Chiang Mai: Mindful FarmStay 清迈: Mindful 农家寄宿

One of my most memorable experience was taking my parents for a farmstay in the peaceful Pang Term valley, 75 kilometers north west of Chiang Mai city. 

Pinan, a monk of over 20 years, and his brother initially had an organic farm in Doi Saket. (a district in eastern Chiang mai) One day, he met and felt in love with one of the volunteers; Noriko from Japan. He then renounced his monkhood and she later became his wife. 

They moved to Pang Term village, a village where he was born to start their own organic farm - Mindful farm. We did not get to meet his wife during our visit as she was back in Japan to give birth to their daughter, Nobara. Mindful farm warmly welcome visitors to stay and experience a mindful and peaceful way of life.  

Mindful farm's mission: To live in great harmony with the earth.

  

Our home in the farm was a cute little handmade mud hut (without a door!)  

Inside the mud house: It's cool and spacious that you could not have imagine!

For your reading pleasure and dining area with plentiful clean mountain air!

You can bring your high tech gadgets, electricity supply and wifi available!

Shower and toilet hut.

Pinan's family house where we sit and chat to get to know him better.

Pinan told us what their Thai King had said "Don't sell your land, put a seed into the ground and you'll never die of hunger!" Instantly, a wisdom seed was planted in my mind! 

Transplanting tomato plants into their allocated garden beds with tender care.

Mizuna (水菜) a popular Japanese vegetable, soft in texture and feathery looking.

Overlooking the organic farmland and beyond a quiet valley. I took my time of pleasure just watching the beauty of the untouched nature:- the gorgeous panoramic scenery of mountains with their lush vegetation and the surrounding landscapes. 

A little cottage on a hill belonging to a Korean who has been living there for years.

Back to the kitchen. Very hungry by now...

My mother is cooking dinner for us. 

Dinner at 6:15pm with a spread of healthy vegetarian dishes of freshly picked organic veggies from the farm and white steam rice. Eat all you can!

Flowering green vegetables (菜心)  stir-fry. Crunchy, farm fresh summer tasty! 

Little radish, Simply delicious!

he dark night came shortly after dinner. It was unexpectedly cold and freezing with chilly wind creeping through the windows. Felt as if it's like sleeping in an igloo!

My father hung a piece of carpet at the doorway to keep out the cold wind because there isn't a door that you can close. Unfortunately, instead of a week's stay, we have to leave the next day because the night was really too cold to endure.

Pinan came at 6:30am to lead us to the main road to take the songteow back to Chiang mai city. Although it was just an overnight stay, it left long lasting memories in our mind! A mindful farmstay might not transform you to be a farmer, but it certainly will change your perception of life for sure. Life can be just that simple and happy!

NOTE:

1. Weather condition vary throughout the year.
2. Farmstay costs 150 baht per day/person (inclusive of accommodation and food.)
3. Vegetarian meals only. NO smoking and NO alcohol. 
4. Going to the washroom may be a little inconvenience in the (dark) night.
5. Don't forget to look at the beautiful sky at night!
6. There is ONLY one songteow trip to and from the valley each day. 
7. Inform Pinan to 'book' a songteow before your departure date.

HOW TO GET THERE:
1. Go to Warorot market. Take a yellow songteow which is going to Samoeng.
2. Inform the driver you're going to Mindful Farm at Pang Term village. 
3. A stop at Samoeng before Mindful Farm which is still quite a distance away.  
4. The driver will call Pinan and someone will come to lead you to the farm.
5. Total travelling time takes about 4 hours. (one way)

For more information: http://www.mindfulfarmers.org/