Journey of Lotus Flower
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1 JOURNEY OF LOTUS FLOWER UDON THANI NAKHON PATHOM PHATTHALUNG Lotus flower represented something unearthly and enlightening for Eastern cultures which is why the flower is often seen alongside divine figures. Lotus flowers can be seen in all over the regions of Thailand, for instance in the central part of Thailand at Nakhon Pathom; in the Northeastern part of Thailand at Udon Thani and in the southern part of Thailand at Phatthalung. 2 LOTUS FLOWER call “BUA” in Thai The lotus or (Bua in Thai) is crucial in the daily life of the Thai people and is the traditional flower of Buddhism. It represents the path of life as it emerges from the mud (samsara), grows clean and pure through the water (purification), and produces a beautiful flower (enlightenment). Legend has it that when the Lord Buddha took his first steps, lotus blooms opened up to cushion the soles of his feet. With its roots in the mud, the plant rises above the dirty water to yield a flower of perfect beauty and purity. Indeed, for Buddhists, the flower stands for pureness of spirit and the flowers are widely used as offerings at shrines, in spirit houses and in the temple. 3 The aquatic flower, so central to Buddhist tradition, is also at the heart of many wonderful dishes. Besides having a spiritual meaning, the lotus has many other uses. The roots, petals and stamens of some varieties are used by herbalists to treat a variety of complaints from fainting attacks to acne, and from the lowering of blood cholesterol to stomach upsets. In fact, most of the lotus plant is edible. Some people will eat the raw seeds, others might boil up the dried seeds in syrup as a popular drink; moreover, the roots can be mixed with pork to make a delicious soup, and the leaves and stems of some species can be used in salads. The leaves are also used to wrap steamed rice, giving it a mild lotus fragrance; when fresh, the lotus leaves are useful as (biodegradable) wrappers. 4 Lotus flower in Thai symbolizes spirituality Lotus flower in Thai symbolizes spirituality Thai people and many other Southeast Asian countries namely Cambodia offer lotus flowers to Buddha statues because they believe that by offering nice things to Buddha they will accumulate merit and thus attract good fortune into their life. Some people also fold lotus petals in order to add to the beauty of the already beautiful flowers. Moreover, many believe that they will eventually attain enlightenment, just like how the lotus rises and blooms above the water. 5 Red Lotus Floating Market Na Bang Lane ,Nakhon Pathom Red Lotus Floating Market Na Bang Len It is the new recreation and shopping center for tourists on weekend. Staying home on weekend is not an idea but driving to the provinces takes some times. Go to Red Lotus Floating Market Na Bang Lane in Nakhon Pathom which take only one hour driving from Bangkok. Here visitors can a ride along the canal to see the closer look of the lotus flowers. 6 Talay Bua Daeng ,Udon Thani Talay Bua Daeng is ranked by CNN as one of the world's most beautiful lakes in the world. The yearly sprouting of thousands upon thousands of red lotus flowers completely transforms the surface of Lake Nong Harn into an 8,000-acre vision of buoyant blossoms. This aquatic garden begins to grow in October, just after the rainy season. When it reaches full bloom in December, nearby villagers, who trace the origins of the lake to a tragic love myth, take to boats to enjoy the miraculous scenery. The sea of red lotuses - Talay Bua Daeng, as the locals say - is best viewed during daylight hours before noon, when the flowers are fully opened, revealing their vibrant, pink color (not red, despite the name). The lake, which is located in the province of Udon Thani, 350 miles north of Bangkok, stays rosy until March. 7 Thale Noi Waterfowl Park, Phatthalung Thale Noi Waterfowl Park It has been selected to be the country’s significant wetland, which covers area in three provinces: Phatthalung, Songkhla, and Nakhon Si Thammarat. The attraction offers the following interesting activities: - Admire the largest red lotus sea in the Southern region. - Observe a variety of about 287 fowl species including endemic and migratory birds. - Experience the life of water buffalos. - Watch the sunrise at one of the most beautiful sunrise spots in Thailand, Khlong Pak Pra, in the morning at 6 a.m. and observe the way of fishnet lifting of the villagers. - Hua Lan Hua Lieo community is situated in Thale Noi Village. With the local-like atmosphere, the community offers authentic food and desserts, community-made products from Krachut or sedge in almost every household; such as, bags, mats, etc. Visitors can also observe the demonstration of their product making. - Watch the sunset at a beautiful spot at the 80th Birthday Anniversary Celebration 5th December, 2007 Bridge. 8 9 NAKHON PATHOM 1 2 Along special lanes through the lotus flowers Thung Bua Daeng Floating Market or Red Lotus Floating Market, is located in Bang Len, Nakhon Pathom . is a floating market and recreational site amidst a swamp of two breeds of pinkish red water lilies that blossom at different times; the original breed red lotuses blossom in the morning and Mamiao breed red lotuses blossom all day from the late morning making an amazing scenic view and good atmosphere. The Market provides a paddle boat for closely viewing the beauty of the red lotuses, including stalls of Thai food and various beverages, particularly, food and beverages composed of red lotus; such as, hot lotus pollen tea, red lotus petals salad, and famous snacks wrapped in red lotus petals or “Miang Klib Bua”. Open daily between 9.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. It is the new recreation and shopping center for tourists on the weekend. Staying home on the weekend is not an idea but driving to the Red Lotus Floating Market, Bang Len in Nakhon Pathom takes only a one-hour drive from Bangkok. Here visitors can a ride along the canal to see the closer look of the lotus flowers. 3 Highlighted Activities ,Thung Bua Daeng Floating Market • Try the local Thai snack called "Miang Klib Bua" made from lotus petal. • Boating on the lotus pond. • Enjoy shopping for the local food, fruits, flowers, and souvenirs. 4 Wat Phra Pathom Chedi Wat Phra Pathom Chedi The temple houses the country’s largest pagoda, Phra Pathom Chedi enshrining the Buddha’s relics, which is presumed have been built in the reign of Ashoka the Great when the monastic agents were sent to propagate Buddhism in the land of Nakhon Pathom and constructed the bell-shaped pagoda. The highlight of the temple includes Phra Ruang Rotchanarit, a Buddha image in the standing posture of giving a pardon, installed in the niche of the wihan. The pagoda majestically stands out under the electric lights at night. The temple is open between 7.00 a.m. – 8.00 p.m. 5 Phra Pathom Chedi Night Market Phra Pathom Chedi Night Market Is one of the delicious food centres of Nakhon Pathom. Every evening, the parking lot of Phra Pathom Chedi becomes a huge food court. It is well-known for a wide range of food offered by wheelbarrow vendors including main dishes, desserts, snacks, ice cream or fruits; other big claim to fame aside from its religious landmarks is a giant fruit known as pomelo. Foodies can sample this grapefruit sized delicacy as well as many more local dishes at the Phra Pathom Chedi Night Market found on the road between Wat Phra Pathom Chedi and the Nakhon Pathom Railway Station between 5.00 – 11.00 p.m. each night. 6 Sanam Chandra Palace Sanam Chandra Palace has some exciting buildings in a mixture of Thai and European architecture. It stands in a large area and is connected by a wide avenue to the west gate of the Palace. It is about a 1.5-2 hours drive from Bangkok. The Palace is open daily, from 9 a.m until 4 p.m. The majestic Sanam Chan Palace is meticulously kept and has interesting plant and rustic buildings. It was built by King Rama VI, when he was still a prince. The Palace is a suitable place for tourists interested in learning more about Thailand’s history, culture and architecture. 7 Don Wai Floating Market Don Wai Floating Market Wandering on land through Don Wai Floating Market, sampling delicious food from Innumerable shops The floating market at Wat Don Wai (near Wat Rai Khing) has become very popular for Thai and foreign tourists. It is located by the Tha Chin Riverbank, Nakhon Pathom province, and only about 30 kilometres from Bangkok. The Market includes products and food sold by vendors on boats. The farming product market fair is also open at Wat Don Wai between 8.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. on Monday to Friday, and between 7.00 a.m. – 6.30 p.m. on the weekend. Tourists can take a boat trip along the River which is very naturally beautiful while having lunch on the boat. The boat trip can be as short 1.5 hours. 8 Tha Na Market Tha Na Market has served as Nakhon Chaisi’s centre for at least a century and a half. The name translates roughly as “Farm Port Market” due to its proximity near a river pier, or ”Tha” in Thai, and within easy boating distance of countless agricultural fields, or na.