The varied cultures and beautiful nature of Surin and Buri Ram can now be better appreciated on a new joint route
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STORY AND PHOTOS: PICHAYA SVASTI
Surin, a northeastern province, is home to the largest number of domesticated elephants in Thailand and hosts the “Surin Elephant Round-Up” every third week of November. Nonetheless, tourists can expect things other than the annual elephant festival, particularly on the newly introduced route called BuRin, abbreviated from Buri Ram and Surin. The route, being promoted by the Department of Tourism under a homestay-standardisation project, emphasises the local ways of life related to elephant-raising, silk-weaving, basketry and cultural diversity.
At Wat Pa Achiang in Ban Ta Klang, Tha Tum district of Surin, visitors can see a re-enactment of the traditional method of capturing a wild elephant by the Kui, an ethnic group who settled there during the Ayutthaya period. Also, there will be the display of related rituals and the lifestyle of elephant mahouts for group visits who make advance reservations.
Only 19km northwest of Ban Ta Klang, or a 30min drive away, is the lesser-known yet unique Muang Ling community in Chom Phra district. It is where tourists can see local residents of Kui, Lao, Khmer and Chinese descent, and those from the central region of Thailand, living together in harmony and speaking several languages.
The community dates to the late Ayutthaya period and has numerous century-old houses. The Thai Kui villagers have ancestors who migrated from Attapu, south of Laos. Tourists can stroll the village’s small road, on both sides of which are old houses and shophouses where they can enjoy shopping for local food, desserts, fruits, handwoven silk and cotton fabrics and handicrafts. They can stay overnight in either local homestay accommodations or the waterside Jiranon scout camp. From the camp, tourists can start rafting on the clean Lam Chi stream, see fertile forests and organic rice fields on both sides, and enjoy a fish spa.
On the BuRin route, the second day is dedicated to morning shopping at Talat Khiew, a local market in front of Muang Surin District Office, observing silk thread dyeing and gold silk brocade weaving at Ban Tha Sawang in Muang Surin district and visiting the silk-weaving Ban Sanuan Nok in Huai Rat district, Buri Ram. At Ban Sanuan Nok, tourists will enjoy a space shuttle-shaped tram ride to see villagers raise silk worms, spin and weave silk, and make baskets and cowbells. One can also see century-old wooden houses.
“A highlight is Ban Sanuan Nok, a unique local community which grows mulberry and raises silk worms. A mobile cabinet meeting was held here. Another impressive thing is the beauty of nature in Muang Ling, where we did rafting. Tourists must feel impressed with beautiful nature, fresh air and homestay approved by the department,” Department of Tourism deputy director-general Wanthana Chaengprachak said.
According to her, the homestay-standardisation project is an initiative pushed for by the department, particularly in 55 secondary provinces and towns, in line with the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s policy to attract more tourists to these provinces in order to ensure equal income distribution.
Thirty homestay places in Buri Ram and 56 others in Surin are endorsed by the Thai homestay standardisation project. Surin and Buri Ram are among the 55 “secondary provinces” included in the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s Amazing Thailand Go Local Campaign. This campaign promotes community tourism in less popular provinces. The aim is to attract at least 10 million tourists to these provinces and adjust the ratio of tourists in major cities and secondary ones, from 70:30 to 65:35, this year.
At the end of the day, they can visit Khao Kradong, an extinct volcano, in Satuk district. If tourists follow the BuRin route, they can also visit the ongoing Chang Fair 2018, with mini elephant shows, entertainment, an amusement park and a trade fair.
The fair is being held at Sri Narong Sports Stadium in Muang district, Surin, until Sunday. This event follows the more famous Surin Elephant Round-Up, which took place last weekend.