Sila Phet: Hidden Gem of Pua District, a Village Amidst Rice Fields, Mountains, and Rivers.

The rainy season is still as charming as ever.

Poa District is still a destination
for those who love the lush green rice fields
surrounded by mountains, as always.

What has changed is the new coordinates
that make our hearts beat faster.

A Hidden Gem: Sila Phet Community

Nestled in the embrace of the majestic Luang Prabang Mountains, Sila Phet, a small village in Pua District, Nan Province, unveils a breathtaking panorama of endless rice fields. This hidden gem, recently discovered, captivates with its stunning natural beauty, making it a place you'll never want to leave.

**Sila Phet** village is traversed by the **Lam Nam Yang** river.

It is surrounded by dense, verdant forests.

Just a short walk behind the homestay, you'll find a beautiful stream flowing over rocks.
The lush forest casts its shadow over the water, creating a serene atmosphere.

Our Accommodation: Silapetch Homestay

Our accommodation for this trip is Silapetch Homestay, owned and operated by Mr. Somkiat, the village headman. He will be our host throughout our two-day, one-night stay.

Two Days of Tranquility: Embracing Nature's Embrace

For two days, I immersed myself in the serene embrace of nature, becoming a temporary resident of a small wooden house nestled near a gentle stream. The plush bed and warm blankets offered a haven of comfort, inviting me to unwind and reconnect with myself.

I assisted my mother in preparing meals, savoring the flavors of home-cooked goodness. With my father as my guide, I embarked on an exploration of the village, witnessing firsthand the production of its renowned products.

The allure of adventure beckoned me to explore the surrounding trails on a bicycle, venturing into the heart of the forest in search of cascading waterfalls. The pristine environment provided a sanctuary for rejuvenation, allowing me to indulge in the bounty of organic food.

These two days were a testament to the restorative power of nature, offering a respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It was a time for reflection, rejuvenation, and a profound appreciation for the simple pleasures that life has to offer.

I've truly fallen in love with the river here.

If it weren't for the high water like today,
we'd be having fun playing in the water.

But right now...just sitting and chilling...listening to the sound of the flowing water
feels like my heart is getting a full rest.

Throughout the first afternoon, the "Love as a Journey" gang took over the pavilion behind the house. Some sat reading books, listening to the music of the flowing water. Others climbed down to walk on the rocky beach by the stream.

Life is good.

The sun is setting, and a gentle breeze begins to blow. It's time to go for a walk… cycling with the children along the small road that stretches out to the vast rice fields.

Waiting to capture the last light...of the evening sun

In the rice fields that are about to ear

After a tiring day of walking,
we came back to a huge dinner.
The Khantoke buffet was all-you-can-eat, and we ate until we were stuffed.

Homestay Meals: A Culinary Journey

The homestay offers three delicious meals throughout your stay.

Dinner on the first day features a traditional "khantoke" spread, including:

• Crispy pork rinds
• Spicy "nam prik ong" dip
• Lemongrass-fried tilapia
• "Gaeng hang lay" (Northern Thai pork curry)
• Clear soup
• Fresh vegetables

Breakfast on the second day starts with comforting rice porridge with minced chicken. The highlight is the "kai tod ma kwaen," a unique dish made with "ma kwaen" leaves, a local Northern Thai ingredient. This traditional recipe involves coating chicken with these aromatic leaves and frying it to a crispy perfection. The dish was so memorable that we brought some "ma kwaen" leaves back for our mothers to try!

Lunch on the second day offers a simple yet satisfying meal of chicken stir-fried with chilies, omelet, and clear soup.

This culinary journey ensures a full and happy stomach before returning home.

Community Activities

In the evening, a Bai Sri ceremony was held to bless us. Young women from the village performed the Tai Lue dance for us while we enjoyed a Khantoke dinner.

The next morning, the host family prepared food, water, and fruit for us to offer to the monks in a traditional alms-giving ceremony. We felt truly blessed and satisfied before embarking on our next adventure.

Here is the translation:

Today, we have an appointment to visit the community in the morning.
We have time to go for a walk and see the rice fields in the morning.

On the other side of the village,
We can see the beautiful and intricate Luang Prabang mountain range.
It is the backdrop of the vast rice fields.

Morning Visit to a Local Community

In the morning, we embarked on a journey to experience the local way of life. Our guide, the village headman, led us to the back of "Pa Pen's Sticky Rice" shop, renowned for its small bamboo-tube sticky rice, a specialty of Nan province.

Silapetch's unique bamboo sticky rice recipe is not available anywhere else.
To enjoy it, you must visit the shop or order by phone.

The special feature of Aunt Pen's bamboo sticky rice is not only the black bean filling, but also the nearly 10 other fillings to choose from, including young coconut, custard, banana, chili paste, pineapple, and purple yam... If you want to try them all, you'll be full until evening.

After purchasing sticky rice, if you want to enjoy it fresh and hot, you can visit One Coffee, a coffee shop located in front of Aunt Pen's house. Aunt Pen's son manages the shop and prepares the coffee himself. Relax and enjoy the view of the rice fields while sipping fragrant coffee and savoring sticky rice, creating a delightful atmosphere reminiscent of Silapetch.

Next, we will visit the Sila Phet Waterfall.

The water level is currently high and the current is strong.
Do not swim in the water under any circumstances.

On the rocky cliffs above the waterfall, there were beautiful butterflies
fluttering and perching everywhere.

Before leaving, we stopped by the Sila Phet Housewives Group to buy freshly made and wrapped fermented pork sausage to bring back home as gifts.

It's time to go home.

It was a 2-day, 1-night trip that gave me so much.
I was close to nature, without having to compete with anyone.

I ate delicious food that is only available in this area.
I saw the peaceful and simple way of life of the villagers.
In a small village with beautiful scenery.

Sila Phet is located near popular tourist attractions in Pua.
Stay here... and you can easily visit all the attractions in Pua.
Because each place is... no more than 10 minutes away by car.

Travel

Flight: Nok Air, Bangkok-Nan, roundtrip 2,200 THB

Car rental: Avis, Nan Airport, 2 days, 1,800 THB

Driving: 1 hour from airport to homestay. Easy and scenic road from Nan city to Pua.

Navigation: Use Google Maps coordinates for easy access: https://goo.gl/ToRv3W

Activities:

• Visit Wat Phukhao
• Relax at Tubnaka Cafe
• Enjoy pizza at Farm Baan Hed Hua Nam
• Stop by Tai Lue Coffee and Lamduan Weaving
• Explore Wat Sri Mongkol
• Conclude at Rim Nan Art Gallery (on the way back to the airport)

Fuel: Total fuel cost for the trip: 500 THB

Booking: Contact Sila Petch Community, Nan for package booking:

www.1nightstaywithlocals.com/sila-petch-community/

Voucher Package

This voucher offers a 2-day, 1-night stay in a local community, including meals and activities.

Price:

• Minimum of 2 people
• 2-5 people: 2,000 THB per person
• 6 or more people: 1,650 THB per person

Validity:

This voucher is valid from now until December 31, 2019.

Booking:

• Accommodation and activities must be booked 15 days in advance.

Contact:

• Community contact: 081-0292007, Mr. Somkiat

------------------------------

Follow our other trips at

Page Love as a Journey

The provided text is empty. There is nothing to translate.

Please provide the text you want me to translate.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.