Hill Tribe Home Stays and Trekking
Lonely Wombat had a good idea to start a new thread on this positive topic and copy all on-topic posts into it so it can continue.
Don't know why he hasn't done it so I've taken the liberty to do it.
I've put all the on-topic posts before and after Smiles' hijack are below.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lonelywombat
Friend currently in Thailand sent me the following link.It offers a monk for a month, homestay with hilltribes, volunteer english teaching plus guided tours.
http://fangvalley.com/
very interesting website.
Quote:
Originally Posted by beachlover
Thanks, LW. Interesting website.
If you're into outdoors stuff, I highly recommend staying a couple of nights with the hill tribes there. I did the hill tribe homestay thing mentioned on the website a few years ago. Trekked from village to village staying with various hill tribe families. One of the most serene weeks of my life. The scenery up there is very beautiful and I suppose this way of living amongst the hills and subsistence farming is what life would've been like for most of South-East Asia decades or centuries ago. It was lovely to wake up each morning and look out over a river or valley filled with lush vegetation, maybe a few wooden huts and some rice paddies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pong
even for that you do not even have to leave BKK. The hilltribe ladies (and the very od man), some dressed in the original costume-they very quickly find out that just walking in 3d hand T-shirt does not sell much, walk all day trying to sell their trinkets-those are the multi-hatted ladies. They nearly all are Akha. if you can find out where they stay ( a dozen to a room of 120 bt) you can share the premises-in another room. Shan/Karen/Thai yai are in the 100.000 in BKK-a lot of them a bit illelag or semi-legal and from Myanmar=Burma.
Quote:
Originally Posted by beachlover
That sounds lovely, Pong... Hmmmm, beautiful hilly countryside in Northern Thailand compared with bare concrete walls in Bangkok LOL.
You're right though, the Akha hill tribe people sell trinkets in a lot of the touristy areas of Thailand. Of the different tribes I stayed with the Akha were the friendliest. I heard the Akha generally the poorest tribe and the Karen are the wealthiest (relative to other tribes).
Quote:
Originally Posted by kquill
Hi,
I have also been there but was taken in there by the Rangers in Chiang Mai due to my connection with a lady working In bangkok for the BBC.
I am surprised Beachy that you got in a few years ago because where I went was a 'Royal project' and we went in with escorts and the entrance was manned by soldiers. Unless you went to one of the more commercial ventures because foreigners were barred from entering where I went.
This,although a Royal project was not the image Thailand wished to project to the outside World.
We stayed with them for the day,and they were in the stilted houses. The people were extremely shy and respectful,although very curious as to the outside visitors pulling up in jeeps!
The food was totally different from anything I have ever eaten and the 'chief' I met,was not more than 30 years old!
He had gained his rank and position,as he had been sponsored to the West and returned to help his people. His English was outstandingly good as was his educational qualifications,which he proudly showed us.
They aim of the Royal project was to stop them farming opium and to encourage them and assist them finacially to produce alternative crops.There were also a number of 'dependent' drug users in the village who were obtaining assistance.
It was a very interesting day out and a great experience.
Quote:
Originally Posted by beachlover
Hey kquill,
Fang Valley isn't where I went. The area I trekked was North of Chiang Dao and West of (or the Western part of) the Muang Khong area right up near the Burmese border. It was near the Mae Taeng River.
I know a lot of backpackers go there. For the first few days we didn't see any other tourists in the villages we visited and the villages were only accessible by foot (some by motorbike). We stayed in a different village each night and had fun learning about the local culture/beliefs.
In an Akha Village, he told us of their mating ritual... when a girl likes a boy she throws a stone at him and then runs into the forest. The boy must chase her and can only have her if he can catch her! He said it was to ensure only strong genes were perpetuated. Quite the opposite to the gogo bar mating ritual!
Can't say much for the food. The cooking was pretty basic. Often it was just a case of some pork meat on skewers BBQ'd over an open fire. One night we bought a little pig off one of the villagers and invited the whole village (small village so only a few people) to a BBQ. They brought some locally made whiskey, which came in plastic water bottles... rough stuff!
On the last night we trekked into a big Karen village beside the river where there were lots of backpackers staying. This village had running water, electricity, little shops and some other mod cons (no hot showers though, just a cold river to bathe in). From that village we rafted back along the river on bamboo rafts (flipped one against some rocks on the way)
A bit of history to the area... it used to be a big opium growing/trafficking area called the Golden Triangle. My guide told us his Dad used to be an Opium dealer who became addicted and died of his addiction. He said opium is still grown in the area. One of the guys I was with was an Australian Army Officer. The guide told him not to mention his occupation because some of the locals apparently have a intense dislike for the CIA or whatever other American law enforcement agency used to be there and might get him confused for one of them!
Anyway, it was a great week and enjoyable to experience a more basic way of life.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kquill
Hi,
The people who I met were supposed to stay on the land allocated as strictly speaking they were not Thai,so therefore had no right to be in Thailand,except for on the area allocated.
This gets a bit ridiculous to accept when these guys are all over the markets and bars in Chiang Mai.
The older ones were going about their daily business but the youngsters were wearing football shirts messing around looking pretty much bored out of their heads and there were coke cans and other rubbish strewn around,reminding me of the great western influence.
It was pretty sad to be truthful,like an existance without a life. These guys are basically classed as non persons and the government only got involved via the Royal project to stop the illicit farming of opium on the hillsides.
They weren't leading these people by the hand or building schools etc although I am sure they will come up with some website now I have said this but that would be te exception rather than the norm.
On a different note,I have also heard that the long necked tribes were complaining that they have been turned into a tourist attraction BUT their complaint is with a lot of the revenue earned from the tours and gifts they sell,taken away from them in 'fees' by government officials. Sounds familiar!!!!
This is not the first time I have heard of victimisation of minorities and illegals in Thailand,its commonplace.
It was good to come away with first hand knowledge and a good experience to see and understand but I wouldn't go back to the Hotel/Bar and say what a fabulous day I had just had because that wasn't the case at all. It made you reflect is the best I can come up with.
There was no 'awesome' factor in it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by beachlover
Hey Kquill,
Thailand doesn't seem to be the only country to push these minority tribes around. Burma does too. I went trekking and stayed with similar tribes in Vietnam too. I think the Thais look down on these minority tribes people as much if not more than they look down on Cambodians. They see them as another "problem" and "non-contributers" when they've got enough problems of their own.
In the area I visited, opium farming had obviously stopped, but my guide told us it was still going on in other areas. The villagers weren't affluent by any measure but they seemed to have a much better existence than what you described seeing in Fang Valley. Some of them looked REALLY poor and a little desolate but most appeared to have the basics. They had pigs, chickens, dogs and various little crops around the place. Some of the villages had electricity for certain hours of the day. The wealthier villages like the last village we slept in had motorbikes and such.
Most of the kids appeared to go to school. I think the biggest village had a school inside it for the younger kids. For the smaller villages I was told (and saw) the kids walked to another school in the area and stayed there for the week before coming home for the weekend, since it's too far on foot everyday.
I had a good time, but then it was meant to be an enjoyable experience, unlike yours, which sounds more like a media visit or something.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kquill
Nope,
It wasn't a media visit.
t happened that the lady from BKK was a friend of the Rangers boss, and went out of sheer interest.
The Ranger was checking on that all sides were sticking to their side of the bargain regards what was requied for the relevant aid from the Royal project.
Beachlover,
No big deal,we obviouly experienced different sides of the coin,although your point about many places being difficult to Aliens especially Burma,a great deal of these people come from Burma or it is their Country of origin,which many times Burma refuses to accept.
Also, Burma isn't a democracy is it,wheres Thailand claims to be. The superiority complex that some Thais have,is loathed by the Cambodians.
Quote:
Originally Posted by beachlover
You're right there... And these minority hill tribes are far from the only minority group, which Burma treats inhumanely. Unfortunately, Thailand has to deal with refugees from Burma quite a bit... and unfortunately, there are reports the Thais aren't always humane about it either, such as the reports of the Thai Navy dragging boats without engines full of Rohingya refugees out to sea and leaving them there to die.
Re: Hill Tribe Home Stays and Trekking
To further add this info...
For anyone who wants to do some trekking or do a home stay with some of the minority hill tribes in Northern Thailand, you have two main options.
Either go and find a good local company (search online or get your accommodation or travel agent to recommend a local organised trip) which does these sort of trips or you can use one of the more reputable international operations. Other option is of course, to look at the link provided by Lonely Wombat above.
For a good local company, I'd recommend http://www.footstepsinasia.com. The company I went with used them as a sub-contractor and they were excellent.
For a big brand here are a few options:
Budget options (you will find mainly young travelers with these companies): Gap Adventures or Geckos Adventures.
Md-range: Intrepid
Luxury high-end (mainly older travelers): World Expeditions or Peregrine Adventures
Re: Hill Tribe Home Stays and Trekking
I had actually started to cut and paste from my original thread. I have tradesmen in so had to move outside and on my return saw you had made this new thread.
beachlover I hope the last few days have bought a few facts home to you.When you first started posting you were fresh, interesting maybe a bit provactive but a welcome change.
In the last 6 months you have become aggressive, abusive and dominating. The idiots that are winding you are doing so as they know you cannot sit back and shut up.You will never convince anyone but yourself with your long winded posts. So why bother. Life is too short to waste on trying to justify yourself to no one.
You claim to be the employer of a number of people earning 3 million baht per year. Do you speak to them like you post here. Why not try an re earn the respect you had 2 years ago and have virtually lost. Forget the aggression and abusive posts. Try and be a leader of this family, not the destroyer.
Re: Hill Tribe Home Stays and Trekking
Mr.Wombat your heart is in the right, place but his spewing of venom can be seen on more boards than here. I am not a long time member but have been a long time viewer. In my opinion he is really just an angry old man pretenging. He thrives on combat no pun intended and has mad people look elsewhere or stop posting here at all. He hoags the board with for the most part meaningless diatribe putting many off! A leopard does not change his spots. This had been a great board but it is time for him to make a sacrifice and go or have Spike show him the door! The survival of this board should not be allowed to hinge on a single member!
Re: Hill Tribe Home Stays and Trekking
Quote:
Originally Posted by Man4AllSeasons
Mr.Wombat your heart is in the right, place but his spewing of venom can be seen on more boards than here. I am not a long time member but have been a long time viewer. In my opinion he is really just an angry old man pretenging. He thrives on combat no pun intended and has mad people look elsewhere or stop posting here at all. He hoags the board with for the most part meaningless diatribe putting many off! A leopard does not change his spots. This had been a great board but it is time for him to make a sacrifice and go or have Spike show him the door! The survival of this board should not be allowed to hinge on a single member!
What a load of tosh.This board would be very dull without Beachy and "his friends" to keep it going.I see it didn't stop you from making a member....yet again!!! If we had to rely on Wombats fantasy emails from all his "admirers" the lights would have gone out long ago. Oh well, only 4 days to go to you know what.... :lam:
Re: Hill Tribe Home Stays and Trekking
Well, that didn't take long for this thread to go off topic. Irony being, going off topic was started by the same guy who was bitching at others for his initial thread going off topic. Go figure...
lol
Re: Hill Tribe Home Stays and Trekking
Quote:
Originally Posted by lonelywombat
I had actually started to cut and paste from my original thread.
Sorry, Lonely. I wrongly assumed you changed your mind and weren't going to do it... sorry to do it before you had a chance to finish.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cdnmatt
Well, that didn't take long for this thread to go off topic. Irony being, going off topic was started by the same guy who was bitching at others for his initial thread going off topic. Go figure...
Ah well. See Lonely? Can't say I didn't try...
Just accept nothing stays on topic for certain here.
Re: Hill Tribe Home Stays and Trekking
Well in 24 hours it has not gone off into a carbon copy of the previous threads. That is a good sign and my thanks to you for starting the thread and your support.
Re: Hill Tribe Home Stays and Trekking
Well I have been abused again for raising a negative future for this forum,but as you can see the last post above is a week old and this thread still only half way down page 1. If the pissing contest between 5 of the usual subjects on Is Boystown coming to an end, was moved by Jinks, then the board would look very barren.
It is like kids in the school yard . You did, I didnt, you did so, I did not, I can prove it, you cant,I just did, I dont believe you, your fat, your breath stinks. OMG
This is a replay of the pissing contest , the expression coined by Gay Thailand, that was closed on his forum as it was getting nowhere and got boring.At least one of the main participants on GT board brawl is a major participant in the current brawl here.
You dont have to take my word for it. Just go to last post 29 march,and look what has been posted since. That is where this post was before.
Re: Hill Tribe Home Stays and Trekking
Lonely... not again with the gloomy predictions!
What you're saying is almost exactly the same as what you were saying two years ago. Yet, SGT is still here going strong! I've not logged in for 4-5 days and there's 21 threads with new posts. How is it "barren"?
Accept it... this is a great forum to come and ask questions but the slagging is part of the entertainment in here. What I love about Justme is he attracts so much of it. :blackeye:
