**Guest House at Angkhang Agricultural Station**

After enjoying a delicious meal at the Ang Khang Agriculture Station Club and participating in team-building activities that fostered camaraderie and familiarity, the group embarked on a walking tour following the footsteps of His Majesty the King to various locations within the station. The tour was led by "พี่มนตรี," also known as Mr. Manophat Yanont, an officer at the Ang Khang Agriculture Station, who shared captivating stories about His Majesty's life and work, inspiring the participants with his insights.

Our journey begins at the "80th Anniversary Garden," a picturesque space created to commemorate the 80th birthday of His Majesty the King. This garden is divided into sections dedicated to various types of plants, including flowering plants, ornamental plants, and exotic species such as cherry blossoms, plums, and peaches, all of which are characteristic of cold climates.

Eighty Garden Area

"Why Doi Ang Khang?"

The Vision Behind the Royal Project: Replacing Opium with Sustainable Livelihoods

Prince Bhisadej Rajani, President of the Royal Project Foundation, recounted how His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej initiated the Royal Project with the aim of finding alternative crops to replace opium cultivation. The King envisioned crops that would generate greater income for hill tribe farmers, offering a sustainable alternative to the illicit drug trade. This vision aimed to break the cycle of poverty and environmental degradation associated with opium cultivation. By providing farmers with viable alternatives, the King hoped to improve their livelihoods and discourage them from engaging in environmentally harmful practices like slash-and-burn agriculture.

Cherry blossoms have begun to bloom in the Eighty Garden.

The King believed that cold-weather fruits would be more profitable than opium. The Hmong people living near the Phuping Palace informed him that they were already earning as much money from selling small, local plums as they did from opium. This prompted the King to establish the Royal Project, which aimed to transform small plums into large peaches by grafting them onto guava branches.

In addition, other cold-weather crops should be tested, as if successful, they could fetch a good price in the tropics. We would also need to find a cold climate to set up an experimental station.

The beauty of Ang Khang that day was enhanced by the opium flowers and the landscape. We saw wild apple trees and realized how cold the weather was. We talked to a vendor who had set up a shop there. He had brought the opium up from another route, away from the Chinese military camp. Since most of the hill tribe people had migrated elsewhere, Ang Khang had plenty of space for Imperata cylindrica to grow. This is why His Majesty the King graciously granted the establishment of the Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station 30 years ago.

The Angkhang Royal Agricultural Station has achieved significant research success, enabling Thailand to cultivate a wide variety of temperate fruits. This accomplishment, along with the elimination of opium cultivation within the Royal Project's boundaries, has contributed to the station's allure as a destination for exploration. The station's appeal is further enhanced by its refreshing climate and picturesque landscape.

As we ascended the hillside, traversing the eighty-acre garden, we encountered a diverse array of flora, including exotic plants introduced at the behest of His Majesty. Among these, we observed the sakura garden, where, as Mr. Montri informed us, non-native sakura trees exhibit an upward growth pattern, while their Thai counterparts, known as phaya sua krong, spread laterally.

In addition to flowering and fruit trees from temperate regions, His Majesty also encouraged the trial planting of fast-growing trees imported from abroad. This was intended to provide firewood for the hill tribe people to use for cooking and heating in the high-altitude areas where the climate is cold year-round.

His Majesty's workplace before the establishment of the Royal Agricultural Project Office.

As we walked for a while, Minister Mantry led us to the site where His Majesty worked when the office for the Royal Agricultural Project had not yet been built. There was only dry land due to deforestation for shifting cultivation. The site was a small cliff that provided some shelter from the sun and rain. It was surrounded by a bamboo fence. Inside, there was no furniture except for a few tables and chairs made of bamboo. This was the workplace of the King, who endured hardship for the well-being of his people.

Resembling a small room with only low bamboo fences dividing the space.

Interior of the King's Former Workplace on Doi Ang Khang

This sentence describes the interior of a location that was once the workplace of a king on Doi Ang Khang.

In contrast to yesterday's arid landscape and blooming opium fields, which harbored a hidden threat to the environment, today Doi Ang Khang presents a revitalized scene. His Majesty's tireless efforts have transformed the once-parched land into a fertile oasis. The initial stages of cultivation at the Royal Agricultural Station involved numerous trials and errors before identifying suitable plant varieties.

In addition, the King needed to establish trust with the various ethnic groups residing in the area, particularly the spiritual leaders of each group, including the Palaung, Musoe, Yunnan Chinese, and Shan. As we have already learned about some of the King's royal activities, this aspect of his work was crucial.

From the central working room in the middle of the forest, we walked along the royal path, with Mr. Montri telling us stories about the King all the way.

The young men and women who participated in the project were all well-intentioned.

To convey diverse narratives in their own unique style.

The lush and refreshing environment, as evidenced by the abundance of mushrooms and moss throughout the area.

We arrived at the bamboo garden and the helicopter landing pad, which is now an open grassy area. There were local people who had brought horses and elephants to tie up, waiting for the opportunity to serve tourists, taking turns to provide services in an orderly manner. As we walked, a light rain began to fall. We asked Mr. Montri why it was called "royal rain." Mr. Montri then taught us how to "look at the rain" again.

According to Mr. Montree, we can observe the sky to differentiate between natural rain and royal rain, also known as "rainmaking." During natural rain, the sky becomes overcast with thick clouds. However, during royal rain, the sky remains clear with patches of sunlight visible through the clouds. Another simple observation is that natural rain is often preceded by lightning, while royal rain does not exhibit this phenomenon.

**The Sky in the Style of "Royal Rain" or "Royal Rainmaking"**

**Services offered by the hill tribe people for tourists**

**Central Market on the Mountain: A Hub for Hill Tribe Clothing**

Women weavers demonstrate their weaving skills.

The Necessity of Royal Rainmaking in Thailand

This passage describes the importance of royal rainmaking in Thailand, particularly in mountainous regions bordering Myanmar. The author highlights the crucial role of rainmaking in preventing water scarcity for communities downstream.

Key Points:

• Reason for Rainmaking: The primary reason for rainmaking is to ensure sufficient water availability for communities in the lowlands.
• Uneven Rainfall Distribution: Natural rainfall patterns favor Myanmar's forested areas, leaving the Thai lowlands vulnerable to drought.
• Impact of Forests: The abundance of forests in Myanmar contributes to higher rainfall compared to the deforested Thai lowlands.
• Royal Initiative: The rainmaking project is a testament to the foresight and compassion of the Thai monarchy, addressing the critical water needs of the population.

One of us asked Brother Montri why it was necessary to perform "royal rainmaking" at this time. Brother Montri's response was enlightening and deepened our appreciation for the immense kindness and far-sighted vision of His Majesty. The reason for rainmaking in this mountainous region, where rivers flow towards neighboring Myanmar, with only a small portion reaching the Thai lowlands, is to prevent water scarcity for lowland communities. Without royal rainmaking, these communities would face drought conditions. This is because natural rainfall tends to favor the forested areas of Myanmar, which receive more rain due to the abundance of trees.

As we walked past the helicopter landing pad, Mr. Manatree continued to educate us on the differences between "horses" and "mules", which we had never known or noticed before. He explained that "mules" have larger ears than "horses" and are smaller in size. Mules are the result of crossbreeding between horses and donkeys, a practice that has also been graciously supported by His Majesty the King.

We strolled past the helicopter landing pad to a recreational area near the Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station, known as "Gart Klang Doi." This space provides a platform for local hill tribe communities to sell their agricultural produce and homemade goods, such as woven fabrics and traditional clothing, to tourists visiting Doi Ang Khang at affordable prices.

An outdoor exhibition showcases the history of Doi Ang Khang and the King's initiatives to transform the barren land into a model of sustainable development, bringing prosperity and income to farmers and hill tribe communities. This initiative effectively combats drug trafficking at its source, achieving long-term success.

Rose of Sharon or Chinese hibiscus

Bamboo germplasm collection

The peach trees that were planted at Doi Ang Khang are now bearing fruit and are ready to be harvested.

We continue to walk on the path that our beloved King once walked, a path that was not as smooth and comfortable as the one we walk on today. It was a path filled with hardships and countless obstacles, yet he persevered, ensuring the well-being and prosperity of his people. This path will not end; it will be carried on by the unwavering determination of future generations until the King's aspirations, as expressed in his Royal Proclamation, are fully realized.

"We shall reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people."

Recorded on November 11, 2016, the 29th anniversary of the passing of
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great,
Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty