Oh my gosh you guys!!! We just got back from our long day in the mountains surrounding Chaing Mai and I honestly dont’ know where to begin. Our guide Sergeant Kai was FANTASTIC and showed us so many things that only the locals would know about in the city as well as the out of the way tribes that rarely see a foreigner’s face.
Our first stop was at a local market where we spotted a beautiful killdeer like bird with his feet lashed together, tied to the bottom of a plastic basket/collander. Kai , Diana and myself paid the woman who was selling this captured wild bird 150 baht (about 5.00 usd) to buy the bird and Kai also purchased 6 live serpent head fish in a plastic bag with very little water.
Our next stop was a rice paddie with this terrified bird still tethered to her basket and with Sgt. Kai’s guidance we all made a wish and set the beautiful bird free. She ran like a bullet into the rice which made us all cry. The purpose of doing this was to earn “merit” for freeing a live creature. We then did the same for the fish when we came to the river. WOW we just can’t describe this experience…it left us speechless.
The next stop was a trek through the forest on elephant back. Our mahout sang a bit as he led the elephant down the path. The darling ellie (about 35 years) at one point picked up a trunk full of dirt and through it over her shoulder all over her head which got the two of us as well. More about this ride when I post the regular camera pix
Now the day had really just begun…we headed down the road a bit then out of the car and onto a bamboo raft which was really just 10 huge bamboo timbers lashed together with strips of rubber tire. We got good and wet on our water journey through the forest…changed our clothes afterwards and then drove a bit to find home cooking and terrific Thai food at the side of the rural highway. Curry, Sweet and sour, fried rice…it was ALL incredible.
The highlight of the day ( among the MANY highlights) was our trip up the winding mountains into the remote villages of the Hmong and Karen hill tribes. OMG…we were in places that not many visitors will ever have the privelege of seeing.
Here’s Diana’s account of our surreal hilltribe experience:
One of the first places we stopped was an elementary school for the Hmong children. We saw them learning to read Thai and several kids were simply playing-very similar to recess in the States. We presented the teacher with some coloring books and crayons that I had brought in my suitcase. Then on to the actual villages.
Everything was amazing from the condition of the roads getting there to the bright colors the women were wearing (alot of it handmade) to the women addicted to ‘beetle juice’ which makes their teeth black. The water buffalo and the cattle in the fields-it is off season so they are grazing in the fields and also fertilizing for the next crop. They were herded back into the village right in front of us with their wooden bells clanking around their necks and their babies following along. The herdsmen were singing and calling them as they trudged up the hill. Lots more to come, but I’m hungry!!!!
Here’s Sandy:
We are toast so we are going to get some food and wash up for our next day at the Elephant Nature Center. More pix to come. Be sure to see all 5 posts from today at https://graffitigossip.com
Wow. What a great day you both had. Love the photos. Keep them coming. Make sure you rest and eat.
Hugs to you both
Billie
Looks like you had a real rustic old time. Very interesting. Can’t wait to hear more about it was 13 below here this morning . Well take care love ya mom
It sounds amazing!!!!!! Love the pictures. I don’t know about that bamboo raft though. Diana I sent some snow to your email.
Be safe, love ya!
So great to hear you’re having such a wonderful time!!! Sounds soooooo exciting.. what an adventure!! Thanks for sharing it…it’s probably the closest many of us will ever be to experiencing it… bring home more wonderful pictures for us to enjoy!!
Sandra and Diana,
Your experience with the bird and fish reminded me of a book called Saving Fish from Drowning, which had a lot to do with the HillTribe people. I envy your ability to experience this wonderful culture first hand. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
Thanks a lot for writing you guys!!!!! Yes those hilltribes were a life altering experience for sure and very humbling at that!!! We will have to find that book Jeanne…it sounds right up our alley! Laurie…………….we are so happy you are following the blog. We can honestly say it is as much fun to share what we are doing as it is to experience it. We look SO forward to our AM and PM time on the computer to see who has stopped by!!!
MOMMY!!!!! I love you and miss talking to you every day!!!!! We are so happy you got your computer working again so you can read the posts
I just can’t imagine what you guys are experiencing. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I envy you both. Can’t wait to see and hear more about it.
Each time I read one of your blog entries I am filled with such hope. Our world really is filled with such amazement if we stop and look for it. In some ways I feel like I am on this journey with you both thru your wonderful words and experiences. Again, the tears were flowing when I read how you saved the bird, may he/she live a long life. Thanks so much for sharing all this with your friends!
Hello Tracy and Elise!!!! You guys rock!!! I’m so glad you have stopped b Elise we have cried so much this trip…all good tears or tears of compassion. This journey is life altering to say the least. The more I travel the more I find we are all the same no matter where we live….and those to have a passion for animals speak a universal language!!!y to take the time to comment!!!!