Comment la Thaïlande unit nature, art et spiritualité ? | Documentaire Voyage – AMP

Comment la Thaïlande unit nature, art et spiritualité ? | Documentaire Voyage – AMP

Thailand is one of the most touristic countries in the world and yet
it remains largely unknown. Off the beaten track, the country has
natural beauties that are unique in the world. Magnificent lakes,
completely preserved towns, places dear
to the hearts of Thais. At each stage of this journey,
at the heart of their thousand-year-old history, they reconnect with the soul of their country. The rich culture of the Kingdom of
Siam inspires contemporary artists. But in art and the sacred,
they create masterpieces. They carefully preserve their
authenticity through their ever-living traditions. This is the Thailand of the Thais. A 2,000-kilometer journey,
from the Golden Triangle in the north to the Malaysian border in the south,
to discover this fabulous country that will never cease to surprise
and enchant you. Our
journey begins in Qiang Sen, in the Golden Triangle, precisely
where the Ruak River flows into the Mekong. At the point of Confluence,
three countries meet. Thailand, on the left, looking west. In the center, Burma. And to the east, Laos,
with the town of Van Pakelen, a special economic zone
where the Laotians have recently built buildings and casinos. The Thai side remained unchanged. A Sino-Thai foundation
built this Buddhist temple in the shape of a boat. At the summit, sits an immense golden Buddha
who looks towards the south and invites us on a journey. It is the gateway to Thailand. The first part of our journey goes from
the northern mountains to the great sacred valley of Sukotai,
to the foothills of Burma. The Golden Triangle region is wild
and rugged, one of Thailand’s treasures. These steep strips are
ideal for growing tea. Plantation 101 is located about ten
kilometers from the Burmese border. It descends along the eastern slopes
which drop steeply into the valley. The harvesting of the leaves is subject
to precise rules in order to guarantee the best possible quality. The tea leaves are picked
early in the morning. Because it is at these times that
the tea will grow at its youngest. After picking the leaves,
we will dry them. We will dry them completely. This is to prevent mold. The tea leaves are
picked every 45 days. In order to have a high quality tea,
we pick the leaves by hand, not by machine. And here’s the part
we don’t use. We only use the
youngest part of the shoot. This way our tea will have a good
smell and flavor. It won’t taste bitter. Harvesting is the business of the women
of the various surrounding tribes. This region is a mosaic of peoples. The Mong, Haka,
Lau and Karen, the ethnic minorities of the Golden Triangle. Although tea has been known in the kingdom
of Thailand since ancient times, plantations are
much more recent. These tea plants, from Taiwan, were
planted in the second half of the 20th century. Thailand
mainly cultivates oolong tea. The difference between black tea,
long tea and green tea depends on how the tea is processed. We start from the tea leaves. Then we process the leaves
into black tea, green tea and matcha tea. The Golden Triangle has long suffered from its bad reputation. These mountains were one of the
most important centers of opium production in Asia. The Thais have built a museum
to tell their side of the story and dispel some misconceptions. The entrance is quite surreal. A long tunnel, blue light,
soothing music and bas-reliefs capturing the pain
and ordeal of drug victims. The
museum tells the story of the trade in as from Asia, initiated by the
English at the beginning of the 17th century. The poppy was cultivated in India
and transported by ship to Europe. In the 19th century,
the trade in this drug would eventually lead to two wars
between China and the British Empire. During World War II,
the Americans encouraged poppy cultivation in the Golden Triangle, on the
Burmese side, to finance the guerrilla warfare of the remaining Chinese nationalists. However, over the past twenty years,
it has been greatly reduced in Burma and eradicated in Thailand,
where opium pipes are now a thing of the past. In Thailand, art and the sacred
often combine with geography to create unexpected places. This is where Thais come to
commune with the divine and nature. South of the Golden Triangle, the
Chiang Dao temple is the perfect example. The Buddhas guard the entrance to a
sanctuary built in the 17th century in a cave that includes four
immense underground passages several hundred meters long. Among the stalagmites,
we discover Buddhas scattered throughout this limestone labyrinth. The statues were carved
by the Burmese who occupied the region in the late 16th century. In Thailand, sacred art is omnipresent,
but you have to know where to look. Our journey continues
towards Chiang Mai. In the 13th century, it was the first
capital of the northern kingdom, Lana Thai. Today it is a quiet little town
, rarely visited by tourists. It has two
very special Buddhist examples, because they are not yet completed. These are contemporary works of art
that are the pride of Thais. Wat Thron Kunt, called the White Temple,
is located 13 kilometers south of Chiang Mai. Construction began in 1997. It
is the work of a contemporary Thai artist ,
Chalerm Chai Khaussi de Pipat, born in 1955. Originally from Chiang Mai,
he designed and built this unique Buddhist complex. To
cross the bridge that leads to the temple itself, one must pass over
a sea of ​​outstretched hands. The evil desires that
prevent you from reaching nirvana. You will also have to pass in front of the
guardian angels who scrutinize souls before you can enter inside. Unfortunately, filming is prohibited
in the temple. Chalermshai Kossid Pipat launched
an artistic movement between sacred art and the world of manga and trained
new artists like Puta Capquiu, who created the blue temple in a
different, but equally unusual, style. If the roof and ornaments are
gold in color, the temple is a brilliant sapphire blue. Two giant figures
are posted at the entrance. The protective angels who
accompany you during the visit. From the head. The interior is a firework display
of paint, colors and patterns that utilize the full range of Blues. The Buddha is made of white porcelain. Dominating the room, it seems luminous. To get out, you have to go
under the gates of hell. Quite a symbol. Next stop, Chiang Mai,
the big city in the North. Former capital of Lana of Thai, it is
one of the most beautiful cities in Thailand. The walls of its fortress date from the 13th
century and overlook the moat that surrounds the city. A pleasant walk
to take the pulse of the area. For Thais, going to Chiang Mai
means rediscovering the sweetness of life in eternal Thailand. The alleys of the Historic Center are
lined with magnificent wooden houses. It escaped urbanization
and skyscrapers. The visit is full of promise, like this traditional umbrella workshop. They are made using
the skills that a Thai monk named Prainta
brought back from Burma during a pilgrimage over a century ago. The umbrellas are made
of bamboo and fabric. A
work of precision and patience which requires
a lot of meticulousness at each stage. What I’m doing
is retying the wires on the umbrella stand. It will make it
stronger and more durable. It takes about 15 minutes. The umbrella can be made in two ways,
with paint and without paint. It is made with
oil-dyed cotton fabrics. It is therefore waterproof. Once assembled, the umbrellas
then pass into the expert hands of the decorator who paints floral patterns. I draw flowers.
They have no name. I draw them
from my imagination. It takes me ten minutes
to decorate an umbrella. It’s convenient. It can be used as a parasol, an umbrella
and simply as an accessory. Indeed, the Chiang Mai umbrella is
the essential accessory for walking around without suffering from the heat. The
royal city is sacred and houses no fewer than 300 temples built
between the 13th century and the present day. The diversity and richness
of the sanctuaries are unique in the world. One
of the oldest and most iconic temples in Chiang Mai is
Wat Che Di Luang, built in the 14th century. Originally, the stupa, which housed four
Buddhas, stood 90 meters high. But in 1545, an earthquake
caused lasting damage to the sanctuary. Rows of stone elements
and dragon-headed serpents, the Nagas, guard the entrance. Across town
is Wat Shri-Supan, known as the Silver Temple,
built seven centuries later in 2016. These bas-reliefs are entirely
covered in silver, worth a total of one million dollars. Some decorative elements
are covered in gold. But the rest of the building,
like the roof, is made of zinc. The temple was built on the initiative
of a monk who called upon the city’s goldsmiths with
spectacular results. Women are not allowed to enter the temple
. Inside sits a golden Buddha. And while the temple celebrates
precious metals, it also doesn’t forget banknotes like this
1,000 bât note with the face of the late king, Rahmanneuf. Artists
have called Chiang Mai home for centuries. Outside the city, a district
is dedicated to wood carving. A few streets that bring together
dozens of workshops. The most incredible of all
is that of Kun Mac, an exceptional sculptor. In his studio, hundreds of
sculptures stand like lookouts. We have the strange impression of being in
a temple lost in the middle of the jungle. There are Cambodian arts and crafts, Hindi arts and crafts, Buddhist arts and crafts
and many more. Each of these
wooden sculptures has a different covering. Each work of art is an
original handcrafted object. She is unique. He was the one who sculpted everything. A titanic task. This work is carved
from ironwood. She is beautiful. Its pattern and texture are superb. Some of the carvings have holes,
but don’t worry, it’s just the texture of the wood. Here is the goddess of mercy. Here, here, there is a family of elephants, a beautiful family. They were also carved
from an old stump. And right here, a work carved
in an orchid motif. It was carved from old wood. These musical sculptures are
in the Myanmar style. Right there are chameleons. They were carved
from scraps of wood. His workshop is a veritable
Ali Baba’s cave. He spent his whole life there. It took six years
to sculpt this piece. The story of his griff motif is Anuman Suvana Mathcha and their son Matchanu. Anuman is a monkey,
Suvana Mathcha is a mermaid. Kuhnmack’s work is part
of a millennia-old tradition that closely links art and religion. South of Chiang Mai
lies the immense plain of Sukotai, the great ancient city
dating from the 13th century. At the time, Cambodians
still occupied most of Thailand. But the Angkor kingdom was
in decline and in 1238 the Thais rebelled
and founded the first capital of the kingdom of Siam. Of the past splendor,
only 21 temples remain. They are in ruins, but visiting the
historic site is a must for Thais in search of their history. The temple of Watmaatat is
the most imposing of all. It is also the best preserved. The wooden roofs are
long gone, but the stupas and Buddhas have been restored. Sukotai means the dawn of happiness. And under the Pras Ruang dynasty,
the country would experience an era of unprecedented prosperity. A golden age that would last two centuries. The relatively egalitarian political system
was based on trade and the Buddhist religion. The Sisawaii Temple
is one of a kind. Its architecture is inspired by the
Khmer, like the temples of Ankor. The three towers, called Prang,
are remarkably preserved. In the reservoirs and undergrowth,
the Varennes and the cranes have long since taken over the area. The tour continues towards Wat Si-Chum, located outside the park. This temple has the particularity of housing
a 15-meter-high Buddha, enshrined in a mount of Op,
a square-shaped chapel. The statue, which was completely restored
in the 1950s, is the object of particular veneration. Legend has it that the Buddha was
gifted with speech and thus routed the Burmese invaders. He is called the Fearless Buddha. Courage is a fundamental value
for Thais who are proud of having always resisted. Going down along the
Burmese border, we arrive at Kandchanaburi. Between rice fields and mountains, the town
is nestled in the heart of a wild region. But if Kandchanaburi is famous
throughout the world, it is because of its bridge which spans the Kuai River. The famous building supports a
railway line that tells a tragic story. Today, it is a popular place for Thais to stroll and
admire the sunset. And
the newlyweds like to take pictures of themselves as the train passes by, traveling
414 kilometers between Bangkok and Burma. The Death Railway,
as it is nicknamed, tells a terrible story. Today, the train no
longer runs to Rangun. It stops just before the border. The most impressive place
is the wooden bridge of Tam Krasai, also built by prisoners
of war of the Japanese Empire in appalling conditions. The
train carefully enters the building
and runs along the face of a cliff that drops sheer into the Kuai River. They only come twice a day. The
screeching of metal on rusty rails transports us as if in
a time machine. Back to the end of 1942. The Japanese occupy the region. They will force nearly 180,000
prisoners of war and 250,000 Thais to lay rails
through the jungle. The unfortunate will experience horror. More than 96,000 of them were forced to work themselves
to death, victims of mistreatment at the hands of the Japanese army. The most emblematic place is
the passage of the Flames of Hell. Only a few yellowed photographs remain
to bear witness to the ordeal of these men who dug into the mountain with
pickaxes, starving and sick with dysentery. At the end of the war,
the Japanese officials were tried and sentenced to death. Thais have remained intimately connected with the
exuberant nature of their country. The area is known for its
natural beauty, such as the waterfalls of Erawan National Park
, about fifty kilometers northwest of Kandchanaburi. Rauwan Falls consists
of seven stages that descend the slope of a limestone mountain
that peaks at an altitude of 1,500 meters. This natural pool is
well known to Thais, who come here with their families to enjoy
the freshness and magic of the place. The turquoise water of the pools is
translucent and it is difficult to resist the temptation to enjoy it. Every pool has a surprise in store. On level four, two huge boulders
form natural slides. Level three is the most famous. Tourists from Bangkok can
refresh their feet in the waterfall and enjoy a free pedicure. In fact, in the basins,
two small surgeonfish come to tickle their feet, eating the
dead skin with their sucker mouths. The higher you go, the fewer people there are. The last pools
are almost deserted. The most daring take advantage of this
to take a dip. A welcome break before
continuing our journey further south. East of Kanchana Buri
is the stopover town of Lop Buri. In Thailand,
sometimes the wild world encroaches on the modern world. In the center there is an ancient
Khmer temple dating back to the 13th century. It is best known for being home to
a colony of monkeys. These are not shy. They have colonized the adjacent streets and
wander freely amidst the traffic. They jump on vehicles
that stop at the railway crossing. And the drivers have a
hard time getting them down. Nothing stops them. Neither trains nor cars. They have always been at home here. Hordes of mischievous macaques have
settled on the sidewalks and are climbing everywhere. They do not hesitate to invade the few
businesses that have not yet closed their doors. But the residents have finally learned
to live with their cumbersome neighbors. Nature, religion and legends have
always inspired Thais and their creativity is surprising. South of Op Buri,
you should not miss a visit to Wat Sampra, the
most unusual temple in Thailand. A huge dragon with green scales
coils along a fuchsia pink tower, 80 meters high, because Buddha
died at the age of 80. The Chinese-inspired temple
opened in 1985. You have to climb the 17 floors of the building
to reach the sanctuary. At the foot of the sacred tree, the Bodhi,
also called the pagoda fig, the Buddhas are adorned with gold leaves. On the
top floor, under the monster’s mouth, the Chinese Buddha is known
to grant the prayers of the faithful. Wat Sampra is located at the northern end
of the Kra Isme, which borders southern Thailand. Our journey continues
along the Gulf of Thailand. From the seaside resort of Wa In to
the city of Songkla, the pearl of the south. A huge ribbon of white sand stretches
along the town of Wa In, which was, in the 1960s, the
favorite destination of the King of Thailand. Beach temples, almost untouched
by tourists, line the coastline. Further south,
Kaao Samroyot National Park is home to Praya Nakhon Cave, a
special place in the hearts of Thais. To get there, you have to be brave
and climb a steep 500-meter stone staircase. Once you reach the top,
you have a breathtaking view of the bay. Then the winding path descends back towards the entrance of the sanctuary. The Praya-Nakon cave is huge. A small staircase leads to the first
room of unusual dimensions. A gigantic gap in the
limestone mountain that collapsed during an earthquake. The second room is even more
extraordinary, as it houses a monument built
to the glory of King Ramassinck in 1890. This small blue and gold wooden pavilion,
called the Kharouéat, is illuminated by the rays
of the sun which pass through the cave. King Ramassinck is the most revered
of all the monarchs of Thailand and his subjects come here
to pay homage to him. Going
down towards the Malaysian border, in Thailand, we arrive
in the Surat Thani region. With its rugged terrain and
limestone cliffs, the region is one of the most beautiful in Thailand. In the massifs there is
a geological curiosity, the Hin Pad. It is a 6-meter-high rock,
balanced on top of a mountain and reminiscent of
the Golden Rock of Burma. It is heart-shaped and its base is only a few dozen centimeters. It really feels like the rock
could topple into the void at any moment. But on the side, a small golden Buddha has
ensured that the Hin pad has remained balanced since the dawn of time. The region is planted with orchards. A boon for
fruit sculptors who perpetuate an ancestral art. Like Kunting,
who handles the scalpel with dexterity. After studying Fine Arts,
she began sculpting soaps before moving on to fruit. Today, she proposes
to transform a watermelon into a rose. I’m
going to cut this normal-looking watermelon into a beautiful watermelon. Stick the knife into
our peeled watermelon. Draw a circle. To make the job easier,
you can rotate the plate. Here is our outline circle. Then cut out this
part of the watermelon. Sculpting is not difficult work,
but it does require imagination, a little patience and creativity. Next, we will begin
to carve the first petal. Remove the croissant. Now we can see
our first petal coming off. In Thailand, fruit carving is a centuries-old tradition
started by the royal family. The sculptures are intended for special
occasions, such as religious festivals and weddings. Fruit carving began in the
Sukotai Kingdom about 700 years ago. At that time, on
the day of the full moon festival, the queen decided
that instead of using normal flowers for the decoration of the festivities,
she would use carved fruits. Although Kunting remains modest, she
masters a difficult and demanding art. The Souratani region is home to a fabulous lake, lost in the heart of the mountains. Originally, this region
remained wild and inaccessible. In 1987, the Thai government
decided to build a dam
and create an artificial lake in Khaosok National Park. The immense emerald-colored body of water
has become one of Thailand’s most beautiful tourist attractions. However, it remains little
known to foreigners. The peaks that emerge from the water
were once mountains. But the fauna has been able to adapt to this
radical change in environment. Like bats that have abandoned
their caves to nest in the treetops. This forest, more than 160
million years old, is also home to rare species such as
the Malayan sun bear and the clouded leopard. Wild animals are very difficult
to observe, as the jungle is so dense and impenetrable. The most striking part of the lake
is located in the central part. The Tchéhoularn. Three peaks that stand
at the entrance to a small lagoon. Further south, the Krabi region is
famous for its heavenly beaches and magnificent archipelagos
scattered across the Andaman Gulf. Perched on a rocky peak at an
altitude of 600 meters, an immense golden Buddha overlooks the valley. Watam Suheya, nicknamed the
Tiger Cave Temple, was built in 1975. It requires climbing 1,237
steps to reach it. In southern Thailand,
nature is lush and has always inspired the region’s artists. For 20 years, in his small studio, Kuhne Pochatan has been painting the sea and its many faces. These paintings are both
surrealist and figurative. For this painting, I was
inspired by my childhood. We would take toys
and play on the beach. These memories inspired me
to paint this piece of art. This boat is built from
natural materials on the beach. It takes us into the
world of imagination. Artists around the world inspire me in many ways, through their work and ideas. I adapt these inspirations to my
way of working and painting. Skies tormented by the Monsoon. Brilliant sunsets. Through his painting,
Kunt Pochatan is in search of happiness. I personally love
creative works and drawings. Art helps with mental health. He makes you happy. Being an artist is a happy job. I can spend time with children,
painting and the community. The final leg of our journey
takes us to the Songkla region, located on the Gulf of Thailand,
about fifty kilometers from the Malaysian border. It is bordered by a beach
with immaculate white sand. The region is predominantly Muslim and its
inhabitants are not very keen on swimming. On the beach, you can admire a small
bronze mermaid with her back to the sea. Legend has it that she appeared
to a local while she was combing her long hair. Frightened, she disappeared into the
azure waters, forgetting her comb. And the fisherman spends the rest of his life
waiting for him to return it. The Sanghkla region has remained untouched by
the development of modern Thailand. Inland, fishermen’s wives
work in a coconut grove. They make
coconut souvenirs. To make an octopus keychain,
we need to remove the entire husk from the coconut. I’m hiding from you that it looks like
a bowl of coconut. Like this. We also need to remove any flesh
that we can use for cooking. Then we rub and polish it
until it is smooth. Finally, we know our shape
on the coconut shell. Once the sticker is attached to the
coconut, using a wire saw, you need to cut out the shape. A real feat when you have to
make an octopus and its tentacles without breaking the shell. Making an octopus
from coconut shell normally takes 10 to 20 minutes. I’ve been doing this for a
living for over 10 years. A low-paying job, as few
tourists visit the region. Off the beaten track, this is
an authentic and unspoiled Thailand. The
Songkla Historic Centre is a Chinese trading post established
more than two centuries ago. The streets are lined with pretty
wooden houses with colorful facades. On the walls
you can admire numerous paintings, works by artists
who live in the old town. There is a quiet and friendly atmosphere here
, as everyone knows each other. Some houses were built
in the first half of the 20th century. This house,
reminiscent of those in the old quarters of Beijing, belongs to a local artist
who left intact the part where his parents lived. The first floor is dedicated to bedrooms and the ground floor
forms a small interior passion. The whole thing respects the rules
of feng shui, an ancient art which consists of arranging
living space in order to promote the well-being and prosperity of the inhabitants. The walls are full of memories. Photos of the royal couple from
the 1960s and shots of the city
and the port, when their class
was still called Singora. This shot of a sailboat invites you
to discover the marine lake which extends to the north of the historic city. As the still veiled sun casts its
first rays, the fishermen of the lake raise their immense nets. Each fishing station is a fragile
spider-like structure made of bamboo. Every 10 minutes,
like tightrope walkers, the fishermen climb a
ten-meter-long pendulum to counterbalance and lift their large
square net in which the fish remain trapped. Then, using a landing net placed
at the end of a long bamboo pole, they rake the nets to
recover their catch. When the sun’s rays flood the lake, they stand out like Chinese shadows. Tirelessly, with grace,
they repeat their ancestral choreography. In fact, most fishermen are women. Kuntit is one of them. It is better not to be afraid of heights
and to know how to keep your balance. The day’s catch is meager. So much effort to catch
only small fry, fry that live on the surface of the lake. I have been doing this for over 10 years. Catching fish with a landing net
is really difficult. It’s hard work, but the show
is simply magical. The Water Lily Sea of ​​Songkla Lake
marks the final point of this journey that began in the north of Thailand,
far from the beaten track. To discover the unsuspected riches
of a country that we too often think we know.

Un voyage unique à travers la Thaïlande, du Triangle d’or aux rivages du Sud ✋Les plus belles destinations, c’est ici 👉 https://bit.ly/2Vlfz9o 👈 Abonnez vous ! 🙏

00:00 – Introduction à la Thaïlande
02:45 – Les plantations de thé du Triangle d’or
05:14 – Histoire de l’opium et mémoire collective
07:03 – Temples et art bouddhiste contemporain
11:00 – Chiang Mai et ses traditions
19:06 – Soucotaï, berceau du royaume de Siam
22:56 – Kan Chanaburi et la ligne de la mort
25:56 – Beautés naturelles : cascades d’Erawan
29:49 – Watsampra et le Sud spirituel
33:35 – Sourat Tani et ses traditions
39:07 – Krabi et ses plages paradisiaques
42:31 – Sangkla et ses légendes maritimes
45:07 – Centre historique de Scla
47:12 – Pêche traditionnelle à Soncla

Evasions sublimes : Ce film nous propose un voyage qui traverse le pays sur près de 2.000 kilomètres, en partant du triangle d’or au Nord pour arriver à la frontière avec la Malaisie au Sud.

Un périple jalonné de nature exubérante, de lacs immenses, de villes authentiques, d’art et de sacré préservés, le tout éclairé par des sourires dont les habitants ne se départissent jamais.

À découvrir sur Voyage du Bout du Monde :
Thaïlande : à la recherche des îles oubliées – Koh Lanta – Koh Phi Phi https://youtu.be/nT0d-hSxUI4
ISAAN : Quelle est cette région méconnue de Thaïlande ? https://youtu.be/jkpudCZIofs

“THAILANDE, DU NORD AU SUD”
Un film de Jean Hubert Martin
Droits réservés

#Thaïlande #DocumentaireVoyage #Asie #Culture #exploration