sense of well-being.
Old City Wall
The mission for Nan city is not over yet. ^^
For those who have seen the sights of Nan, one of the must-see images is the Big Buddha standing next to a high-angle view.
We are passionate about capturing the beauty of twilight skies.
Witnessing the sunset is a form of nirvana, hence the direct route to Wat Phra That Khao Noi.
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Evening atmosphere at Phra That Khao Noi
The sun has set, casting long shadows as the wind dies down.
But our mission isn't over yet, so stay tuned!
On a cool evening like this, what could be better than finding delicious food and experiencing the city's nightlife?
The renowned Aunt Nim's shop, known for its lotus seed dumplings.
Aun Nim's dessert shop is incredibly delicious.
The shop is located directly opposite Wansri Pantan. It is famous for its lotus seed dumplings.
It seems that artists have previously used this in their songs.
In addition, we also serve refreshing treats, such as coconut ice cream paired with our signature dessert of black sticky rice and mango.
The sticky rice melts in your mouth with the cold ice cream, it's truly amazing.
"I don't usually eat the same thing twice, but if I go to this restaurant again, I'll definitely order it again!"
After indulging in sweet treats, we headed to the "Nan Walking Street".
Market walking with women is a natural pairing. Let's go and not waste time.
The Khwang Muang area, located in front of Wat Phumin, is a popular spot for local cuisine. While the focus is on northern Thai dishes, there are also some stalls selling traditional woven fabrics.
And if anyone wants to sit and eat, a khantoke will be provided for them to sit in the front courtyard of the temple.
The Kad Khwang Muang Nan market is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
DAY 2
Let's embark on a journey to find "flowers".
Start your day with breakfast from Jack Hug Him. It's a self-service system, so please wash your dishes after you're done. ^^
Today, we switched to a new vehicle because we need to climb mountains and hills.
This is a recommendation for a rental car from our lovely sister, Linda.
Due to the lack of plans, Linda kindly provided us with recommendations for places to visit during our return trip.
Before leaving the city, let's stop by and check in at another location in the city.
The first place we encountered 'flowers' that captivated us with their photographic potential.
That is the Lilawadi Tunnel at the "National Museum" itself.
Lilawadi Tunnel: A picturesque spot for photos in every season.
The National Museum is currently under renovation. Only the Black Ivory section is open for viewing.
After taking plenty of photos, it's time to hit the road.
Our destination today is Doi Phu Kha, Bo Kluea, and we will spend the night at Doi Phu Fa Development Project.
Along the way, there were also 'flowers', living up to the name of the flower-finding trip ^^
The sentence is already in English. Is there anything else I can help you with?
At Doi Phu Kha, we finally found the flower we were looking for, but it seems we arrived too late. The flowers have begun to wilt and fade.
Despite the initial setbacks, fate ultimately smiled upon us, bringing us together.
"Pink Phuka" is a flower that is only found here and is also an endangered plant.
The Pink Shower Orchid (Schomburgkia tibicinis) blooms only from January to early March.
This is the reason why I wanted to meet you.
Given this information, one might wonder why, if the species is nearing extinction, more efforts are not being made to cultivate it.
That's a question we've been wondering about too, haha.
After my father (an explorer) and I examined the area around this tree,
With other trees that the monks have cultivated, I have found the answer myself.
This is likely due to the fact that the Chompoo Phuka plant takes a very long time to grow and flower.
Despite seeing the trees planted around the temple ten years ago, they remain small.
It must have taken many years for this tree to grow and bloom as beautifully as it does now.
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And finally, the mission of our trip was successfully completed! ^^
But the excitement doesn't end there. There's more to come after this, so stay tuned for updates. We'll keep you posted!
#PetiteJourney
ชะนีขี้เที่ยว
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 3:42 PM
