Colours of Doi Tung

CHIANG RAI  Colours of Doi Tung Festival returns this month extending its appeal with the country’s highest walking street located at an elevation of 1,000 metres, close to  the summit of Doi Tung.

The peak’s walking street will feature roadside stalls selling handicrafts and art, food, every weekend through to 31 January 2016.

As a bonus the walking street will open for an entire week 26 December to 3 January.

This year’s festival marks the special milestone theme “20 Years…the Memory Lives On” an initiative to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of Her Royal Highness Somdej Phra Sri Nakarindra Baromraj Chonni (HRH the Princess Mother) known simply as Mae Fah Luang in Chiang Rai province.

Having founded the Doi Tung Development Project in 1988 and steered it through the first years, the devotion of the Princess Mother for the people of Doi Tung and their environment continues to inspire long after her death.

The Colours of Doi Tung makes the peak road more vibrant and colourful than ever with exhibitions covering the approach to the former residence of Mae Fah Luang.

An art exhibition, “Wisdom of the Inspirer” is being held by 20 artists from Art Bridge gallery.

A parallel exhibition is the “Photo Exhibition by Little Photographers” by local children who share the beauty and stories of Doi Tung through their own eyes.

Also not to be missed is the Flower Village in the middle of the Mae Fah Luang Garden. The garden is open until 2000.

However the Hill Tribe Walking Bazaar promises to fascinate visitors by, showcasing over 50 stalls of traditional food, drinks, and handicrafts of the ethnic minorities who live at Doi Tung.

Visitors will be able to enjoy performances by six ethnic minorities residing on or near Doi Tung: Akha, Lahu, Shan, Thai Lue, Lawa, and Chinese ethnic groups who migrated to Chiang Rai province. Those who want to embark on creativity can join workshops, including ceramic making and painting, painting fabric bags, stitching notebooks, and making a traditional Lanna flag or Tung, to be taken home as souvenirs of a memorable trip.

sourced:ttrweekly.com