On return from Thailand, first, I met my mother........

On return from Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand, last week, after completing my Visiting Professorship (June-Sept 2013) which was so fruitful and most rewarding from mycological point of view, I did my first duty and, indeed, it was truly a heart-warming one.

I visited our native home at Darbhe, Irde village, Dakshnina Kannada - Karnataka State, and met my mother on Friday. It was a moment of great joy, happiness and emotional to be with her for a while.

When I visited our mother a couple of months back in August 2013, she was very sick and weak due to advanced age and fragile health. She couldn’t recognize me then.  I prayed Bhagwaan Shree Ram for her good health and went back to Thailand to complete my assignment. Now I see my mother better and more cheerful; she is running 95. With conscious and alert mind, she enquired health and well-being of all of us....me, my wife and children....what else do we need..., this is called ‘maathruvaatsalya’! I returned to Goa yesterday with more energy and focused mind...; we have many more things to do and accomplish.....not only in mycology but also in other spheres!

I lived at our native home Darbhe in the foothills of Wesetrn Ghats, for a long time, in my younger age; ......nostalgic memory goes back to 50 years ago; my early education and ‘samskaar’, i.e. learning basic human values, were all from that soil, surroundings  and environment.

 

On Saturday, 5^th Oct 2013, early morning, I stood at our home-courtyard; typical village environment. Monsoon rain has just stopped; radiating bright sunlight piercing through vast canopy of areca and coconut trees and touching the ground; ....with chirping birds, colourful butterflies, hopping squirrels, basking dogs, milking cows, lively but innocent people, this village is a miniature world on its own!

There is no great improvement of basic amenities, in our village Irde, in all these years. Frankly, Irde is famous for 'bendru-theertha' or hot-water spring, a rare geological marvel!  However, the only road - first built by the villagers, by generous donation of private land without any government compensation, but later acquired  by the panchayat and government- connecting the Darbhe-Kunhimule hamlet to the main-road leading to taluka head-quarters Puttur, is in a very poor state. Surfaced by a thin layer of poor quality asphalt and with innumerable pot-holes, this road is the life-line to this settlement in this Karnataka-Kerala-border village. Two buses, one private and a KSRTC-owned, commute the passengers who include numerous school-going children and young and old village-folk, morning and evening on this horrendous road. I too travelled by one of these buses to our home, last week! Who cares for this corner of the State....?

I will write further, after a couple of days.....; Good bye till then.

 

 

D. Jayarama Bhat

 

Saturday-evening Walking Street’ in Chiang Rai, Thailand......

On Friday afternoon, friend Samantha inquired if I am interested to take a stroll in the ‘Saturday Evening Walking Street’ in Chiang Rai. I am aware of this street very much because, I and my wife had ventured into this festive-looking street last year once.  

Every Saturday night, in the heart of Chiang Rai city, Thailand, one of the main roads in the central market area, Thanalai road, is closed to traffic from 5pm to 11pm and adopts a festive look. The whole street outlook changes...........!

Melvina, Chinthani, Nalin, Dhanu and Foi joined me and Samantha, yesterday. We parked our vehicle near the musical clock tower and set out walking the street. It was indeed a long walk on this busy, crowded road.....

With numerous lanterns and electrical lights illuminating the road, scores of make-shift small shops displayed and sold all kinds materials which included readymade garments, perfumes, indoor plants, lots of hand-made souveniers and fruits and vegetables, all for very small prices. Street foods, soft-drinks, music and group dancing enthralled the street and gave a festive look.

It took more than two hours for us to cover the long street. Most memorable evening indeed.............!

 

     ..................D. Jayarama Bhat

Beautiful ‘ORCHID-SHOW’ at Chiang Mai, Thailand................

Saturday, August 10, 2013; completing a quick, 2-day fungus-collecting trip in the surroundings of Mushroom Research Centre, Chiang Mai, we were on our way back to Chiang Rai. Mr. Michael, Samantha, Dhanushka, Dev and myself; we left the MRC at 8:00 am, passed through the near-by elephant-ride and proceeded via Chiang Mai. Michael was on the wheels. He was readying to go back to his home in England and wanted to pick up a few, little souvenirs from Chiang Mai.

As we entered the city, surrounded by ancient brick walls and water canals, Chiang Mai was showcasing one of the largest orchid exhibits. Michael parked the vehicle and we went through the exhibits which stretched for over a km in the pavements. It was not only orchids, but also bonsai, crotons, anthuriums, succulants, cacti, grafts of mango, jackfruit, guava and all kinds of ornamental and fruit plants displayed for exhibition and sale.  Undoubtedly, Chiang Mai is a beautiful and clean city.

Amongst all, what attracted us very much was the glorious orchids. Thailand is a leading country in the world exporting some of the finest varieties of orchids, in bulk. Some of their suppliers have largest selection of Dendrobiums, Arandas, Vandas, Mokaras, Oncidiums and dyed orchids in numerous colours, sizes and density. On that day, a glimpse of these, we could see and enjoy in Chiang Mai.....

 

...................D. Jayarama Bhat

A memorable trip to KHUN KON WATERFALLS in Chiang Rai, Thailand.........................

First week of July 2013; I was busy in handling the Mycology course paper to graduate students and participating in researches on micro-fungi with scholars at Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.  I had just then completed one-month of stay since arrival and, on the week-end, my friend Samantha informed over phone that he and Mr. Michael Pilkington will be going to nearby Khun Kon Waterfalls on a mushroom collecting trip on Saturday, 6^th July 2013, and I could join them. Both of them are experts on mushrooms and a leisure trip with them will be a great learning, I thought.....!  For Samantha, study of mushrooms is his PhD programme. Michael is enjoying working with and photographing mushrooms in nature. If you want to know how much Michael enjoys mushrooms, please visit his website www.mycoimage.co.uk. Two of the research scholars at MFU, Ms. Chinthani and Mr. Dev, joined us. Both of them were interested to collect samples of unitunicate ascomycetous fungi for their researches.

Khun Kon Waterfalls is about 32 km south of Chiang Rai city. The road was very nice, well-asphalted all through except last 2 km. We left Mae Fah Luang University campus at 8:00 am and reached the site at 9:00 am. With enough parking place at Khun Kon, the last 2 km walking trail to the waterfalls was a cool exercise. Surrounded by high trees, bamboos, bananas, ferns and thick understoreys, the walking trail has serene, shady natural surroundings. It rained quite heavily when we were walking to the waterfalls. Unfortunately, I didn’t take my umbrella and had to take shelter for a lwhile under the foliage of a huge banana plant. The Khun Kon Waterfall is about 70 m high and being rainy season it was gorgeous and most scenic to watch. We collected many fungi, on the way. More than that, I watched the art of Michael’s mushroom photography. It was a long process. We saw a huge stink-horn fungus (Phallus sp). Michael mounted his camera on a tripod stand, adjacent to the mushroom, sharpened his focus and clicked several pictures. I too got a picture clicked, holding the fruit body of stink-horn fungus.

At several points, all along the walking track, forest department has placed waste-collecting bins. None throws the refuse outside. This is very important in nature reserves. The surroundings will be tidy and clean if we care and maintain the cleanliness. Nature is beautiful and pristine only if we preserve and protect it............!

 

D. Jayarama Bhat

DOI MAE SALONG, a pleasant hill-station in the proximity of Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Last Tuesday, 23^rd August 2013, my friend Samantha was readying to go to Doi Mae Salong, on his weekly mushroom sampling trip. This was part of his systematic, enduring study of macrofungi aimed at understanding the biodiversity of mushrooms in the highlands of northern Thailand. He invited me to join the trip. I had been to Doi Mae Salong twice already last year together with my wife. This trip, the third one, I readily agreed because, this cool hill town just about 60 km distance from Chiang Rai is undoubtedly an interesting place to visit and enjoy.

Doi (=mountain) Mae Salong is a hill station with vast tea plantations. The hill road leading to Doi Mae Salong from Chiang Rai is undoubtedly a marvel; asphalted, well built and with numerous sharp curves, steep slopes and undulating terrains.  On either side, half-way through the journey, you will see extensive corn cultivations. Then on, as long as your eyes can see, it is vast expanse of tea plantations dotted with litchi and other fruit trees.

Doi Mae Salong has an interesting history but of just 6 decades. It seems, on conclusion of a civil war in 1949, in the border villages of southwestern China (Yunnan), Myanmar and northern Thailand, some remnants of anti-communist Chinese forces led by a General refused to go back to China. They not only took asylum in Doi Mae Salong but also willingly fought for Thailand against communist insurgency in the northern border of the country. As a reward for their help, the Thai Government granted citizenship to these soldiers and their families. Then on, these people permanently settled down in Doi Mae Salong. Presently, they practice agriculture (tea cultivation) as their main occupation.

Doi Mae Salong, known as ‘Little Switzerland,’ is a wonderful, tourist attractive, hill town. Besides tea, the people living here grow cherry blossom and other dry fruits. There are many shops selling attractive handicrafts, vanity bags and much artistry.  Every shop name is written in 3 languages: Thai, English and Chinese; I felt that they truly maintained their ancestry.

There are magnificent Buddhist temples built at the top of high mountains in Doi Mae Salong. These temples, shops, hotels and other eating places are very clean and tidy. You will enjoy taking a stroll on the serene roadsides and buy the souvenirs, before getting back to Chiang Rai. Sam collected many mushrooms. I went around with him. Undoubtedly, it was an enchanting trip for me.  I and my wife visited this place last year, along with Mr. Phonguen who was then carrying out the mushroom diversity study.  My wife too fondly remembers this ‘Little Switzerland’...............!

 

 

 

D. Jayarama Bhat