When the first semester break came, we flew (literally and figuratively) up to Chiang Mai to immerse ourselves in nature. Chiang Mai is nestled among the mountains in northern Thailand. It feels quite small and laid back in comparison to Bangkok. Despite COVID-19 travel restrictions, we were grateful for the opportunity to explore this country and learn more about its different regions. We took a multi-day trekking trip, hiked the highest (and coldest) point of Thailand, learned about the forests and tribal culture, and saw first-hand how the pandemic has affected these communities. We welcomed the chance to experience life through a new lens and spend quality time cooking and staying with the locals in Karen villages.

King and Queen Royal Chedis & Wachirathan Waterfall

Our first stop was a jaunt to the top of the tallest mountain in Thailand. The Thai Air Force runs a radar station on the top and built monuments to the King and Queen as a sign of affection. These twin pagodas encompass amazing views, architecture, and manicured gardens. The rain was blowing sideways and the 40°F air felt like it was cutting to our bones. We briefly took in the sights, stopped past a powerful waterfall that had us in awe, and hurried back to the car to warm up before more hiking.

Hiking through the Clouds

Our guide was a kind and energetic, former Buddist monk, named Taksino. He was SO excited to be leading a hike and worked tirelessly to make sure we had a good time. We were his first clients since January. His only income came from working his farm since things shut down. He recruited a Karen villager, named Tepajaou because he is regarded by locals as a god of the forest. The two had all sorts of stories to tell and were a wealth of knowledge (about trees, fungi, termite mounds, animals, wild edible plants, & farming). When the forests cleared near our dusk destinations, we got to wander through gorgeous rice fields. In the morning when we left our homestays, the hosts sent us with lunch wrapped in banana leaves.

Villages & Home-Stays

We stayed in two Karen villages that were very remote. The residents, who had limited access to the internet or news, do not know much about COVID-19 other than that it is causing widespread death. Many were worried to hear “tourists” were coming into their village (the first in 9 months), Lyndsey was asked to keep her wet hat on for most of the 3 day journey, as to appear the least amount of foreign possible by hiding her bright red hair. Taksino had to reassure the village head-man that we were as “Thai” as foreigners could be and lived in Bangkok. Some villagers warmed up to us and our hosts allowed us to cook in their kitchens and share meals with their families. A few villagers were even excited to see us, as they desperately need tourist revenue to return.

Scenery

…speaks for itself!

Check out more of our Chiang Mai trip here in our November Update!