Some like it hot
The benefits of partaking in the hot springs of Lampang
Idipped my hand in a private hot-spring pool in the headquarters of Chae Son National Park in Lampang to test the heat. The temperature was about 40C. It was too hot at first, but for a short while it seemed to be tolerable. “The temperature is suitable for you to soak yourself. Only for 15min, you will feel relaxed,” said Chae Son National Park chief Pichai Watcharawongphaiboon.
“The mineral-rich hot bath can help boost your blood circulation, smooth your skin, ease your tense muscles and let you have a good sleep,” he added while trying to convince me and my travel companions to test the facility. Bathing in hot springs is the park’s highlight.
The park has 40 private rooms, each with a dipping pool which can accommodate up to five people. It also has outdoor public hotspring pools and naturally warm water pools where cold water from a natural stream mixes with hot- spring water. There is also a facility for locals to offer traditional Thai massage as well as restaurants that serve boiled eggs from hot mineral water.
Blessed by nature, the national park is located in the area of the hot springs in Muang Pan district. Covering the forest area of 480,000 rai, the park also has waterfalls, caves and walking trails for those who love outdoor activities.
Most tourists visit the national park during cool season, although visitors can travel to the park all year round. Last year, the park welcomed about 230,000 tourists, up from 160,000 visitors five years before.
“Our visitors love hot springs. I want to upgrade our service standard, products and facilities so we will have something new to offer tourists. My plan is to make our park the centre of wellness and spa tourism in the North,” he said.
To achieve the goal, the national park has worked with Suan Dusit University. Led by Assoc Prof Dr Pannee Suanpang from the Faculty of Science and Technology, a research team of the university launched the Lanna Wellness Tourism project.
The team brought in knowledge and skills to create new products and improve services for the park.
“We selected Chae Son National Park because we see the potential. The park is one of the top onsen places of the country. The beauty of nature is also second to none. With the co-operation, we will bring value-added to the park,” said Dr Pannee.
The team has recently introduced prototypes of skincare products based on the mineral water of Chae Son National Park.
Asst Prof Dr Jiraporn Thongtan of Suan Dusit University organised a one-day workshop to train 15 female staff of the park and five local women to make mineral facial spray, lotion, shampoo and liquid soap. I also had a chance to try the mineral facial spray. The fragrance made me feel refreshed. Dr Jiraporn plans to add natural fragrance of flowers of chong-kho or sieo ( Bauhinia) plants, which are widely grown in the area, to the products for the next phase. As requested by the park, she will soon develop aftersun lotion by using aloe vera as a main ingredient. The plant is easily found in the park.
In addition, the research team of Suan Dusit University created new snacks and drinks for the park. The team trained staff at the park to make fresh fruit crepes from the flour of khao kam (dark purple glutinous rice), which is widely grown in the North, instead of using wheat flour. The rice is high in antioxidants and fibre.
A new sweet-and-sour drink was created from makok pa, or hog plum, which is rich in vitamin C, A and iron. The drink can be hot or cold and could become the signature drink of the park.
“We plan to soon have a shop to promote the products created by our staff and people living in communities not far from the park,” said Chae Son National Park chief Pichai.
To explore more of Lampang’s wellness destinations, we also travelled to Ban Sam Kha community in Mae Tha district, about 120km south of the national park.
The community is green and sustainable. About 90% of the villagers are rice farmers. They apply an organic method for farming. They also grow vegetables and herbs for their own consumption as well as Arabica coffee trees for extra income. The village is also a learning centre of the self-sufficiency economy and the role model for being united in helping restore and preserve 12,000 rai of forest land.
When we arrived at Wat Sam Kha, we were greeted by Phonnabphan Wongtrakoon, our local guide, and a group of primary students. The kids recited a poem recounting the history of Ban Sam Kha and its hero, Tip Pa La. They wanted us to know that their historical hero fought in a battle against Burmese troops during the Ayutthaya period and won. The sculpture of Tip Pa La stands on the temple ground. He was also the famous temple abbot at the time.
After that, our guide led us to the house of Pemika Wannasuwong. She and her neighbours were preparing a set lunch. They also taught us to cook local dishes. My favourite was kai neung samunphrai (steamed chicken with herbs). It was made of sliced homegrown chicken marinated in herbs.
One member of our team volunteered to pound the herbs, which include coriander seeds (which is called hom pom in the northern dialect), garlic, sliced lemongrass, sliced turmeric, shallot and salt. Then she mixed the ground herbs with chicken. Pemika told her to put the meat in a steam pot. When I opened the pot, I saw bai yo (noni leaves) inside.
“The leaves will enhance the smell and taste. The chicken dish will be served with bai yo,” she said.
While the food was cooking on the stove, which took about 30min, Phonnabphan wanted us to try spa sum kai, or a herbal sauna in a bamboo chicken coop.
We walked to the house of Kabkham Wannasuwong. She already prepared the herbal sauna for us. A clay pot was put on a charcoal stove. Inside the pot, many types of fragrant herbs were boiling and that included pandan leaves, ginger, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, flowers and shavings of phang (sappanwood).
“The herbal steam was originally prepared for a mother who’s just given birth to sweat out so that she can regain her strength quickly,” said Kabkham. When the community launched its tourism years ago, she introduced the service to the tourists.
She told me to sit on a small wooden stool next to the boiling herbal pot. Phonnabphan and a kid helped lift the chicken coop over me. Only my head popped up from the centre of the dome cage. The smell of boiled herbs was very pleasant. I also felt the heat inside the coop.
“The herbal sauna is good for health. It helps detox your skin,” said Kabkham. One course comprises two sessions. Each time should be about 10 minutes. The herbal steam can make you sweat like sitting in a sauna room.
The well-being activities we attended in Lampang were only a small part of the whole Lanna Wellness Tourism project. If you want to find out more, Suan Dusit University invites you to download its Thai-language Wellness Tourism app (bit.ly/2zGtJqO) for Android. The app features four health and wellness routes in Lampang with maps and attractions.
Lampang is gearing up for the booming business of wellness tourism. With the healthy-lifestyle trend, tourists will look for an alternative well-being destination, and Lampang fits the bill, especially for those who want to stay close to nature and lie low amid its ambience.