Learn Chiang Mai Culture

Visitors to Chiang Mai have the opportunity to learn a variety of different Thai-style activities. These activities include Muay Thai (Thai Boxing), Thai cooking, Thai massage
(TTC Spa School, ITM Training Massage School )and Vipassana Meditation.

Wat Chom Tong, Tambon Ban Luang, Amphoe Chom Tong (about 60km south-west of the city) +66 53-826869 / +66 53-826180. the home temple of the meditation master Achan Tong, and offers residential courses in Vipassana Meditation on an on-going basis.

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. offers short and long courses in Buddhist meditation.

Wat Ram Poeng, Tambon Suthep, Amphoe Muang (4 miles south-west of the city) +66 53-27862]. Offers facilities for retreats and meditation instruction.

Air's Thai Culinary Kitchen , 9/1 Nong Prateep Rd., Chiang Mai -- +66 53 249326, +66 81 9936564. A choice of tailor-made itinerary. 10 minutes drive, from the city hotel; 800 meters from Chiang Mai Railway Station. Set in 1.6 acres of tranquil, landscaped grounds in a private house. The kitchen’s unique design draws from professional experience and is purpose built, and surrounded itself with herb and spice gardens.

A Lot Of Thai Cooking School, +66 53-800724,. A family run home cooking class. Teach by the owner for every class. Welcome for vegetarian and any kind of food restriction. Courses included Market tour and provides a recipe book from which you can cook by yourself at a later date.

Baan Thai Cookery School, 11 Ratchadamnoen Road, Soi 5, near Thapae Gate, +66 53-357339 / +66-16714120,. Courses include a cook book and market tour. Have full day or evening classes

Chiang Mai Kitchen Cooking School +66-97002099]. Just 20 minutes from downtown Chiang Mai, and offers a fresh approach to Thai cooking instruction. The organic herb and vegetable garden supplements ingredients are purchased at the morning market. Before and/or after your day in the kitchen, stay overnight in their charming, traditional Thai bamboo house.

Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School, at 1-3 Moon Muang Road, +66 53-206388 (fax: +66 53-206387). Offers 1/2/3/4/5-day courses. 990 Baht for 1 day course. Recommended by Lonely Planet, Let's Go, Rough Guide, Frommer's and Stefan Loose guide books.

Cooking Class Asia,. Cooking Class Asia offers interactive cooking class vacations to people who want to make Thai cooking and culinary discovery the focus of their holiday in Chiang Mai.

Gap's School Of Thai Culinary Art Has its office at Gap's House, 3 Rajadamnern Soi 4 +66 53-270143,. High standards, proper organisation, your own stove, 1 teacher per 5 students.

Grandma's Thai Recipes, +66 53 -121656,Provides traditional Thai cooking instruction. Vegetarian Friendly. Restaurant and Booking Office located in central town just north of Thapae Gate. 48 Chaiyapoom Rd.(Cooking School 15 minutes out of town, transportation provided).

Siam Rice Thai Cookery School, +66 53-329091,Friendly and knowledgeable staff provides a course on local and traditional recipes. The course includes a market tour and provides you with the recipes that the dishes that you create.

Smart Cook Thai Cookery School, 21 Moonmuang Road, Soi 5, +66 53-418309. Market tour, cook book. Accommodates vegetarian cooking. Small classes and fun staff. Highly recommended.

Sompet Cookery School, 56 Patan Road, +66 53-214897. learn to cook traditional Thai food at a riverside home. Daily courses, morning and afternoon. A recipe book with color photographs provided for each dish, suggesting the many ways to prepare and serve Thai food.

Carving lessons, +66 53-285056. Learn how to carve on fruit and vegetable, with pictures and notes to take away and refer to later at home.

Smile Thai Cookery School If you want to experience the real Thai food and learn to prepare good Thai dishes with the real techniques that you can take back home. The class runs Monday – Friday in a fun environment, you'll discover that the good Thai food is not that difficult to make. (+66-53-800-567-8)

Classic Home Cooking, (+66 53219056) We are the only one cooking school in Chiang Mai where you can choose any dish from more than 50 dishes of our menu. 6 dishes per day for morning class and 4 dishes for evening class. The cooking class is running every day in our own house.

Hong Hian Sueb Sarn Lanna the Lanna Wisdom Institute

Break down the wall between Poh Khru and Mae Khru, masters of Lan Na art and culture, and learners; bring them together,” said one of the cofounders of Hong Hian Sueb Sarn Lanna, the Lanna Wisdom Institute, Mala Kamjan. He is renowned in the world of literature and was the winner of the 1991 S.E.A. Write Award.

Inheritors of Lan Na

The Lan Na region was formed a long time ago by several ethnic groups including Tai Yuan, Yong, Tai Lue, Pakayor, and hilltribes such as Akha and Lahu to name a few. The area was associated with its use of their rich natural resources in all aspects of their lives. The community developed its own culture and folk wisdom with its own cuisine, medicine, silk and cotton weaving, architecture, art, performance and entertainment.

However, the infl uence of other cultures gradually aff ected Lan Na’s own culture. These changed the Lan Na way of life and knowledge of it gradually disappeared. People weren’t so interested in learning about Lan Na culture, and unfortunately young people didn’t care about inheriting this folk culture.

For this reason, the Sueb Sarn Lanna Fair was born in 1997. The annual fair is a miniature display of Northern diversity, featuring the traditional culture of many ethnic groups. In 2000, the Lanna Wisdom Institute, an alternative learning forum which aims to pass on valuable folk wisdom and an eco-friendly

lifestyle to the next generations, had begun. It was founded on the words of Luang Por Pra Tham Di Lok, the venerable monk of Chedi Luang temple: “To hand down the reality of the folk wisdom will be to carry it on with every breath you take”.

The Wisdom School,

The school opened in 2000, with 85 learners (aged between 6 and 66). At present, 14 generations have graduated from the school. The Wisdom Classroom, The Institute has a temporary open-air pavilion where students and teachers can meet. It is located on a plot of land behind Prince Royal School.

Class Time Schedule: Saturday and Sunday, the time is fl exible (2 month course, THB400 per course only)

Wisdom Courses,
1. Lan Na language: also called Northern Thai or Kam Muang
2. Saw – A style of folk singing of Lan Na
3. Making Khom (lanterns) and Toong (hanging decorations)
4. Weaving
5. Wickerwork
6. Mould making
7.Carving
8. Lan Na drawings
9. Folk music
10. Lan Na dance
11. Lan Na sword dance
12. Klong Sabad Chai - Victory Drum Dance
13. Lan Na games: Mak Soom, Mak Beng, Ton Dok, Ton Phung
14. Mor Muang - Lan Na traditional medicine and theory
15. Pi Kho - A bamboo recorder
16. Local toy making
17. Local Agriculture
18. Forest Conservation
19. Lacquer ware

The 10th year of Lanna Wisdom Institute exhibition “Kad Muan – Kad Muang” The Lanna Wisdom Institute will host a Lan Na arts and culture exhibition throughout 2007. The exhibition will focus on and refl ect the worth of Lan Na culture and folk wisdom. It aims to pass on this treasure to new generations by having it presented as a Lan Na folk wisdom market and will include displays of traditional art and performances.

Show Time: The school is looking for a way to fi nance the cost of curriculum development. Please give a donation if you can. Note: “Hong Hian” means school

For more information, please contact us at Lanna Wisdom Institute 35 Rattanakosin Rd., T. Wat Gate, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50000 Tel. 66 5330 6387, 66 8 1530 8512 www.lannawisdoms.com Special Thanks: Khun Mala Kamjan Khun Boonrin Thongdeelert Khun Prasong Sangngam