Isaan, the north-eastern part of Thailand, is full of enchanted places. Little known to the mainstream tourist, in the small villages along the Mekong, or further inland, you can still breathe the true essence of the Country. During our last trip, we were lucky enough to meet several people. Simple people, with a smile on their faces, even though their lives have often been hard. Curious people who, aware of the cultural difference, still want to know and understand. People proud to tell their traditions.
Among them, we met Juii, a sixty-five year old guy, born and raised on the lakeside of Talay Bua Deng, who literally translated means “The sea of red lotus flowers”. Always a boat driver, Juii has accompanied us into the legend of the lake.
The myth tells of the beauty of Princess Nang Ai from Chathida’s kingdom, so much beauty that she became famous all around the world. There were countless suitors, so King Kom organized a tournament. The winner would have married his daughter. But the story gets complicated. Magic transformations, murders and revenge. The two knights, Phadaeng and Pangkhee, were the most aspiring suitors. A tragic love triangle. A war breaks out, with the arrival of snakes army, the Nagas, that flood the scene of the battle. This is said to be the birth of Lake Nong Han.
The lake stretches for so many kilometers to remind us of a sea, a spectacular sight, the sky reflects in the water and all around the pink lotus flowers. The small fisherman’s boats that we come across are very charming.
Juii tells us that the lake is full of fish, the source of nourishment his village. He takes us to visit a small area where there are only white flowers, explains that they do not mix with the colored ones and bloom at different times. He turns off the engine of our little boat and lets us experience the moment. There’s total peace all around, you don’t want to leave anymore. He smiles, stays silent for a while, he is lucky enough to enjoy this view every day, and never gets bored.
As a good talker, he explains that the white flowers are the ones used for prayers and offerings at the temple. He often sails to collect them as well as the seeds of the lotus flowers, which can be resold to be eaten. The water lily can also be transformed into incense, which gives off hallucinogenic aromas. We also collect the fruits to taste them along this journey, distracted by the many creatures that fly free near and above the water.
Last stop before returning to the mainland, is a swampy island on which vegetation is thick, semi-abandoned where we find a boran temple (ancient and traditional). The locals usually visit the place on specific occasions according to their religion.
The lotus (Padma) is considered a sacred flower. Symbol of spiritual purity according to Eastern tradition, it also has a meaning of rebirth. While the roots sink into the mud, in fact, the flower blooms outside the water, in the sunlight. In the classical literature of many Asian cultures, the lotus flower symbolizes elegance, beauty, perfection and grace. It has also inspired yoga, as the lotus position (Padmasana) is the traditional position used for meditation.
The tour on the lake ends with goodbyes and the promise to return here, an experience that completed us, not easy to describe. We leave the place and continue to enjoy the view, the beauty of these lands and its shades of green of the rice fields, its simplicity with the villages that we slowly pass by car…
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