| CCM Newsletter – May 2025 -Lampang |
Hi everyone,
I’ve been fortunate to be waking up to great sunrises over rice fields at Kaema Farmstay in Mueang Pan, Thailand. Next week I will be heading back to the US and Oregon for a month or two – details at the end of this newsletter.
Wat Sop Pan, Mueng Pan, Lampang
Mid-April is the annual water festival Songkran เทศกาลสงกรานต์ in Thailand . Here you see part of that happening at Wat Sop Pan, down the street from the Farmstay. I did glimpse another farang. Around the heads is string that goes up and connects with the Buddha up front. I was told the star and fish symbol had nothing to do with other religions, they were just ‘for fun’. And yes, Thais sure do fun pretty well.
Mai Tuen Hospital
In early May I again traveled with the mobile medical group (from Suandok hospital and Chiang Mai University). A 4 hours drive took us to Mai Tuen, in the southern most Omkoi region of Chiang Mai province. The other acupuncturist and I somehow saw 119 patients for treatment in one day.
Omkoi region is next to Tak and the border of Myanmar. In Tak there is a severe refugee health crisis because of the sudden disappearance of US Aid. In Mae Tuen we had been contracted to help a local inpatient health center. The mostly Karine tribe people here live hours from a hospital.
Phi Ta Khon in Chae Son, Lampang
More fun again. In this Phi Ta Thon tradition of the eighth lunar month, monks pour water on the sacred relics, there is much dancing and wearing the Phi Ta Khon masks, and lighting rockets. It felt a bit like Halloween for the kids 👹.
Continuing up from Chaeson is the beautiful mountainous region between Lampang and Chiang Mai.. Here you see local growers and roasters gather for an annual meeting in Doi Saket, up in the coffee growing border between the provinces. I’ve been a tea guy for a long time, but I’m getting influenced. Coffee also gets the job done for many here!
Kaema Farmstay
Kaema Farmstay is a great place to unwind for people visiting the Chiang Mai area. It offers a taste of the ‘real’ Thailand, charm, food, and the potential for relaxation and regeneration on a beautiful small organic rice farm. If I continue to stay I could be part of helping open it up to host small groups who do meditation retreats, massage or other workshops.
I will be back to resume doing acupuncture and herbs starting on June 5th for the next month or two.
I hope I might see many of you then!
All the best 🙏🏼
Ken