PHU-THAI BAN KHOK KONG
HOMESTAY VILLAGE ISAAN
The "Phu - Thai" Culture
Phu-Thai is one of the eight ethnic groups which migrated from Southern China downwards through Laos and Vietnam to cross the Mekong River and settle in the Northeast part of Thailand.
The Phu-Thai people live in several districts of the Kalasin Province. They prefer to live near the mountains or highlands because they rely on natural resources for their daily consumption. They pick up fruit, edible leaves and roots like bamboo shoots, and ants eggs to make their food. Moreover, they make use of everlasting raw materials from bamboo trees. They also make tools and handicrafts such as rice-containers, baskets, pails and other articles.
The Phu-Thai people have a strong belief in their traditional culture including communication, language, clothing, music, clothes making and wooden handicrafts etc. Particularly their compassion, cheerful smile and friendliness.
The Cultural Village of Phu-Thai Khok Kong is a small village of 130 household families with a total population of 600 inhabitants. It lies near a small stream which flows all year round. It is essential in daily life and causes the weather and temperature to be cool all year round. Since 1998 Phu-Thai Khok Kong Cultural Village has been open as a cultural tourist attraction as well as new way of life of Kalasin. Each year the amount of both Thai tourists and foreign tourists visiting this cultural village is plentiful. In the year 2000 Phu-Thai Khok Kong Cultural Village was awarded the prize from The Third Thailand Tourism Awards 2000 in which kind of town and community attraction which can guarantee the tourism quality in all aspects of this cultural village.
Khok Kong is a tourist village offering a home stay "Guesthouse" program. People can study the local lifestyle and culture of Phu-Thai People, including relaxing in a natural atmosphere, surrounded by the jungle. Touch the fresh air and sincerity of upcountry people.
The activities include a warm welcome of the Phu-Thai People, the Bai Sri tradition (rice offering to the spirits in a propitiatory ceremony), having Pa-lang local cuisine consisting of Oom Wai curry, Mok Hed, Young Bamboo Shoot Soup, Eggs of large Red Ant, Pak Wan Curry, Seasonal edible Insects. Experience the local music performance played on the Phu-Thai flute, bamboo stringed instruments, lute, Khan (mouthorgan in Northeastern Thailand), Tum drum as well as a local classical dance with a strange melody and language. See how to manufacture handicrafts: silk-weaving, bamboo-weaving. There is also Jungle trekking around "Phu Pha Wua" National Park, located in the north of the village, to see fertile jungle, caves, waterfall and study rare plants and local healthy herbs. The main career of Phu-Thai Khok Kong Villagers is agriculture: growing rice, doing orchard work and doing farming.
