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| The most peaceful place in North Thailand! |
Tam Wua Forest Monastery - Vipassana Meditation
If you want some clarity, some 'mind' space, serenity and peace (inside and out) then get your self here!
There is not a whole lot on the web about it, well, nothing official anyway. There is a self made unofficial Russian website, with not allot of useful info but there are quite a few travel blogs about it.
Tam Wua
If I wasn't so lazy I would write more about directions etc. But half the fun about traveling off the beaten track is always the "JOURNEY".
It's not in any guide book or travelers bible (thank god) because this little gem is definitely something like minded souls discover and are drawn to if that is your path.
What Happens Here:
In a nutshell...
6:45am Wake up (though you are supposed to wake up at 5am for a self meditation) But I preferred the sleeping one!
7:00am Monk Rice offering
7:15am Breakfast (vegetables, rice, rice porridge)
8:00am Walking Meditation
9:00am Sitting and Lying Meditation
10:30am Monk offering
11:00am Lunch - Always soooooo yum and hard not to over eat, as you know that you will not be eating till breakfast tomorrow morning. But there is unlimited hot chocolate, coffee and tea.
1:00-3:00pm Meditation (walking, sitting, lying)
Free Time
4:00pm Karma Yoga - SWEEPING leaves
6:00-8:00pm Chanting (in Thai??) and Sitting Meditation
10:00pm Lights out
Its not by any means a hard schedule to follow. For me, it was just adjusting to no dinner and what felt like a day without food.
I'm not sure how it would be if you have never meditated before and there is not allot of guidance as the monk, though he speaks English, is quite random in his insights. Very cute and fun!
All in all, the experience is definitely something that I would re-live again and again.
Directions:
Depending on how you like to travel. There are a couple of ways, you could get to from CM to Pai.
Ask for the AYA bus station and Catch the 3hr bus to Pai. The bus will drop you on the main walking st at the AYA office. From the main walking st you will also find the local bus stand. You could take a local bus for 50B and just let the driver know you are going to Tam Wua. They are all pretty familiar with this. Tam Wua is about 1.5-2 hrs from Pai on the the way to Mae hon Song. When you get off the bus, you will see the monastery sign and you walk down the road for about 1.5km and there you will see the stunning monastery.
OR
you could take a cheap flight from CNX to Mae hong song and again take the local bus heading toward Pai. This bus journey is shorter.
But, if you have never been to Pai, I highly recommend it, stay at least a night and take the morning bus to Tam Wua.
I hope that makes sense.
There is not a whole lot on the web about it, well, nothing official anyway. There is a self made unofficial Russian website, with not allot of useful info but there are quite a few travel blogs about it.
Tam Wua
If I wasn't so lazy I would write more about directions etc. But half the fun about traveling off the beaten track is always the "JOURNEY".
It's not in any guide book or travelers bible (thank god) because this little gem is definitely something like minded souls discover and are drawn to if that is your path.
What Happens Here:
In a nutshell...
6:45am Wake up (though you are supposed to wake up at 5am for a self meditation) But I preferred the sleeping one!
7:00am Monk Rice offering
7:15am Breakfast (vegetables, rice, rice porridge)
8:00am Walking Meditation
9:00am Sitting and Lying Meditation
10:30am Monk offering
11:00am Lunch - Always soooooo yum and hard not to over eat, as you know that you will not be eating till breakfast tomorrow morning. But there is unlimited hot chocolate, coffee and tea.
1:00-3:00pm Meditation (walking, sitting, lying)
Free Time
4:00pm Karma Yoga - SWEEPING leaves
6:00-8:00pm Chanting (in Thai??) and Sitting Meditation
10:00pm Lights out
Its not by any means a hard schedule to follow. For me, it was just adjusting to no dinner and what felt like a day without food.
I'm not sure how it would be if you have never meditated before and there is not allot of guidance as the monk, though he speaks English, is quite random in his insights. Very cute and fun!
All in all, the experience is definitely something that I would re-live again and again.
Depending on how you like to travel. There are a couple of ways, you could get to from CM to Pai.
Ask for the AYA bus station and Catch the 3hr bus to Pai. The bus will drop you on the main walking st at the AYA office. From the main walking st you will also find the local bus stand. You could take a local bus for 50B and just let the driver know you are going to Tam Wua. They are all pretty familiar with this. Tam Wua is about 1.5-2 hrs from Pai on the the way to Mae hon Song. When you get off the bus, you will see the monastery sign and you walk down the road for about 1.5km and there you will see the stunning monastery.
OR
you could take a cheap flight from CNX to Mae hong song and again take the local bus heading toward Pai. This bus journey is shorter.
But, if you have never been to Pai, I highly recommend it, stay at least a night and take the morning bus to Tam Wua.
I hope that makes sense.
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