Experience the Charm and Local Knowledge of Tai Phuan Ethnic Group at Ban Khao Phra in Amphoe U Thong
Visit Ban Khao Phra community in U Thong district (amphoe) of Suphan Buri province and learn about local ways of life, language, cultures, and beliefs of Tai Phuan ethnic group through a variety of unique and interesting activities.
As we all know that “Thai people” are comprised of diverse races and ethnic groups. One of them is “Phuan” or “Tai Phuan” ethnic group which has settled in many different regions of the country including Ban Khao Phra community in U Thong district of Suphan Buri province. More than a hundred years have passed since the first settlement, yet the local ways of life, language, cuisine, cultures, and traditions are still being preserved and carried on. If you get to talk to Tai Phuan people themselves, you will realize that a community-based tourism is not something out of reach.
Getting to Know Tai Phuan people
In the past, Tai Phuan ethnic group lived in Chiang Kwang district in north eastern part of Laos. During the Thonburi until the Rattanakosin era, Tai Phuan people had been forcibly moved to settle around basins of the Chao Phraya River multiple times. Yet, the biggest move took place in 1826, during the reign of King Rama III, when King Anuwong of Vientiane was defeated in a battle. That move is considered to be the biggest move of people from the Mekong River to the Chao Phraya River. Although Phuan people are calling themselves “Tai Phuan”, other ethnic groups prefer to call them “Lao Phuan” to indicate a native place where they emigrated from.
Nowadays, Tai Phuan people have scattered all over Thailand and settled in more than 20 provinces. Ban Khao Phra community is one of the settled locations of Tai Phuan people where their native cultures and traditions including the language are being well-preserved. The community has been remaining to be agriculture-based where everyone lives together peacefully. Nonetheless, due to the country’s advancement and changing economy, these factors also impact and bring changes to the ways of life of Tai Phuan people. Some of the local traditions have been adjusted and adapted to suit the modern society. Even so, the unique identities of Tai Phuan people have never been faded or erased.
Activities to Experience the Charm of Tai Phuan People at Ban Khao Phra Community
From Laos to Thailand, from Vientiane to Ban Khao Phra, Tai Phuan people have brought with them their local cultures, values & beliefs, traditional recipes, and historic stories to fully integrate with cultures of their new home. The Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization) or DASTA (U Thong office) has collaborated with the community to create a creativity-based tourism via these activities as follows:
- Khao Phra Local Museum
The museum is located within an area of Wat Khao Phra Sri Sanphet Yaram. Some of the artifacts here are found underneath the ground. Some are antiques kept by the community members. These artifacts are displayed for visitors to learn about the history and origin of Ban Khao Phra community. Making a stop at this museum is recommended as it is like a front gate leading you to get to know this community better.
- Making Traditional Bamboo Baskets and Hanging Mobiles
This is one of the most popular activities at Ban Khao Phra community. Not only do visitors get to learn how to weave each bamboo strip to create a traditional style basket called “Takra Takalaew”, they also get to make friends with local people and other visitors while enjoying the activity. Besides, the visitors will be taught to cut pieces of colored paper in order to make “Puang Mahode”, a Tai Phuan traditional hanging mobile. All of these manual steps will bring you closer to authentic ways of life of Tai Phuan people.
- Getting to Know a Local Herb
Ban Khao Phra community is also known for its local herb that is called “Tum Nan Din” or Streptocaulon. With its countless benefits and medicinal properties, the community members have researched more information about the plant and brainstormed ideas to turn it into value-added products. There are Tum Nan Din tea and Tum Nan Din lemon tea for visitors to sip and enjoy. They can also exfoliate their skin with Tum Nan Din and honey scrub for softness and younger look. These are amazing and interesting ways to attract visitors and generate more incomes to the community.
- Tasting Ban Khao Phra Local Cuisine
Another thing that can’t be missed while visiting Ban Khao Phra community is to taste their local dishes. Their signature menus like “boneless pickled fish” and “fish chili paste with home-grown vegetables” may look ordinary but we promise you they taste extraordinarily delicious! For the fish chili paste, the main ingredient is mackerel (other types of fish can also be used). The chili paste is stir fried until it’s cooked and fragrant. It is then mixed with the fish meat and seasoned with a fermented fish sauce. The fish chili paste is often served with white lead tree leaves on the side. Eating it with a plate of hot steamed rice is such a simple delight.
It is nice to see that the charming cultures and traditions of Tai Phuan people in Ban Khao Phra community of Suphan Buri province are still being admirably protected and conserved. The community members here are more than welcomed to share their local knowledge through many activities intended to educate visitors and connect them with the simple ways of life. This is a win-win tourism where the visitors leave with eye-opening experiences and the community lives on with the help of extra earnings. If you come to Suphan Buri, don’t forget to visit Ban Khao Phra community and you’ll find out there is more to this place than meets the eye.
Source:
sac.or.th
thehumans.sac.or.th
library.tru.ac.th
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