Chris and Chandi’s Worldwide Adventures

So after feeling a bit defeated in Chiang Mai with regard to tours and thinking of moving on we decided to take a walk around Old Chiang Mai. We took a few back roads and it was really nice; a lot less traffic and people. Eventually an unusual travel agency/tour operator caught both our eyes and we started reading about what they offered etc. – Here Enters Pooh’s Eco-Trekking - It was later in the evening but a very nice guy came out of the shop and handed us a pamphlet and said if we have questions to come ask and to not feel any pressure about doing any of them or anything – Here Enters Tee – We started asking about the one they offered to the Elephant conservation centre and at the end we were talking about their 2-3 day treks.

Needless to say this place was exactly what I was looking for!! After being disappointed more than once with regard to either one or a combination of service, environmental issues, animal care concerns and no compensation to the Hill Tribes that are visited I was really excited about this place. As we were told “This is not a touristy trek” and that was perfect.

It turned out that a 3 day trek was leaving on the Friday so right then and there we signed up. We had a day before the trek so on Thursday morning we went to the day market as we heard it was better than the night one and cheaper. It turned out not to be what we were looking for but it was still interesting. More of a local market and it is a good place for food, everyday things and cheap extra bags to get all the stuff you bought back to Singapore. Next we headed to the Chiang Mai museum in hope of spending the hot afternoon in an air-conditioned place. The museum had some good information ranging from geology to history to current international relations but no air-conditioning.

At 6pm we had a meeting at Pooh’s with Tee and the other 5 trekkers to go over what we needed etc. They gave us each a “backpack” and a plastic bag to take with us and a small list of what we needed. So we headed back to the hotel and started packing.

Friday morning came and we were picked up from the Lai-Thai Guesthouse. Coffee/Tea and fruit were waiting at the trekking office. It worked out really well as we were able to leave our valuables and gear at the trekking office and we felt more than safe in doing so. The first part of the adventure was a 3 hour ride out of Chiang Mai to the province of Mae Hong Son. Here we had lunch at a roadside “café” and then headed off the main road for about 30min.

From here we headed on foot through the hills and fields that are home to the Karen Hilltribes. It was beautiful, majestic, breathtaking. . .

Tee told us about what was growing in the fields and about slash and burn agriculture used by the Karen. I am not sure what people know about this type of farming but if done in a traditional manner it is very effective and not destructive like having herds of cattle roaming the hills. All farmed areas are used by each family in the village to grow their food and food for their pigs and chickens. Cabbage, peanuts, corn, and rice were the primary crops. After about 2 hours we came to the village where Tee’s cousin lives and where we spent the night. About 200 people live in the village and each family takes turns in having the trekkers stay with them. Everyone was very friendly but also shy, especially the women. We all stayed in Papa’s house and he was always smiling and laughed when ever we said “Ta blu” – the phrase Tee taught us that meant everything from hello to thank-you.

Before dinner a member from most of the families in the village came to the house to see us and share some of their homemade rice whiskey. At this point you really have to not care about how clean things are or germs as about 20 of us partook of shots and in two glasses. It was a good way to make sure we all tried it as you were watched while you downed it. Not sure how strong it was but after about three and having not eaten I was feeling pretty good. After a number bottles were polished off we had a vegetarian feast cooked by Tee, which was very good. Then we all found spots on the bamboo floor to put our sleeping bags and settled in for the night.

After not really sleeping in fear of creepy crawlies and a moving bamboo floor anytime Chris rolled over, which was many times, we woke to a full on orchestra of roosters. I loved it as it so far it really had reminded me of the trips I had done before and I was having a great time!!!

I am going to leave it here as I have been in this internet café for over an hour now and will fill in the details when we get to Singapore tomorrow