People of
southern Thailand have probably raising cooing doves since
the reign of King Rama III. The pretty little birds with a
charming song are raised for pleasure and for good-fortune.
In the past, the cooing doves were caught from the foresees
of Trang. Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi, Krabi, Chachoengsao,
Supan Buri and Nakhon Sawan. Wild birds later became
scarce. In 1962, Khun Pin Chintana, a resident of Amphoe
Chana, was the first person to breed these birds. Ae Thong
farm is located at 460 Mu 2, Rat Uthit Road, Tambon Phaphana.
This was the first farm in the Chana to breed cooing
doves,. Achan Sama-ae I-so, a former student of Khun Pin
Chintana, has accumulated knowledge and expertise about
these birds from study and experiments. The most expensive
cooing doves in Thailand come from this farm. The birds
bred at Ae Thong are in great demand in Malasia, Singapore,
Indonesia, Brunei, China and Australia. Achan Sama-ae
opined that the industry yielded many related industries,
such as cage and bird feed making, which help reduce the
migration of local people into the cities. Tourists are
allowed in Ae Thong farm. Group tours can request for a
special lecture by Achan Sama-ae. Contact Tel. (074) 379139,
378268.
At ban Sakom,
Tambon Sakom; Mu 2 Ban Na, Tambon Ban Na, and Mu 8, Ban Hua
Din, Tambon Pa Ching, the housewives have formed groups
since 1996 to produce bird cages. This led to the formation
of a credit union and a community store. The women in Mu 2,
Ban Na, design inexpensive souvenirs lamps made from little
bird cages. The other 2 villages make high quality, more
expensive, bird cages. For more details, please contact:
Khun Surasak Mani, President of the Chom Rom Nok Khao Chana
(01) 308-0154 or (074) 379101.
Is found in Mu
5, Ban Khlong Han, Tambon Khae, Amphoe Chana. The abbot,
Phra Khru Sunthon Thamma Siri (Khamsai Yuttiko), constructed
the temple in 1993 on a 20 rai area, which was donated by
disciples. Bottles were used to decorate the entire
building. Nowadays, many tourists, both thais and
foreigners, visit the temple.
A border pass can be applied
for at Sadao checkpoint, 60 kilometers from Hat Yai, to
enter Malaysia’s Padang Besar Market. Prior price checking
is recommended.
Located at Mu 1 (Muban
Piyamit 5), Tambon Khlong Kwang, Amphoe Na Thawi, this cave
was once a secret base of the Chines Communist Party for
almost 40 years, before their members defected to the Thai
authorities in 1987. Khao Nam Khang has at least 100 such
caves. This clay cavern was excavated by hand for 9 years
to become the largest and longest manmade cavern in
Thailand. The site reveals extensive knowledge in various
fields, including the strategic selection of site, the
geology involved, the state of the forest, the climate and
the design for the cave. Before entering the cave, visitors
should glimpse through the exhibition about the cave’s
history, which displays information, photographs, and daily
necessities of the Party members, such as a homemade
refrigerator, a telegraph machine, and some political
books. There is also an exhibition on the way of life of
the Sakai, the primitive people living in the forest. The
cave is about 1,000 meters long, is divided into 3 levels of
about 10-30 feet beneath the ground surface. These levels
are connected by stairways and there are 16 exits. The cave
accommodates about 200 people in its numerous rooms, such as
the leader’s meeting room, and a firing range for target
practice. The area outside the cavern contains guard
houses, a supply route, a school for political
indoctrination, and a place for marriage ceremonies. The
cavern has been developed to accommodate tourists. Local
restaurants and herb shops are located nearby. Admission
fee is 20 baht per person. A tour guide contact Khun
Rungrot Sae Li at Tel. (074) 329103 or (01) 230-4765.
The shopping complex
concentrates around Niphat Uthit 1-3 Road, Kim Yong and
Santisuk Markets, Phetchakasem Road and various department
stroes, all within walking distance. Kim Yong and Santisuk
Markets sell a great variety of food, electrical appliances,
cosmetics and clothing.
Located in
Amphoe Rattaphum, this little perennial cascade flous
through thick green forests, down from a cliff into a pool
suitable for swimming. A stone stairway runs on the edge
the montain along the fall. A stone stairway runs on the
edge the mountain along the fall. A smaller basin on the
upper level is hidden in fertile forest and offers an easily
accessible sandy beach.
The
sanctuary is located in Songkhla and Satun provinces. The
convoluted mountains of the Banthat range are covered with
fertile Moist evergreen forests. The watershed here
nourishes many streams which flow down to Songkhla Lake,
especially Khlong Ton Nga Chang, Khlong Ton Plio and Khlong
Boriphat. The many peaks give birth to variety of lovely
famed waterfalls. Tourists many visit the wildlife
sanctuary to admire the natural beauty, especially at the 7
waterfalls. Their names are : Ton Ba, Ton Plio (at 200
meters), Ton Nga Chang (at 450 meters), Ton Dam (at 700
meters), Ton Nam Ploi (at 1,050 meters), Ton Ruesi Khoi Bo
(at 1,300 meters), and Ton Samet Chun (at 1,550 meters).
Trekkers must climb up along the natural stairway of huge
boulders gripped by large tree roots, which will leave a
lasting memory. The best time to the sanctuary can be in
either the rainy season from May to December, especially
from October to December, or summer from February to April.
At the first
level is a large cliff, about 10 meters high, beside the
fall, surrounded by pristine forest. An open space and a
pavilion for relaxing are located at this level. At the
highest level, water flows from a large cliff, about 20-30
meters high.
