(The Nation) How to see the sunflower fields
Vagabond
By Vipasai Niyamabha
The Nation
Published on Nov 30, 2001
Selected farms in Lop Buri and Sara Buri offer breathtaking views of a
flower that has inspired everyone from Spanish explorers to Vincent
van Gogh.
In other parts of the world, sunflower blooming has long been a
popular, seasonal tourist attraction. Now flower lovers in Thailand
are storming to plantations in Lop Buri and Sara Buri provinces to
catch a glimpse of vast fields of sunflowers in full bloom before the
current season ends in January.
Only a two-hour drive from Bangkok, Lop Buri and Sara Buri are
populated mostly by independent farmers and farming companies with
land plots of various sizes. They mostly cultivate soybeans and corn,
alternating these crops after the rainy season with sunflowers.
Originally from America, the sunflower, or Helianthus annuus L, was
introduced to Thai farmers in the Central region more than a decade
ago. Since then, the flower has become a bright, glowing magnet for
day-trippers from Bangkok. The rich splendour of vast sunflower fields
is such a delight to behold that most visitors are eager to be
photographed amid the sunburst of bright yellow.
In all the excitement over the flower's photogenic properties,
however, it's easy to forget the sunflower's important role as a food
source. Its seeds are among the more prominent species used for oil
that is low in saturated fat, and the roasted variety are a favourite
snack for many.
"Sunflower" originates from the Greek helios meaning "sun" and anthos
meaning "flower," describing a blossom always turned towards the sun.
Sunflowers actually come from America, not Greece. Legend has it that
in 1532 the Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro, after fighting his way
into Peru, found a giant sunflower being worshipped by the natives of
the Inca empire as a sacred image of a sun god. The sunflower's beauty
was later immortalised in a seven-part series of paintings by Vincent
Van Gogh, one of which Christie's auction sold in 1987 for 22 million
British pounds (Bt1.37 billion).
After Pizarro's arrival in Peru, so many people converged on sunflower
fields to worship the plant's beauty that farm owners - anxious to
prevent damage to his crop - tried to discourage visitors by
surrounding the sunflowers with stinging nettles.
Today however, sunflower "worshippers" once considered trespassers are
in Thailand admired as tourists whose presence enlivens the local
economy. Landowners have learned that most visitors don't mind being
charged a small fee for the privilege of viewing and taking pictures
of the resplendent flowers. The fee also compensates landlords for the
damage visitors inevitably cause by walking through the fields,
trampling the flowers or compacting the soil.
According to Sonjid Piemchamroon, a land owner at Ban Nong Bon in
Wangmuang district, sunflowers are now considered an excellent choice
for producers looking to diversify their operations beyond the usual
soybean, roselle or corn plantations. Cultivating this species has
brought in extra income for local farmers, she said, adding that most
of them earn the money not from collecting tourist fees but from
selling sundried reselle and sunflower oil.
To view vast sunflower fields by train, you can go to the Pasak
Jolasid Dam on a trip organised by the State Railway of Thailand for
the public every Saturday and Sunday (contact 02-220-4334, ext 1690
for more details).
Otherwise it's best to go there by car, as the speed and convenience
is worth the price. You can easily zigzag through small road and
trails to seek the best viewing site for the sunflower fields. The
best places to visit are Pattananikom district in Lop Buri, and Kaeng
Khoi, Muak Lek and Wang Muang districts in Sara Buri.
Sara Buri province is hosting a sunflower blooming celebration from
today until Monday. And Lop Buri province is holding its festival of
sunflowers through December 10.
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Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com