Fah Thai Magazine - Inflight Magazine of Bangkok Airways Issue Jan-Feb 2024

NORTHERN HEART
Beyond the workshops,
Chanoknan and his scholar friends
collaborate with villagers in
Baan Mae John to promote ecocommunity
tourism. Forest ecology
experts tap local wisdom to share
fascinating insights with tourists.
Product designers contribute by
developing unique colour patterns
and designs for local handicrafts
that meet the contemporary tastes
of tourists.
The workshop “Colours for
a Balanced Happiness” unfolds
every first Saturday of the month
at Bamboo Family Market in San
Kamphaeng district, Chiang Mai.
This engaging initiative, coupled
with the display of handicrafts by
Baan Mae John villagers, sets the
stage for an eco-tourism route
starting in January, after the
harvest season.
Stay tuned for updates by
following www.facebook.com/
SomdulChiangMai and www.facebook.
com/bamboofamilymarket.
Clockwise from
Top Right
Tung, a traditional
handcrafted Lannastyle
decoration
used in festivals
The beauty of the
northern craft
The Rak Chiang Mai
Urban Community
Network works on
reviving traditional
Lanna dance
Bottom Left
Saowakhon
Sriboonruang of
Rak Chiang Mai
Urban Community
Network and a
Lanna traditional
dancing teacher
Photos: Saowakon Sriboonruang
TRADITIONAL LANNA DANCE: A
LIVING HERITAGE PRESERVED
How does the traditional Lanna dance
help preserve Chiang Mai’s cultural
richness? Saowakhon Sriboonruang, a
coordinator for Rak Chiang Mai Urban
Community Network and owner of
Chiang Mai Heart souvenir shop,
points to the importance of intangible
cultural heritage.
“Over the past decade, our
community network has pushed
Chiang Mai as a world living
heritage city,” says Saowakhon.
“The term ‘world heritage site’
serves as a shield, safeguarding
Chiang Mai’s exquisite and distinctive
traditional cultures against practices
that threaten the city’s identity.”
To keep the traditional dance
alive, Rak Chiang Mai Urban
Community Network holds
regular training classes taught by
masters, ensuring that the cultural
heritage is passed down through
generations. The network boasts
over 900 dancers, ranging from five
years old to 80, who participate in
major events such as the annual
Yi Peng lantern festival in November
and Chiang Mai’s founding ceremony
on April 12.
The network offers an innovative
twist during the Yi Peng festival.
“We run a campaign to light
phang [small clay-cup candles]
instead of releasing sky lanterns,”
Saowakhon explains. “This not
only prevents potential damage to
aircraft, public property and homes
but also supports local potters.”
Over the years, the campaign has
grown from 25,000 candles to over
100,000 candles in its 10th year.
“We also promote the display of
tung [Lanna-style flags] around the
city during Yi Peng,” she adds. This
not only supports tung artisans but
also adds a burst of colour to streets
during the festival.
Working passionately to preserve
their hometown’s essence, the “little
people” of Chiang Mai are showing
how a city can evolve sustainably
amid break-neck development. Their
stories weave a shimmering tapestry
of local initiatives, reminding us
that sustainable travel is not just
an option but a delightful journey
through culture, craftsmanship, and
conscious living. www.facebook.com/
Rakchiangmainetwork
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