Post-Buddhist Lent Trip: Tham Nam Lod Cave, Hanging Noodles at Baan Jabo, and Sutongpe Bridge in Mae Hong Son

"I would like to capture a photograph of villagers offering alms to monks on the Sutongpei Bridge, with the backdrop of lush green and golden rice fields."

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This trip was inspired by… and it's located in the same area as the popular "Gkuay Tiew Lak Sip, View Lak Lan" at Baan Ja Bo, a must-visit for anyone coming to Mae Hong Son. The magnificent Tham Nam Lod cave is also nearby, making it easy to include both in this trip.

Four Months in Advance: Planning a Photography Trip to Capture the Golden Rice Fields

Four months before our trip, we started planning to capture the stunning scenery of the golden rice fields during the end of the Buddhist Lent period. We formed a group of 13 members and booked accommodation for three nights, from October 4th to 7th, 2017. The end of Buddhist Lent fell on October 6th, making it the perfect time to photograph the vibrant landscape. Our primary goal was to capture the picturesque rice fields from the bridge… This was the main objective of our trip, with the remaining activities serving as delightful additions to our travel experience.

The following program (details in the comments):

October 4, 2017: Visiting Tham Nam Lod Cave and staying at Baan Ja Bo.

Oct 5, 2017 ... Enjoyed noodles at Ja Bo's dangling legs restaurant, then relaxed at Ngamta Hotel in Mae Hong Son.

October 6, 2017: Witnessing the Tak Bat Thewo ceremony at the Su Tong Pae Bridge, followed by a visit to the Rak Thai village. In the evening, enjoy a stay at Jing Home Stay in Pang Ung.

This review focuses on photography during the trip. I want all members to see the pictures and the moments captured. What are the highlights and downsides of each location? This way, those who follow in my footsteps will know what to expect in terms of the natural environment during this month.

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For this trip, I used the following equipment for photography:

Nikon D800 camera body with the following lenses:

• Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 telephoto zoom lens
• Nikon 28mm f/1.8 wide-angle prime lens
• Nikon 24-120mm f/4N standard zoom lens
• Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 ultra-wide-angle zoom lens

Each image uses a different lens focal length, which I will try to mention. This will help those who are following along to visualize which lens to use at each location.

All images have been edited with PS/LR according to my mood. (Feel free to ask any questions in the comments.)

Note: The accommodation prices listed are as of the date of my trip. It is recommended to call and check the prices again before your trip.

On the morning of October 4th, we arrived at the airport and rented a van to continue our journey. From Chiang Mai Airport, we drove to our first destination of the day, the "Tham Nam Lod" cave.

Tham Lod Pang Mapha: A Journey Through Time

Tham Lod Pang Mapha, a renowned cave in Thailand, offers a captivating journey through geological wonders and historical echoes. Accessible only by raft, this 1-kilometer-long cave unveils a mesmerizing spectacle of stalactites and stalagmites, sculpted by the relentless flow of the Nam Lang stream.

Estimated to be 2,000 years old, Tham Lod Pang Mapha boasts three grand chambers, each with its unique allure. The "Stone Pillar Cave" features a majestic central stalagmite, while the "Doll Cave" is adorned with numerous small, doll-like stalactites. The final chamber, "Phi Man Cave," unveils a glimpse into the past, revealing fragments of earthenware vessels, human teeth and bones, plant seeds, stone tools, and the enigmatic "Phi Man coffin" – a hollowed-out log resembling a boat or animal feeding trough.

Tham Lod Pang Mapha stands as a testament to the enduring power of nature and the echoes of human presence that have resonated within its depths for centuries.

Credit for the information: Touronthai.com

It was already five o'clock in the evening when we arrived at Tham Nam Lod Cave after our journey from Chiang Mai. Let's hurry inside and explore the cave. Let's stop and take a picture in front of the cave as a souvenir.

Sigma 12-24mm lens at 18mm focal length, aperture F11, shutter speed 0.8 seconds, ISO 100, mounted on a tripod.

The view from the mouth of the cave, looking out towards the front, is one that I have admired in travel magazines for a long time. This time, I finally had the opportunity to capture it myself (可惜沒有แพล่องมาซักลำ). The fact that we arrived at the cave in the late afternoon turned out to be an advantage for this type of backlit photography. The ambient light was already soft, so we metered the exposure for the outside and then pulled out the shadows inside the cave later. As Nikon photographers know, our cameras are capable of recovering a remarkable amount of detail from the shadows. (It is also possible to use HDR techniques to capture multiple exposures of the highlights and shadows and then combine them in post-processing, but for this image, I found that pulling the shadows from a single exposure was sufficient.)

Sigma 12-24mm lens at 12mm, F11, 1/3 sec shutter speed, ISO 100, tripod mounted.

Cave exploration at Tham Nam Lod involves a guide and a paddler for each raft, with 3-4 people per raft. The rafts enter the cave one at a time.

(This image was taken with a Sigma 12-24 lens at 12mm, F8, 1/2 second shutter speed, ISO 500, and a tripod. I counted out loud and told the person to stay still.)

The journey to the cave by raft is 1 km long. On this trip, I stood and took pictures leisurely in front of the cave, letting my friends go in and explore (there are no pictures inside the cave to show, so I'll wait for my fellow travelers to share their pictures).

Sigma 12-24mm lens at 12mm focal length, aperture F8, shutter speed 30 seconds, ISO 100, mounted on a tripod.

I am still enjoying taking photos in front of the cave at my own pace. (Let my friends take a raft to see the beauty inside the cave. Many people say that the inside is very beautiful.)

Sigma 12-24mm f/11 at 12mm, 1/4 second exposure, ISO 100, Tripod

This sentence describes the technical specifications used to capture a photograph. Let's break it down:

• Sigma 12-24mm f/11: This refers to the lens used, a Sigma zoom lens with a focal length range of 12-24mm and a maximum aperture of f/11.
• at 12mm: This specifies that the lens was used at its widest focal length of 12mm.
• Speed 1/4sec: This indicates the shutter speed used, which was 1/4 of a second.
• ISO 100: This refers to the camera's ISO setting, which was set to 100.
• + Tripod: This signifies that a tripod was used to stabilize the camera during the exposure.

Soon after, my fellow travelers began to emerge from the cave one by one. We took some photos as a souvenir.

Sigma 12-24mm lens at 12mm focal length, aperture F4.5, shutter speed 1/8 second, ISO 1600, mounted on a tripod.

After exiting the Tham Nam Lod cave, we headed towards Ban Ja Bo. By the time we arrived, it was already evening, and the noodle shop was closed. We captured some empty shots with the cool evening light, the mist having vanished without a trace. We kept these as a memento before checking into our accommodation.

Sigma 12-24mm lens at 12mm focal length, F11 aperture, 30-second exposure, ISO 100, mounted on a tripod.

The homestay I stayed at this time is not a house with a mountain view like the "Kway Teow Hoei Kha" restaurant. I woke up early and explored the area, then talked to the owner to provide information for friends who are planning to visit. You can contact Nakor at 099-894-6654 to check availability. There are several newly built houses with beautiful views. As of the date I inquired, the price was 300 baht per person per night, including dinner. The view is the same as the "Kway Teow Hoei Kha" restaurant because they are on the same side (close to each other).

Please add a picture of the view behind the house.

Waking up early, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and grabbed my camera to wait for the morning light at the noodle shop (which opens at 7:00 AM). Although the sky wasn't particularly spectacular this morning, there were still some colors to play with. The shop wasn't open yet, so I asked permission to quietly capture some images as a souvenir.

The front of Ja Bo's Noodle Shop, renowned for its ten-baht noodles and million-baht views, is as follows. For those who haven't been there yet, here's a glimpse… The shop is located right on the road, offering stunning views like this.

It's time for us to enjoy some delicious noodles. Let's start with the first bowl. All the tourists are happy to have breakfast with a million-dollar view.

Here it is, the ten-baht noodle stall (40) with millions of views... I think the saying is not an exaggeration... Most importantly, it's delicious... The soup is delicious, using minced pork and high-quality meatballs. It's worth it after eating.

The high-quality ingredients are clearly visible, and the taste is truly exceptional for the price.

Nikon 24-120/4N lens at 32mm, F5.6, 1/160sec shutter speed, ISO 100.

A bowl of noodles for 40 baht with a delicious taste and a view like this. It is recommended to arrive before 8 am. There are few tourists. Some friends told me that they came at noon and there were so many people that they couldn't eat. At this point, people who stay at homestays in the village have an advantage. They can wake up early to take pictures of the morning light and then wait for the noodle water to boil before eating.

Before going to eat noodles in the morning, I walked past your grandmother's house and asked permission to take a picture. Your grandmother doesn't speak Thai, but she smiled and nodded, so I took some pictures of her.

Nikon 24-120/4N lens @30mm F5.6 Speed 1/250sec ISO 400

Is your smile sweet?

Nikon 24-120/4N lens @38mm F5.6 Speed 1/200sec ISO 400

After returning from eating noodles, I was walking back to my accommodation when I saw a grandmother preparing breakfast. I asked for her permission to take another photo. Their simple and easy-going lifestyle is truly admirable.

Nikon 24-120/4N lens @52mm F4.5 Speed 1/100sec ISO 1250

After returning to my accommodation and packing my belongings into the van, I walked past my grandmother's house and saw her sitting with her grandchildren. I asked her permission to take a picture (again). In summary, during my trip to Sergeant Bo's house, I enjoyed the delicious noodles, the million-dollar view, and the opportunity to photograph my grandmother. (I'll have to go back and fix the lighting in the morning and evening... haha)

Nikon 24-120/4N lens @ 24mm, F8, 1/250sec shutter speed, ISO 400.

Before entering Mae Hong Son city, I stopped by the Sutongpe Bridge to explore the surrounding area (it was my first time there). This allowed me to plan for tomorrow's photography session. I then checked into the Ngamta Hotel in Mae Hong Son (700 baht) and went out to capture the sunset at Wat Nong Jong Kham, which is located in the city center by the pond.

Nikon 28/1.8N lens, F16, 25sec exposure, ISO 50.

The next day, we met at five in the morning to check out of the hotel and go to photograph the Tak Bat Thewo ceremony on the day of the end of Buddhist Lent. However, as Mae Hong Son town is not far from the temple, we arrived at the temple very early in the morning. The monks were chanting, so we went in to take pictures (the pictures have been sent to the abbot for use in temple activities).

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After taking the first shot, I realized that the low-light conditions and the distance made it difficult to use the current lens. I decided to switch to the Nikon 28/1.8N, which made things much easier.

Nikon 28/1.8N lens, F2.8, 1/50sec shutter speed, ISO 1250.

Nikon 28/1.8N lens, F2.8, 1/50sec shutter speed, ISO 1250.

Following that, I ventured out to find a location for taking photographs... to capture a memory of where the sun rises at the beginning of October... The morning air, the mist, the hut, and the rice plants in the paddy field made it look so refreshing.

Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 lens at 86mm, f/5.6, 1/100s shutter speed, ISO 400.

Notes:

• I have preserved the original HTML structure.
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• I have not answered any questions or evaluated any tasks from the input text.
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I really like this picture. It looks so refreshing.

Translation:

Nikon 80-200/2.8 lens at 92mm, F5.6, 1/250sec shutter speed, ISO 400.

Translation:

While waiting for the monks to walk for alms, we found a good spot and took funny pictures of our friends.

Translation:

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Translation:

Nikon 80-200/2.8 lens at 112mm, F4, shutter speed 1/320sec, ISO 400.

While waiting for the monk, I looked for Shan girls wearing traditional clothes and asked for their permission to take their pictures.

Translation:

If you want to photograph the Sutongpei Bridge during a religious festival, such as the end of Buddhist Lent or the Kathina ceremony, here's what you can expect. In the morning, there will be very few people on the bridge. However, as it approaches 8:30 AM, villagers will gradually gather on both sides of the bridge to offer alms to the monks. The monks will descend to receive alms around 8:30 AM. As a photographer, you can choose to wait on the bridge (like me) or go down to the canal below to take pictures (like my friend). It's up to you to choose your angle.

Translation:

I chose to take photos on the bridge because many of my friends were already taking photos on the rice bunds (so the photos wouldn't be too similar). The special technique is… when the monks receive alms, their bowls fill up very quickly. The temple disciples divide their tasks and hold orange plastic bags, taking out the food offered in the alms bowls and putting it into the bags. This can sometimes block the camera angle… which can make it a bit difficult to take photos… but we can ask the disciples to let us take a few photos, and they will understand. They will give us more time to take photos comfortably.

"The key point is here."

After that, the monk will walk to the end of the Sutongpe bamboo bridge, which is about 600 meters long. It is considered the longest bamboo bridge in Thailand. At the end of the bridge, there will be villagers waiting to offer food to the monks at the bottom of the bridge. This will take some time. Photographers on the bridge or on the dike can walk back to the temple to find new angles for taking pictures.

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Nikon 80-200/2.8 lens @ 125mm, F5.6, 1/500sec shutter speed, ISO 400

Recently, I have moved my shooting angle from the bamboo bridge to the lower right corner of the bridge, waiting to capture the monks walking back to the temple. During this period, a Sigma 100-400 or Nikon 80-400 lens would be ideal. These photos were taken during yesterday's pre-survey for the alms offering ceremony.

The monks have started their procession. Now, it's everyone for themselves. Choose your favorite angle because once they turn around, the villagers who were waiting to offer alms will have left, allowing us to capture beautiful photos of the monks walking in a line. I've been using the Nikon 80-200/2.8 lens throughout this process.

I then moved my camera to the temple to capture the scene below. Some villagers were waiting to offer alms on my way back, so I had time to run and change angles (which was a lot of fun).

The procession then ascended to the temple.

After capturing the images of the Tak Bat Thewo ceremony on the day of the end of Buddhist Lent, I had the opportunity to speak with the abbot. He informed me that prior to the end of Buddhist Lent, there is a festival called "Jong Pa Ra" that features beautiful activities of the Tai Yai people. If you plan to visit next year, be sure to check the information carefully. I hope this information is helpful to my friends.

After that, I ran to visit Mae Fah Luang University, looking for Auntie Nuei's Yunnan noodles. We ate there first (I had eaten there 3 years ago and it was delicious, I loved it). Currently, Auntie Nuei's shop is located on the left-hand side of the entrance to Mae Fah Luang University. It's not hard to find, it's on the corner of the road leading up to the Li Vine Rak Thai Resort.

The highlight is the "Kua Meng", a dry Yunnan-style noodle dish. It uses thick and soft rice noodles, tossed in sesame oil, chili paste, sesame seeds, and other ingredients. It is topped with minced pork, boiled egg, and green beans. A separate cup of hot soup is served alongside. It is incredibly delicious and a must-try.

This is Kua Kling with thin noodles. It's also delicious. It depends on what kind of noodles you like.

M. Rak Thai would be ideal for a visit during the winter season. The weather is pleasant, with beautiful mist over the water's surface. Visiting in October would provide a similar experience, with a quiet town and fewer tourists.

In the past, Ta Lae Lau Su's house was very popular, with bookings full for long periods. However, today, its condition has deteriorated significantly.

Translation:

Renting a bicycle at Lee Wine Rak Thai for 30 baht per bike and cycling around the village to take pictures is a better option than walking.

Translation:

On weekdays, restaurants and souvenir shops for tourists are very quiet and peaceful.

After cycling almost around the village, I stopped by Ja Ta tea shop, located at the corner of the three-way intersection. This shop is a museum of old Chinese Yunnan artifacts from the time of the 93rd Division of the Kuomintang, which fought against the Communists. It has a good collection of ancient war equipment on display.

Mr. Ja Da, whose surname is Huai, will be waiting to welcome tourists and tell them stories about past battles. This will provide tourists with valuable knowledge.

After a long conversation with Mr. Jata, I decided to take a bike ride and enjoy a refreshing iced coffee by the lake. Then, I drove up the hill to the Cha Sa Rak Thai Resort to capture this beautiful view of the lake.

Next, take a picture of the Rak Thai Health Station, which is located on the right side of the image above.

This photo was taken from a high angle at the Cha Sa Rak Thai Resort, which is currently under construction in preparation for the upcoming winter tourist season.

Move slightly to another angle to capture the popular Liwaine Rak Thai Resort in the tea plantation. This angle is similar to the one from the health station.

This photo of Rak Thai village was taken by me in December 2014. I'm sharing it with you in case you haven't been there at night. The atmosphere is beautiful, and the air is very fresh. (This year, I decided to stay at Pang Ung.) The photo was taken from the front of Dalarzeo Resort.

The streets of Rak Thai University on an ordinary evening... eerily silent.

Translation:

Before dusk, I headed to Pang Ung. Tonight, I will be staying at Jing Home Stay (600 baht), which is located near Pang Ung Lake. It is a new and clean guesthouse with compact rooms. There is no hot water heater, but it is very close to the Pang Ung reservoir, just a short walk away. In front of the guesthouse, there is a convenience store and drinks available. Next to the guesthouse, there is a restaurant with reasonable prices and decent food.

Waking up early, I carried my camera and walked to capture the morning light at Pang Ung Lake. I came during October, and there was no fog at all. I recommend coming during the winter season for a higher chance of capturing fog on the water's surface. However, since I was already there, I decided to take some pictures as a souvenir.

In October, the sun rises directly in this spot in the early morning. If there is mist on the water's surface, it will be even more beautiful.

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At 6:30 AM, the sky is a beautiful dark blue, perfect for capturing the light.

To be honest, I do have some fog, just a tiny bit... haha

This photo was taken with an 80-200/2.8 lens. I added a slight blur to the water surface. Where is my mist?

Finally, I carried the 80-200/2.8 lens and walked back to my accommodation, Jing Home Stay. From here, I could capture stunning views of the mountain ridge from the dam.

Instead of the famous "Jao Bo" noodles, the highlight of this trip was the heartwarming smile of a sweet elderly woman from Jao Bo village in Pang Mapha district, Mae Hong Son province. This unexpected encounter replaced the anticipated culinary experience, leaving a lasting impression on the reviewer.

Wishing you all good fortune and financial prosperity.

(Please leave your questions here and I will answer them when I return.)