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its people and their ways truly represent the northern Thai. From Phrao an easy 31 kilometer run along R1150 to Chiang Dao goes on a picturesque route that joins with H107 at KM.83.
(KM.48 south-cast turn - 3 km.)
A dirt road leads to a cave temple and waterfall. Both these places classify as small out-of-the way spots. Before the falls, a short track to the left leads to a spring known as the seven colors (rainbow) spring.
(KM. 76)
In the Vietnam war, pilots reported seeing a monk flying in the clouds in the area. The monk was thought to be Luang Phu Wen Suchindo who died in 1985 at the age of 98. The legend led to the development of the temple. New temple buildings in the grove break with traditional designs.
(H1001 KM. 79 west turn - 18.5 km. 4WD. Take a picnic and allow a day for this)
A degraded sealed road leads past a small dam and lake. It then becomes unsealed and increasingly steep as it climbs through a lovely cool evergreen forest.
The village of Men Hin Lai at the summit cultivates tea trees to produce miang, a leaf chewed with condiments.
The waterfall and a fine outlook over the Phrao Valley lies at the eastern end of an orchard and pasture in front of the village. Upland walking beyond the tea plantation looks interesting, but taking a village guide would be advisable.
(KM.93)
Phrao is a small market town with one single main commercial street.
The town has a long history. Its remoteness allowed it to serve as a refuge during the late 18th century when Chiang Mai was abandoned.
R1150 to Wiang Papao is unsealed and offers an alternative route to Chiang Rai that passes through Lisu villages. (53 km. All-weather but 4WD, advised)
(North - 4 km.)
A narrow concrete lane continues north from the main commercial street to Doi Nang Lae. The "Dhamma Treatment Place" is guided by Nikhon Thammawathee, who became embroiled in a scandal when a follower accused him of fathering her child when he was a monk. Since the scandal the center has been quiet and the ex-monk eventually lost his case in the courts. The center has buildings and statues in a strange mix of Chinese and Indian styles.
Wat Son Pong in the village near the foot of Doi Nang Lae has also been decorated in a style that suggests large endowments.
(R1150 KM.26 down dirt track going south - 600 m., or on scaled country lane from the south-west corner of the town).
Wat Phra Chao Lan Thong contains a Lanna Buddha image cast in 1527. The hill on which the temple is located is part of an old Thai Yuan settlement enclosed by earthen walls.
Remains of these may be seen on the approach to the temple. From Wat Phra Chao Lan Thong a sealed lane leads due south through villages. After 3 kilometers a west turn on a dirt road leads to the small cave temple of Wat Tham Dok Kham (take the right fork after 1 km.).