Chiang Khong & The Giant Catfish

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,455
5,287
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
Late 1980s & the "Original" Tammila Guesthouse in the main street.

291848=16427-GTR-TammilaGHB.jpg


291848=16426-GTR-TammilaGH2B.jpg


Pla Buek Resort, late1980s?

291850=16429-GTR-PlaBuekResort-ChiangKhongB.jpg


291850=16428-GTR-PlaBuekResort-ChiangKhong2B.jpg

once the party resort / spot in town.

Davidfl;291850 wrote: Pla Buek Resort, late1980s?

291850=16429-GTR-PlaBuekResort-ChiangKhongB.jpg


291850=16428-GTR-PlaBuekResort-ChiangKhong2B.jpg

once the party resort / spot in town.

Finally,, thePla Buek site has been sold & is being turned into a 5-star hotel resort by Fortune Hotel Bangkok.
 
  • Like
Reactions: blackb15

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,455
5,287
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
Once upon a time, long ago before the Xayaboury dam the catfish were quite plentiful in the Mekong near Chiang Khong.
April was catfish season & there was a constant line of boats with nets out across the Mekong to catch these monsters of the Mekong.
GTR-IMG_20190423_0007.jpg

Fisherman camped out beside the Khong; & the boats took it in turns to sail out & drop a net as they went.
They then drifted downstream a little & pulled in the net as they came back closer to shore.
The next boat went out & dropped his net & the next boat again repeated the process, such that there was always a net across the river hoping to catch a big one.
GTR-IMG_20190423_0004.jpg


When a fish was caught it was tied up to a bamboo pole in the river.
GTR-IMG_20190423_0002.jpg


GTR-IMG_20190423_0005.jpg


GTR-IMG_20190423_0006.jpg


But since the dam construction started the numbers started to decline & no with the dam, no more giant catfish are caught.

Those golden days for the Mekong fishermen are gone now.
 
Last edited:

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,455
5,287
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
April 1995 & the start of the catfish season with the annual ceremony & festivities for good luck to catch the giant Mekong catfish.
Looking back now it was a total honor to witness this event, the real deal.
1626692673365.png


1626692789135.png


1626693011292.png


1626693050422.png


1626693192139.jpeg


1626693268862.png


1626693386006.png


1626693429612.png


1626693490867.png


1626693679069.png


1626693713331.png


1626694051152.png


1626693842262.png


1626693920845.png


1626693946955.png


1626694077624.png


1626694106625.png


1626694126253.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: blackb15

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,455
5,287
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
Late 80s & a couple of pics from the by the Khong.

Not sure on the exact locations, but
1628837979649.png

I reckon this was at the Ban Saeo road junction R1290 / R4007.

Amazing how low the river was
1628838298814.png


Wat Haad Bai?
1628838361582.png



or Wat Muang Kan

or Wat Sob Kok


1628838423164.png


It will be interesting to get the correct location.
The women's costumes suggest it is not Tai Lue at Haad Bai.