Sights and Nightlife – Udon Thani – Northeast Thailand – page 828, Southeast Asia Let’s Go Travel Guide 2003
About 2km northwest of town, the Udon Sunshine Fragrant Orchid Farm, 127 Nongsamrong Road, is a botanical talent show. Dr. Pradit Kampermpool devoted a decade of his life to developing the first scented orchid, aptly named “Miss Udorn Sunshine.” The next enclosure over, where Desmodium gyrans makes its home, is even more mind boggling. These unremarkable-looking herbs perk up and shimmy to the vibes of music or human voice. Thanks to Dr. Kampermpool’s years spent cross-breeding, the plants respond almost instantaneously as opposed to their more lethargic wild counterparts. Some AIDS patients swear by the plant’s healing powers, and sufferers of of mental illness claim to show marked improvement through exposure. As if this miracle plant didn’t do enough, its tea clears up skin and stomach ailments. The orchids thrive from September through April, while the dancing plants strut their stuff year-round. |
