Author: jwerba

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

 

After an early 5:45am start, we began our day with a Muay Thai class (Thai boxing). Our instructor was a very funny man named Dong. He led us through a tough stretching and drills sessions and then he and another very skilled boxer gave us a demonstration; we wouldn’t want to get into a fight with them! Next, we split into 3 smaller groups to learn the basic skills of boxing. One of the three stations was practicing the moves in the air, the second was using those moves on punching bags and the third and final station was intense sparring against the locals and instructors in the ring. Learning some Muay Thai was amazing because it was an aspect of the Thai culture none of us had experienced before, and it felt very raw compared to the other very touristy activities. Even though it was 7:00 in the morning, it was still very hot and we were all sweating a lot by the end of the class.

After heading back to a shower and delicious buffet breakfast, complete with sushi and pancakes, we hopped on a bus for a 2 hour bus trip into the hills around Chiang Mai. After the long hot bus trip, we were eager to get into the rafts and get in to the cool water. Our instructor, named Sun, taught us the basic moves and positions, as well as safety tips for the raft trip ahead. We were split into groups of 5-6 per raft, given our equipment and then we set off down the river. The rapids were amazing; they were very fast and there was definitely a decent number of rocks. And then we reached the biggest rapid of all! By the end, we were all sopping wet but had huge smiles on our faces. After a quick, well-deserved lunch, with an incredible view of the hills and the river, we hopped back on to the buses for the long trip home. 

To finish off our day, we headed off to the night markets for dinner and some shopping!! 

By Jackson and Greta

 

After a long journey across the globe, the 30 TLC students have finally made it to Chiang Mai, stepping off the plane into the hot and humid weather of your average day in Thailand. Although stricken with fatigue, we were still excited for what was to come; the famous Tuk Tuk ride exploring some of Chiang Mai’s wonderful historic monuments. This was definitely a highlight of the day, as it showed us how the lifestyle of those living in another country differs from our own. We also began to understand the religious aspects of Thailand’s culture through visiting the famous temple, Wat Chedi, which was built by some of the earliest kings 700 years ago. Much of the newer sections of this temple are covered in gold leaf and intricate jewelled designs. The temple is also the only one in Thailand that contains a standing Buddha. We followed this up with a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. 

We thoroughly enjoyed the Thai cooking class out at a local farm. We learned how to make spring rolls, green curry from scratch, Chicken stir fry and mango sticky rice. And then we got to eat it all…! This class was definitely Miles’ favourite part of the day as he LOVES food and he is now inspired to take an interest in different styles of food. The cooking class was a great way to introduce us to the Thai culture as it is often centred around the food in which Thai people share. Louise’s favourite dish would have to be the mango sticky rice, as it was a rich BLUE colour. The colour was seeped from Iris flowers and added to the dessert. This was a fantastic idea which helped make the dish stand out. Today has definitely stirred up our love of food, and we can’t wait to see how the dishes and the produce change as we make our way along our Big Experience journey. 

By Louise and Miles.