Sakura flowers🌸🌸 are well known in Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan. They only bloom between early April till mid May every year depends on the location. I havent got the chance to visit any of that country to witness the beauty of sakura and the culture it brings. However i am blessed to be able to join a team that found a new place to enjoy sakura viewing. It's in north part of Thailand under Pethchabun province. Yes, Thailand!
It's always been a dream for me to meet Sakura flowers. When i found the team hosting a trip to Pethchabun, i did not waste my time and asked them about the trip. It was about 3 months before the actual date and i confirmed to join their trip even though i'm anxious about going with agent and more than 10 people in a group.
On 27th Jan 2017 i'm ready and met the host at TBS station to take our 1st transport to Bukit Kayu Hitam. Because its CNY holiday we have to take bus since flight is too expensive to cater all group member. I'm still anxious because i did not know anyone but they seem nice. After about 8 hours in the bus, we finally reached Bkt Katu Hitam to get our passport checked and get our 2nd transport. We also met other members from different state who join the trip. So we got in total of 28 members and took 3 vans that will take us on the journey.
Our 1st point is the Phu Tub Berk mountain in Petchabun to view the sunset. But we did not get the chance to view it since there's a delay in our journey. So we just take rest and have dinner, enjoy the night view from that mountain. Alhamdulillah, Subhanallah Allah allowed me to witness his power in nature. It was a breathtaking moment when i saw how beautiful stars shines up in the sky above us without any light pollution. It's felt like the star is within my reach, so near so bright so powerful. Tears flowing as a sign of feeling blessed.
Then, early morning at about 5.30am we are all ready to catch our sunrise near the mountain and went there with pick up trucks provided by the local community called Hmong people.
Again, the sunrise view was breathtaking. It really worth the climb and waiting. Then, the moment that i've been waiting, sakura!
We then moved to another site to view sakura flower. The whole mountain was covered with pink😍. Im so lucky because sakura 🌸really bloom during that week and it so pretty.
It's pink, soft and magical for me. It's petal is so soft and delicate. It has mild fragrant but still catch your smelling sense. The pink color pigment are so pretty and some are lighter or brighter. The climate there really suitable for sakura. Some said that sakura in Thailand are from Wild Himalayan species.
I did not see any different from what Japan or Korea have. My tourmate said that it is at par with what Japan or Korea have.
It's a good move for Hmong people to change their routine of a vegetable farmer into a new travel industry. They have a community that take care of their land and control the incoming tourist.
As far that we know, we are the first group from Malaysia ever reach their village since they open to public. They want to develop the travel industry there but they do not want to make it commercial. You can only use their transport to go to the sakura park. Each villager are allowed to open 5 room to tourist in their own house. And we stayed in 1 of the villager house as well. Beside managing sakura park, farming is their main focus since sakura season only last for about 2 months. They grow cabbage, corn, strawberry, straw flowers, rice and many more. They also have small market for tourist to buy their produce. It's almost looks like Cameron Highland before it became too commercial.
I hope big industry player will respect their community.
Let's aporeciate what we have.
Love🌸🌸
Shakila
