Images Of Chiang Rai

villagefarang · February 14, 2013

I considered posting this in the haze or Pm thread but settled on posting it here as this is an ever present sight this time of year in Chiang Rai. This was taken this afternoon in the front yard. There are usually a few of these everyday and a few more every night.

ripstanley · February 14, 2013

I considered posting this in the haze or Pm thread but settled on posting it here as this is an ever present sight this time of year in Chiang Rai. This was taken this afternoon in the front yard. There are usually a few of these everyday and a few more every night.

Very clear compared to our place.

krobert6 · February 15, 2013

Another beautiful Chiang Saen sunrise this morning

villagefarang · February 17, 2013

Here is another iPhone shot. Looks like we may end up with a fair number of mangos this year.

krobert6 · February 17, 2013

Off to hos favourite spot

krobert6 · February 18, 2013

Migratory birds dance on Chiang Saen Lake

sceadugenga · February 18, 2013

I tried the macro button on my Canon the other day and wasn't all that impressed, my old Casio was far better, so I decided to try the iPad.

Never been much of one for using gadgets as cameras but the iPad has a number of applications that make it an interesting photographic toy.

We recently painted the gate and the paint has attracted ants, the black variety have one end and the larger reds the other.

The reds stay put but defend their turf against the more territorially aggressive blacks.

sceadugenga · February 18, 2013

OK, it crossed my mind that i may have not worked the Canon Macro function properly and gave it a second chance.

A much better result but practice still required.

villagefarang · February 18, 2013

As long as we are showing off Chiang Rai critters today, I just snapped a shot of this little guy in our yard.

He only seems to be half dressed. Not sure who he thinks he is fooling with that camouflage.

jij · February 25, 2013

villagefarang · March 10, 2013

I am a fan of reservoirs. Whether in villages or in the mountains they are a lovely place to spend some time reflecting on the beauty of Chiang Rai.

villagefarang · March 10, 2013

Here is a favorite mountain reservoir of mine.

villagefarang · March 10, 2013

Here is a dry season shot of our local reservoir within walking distance of our house. (3.5km)

villagefarang · March 11, 2013

Nearing the end of my 40k ride today, I decided to checkout our local rubber plantation, having not ridden through there for a while. There are many small groves up in the hills but this place is something like 8000 rai. There are trails everywhere and it is becoming an interesting place to ride, as the trees continue to mature.

bobbyd1 · March 20, 2013

Chiang Rai is a beautiful place to live and fade off into the sunset

siamiamtom · March 21, 2013

Blithesome Blogger,The images you captured are terrific! Truly wonderful.My family and I are in the process of relocating to Chiangrai.Someday I hope our paths cross.Great compositions! Thanks siamiamtom

siamiamtom · March 21, 2013

I am a fan of reservoirs. Whether in villages or in the mountains they are a lovely place to spend some time reflecting on the beauty of Chiang Rai.

Villagefarang,More beautiful shots from behind your lens! Great. Keep shutterbugg'n. siamiamtom

villagefarang · March 22, 2013

Blithesome Blogger,The images you captured are terrific! Truly wonderful.My family and I are in the process of relocating to Chiangrai.Someday I hope our paths cross.Great compositions! Thanks siamiamtom

Always nice to hear from a fan. Thank you for the kind words. Hope your relocation goes smoothly and I am sure we will cross paths someday.

bobbyd1 · March 23, 2013

933 steps up the hillside at Bandu Monastery to visit the secluded foot print of Budda - The footprints of Budda symbolize the Buddha's presence, as they are believed to be the imprints where the Budda actually touched the ground.

toybits · April 12, 2013

This was taken in the Textile Museum at Chiang Rai Rajabhat University. If you are coming from the airport - heading towards Mae Sai, turn left into the University Avenue. Enter the University and drive down around 1/2 km. There is restaurant for students on the right hand side. The Textile Museum is located near the exit from the restaurant complex.

hmj · April 12, 2013

Smoke is popular on thaivisa but smoke is not popular with the residents in the North.
It is difficult to make an image showing smoke.

Earlier this week I have found a burning tree at the edge of a forest in Wawi district.
I decided to post an image to show the contrast between the normal green landscape
with blue sky and the smoke filled landscape at the end of the dry season.

An obituary of the burning tree.

The tree in the images, or at least part of the tree, is a strangling fig (Ficus).
About half, of the 30 Ficus species in northern Thailand, are 'strangling' figs.

Strangling or strangler figs start life as an epiphyte on a host tree. The seeds
are dropped by birds which ate the figs and passed out the seeds unharmed. The
advantage of starting higher up: more light is available than in the deep shade
of the forest floor.

Once lodged on a host tree, the seed sends out roots which seek water and nutrients
as an epiphytic plant. When the roots touch the ground, they start drawing water
and nutrients more easily: the strangler starts growing as a tree.

Over time the roots encircle the trunk of the host tree and self-graft under pressure.
The roots thicken and become 'root stems' for their own crown.

The trunk of the host tree cannot grow outwards anymore and is gradually 'ringed'.
The strangler fig also competes for light and water and eventually kills the host
tree, leaving it standing with a hollow center.

Fig tree wood has no commercial value and this strangler has survived the logging
which has removed or degraded the surrounding forest.

Hill tribe farmers started to use the logged forest to cultivate crops. The spreading
crown took away light for the crops below so they cut the branches. (The bamboo pegs
hammered into the large branches and the tied bamboo pole are visible.) Eventually
the farmers decided to remove the tree by the only method available to them: fire.

If the fields are left undisturbed for a long period of time, a secondary forest of
fast growing trees will develop. Strangling figs will colonize these trees and their
crowns will provide the shade for other rain forest trees to germinate.