Download “Mae Chaem” – Thailand`s “unseen” Lanna culture and heritage town

A Mae Chaem temple
- center for meditation and relaxation
Chasinee Sonthong
“Mae Chaem” – Thailand’s
“unseen” Lanna culture
and heritage town
Chasinee Sonthong recounts and shares photographs of her visit to “Mae
Chaem” a quaint Lanna cultural heritage town northeast of Chiang Mai.
Most Chiang Mai visitors initially think of tourist areas such Doi Inthanon, Doi Ang Khang,
Night Safari and Pang Chang Mae Sa.
If you’re interested in visiting a “living” Lanna cultural and heritage area, you should seriously
consider Mae Chaem, which is about a two and a half hour drive northeast of Chiang Mai.
Mae Chaem, a rural town surrounded by mountains including Doi Inthanon has recently become
a popular destination for visitors that want to experience old Lanna culture, local lifestyles
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and Buddhist practices. The area is home
to artists, artisans and most importantly
traditional Lanna ways.
Lanna culture has resulted from centuries of
multi-ethnic integration in the area. You can
experience it everywhere through different
languages, clothing, art, architecture, music
and food.
Many people still speak their own unique
language and wear local dresses, pa muang,
that may be dyed cobalt blue or the other
colors, depending on where they live.
Although Mae Chaem is now a wide-open
town, it has managed to maintain its
charming, warmth and generosity. The
people of Mae Chaem are a cultural mix of
Khon Muang local people and Lua, Pakakayor,
Hmong and Lisu hill-tribes.
Because of its cultural diversity Mae Chaem’s
local arts and crafts such as weaving feature
distinctive styles are in high demand among
textile collectors and aficionados.
Hall for keeping the Buddhist
scriptures
Local lifestyles exhibiting traditional lanna heritage
Stepped rice fields,
a Mae Chaem scenic point
Landscape surrounded by mountains
The famous Pha Sin Teen Jok, a weaving
technique for decorative pieces on the hem
of women’s tube-skirts, from Mae Chaem is
the first on visitors’ shopping lists. Classic
lanna architecture is also everywhere in Mae
Chaem.
Pha Sin Teen Jok,
traditional lanna cloth making technique
Quality Of Life
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Mural paintings inside the temple – portraying Mae
Chaem way of life
For those of you that want to walk around,
Mae Chaem has many coffee shops and noodle
stands where you can enjoy traditional foods.
You can also spend the day or the weekend
visiting the town’s streets, admiring old
wooden houses, talking with local people and
enjoying life.
Most importantly, bring your trusty camera
so you can record your fantastic memories.
Most importantly,
bring your trusty
camera so you can
record your fantastic
memories.
Enjoy strolling in town’s shopping area - people selling
home-made food laid on the ground
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Asia-Pacific Housing Journal