We began the day with another delicious buffet breakfast. After our stomachs were filled, the group began preparations for our upcoming adventures. We boarded our bus and headed for the Hill Tribes Eco-Village. Whilst we were travelling, we listened to Chai, our local guide, as he shared his knowledge of the different tribes that live in the village and their cultures and traditions. When we arrived at the village, and began venturing between the different tribes, we had the opportunity to learn much more, as we were able to ask the tribes people lots of questions and Chai was able to translate for us. We learned about their different ways of life, how they earned their income, how they used their resources and how their cultures impacted their daily routines. There were seven different tribes in the village including the Yao, Hmong, Padong, Kayaw, Karen, Lahu, Palong and Akha tribes. They were all known for particular things such as their handicrafts and the traditional colourful clothing and jewellery that they wear. One particular tribe, the Padong tribe, wore coils of brass around their neck and around their knees. Originally these coils were used as a protection against wild animals but are now seen as beautiful embroidery that they proudly wear. The girls that are born on a full moon, half moon or no moon are chosen to wear these coils but other girls have the choice to wear them as well, if they wish. They receive these coils from the age of three or four and continue to wear them for the rest of their lives, never taking them off, except to add another layer each year. We had the opportunity to take photos with them, ask them questions and buy their locally made crafts.
We also had a big discussion about the pros and cons of establishing such an Eco-Village, as some people felt guilty for the families who were living in the village for their lack of privacy and the way their children seemed to be on display. Billy (our tour guide) and Chai explained that the families are free to come and go from the village, moving in for a couple of years and then they swap with another family from their home village. They are also safe from persecution and the high taxes that are often placed on them in their home countries, and they are able to earn money from selling their crafts in the village that they can bring back to their home villages to improve conditions for everyone in their tribe. It was interesting to hear the other side of things that we might not have initially considered.
After admiring the nature and culture of the Hill Tribes, we departed towards our lunch site at a local Orchid and Butterfly Farm. We were greeted by friendly ladies who gifted us with fresh orchid badges. Although this was a welcoming token, our bellies were also gifted with outstanding food! We had a wide variety of meals to choose from in the buffet that was provided, including lots of traditional and western foods.
After enjoying the splendid food, we headed to a Buddhist temple. On arrival, our tour guide told us a bit about the Buddhist culture and traditions that were common throughout Thailand. We took a cable car to the top and were greeted with by a spectacular temple, impressive gold sculptures and statues. From so high up, we could see amazing views of all of Chiang Mai. It was also nice that it had finally stopped raining by this point in the day.
Tonight, we are having a Thai BBQ dinner and then we will need to pack our bags in readiness to leave Chiang Mai tomorrow morning and head to the village to begin our house building project for a family in the Palong hill tribe.
We will not have wifi access in the village, so we will post our Day 4, 5 and 6 blogs once we have settled in to Chiang Rai on Saturday.
By James and Angelica
