※ This video is part of <World Theme Travel - Thailand Above Heaven, Parts 1-4> broadcast from July 17-20, 2023. Part 1. It's okay to do nothing, Krabi · Mae Hong Son A journey for you who are tired of the heat and daily life and desperate for a break. The first journey starts at Khlong Rut in Nong Thale District, the tip of Krabi in southern Thailand. It is a tropical rainforest lake that is 3 kilometers long and is not well known to tourists. Immerse yourself in the mysterious scenery all day while kayaking between the submerged trees. The next journey is to Ko Phi Phi, also known as the 'Jeju Island of Thailand', a city of tourists with more foreigners than locals. On this island, called 'the greatest paradise on earth', motorbikes and taxis are not allowed to run in order to protect the nature. Head to Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon, the highlights of Phi Phi Island. The white sandy beach and blue sea between the two rocky cliffs of Maya Bay are beautiful. At Pileh Lagoon, which can be reached by boat in 10 minutes from the city center, you can enjoy snorkeling while enjoying the coolness of the emerald sea. Longing for a quiet beach, I found Long Beach. Here, I do nothing and just leisurely spend the afternoon enjoying sleepiness. When I order Pad Thai and watermelon juice tteokbokki at a restaurant, the restaurant owner gives me a thumbs up. “You know Thai food.” Time to head from the southern sea to the northern highlands in search of a cooler place to rest. Head to Mae Hong Son, 19 hours away from Krabi. As you climb the Mae Hong Son Loop, a 790-kilometer-long circular road connecting the northern regions, there are signs at each curve to indicate which road you are on. You taste grilled bananas at street stalls next to Road 906. A vendor you meet by chance sings whenever she gets bored because there are no customers. You form a mixed trio at an impromptu music station, and the ladies are delighted by the clumsy dance of the curator. You taste noodles while taking in the magnificent view at a noodle restaurant in Ban Jabo Village, a famous scenic restaurant. The last stop is the exotic village of Ban Rak Thai Traditional Village in Mae Hong Son. Part 2. How much have you eaten? Bangkok! The center city of one of the world's four major gastronomic powerhouses, Bangkok You can taste food from all over the world in Bangkok~! Locals usually call Bangkok 'Krungthep MahaNakhon', but its original name is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for its length. When I heard the original name from the locals I met in front of the Erawan Shirin, which is famous for its spiritual power, I could feel the pride of Bangkok. The first restaurant I visited was a beef noodle restaurant that has received Michelin twice. It was a restaurant that received a lot of camera shots, but the main character was not the owner, but the pot! What special secret does the pot, which has been passed down for three generations, have? Another secret to the taste that has been passed down for three generations is the 'seed broth'. I taste the beef noodles that boast a different taste with the 'pot' and 'seed broth' that have been passed down like heirlooms for 50 years. The Chao Phraya River, the lifeline of Bangkok citizens. Wat Arun, which means 'Temple of Dawn', is located on the riverside. It is a place where there is an anecdote that when clocks were not yet invented, the shadow cast by Wat Arun could tell noon, and at noon, people from the nearby naval base would tell the time by looking at the shadow and making a cannon sound. The second restaurant I visited had oyster pancakes on the menu. This old store, which has been around for 100 years, has been serving oyster pancakes for nearly 70 years at its current location. Under the principle of never using frozen oysters, they serve pancakes with freshly caught oysters every day, so it is packed with customers every day. Since the ingredients run out quickly, I was completely absorbed in the taste of the oyster pancakes here, which have an average daily business time of 3 hours. The third restaurant I visited after being inspired by the 69m-tall Buddha statue, Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, which was created in 2021, is a red pork rice restaurant. The restaurant owner readily reveals the secret of the pork seasoning that has been passed down for over 70 years. As confident as he is, the taste is also difficult to imitate. As expected from a city of taste, Bangkok also excels in street food and night markets. At Khaosan Road, the backpackers' 'base camp', you can try crocodile meat skewers, and at Jodd Fairs Night Market, you can try 'Kung Taen', raw shrimp seasoned with chili powder, and 'Lang Seng', which resembles Korean gamjatang, and taste Thai delicacies. Many Karen people live in Ratchaburi, near Bangkok. On the weekend, you can participate in a ceremony where you can give alms to monks. After the alms, you can visit nearby Oh Poi Market. You can taste the Karen culture by eating rice noodles, khanom chin, and black sesame rice cake. Part 3. It's better because it's secret. The journey to find a place you want to keep secret begins at Thale Noi Lake, a wetland in Phatthalung Province in southern Thailand. It is the habitat of endangered species and is designated as a no-game zone. As a treasure trove of ecosystems, the lake is filled with lotus leaves. You can also see herds of water buffaloes bathing in mud and eating aquatic plants, as well as birds with different appearances. As a place untouched by civilization, the local fishermen still practice the traditional fishing method, Yok Yor. Visit a fisherman’s house, chat with the mother who has been making mats for 60 years, and share local food. The next destination is Chiang Mai in the north, a mountainous area 300 meters above sea level. It is the second largest city in Thailand and was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, which rose and fell from the 13th to the 18th centuries. The old city center is surrounded by moats and defensive walls in the four directions. Take the Songthaews, a public transportation used in several Southeast Asian countries, and head to the famous Buddhist temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. The temple on Doi Suthep, known as the “holy mountain,” is where the relics of Buddha are enshrined. You can see tourists and locals making offerings and praying in front of the splendidly shining golden pagoda. If you don’t want to regret your trip in Chiang Mai, you should also see the traditional culture left behind by the Lanna Kingdom. Watch the Thai Nail Dance, a traditional dance where people wear long nails and move slowly, and eat Khantoke, a Lanna-style Korean meal. It’s time to try a secret food that only experts know about. In Chiang Mai, there is a secret forest bakery that is open only on Saturday mornings. The bread is delicious, and the view is good, so many people come from far away to visit, so you have to get a number to enter. Take a seat at a place with a good view, eat the signature croissant, and enjoy the view. Next, try the pot-roasted pork, which is grilled on a hook with meat stuck in it. The crispy texture of the skin and the moist meat inside go well together. You can also try the little-known Thai traditional healing method, Yam Khang Fire Massage. The traditional healer here soaks their feet in sesame oil with whiskey and herbs, and then presses the customer’s back with their feet heated by the fire. This is a type of thermal therapy. Tired from the hot massage temperature, we head to a forest café built like a villa. This café with a good view in front of the valley also operates a homestay on the second floor. We finish the day by drinking chamomile tea and listening to the sound of water close to nature. Part 4. Midsummer Fantasy If you want to have a dreamlike time in midsummer? Go here! Erawan National Park in Kanchanaburi, western Thailand, is famous for its waterfalls. The emerald landscape and butterflies, reminiscent of the movie Avatar, are breathtaking. Mondari in Sangkhlaburi is the longest wooden bridge in Thailand. Khao Laem Lake was created by the construction of a dam in a nearby area. The lake created a waterway between the Mon village and the Thai village in the area. Mondari was created that way. The long bridge connecting the two villages symbolizes the unity of the two ethnic groups. I visited a Mon village living in stilt houses under the bridge and chatted with the women of the village. There are two 'Wat Wang Wiwekaram' in Sangkhlaburi. One of the two temples with the same name was submerged by the construction of a dam, and the other was newly built on land to commemorate the submerged temple. It was the dry season, so I was able to see the temple in its original state before it was submerged. There was another emotion in the desolation. At another Wat Wang Wien Karam, a large event was held with 700 monks from nearby areas. You can feel the Thai people’s devotion to the event from the people who prepared food for the monks who participated in the event. Hua Hin is a luxurious resort often visited by the royal family. You can feel the Thai people’s respect for the royal family at Rajabhakti Park, where there are statues of the saints who created present-day Thailand. After walking along the quiet beach of Hua Hin, I felt like a king and visited a pineapple field. As expected of Hua Hin, the pineapple tastes incredibly delicious. As expected of a seaside city, there are many kinds of seafood at the Hua Hin Night Market. The ‘chicken shrimp’, which looks similar to lobster, is grilled in various sauces and is very delicious. From waterfalls that look like fairy tales to relaxing like a member of the royal family, Thailand is enough to dream of a midsummer fantasy. ✔ Program name: World Theme Travel - Thailand Above Heaven Part 1-4 ✔ Broadcast date: 2023.07.17~20 #GoladunDocumentary #GoladunDocumentaryOnTV