Over hundreds years ago, when the sounds of the Pin Pia Vina played in the land of Lanna Thai kingdom, the beautiful rhythm of it was always heard through out the villages. Especially at nights.. Not only did it have a very gentle voice, but also was resonant. It seemed like the rhythm of music from the heavens. There was no need for any musical instruments to play with it, nor a singer to attact the audiences.But it always made them felt imbued with happiness.

     The Pin Pia Vina is a flinging music instrument. The most miraculous or amazing element is the method of the playing. The player himself must not wear his shirt and put the casket of it on his chest. This will help his muscles to control the voice of the rhythm and makes the sounds more beautifully.

      That is why it made the Pin Pia Vina became a high class musical instrument of the Lanna Thai kingdom.

      At the present, it is quite rare to find a good musician to play it. Except a few senior players.

Note: The Pin Pia has 2-4 strings with 50 cms.wooden bar long. Its casket is made of coconut shell.

The Palace of Chiang Mai

     When tourists come to Chiang Mai, they are always told that Chiang Mai is an ancient city, over 700 years old. It was also conquered by several kings other and rulers. What about their palaces or residences?

   Believe it or not, one of their palaces is now the Chiang Mai jail.

    Wiang Kaew or Haw Kam residence was a palace built by Phaya Kawila, the first ruler of the Tippachak dynasty. It was built in 1908, during the time when Chiang Mai was already under the rule of Bangkok.

     The palace was designed by a European architect in a western style. It has 7 buildings which were all built with thick cement and steep roofs. It is located at 100 Rachawithi Road, Chiang Mai.

      Everyone is welcome. But only outside viewing is allowed!!!!!!!

Jed Rin Palace

       Many tourists know Wiang Kum Gam, the famous ancient city built by King Meng Rai, the founder of Chiang Mai. But many still do not know about Wiang Jet Rin.

     At the foot of Doi Suthep mountain, there is a botanical or health garden. Close to it there is an ancient city called Wiang Jet Rin. This place was built in 1411 by Phaya Sam Fang Gan, one of the royal rulers of Chiang Mai.

    [I am not sure what a ‘health garden’ is]

    [instead of ‘royal rulers’ could you say ‘kings’?]

     The purpose of Wiang Jet Rin was to serve as a watchtower, to give warning in case enemy troops came from Myanmar. The name means “seven water falls”.

The Mother Earth of the Lanna Thai Kingdom

     At Wat Loy Kor of Chiang Mai, there is a statue of Mother Earth. It is different from other similar statues, because in this one the water pours out from her Nam Ton or Konto (water pot) instead of pouring from a bun in her hair.

At Chiang Mai University, there is a public transportation service for student travel around the campus, called the Electric Bus Mass Service.

       The purpose of this electric bus service is to help protect the natural environment of the university campus, which is surrounded by plants, trees, and a forest-covered mountain. This is very appropriate for a university which is famous for having the most beautiful campus in the northern part of Thailand.

        The bus service is free of charge. Everyone is welcome to use it.

Every year on a Wednesday with a full moon, the people of Lanna wake up at midnight to prepare food offerings to a famous Buddhist monk named Pra Upakut. He was a monk who devoted his life to reach enlightenment. He spent many years meditating under the sae. Every Peng Put Day before dawn, this revered monk will rise from the bottom of the sea to accept food offerings from people. It is believed that he brings good luck and wealth to those who respect and offer him food. This is one of the reasons why this tradition is so popular.

บิณฑบาตเที่ยงคืน (เป็งปุ๊ด)

คืนไหนที่ตรงกับขึ้นสิบห้าค่ำ พระจันทร์เต็มดวง(เดือนเป็ง) และเป็นวันพุธ(วันปุ๊ด) ชาวล้านนาจะตื่นเวลาประมาณเที่ยงคืน เพื่อตักบาตรพระอุปคุต

พระอุปคุต คือ พระอรหันต์ที่บำเพ็ญเพียรอยู่ใต้มหาสมุทร มีอิทธิฤทธิ์และความเป็นเลิศในทางโชคลาภและป้องปราบมาร เมื่อถึงวัน “เป็งปุ๊ด”  ก็จะขึ้นมาจากมหาสมุทรในเวลากลางคืนค่อนรุ่ง เพื่อรับบิณฑบาต โดยเชื่อถือว่า ผู้ใดใส่บาตรแก่ท่านจะบังเกิดโชคลาภร่ำรวยไม่อับจน เป็นสาเหตุให้ประชาชนนิยมตักบาตรในช่วงดังกล่าว เป็นจำนวนมาก

Every few years, Thai Lanna families perform a spirit dance called “Fon Phi Mod” to pay respect to their ancestors. The family assigns a family member, mostly grand children of a deceased ancestor, to lead and is the medium. This ceremony lasts for the whole day and is a rare and interesting show.

Every year at Wat Jedi Luang For, there is an Inthakhin pillar ceremony for seven days and seven nights. People from all over Chiang Mai brings flowers to pay their respect to holy objects and places of Chiang Mai. People believe that the stone Inthakhin pillar was given to the people of Chiang Mai by Indra to be the City Pillar. So Chiang Mai itself has never had a city pillar. Except the Inthakhin Pillar.

Wat Chedi Luang, located in the center of the old city wall, is home to the highest pagoda in the northern part of Thailand. It is over 500 years old. At the base of the pagoda there is a tunnel. According to legend, it was built by  King Tilokarach to be used as a secret passage way for kings to flee enemies. It is also said that there is a kind of mechanism that will punish those who do not have virtue to enter the tunnel. The temple later built an iron gate forbidding people in. What a shame!

Believe it or not, King Meng Rai, the founder of Chiang Mai (B.E. 1839), was killed by lightning at the center of the city’s old walls. Many believe that he was killed in this way because he rode on the back of an elephant. For one, he was very high up, and two, his attire was made entirely of bronze, serving as a human lighting rod. Others believe that the gods saw him as a man of virtue and therefore belonged in heaven. It is up to you to decide which story is historically correct. The Phya Men Rai Hall is located in the center the city.