Chiang Khong & The Giant Catfish

[DavidFL]

Late 1980s & the "Original" Tammila Guesthouse in the main street.

Pla Buek Resort, late1980s?

once the party resort / spot in town.

Davidfl;291850 wrote: Pla Buek Resort, late1980s?

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.

 

[DavidFL]

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.

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.

When a fish was caught it was tied up to a bamboo pole in the river.

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.

 

[DavidFL]

2004 cutting up a giant catfish at Chiang Khong.

Trip report on GTR here:
Huay Xai Mapping

 

[DavidFL]

March 1999 at the Chiang Khong port

 

[DavidFL]

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.

 

[DavidFL]

August 1991 a rooftop view of Tammila? guesthouse & the Mekong in flood.

 

[DavidFL]

Lucky GH August 1991

With Bobby Bender on our Mud Run Ride

 

[DavidFL]

Late 80s & a couple of pics from the by the Khong.

Not sure on the exact locations, but

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

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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Amazing how low the river was

Wat Haad Bai?

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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or Wat Muang Kan

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

goo.gl

or Wat Sob Kok

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

goo.gl

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

 

[DavidFL]

1988 down by the river. @ Tha Leua Bak or Had Khrai?

 

[DavidFL]

Late 1989. Downstream at the Huai Ian viewpoint, on R1155 19kms downstream.

 

[DavidFL]

1994 and a look across to the river to Houei Xai.

 

[DavidFL]

1994 Tammila Guesthouse.

 

[DavidFL]

1989 Huay Ian viewpoint.

 

[DavidFL]

August 1991.
The Mekong was up high at the old immigration ferry port.

 

[DavidFL]

1999 Sophapan Guesthouse.

Khun Sophapan was & still is one of the personalities of Chiang Khong city.
She was an absolutely stunning beauty in her youth & is one of the bigger landowners in & around Chiang Khong city, with multiple plots on the Khong and in the old part of town.

 

[Ughetto]

Ciao David
I pass Chiang Khong today
In a quickly trip
Scaring get raining can to be dangerous for me after operation ………
Mekong level is very hight
Follow your beautiful post
Enjoi