Bua Thong Waterfall and Rice Fields on the Road to Chiang Dao

I have already devoted an article to the mountain and Chiang Dao cave, the two big stars of the area. But the region is not limited to this: there are also other curiosities that deserve a stop.

Among them are the famous Bua Thong Waterfalls, better known as Sticky Waterfall. It's one of the most popular natural attractions around Chiang Mai, both original and refreshing, and a perfect stop to combine with a day trip to Chiang Dao.

Bua Thong Waterfalls, the “sticky” waterfall!

If you're heading to Chiang Dao, a nice stop to plan is the famous Bua Thong waterfall, nicknamed the "Sticky Waterfall." It owes its nickname to its limestone rocks: their surface grips rather than slips, which makes it safe to hike up the waterfall. It's actually the main activity here, and what has given this unique waterfall its reputation.

It is located about sixty kilometers north of Chiang Mai (about thirty kilometers straight ahead, then about twenty to the east leaving the main road).

On weekends, especially during the warmer months of winter, the place attracts mostly Thai families who come to cool off and picnic in the shade of the trees. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, with the forest and bamboo as a backdrop.

Usually, it is rather common knowledge to think of a waterfall as a place to go "sliding", at least the combination of water + smooth rock (see algae) certainly makes for a perilous climb.

But here, it's the complete opposite. The main game is to wind it up, sometimes using the ropes provided, because it can be a steep climb. The secret of this waterfall, sometimes nicknamed the "sticky" waterfall, is that it has a surface that makes your feet stick particularly well.

The cause is the minerals that make up the water of this waterfall (see below about the "fountain", which is the source). The rocks of the wall are surprisingly non-slip. To the touch, it is even a little rough, you quickly feel like Spiderman going up the 2 main levels making up the waterfall (in reality more, but the rest is not really accessible to ordinary tourists).

Also due to the composition of the water, there is no algae (or very little, so be careful when there is some! It is slippery on these parts!). The whole with its limestone deposits gives off a really unusual look for a waterfall.

Oh Hisse!

Here I am back at the top. Allow at least 15-20 minutes to do this.

The view from the top of the falls is pretty cool too.

Chet Si: The Fountain of 7 Colors

The 7-color fountain (Chet Si in Thai, literally) is less impressive, but it's only a few meters from the entrance so it's still worth the little walk.

This (small) spring contains calcium carbonate, surging discreetly from the ground, it is from here that the stream feeding the falls flows, and the reason for the white rock, the calcium carbonate deposit forming a crust.

Its name is due, you will guess, to the fact that one can normally distinguish there 7 different colors coming from different minerals/elements coloring the source.

Rice fields at sunset

Here's a detonating cocktail to really appreciate what Thailand has to offer. Enjoying a visit to the Bua Thong Waterfall, and my next destination being the city of Chiang Dao. So I gently followed the route of my GPS, deviating from the main road 1001 to head towards the 4046 along the mountains and then taking the 3038 (see the map below).

Seeing the rice paddies on the verges of this long straight, I decided to stop, the time to take some photos. In the end, we did much more than just take photos and leave… First we observed without intrusion from the side of the road, I then looked for a better spot to take some shots of this moment.

Note that usually, The rice season is between July and November. It was February, and I didn't particularly know that they were replanting at that precise moment (at least in the north), although I know that thanks to the reservoirs and irrigation systems put in place over the past few decades, farmers have the possibility of obtaining two or even three annual harvests in the plains. Be aware that not everyone does this, and it is not guaranteed to see them everywhere at this time of year.

Our current photo field.

It works, it works.

Approaching from the side, I couldn't get any closer, because there was an irrigation channel (which allows them to replant at this time of year). While I was taking pictures, one of the guys called out to me, and I understood that he was inviting us to go around to get even closer.

I don't let myself be deprived when I'm invited like that! Without further ado, we came to the rice field, following the small mound of earth separating the rice fields filled with water.

Without even talking to them, I can't see how hard the task is, spending hours with your back bent with the sun beating down on your back can quickly become exhausting. So some don't hesitate to fuel up with a little pick-me-up.

A gentleman offered us a toast with his homemade rice wine. The least we can say is that it was pretty good! The gentleman in question seemed to be the owner of the land, but he was participating as much as the others in planting the rice. Each clump is inserted by hand, planting it in the mud, spaced meticulously and evenly.

The sun was beginning to set, and from what I gathered, they needed to finish planting this plot by the end of the day. The mood was both serious and relaxed, aided by the alcohol.

There is water.

And gulp and gulp!

We ended up staying there for over an hour. Not really considering the time spent. Obviously, if you don't speak Thai, the experience might not be quite the same, but I'm convinced that even without understanding each other, nothing would stop you from stopping near a rice field and seeing in a little more detail how it's done. In general, they will be happy to show you, or even participate!

Many people come to Thailand without having seen rice paddies before and therefore don't really know how rice grows. If you have the opportunity, take advantage of your stay to learn more about it; it's a great opportunity to spend time with locals.

Thank you sir for welcoming us to your rice field!

Until the end !

That's a good day coming to an end!

I'll end this article by mentioning that shortly before the harvest period, in November, you'll be treated to some very full and yellowing rice fields with a beautiful effect. And nearby, there's an interesting temple to see if you haven't had your fill yet: Wat Ban Den.

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