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LAND AND NATURE
 It may be a surprise for us to learn that Tak is the second largest province in the North , after Chiang Mai.About 70% of the areas are high mountains with fertile forestation. Thw Thanon Thongchai Range , comes down from Chiang Mai, lying lengthwise across several provinces and ending at Thong Pha Phum in Kanchanaburi. The province of Tak ,
Therefore , is divided into two halves by this mountain range.
The eastern Tak consists of Amphoes Muang Tak, Ban Tak, Sam Ngao, and King Amphoes Wang Chao. The western side includes Amphoes Mae Sot, Mae Ramat, Tha Song Yang, Phop Phra , and Umphang.
Natural grandeur
 Umphang is the largest district in Thailand , covering the area of about 108,000 acres 97% of the district is mountainous forests. It used to be the most unreachable land .but transportation has been greatly improved . However, the 164 kilometers route on highway 1090 from Mae Sot to Umphang is still considered dangerous because of the treacherous terrain along the 84 kilometers mountain ridge. Some call this route “ suspended skyway” because of the narrow asphalt strips uphill passing deep cliffs and high mountains of up to 1000 meters above sea level. The non-stop trop from Mae Sot to Umphang takes about 3-4 hours. In 1987 Umphang National Park was decleared an endangered species wildlife scanctuary in order to protect the fauna and flora in the area
1. Thi Lo Zu Waterfall
 Considered the most beautiful waterfal in Southest Asia, this is the dream place for nature-lovers. It is a waterfall for all seasons , particularly in the rainy season when water falls from the 400 mater limestone cliff face creating a 200-meter-high –multi – level cascade. The position of the sun also make it more beautiful in the morning. The 1.8 kilometers trek from Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary to the fall is as enchanting as educational. The forest are abundant with flower,plants , wild animal,bird , insect, and etc… There are in formation signs along the way to educate visitors who care to study nature.
Visitors to Thi Lo Zu have to be well – equipped. There is no lodging or food shop only three campsites are provided at the forestry District Office,Pha Lueat,and tha Sai.
From june ,1 to November ,30 the roadway is usually closed because heavy rains normally ruin the dirt road. From december,1 to May,31 only pick-ups or 4 –wheels drive vehicles are recommended for the road trip to the fall. The best bet is to come with tourist agencies in Umphang
How to Get to Thi Lo Zu
Thi Lo Zu Waterfall is in Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary limits , admission permission, is thus required before a visit. Application needs to be filled with Umphang Tourism and Conservation Promotion Club
No entrance or departure is allowed between 06.30 pm. To 06.00 am. Visitors to the waterfall must leave before 05.00 pm. No food is allowed at the fall. And no non-biobe-gradable trash , sush as plastic bottles, is allowed
Special activities in Um-phang , Cruising the Mae Klong in a rubber raft
 In addition to a road trip, cruising in a rubber raft another exciting means to reach Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary. The cruise passes through dense forests along the enchanting waterway. After that a road trip ( in the dry season) or an elephant ride ( in the rainy season) to Tho Lo Zu is recommended
Interesting sights on the Umphang-Tha Sai cruise
Pha Wo : This high and steep cliff is the back side of Ta-Kho-Bi Cave .
Thi-Lo-Cho Waterfall : Also called “rain stream waterfall” The waterfall along these dripping stones and drizzles creates curtain of mists midst the dense jungle. The rocky riverbanks are covered with moss, ferns and lichen.
Rainbow Waterfall : This waterfall is not far from Thi-Lo Cho. It is thus sometimes called “small Thi Lo Cho”
Pha Phueng : This high cliff used to be a popular dwelling a thousands of bees from which its name was derived.
Pha Leat : The name came from its natural crimson face hundreds of meters long. It has been hypothesized that some mineral mixture caused this rusty color.
Pha Bong : This high cliff face has a big hole in the middle ,and thus its name.
Tha Sai : This natural bay is famous for its white sandy beach.
On your way back on the rubber raft cruise, you will pass “Stop Mae La-Mung” which is a meeting point of Mae La-mung Creek and the Mae Klong. However , you will have to face Mo-Kae-Do Cataract with its big table rock. This cataract is bigger than
Ta-khi-bi. From here , a roadway will take you back to Umphang while a raft ride down the Mae Klong will take you to Pa-La-Tha Village
2. Tha-Kho-bi Cave
In Karen dialect, “T a-Kho-bi” means flat mangoes. This is a big and comfortable cave with charming stalagmite and stalactite is without sulfuric odour common common is most cave. Visitor should bring flash-light for the inside is pitch dark.
3. Doi Hua Mot
This lengthy range, a vantage point for sun-lovers is covered with thick green carpet of low bushes and shrubbery. Some colorful seasonal wild flowers and misty seas of fog will alternately double its daily splendor. From its top, the vista of the Thanon Thong Chai Range will be unfloded for you
4. Pa-La-Tha Village
Half of the population of this”develop” Karen village is educateand literate is Central Thai. Overnight stay in a home or a bamboo hut is possible
5. Wat Thai Watthanaram
A Tai Yai's Mahayan temple, it was built in 1867 by Nai Mung a Tai Yai merchant from Thongchai. All the artifacts and architectural structures in this temple are thus Burmese-influenced. The two storied meeting hall is colossal. The front side is decorated with stucco and engaraved wood. The pillars are glazed and gilded in intricate scroll patterns accented with jade
Besider this building stand a “Konawin” pagoda. With is a Mon styled pagoda.
Anaother building nearby is Phra Phuttha Wihan Maha Muni, built in 1977 in the Burmese –palace style , with seven-tiered roofing. The topmost tier is a small golden royal umbrella.
Inside the Wihan sits Phra Phuttha Wihan Maha Muni, which is a 7-by- 7 feet bronze image in subduing mara posture. Abbot Bandit of this temple has this image constructed by Burmese craftsmen for the Tai Yai who are unable to visit the original Phra Phuttha Wihan Maha Muni in Mandalay
Behide the meeting hall also lies a 93-feet reclining Buddha imagee
Rubbing Shoulders with Our Neighbour
Mae Sot is an important district on the Thai-Myanmar borders where people from both side. Either the Myanmar , Tai Yao, or mon have frequented to trade. This interaction has great impact on the people and traces of Myanmar artistic style are more than
Evident in the area.Rim Moei market is also available trading spot
Rim Moei Market
Despite its primitine location at the end of the 105 Tak-Mae Sot Highway , about 10 kilometers west of Amphoe Mae Sot, this market is a crucial trading station with thousands of million in tranaction
Visit Myanmar
A trip to Myanmar is as easy as walking across the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge near Rim Moei market. Building in Myanmar ' s Miaowadi market remind us of Thailand 30year ago. A few do ' s and don ' ts are
- Car run on the right side of the road
- Settle the fare with the tricycle rider before the journey
- You must cross the border back to Thailand before 06.00 pm
Tourists can roam Myanmar within 2- 3 kilometers radius without much ado.
A border pass can be issued with an application with and ID card. The office is in Mae Moei City near the bridge and is open from 08.30 am to 04.30 pm. Application fee is 35 baht. A car needs to show registration papers. Thai customs office is open from 06.00 am. – 06.00 pm
There are charge on the Myanmar side. Ten bath for a person. Cars and van need to pay both the fees and the required third person insurance. Fifty bath for a small car, 60 bath for a medium sized vehicle, and 70 bath for a big vehicle. Small vehicles need to pay 250 bath insurance,ang big vehicle 600 bath.
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