Gardens of sheer delight

Buri Ram province ups its attractions with a beautiful botanical garden and luxury resort

THAILAND MIGHT still be in the grips of the monsoon but the cool season has already arrived at Play La Ploen Floral Park in Buri Ram where colourful winter blossoms are in full bloom.  Located in Khu Muang district, Play La Ploen is the first flower park in the country’s northeast region and brings together an extraordinary mix of Thai culture and exotic European designs under one roof. Spread over 400-rai, this botanical garden is home to six temperature-controlled greenhouses populated by plants from around the world.

The Seasonal Plant greenhouse shines the light on romance with Dutch hydrangea varieties, amaryllises and Siam tulips.The “Love and Loyalty” building hosts the “Under His Graciousness” exhibition that pays tribute to His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Alongside, the Tha Sawang village showcases local wisdom through a collection of traditional silks and ancient gold set off against a couple of white elephants fashioned from flowers.  Inspired by landscaped gardens of which Europe is so proud, the Seasonal Plants greenhouse alternates its displays every three months. Until November, it’s adorned with a pastel carpet of Holland hydrangea varieties, amaryllises and Siam tulips on a Romantic Flowers theme. In December, it will be home to yellow tulips, lilies and other winter plants as the nation celebrates the late King’s birthday.

Dinosaurs peek out from the ferns and petrified wood in the Prehistoric. The Prehistoric zone looks as though it was designed by Hollywood director Steven Spielberg with its Jurassic Park theme. Here dinosaurs are busy hunting for food and more than 60 species of ferns are wrapped around petrified wood. Several varieties of these non-flowering plants are on display here, namely the rabbit foot fern, ladder fern, Brazilian tree fern and bear paw, Pteridium and Blechuum orientale, all of which have adjusted to the tropical climate and grow well in hot and humid surrounds. 

Over in the Colour of Nature exhibition, a giant butterfly has been fashioned from orchids, chrysanthemums and carnations. The show itself is divided into two themes – mainland and ocean - boasting bromeliads and coloured carnivorous plants with other shrubs fashioned as peacocks, parrots, lady bugs and mermaids. Mostly found in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Columbia and Costa Rica, bromeliads have some 25,000 species and in Thailand are categorised into two groups – edible (pineapple) and ornamental.

On view here are the neoregelia, aechmean, guzmania, vriesea and tillansia varieties. They share space with a range of carnivorous plants from Asia, the Americas and Australia, among them nepenthes, sarracenia, drosera, Venus fly trap and pinguicula. The Kinnaree garden boasts several kinds of orchids. Next door is the mythical Kinnaree garden influenced by the Thai literary work “Phra Suthon and Nang Manohra”. It’s home to rare orchid species including the ground orchid, red orange star, vanilla sweet, rhynchostylis retusa, cattleya, vanda and mokkara plus even rarer strains such as aristolochia ringens vahl and aristolochia Indica L.The Great Pyramids hall is home to replicas of pharaoh Tutankhamen and Cleopatra’s tombs and a wide variety of rare cacti.The Great Pyramids hall has, as the name suggests, an Egyptian theme with replicas of the tombs of Pharaoh Tutankhamen and Cleopatra surrounded by a sea of cacti in full bloom. Species include agaves, candelabra plant, silver torch and crested euphorbia.

The Art of SEA pavilion mimics an Isaan village with a spread of anthurium from the Netherlands. The Art of SEA zone is designed to resemble an Isaan farming village and furnished with a collection of wooden agricultural tools and traditional costumes. They are surrounded by anthurium or dok na wua in Thai, a monocotyledon plant and native to the tropics that boasts heart-shaped leaves and petals that turn from yellow to white when it blooms. The exhibition focuses on seven species imported from the Netherlands including otasu, Dakota, sense, fiorino, jori, okapi and sempre.

Ruen Tam Rab Sam Rab Thai takes inspiration from a Thai-style wooden house. A short walk from the greenhouse zone, Ruen Tam Rab Sam Rab Thai is a beautiful Thai-style wooden house furnished with rare antique ceramics, porcelains and wooden tables from the reign of King Rama V.Visitors can sign up for workshops on Thai desserts, natural fabric dyes and handicrafts.   Visitors to the gardens are invited to join workshops on naturally dyed fabric, Thai desserts and handicrafts and can make a holiday of it by staying overnight at the Play La Ploen Boutique Resort.  Right now Play La Ploen is gearing up for winter by preparing a cosmos field, strawberry plantations and a vineyard. IF YOU GO Play La Ploen Floral Park is located at 252, Khu Muang district, Buri Ram province. It’s open daily from 9am to 6pm. Tickets are Bt80 for children and Bt150 for adults.  Find out more at (087) 797 6425, (044) 634 736-8 or visit www.PlayLaPloen.com.

Trees sigh, temple bells ring and neon lights dazzle in Kansai

At Mikimoto Pearl Island, you can see the well-known Ama divers in action. 

The Land of the Rising Sun is famous for its sprawling metropolises, mind-boggling technological advances, congested streets and people always on the move, focused solely on their duties.But there is another Japan, a place where the buildings are dainty, traditional, mostly wooden and surrounded by natural splendour. A place where people walk at a leisurely pace and actually take time out to smell the flowers.Welcome to Kansai, the south-central region of Honshu island, often referred to as the cradle of Japanese culture.Here, one will be awestruck by the gentleness and politeness of the people when they interact with one another. This, perhaps, has something to do with the pride they have in their cultural heritage. And it is best observed during visits to the numerous cultural sites teeming with mostly Japanese visitors as well as the odd number of foreign tourists.

The Todaji Temple in Nara is one of Japan’s most famous and historically significant temples. 

SERENITY RULESOne good example is the Todaiji Temple in Nara prefecture. When this writer was there, this famous place of worship was filled with crowds lining up to climb the numerous steps to get inside.The building is majestic. After all, it is the world's largest wooden structure. Inside is one of Japan's largest bronze sitting Buddha statues (15m tall), flanked by two Bodhisattvas.What struck me was that most of the visitors were schoolchildren on excursions. They reverently toured the massive main hall, eager to learn about its history. It appeared to me that, from young, the Japanese are taught to honour and respect their heritage.During the long walk from the entrance through the Nandaimon Gate - a large wooden gate watched over by two fierce-looking statues - one encounters numerous Sika deer nudging up to visitors, seeking snacks. And fed they are, as visitors take the opportunity to snap pictures of themselves petting these gentle creatures that live in the park.Another famous landmark is the Tenryu-ji Temple in Kyoto. This wooden structure is surrounded by luscious greenery, flowers and a large pond filled with carp - all of which contribute to an atmosphere of serenity. And yes, people actually take leisurely strolls and stop to smell the flowers! The area is sited within a bamboo forest which visitors can hike through.

The Sika deer in Nara Park are unafraid of visitors and wait to be fed. 

Did I mention serene?The Isse jingu or Ise Grand Shrine, situated in Mie Prefecture, which we visited on the fifth day of our media trip, is the one place where I most felt at peace and one with nature during the entire trip.This is one of the Shinto religion's most holy shrines dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu and said to contain Yata no Kagami, a sacred mirror which was handed down to her descendants - Japan's imperial family.We did a lot of walking during our trip. Being the oldest and asthmatic, I struggled to keep pace with the three young women in my group. So my tour guide advised me to begin my walk earlier than the others.I was spellbound by the sheer beauty of the greenery and the vast area of Japanese cedars within the complex and the surrounding forests.Visitors making their way to the main shrine at the Ise Grand Shrine complex.

The Tenryu-ji Temple complex in Kyoto

I felt strangely energised, and completed the walk around the complex without difficulty. I was already on my way out just as the tour guide and the other journalists were walking in!The Japanese believe that the trees are inhabited by kami (gods); those visiting the shrine reverently touched them.CITY SIGHTS AND NATURETo backtrack a bit… When our group arrived in Kansai airport, it was morning and we could not check into the hotel.The tour guide who was assigned to our group told us that we would start the tour immediately by visiting the Tsutenkaku Tower located in the Shinsekai district of Naniwa-ku, Osaka.From the hotel, we walked to a nearby station and boarded a commuter train to the place.At the tower, we made our way to the fifth floor which houses the world-famous Billiken statue (God Of Things As They Ought To Be). Billiken, it is said, was designed by an American artist who had a "divine" dream.The encased Billiken statue set against the backdrop of the Osaka skyline. 

Visitors making their way to the main shrine at the Ise Grand Shrine complex

It was first displayed at a theme park which had been located near the tower; it became popular with visitors who believed it could bestow good luck. Crowds kept streaming in, with young and old rubbing the idol's feet and making wishes.We then made our way, on foot, to traditional small shops in Shinsekai, where we had lunch.After our meal, the guide told us that we had free time and we could visit the Dotonbori shopping centre which was a 30-minute walk away.Later, we took a train to the Kita district and then walked quite a distance to the Umeda Sky Building, a spectacular high-rise building. On the 40th floor is a floating garden with a stunning 360-degree view of the city.But even more amazing was the night view from the Sky Restaurant on the 50th floor of the hotel we were staying in.When in Japan, do as the Japanese do. On Day Four of the trip, we took a two-train journey to Nara-machi, where we had the opportunity to try on and walk about in kimonos.Putting one on can be quite time-consuming. First, you have to wear a sort of undergarment, something akin to a mini Long John but made of cotton.Then a light inner kimono is worn, sash and all. After that, the actual kimono goes on.It was not difficult to walk around in it, but the real challenge was when I had to go to the toilet. I gave up and went back to the shop we had hired the garment from and changed back into my clothes.

A 7km journey on the Sagano Romantic Train gives great views of the rivers and mountains on a charming train.

During the trip, we were taken to popular tourist spots. In Kyoto, we went for a ride on the antique Sagano Romantic Train.The natural scenery we passed was pleasant to the eye. Afterwards, we took the Hozugawa River Boat ride. The boatmen use long poles to move the craft forward, and away from the rocks.Another famous tourist spot is the Mikimoto Pearl Island in Ise Bay, which is off the shore of Toba, Mie prefecture.Here, one gets to see a demonstration by the famous Ama - female free-divers who collect oysters containing pearls which are cultured underwater.On the island is also a museum where one can learn the history and see samples of cultured pearls.A visit to Kansai is an eye-opener and one that should not be missed by those who are into nature or wish to learn about other cultures.[Sources : The Jakarta Post,Saturday, September 30, 2017 ]