Known in Thai as Krading Kampu, Pu Krading, the crab bell was a kind of toy enjoyed by Thai children living on rural rice farms in days past. Adults often hung the crab bell on a platform in the rice field, or in a hut in the middle of the field, for children could hear the chimes from the crab bell as it swung in the wind.

Large land crabs with their huge claws often destroyed rice saplings prompting farmers to catch them as food for the family. After consuming all the crab-meat they would make a simple toy from the claws, using one claw tied to string or tread to strike against the crab shell. The claw, acting as the clapper, was then fastened inside the crab shell and adjusted to swing easily when the wind blew thus making a chiming sound.

It is hard to believe that world-renowned Thai Hom Mali Rice comes from northeastern Thailand, once the most arid part of the country.

Thung Kula Ronghai, or Dry Prairie, spreads over an area of 21 million Rai (8.4 million acre), covering the five provinces of Roiet, Maha Sarakham, Surin, Sisaket and Yasothon, consisting mainly of sandy soil that does not retain water or soil nutrients. More-over, salinity is found in various spots.

The soil and the harsh climatic conditions have become a prominent feature of the norteastern region. A lot of local people left their homeland to seek a new life elsewhere. But the exodus started slowing around 25 years ago when the government received assistance from Australia in 1982 for soil improvement in the Norteast. Several rice varieties were grown on a trail basis in this area. Hom Mali, in particular, was found to give a good yield and to have the best aroma of all.

Hom Mali rice grown at Thung Kula Ronghai originated from the Bang Khla District of Chachoengsao Province. It was later cultivated at the Khok Samrong experimental farm in Lop Buri Province by Agriculture Officials, who came up with the best variety called “Khao Khao Dok Mali 105”. This variety was distributed to farmers around the country for growing in 1965. Prachya Thanyadee, a former soil and fertilizer expert at Land Development Department, explained that the suitable soil conditions at Thung Kula Ronghai contributed to the mild aroma of Hom Mali.

The famous Phra That Phanom shrine is located in Wat Phra That Phanom Voravihan in the northeastern province of Nakhon Pranom. For those born on Sunday, or those born under the astrological sign of the Monkey, this would be their principle shrine to come and worship.

This graceful pagoda - standing some 53 meters high - is build in ancient Khmer style and is regarded as one of the most sacred shrines for Thai and Lao people living on the banks of the Mekong River. Legend has it that the urangkhathat, or the chest bone relic of the Buddha, was placed inside this pagoda.

Nakhon Phanom residents believe that paying homage to the shrine is like paying homage to the Buddha and that the merit will bring them success. Based on this belief , numerous people come from all over Thailand, to pay homage to Phra That Phanom all year round.