Our first night part 11
by herzog63
The locals were ver curious about us. If we opened up our backpacks we would have 20 curious eyes peeping inside hoping to get a glimpse of something I guess. And as we all got put into the same shack most of the kids were just hanging around watching our every move which was ok with me. To bad we couldn't have spoken some their dialect it would have made it really nice. And they didn't speak English so we used our guid as the go between. We would ask him to ask the locals the questions then he would translate them back.
Well now I'll tell you about the coldest most uncomfortable night that I've ever head. Probably only because I wasn't suspecting it.
We were given a rice sack for a blanket and to lay on packed mud at the altitude we were at was just freezing cold. It must've been in the low 50's F. We were all shivering all night but tired so sometime around 3 in the morning I finally fell asleep thinking that I would never wake up alive!
KAREN LONG NECK
by balhannah
STOP 5 on TRIBAL TOUR
Still continuing on back roads our next stop was the Karen Long Neck village.
The long necks live here, we saw their homes in the distance. Instead of visiting these, we were taken across rice paddies to an area that was set up with tourist stalls. Some of the Ladies were weaving and others were just by their stalls hoping that you would buy.
Our guide told us that their necks aren't stretched, that is an illusion. This row of brass rings actually squash the vertebrae and collar bones.
A woman generally has about twenty or more rings around her neck. This neck ring adornment is started when the girls are 5 or 6 years old.
We were given one to hold, and it is quite heavy, 5kg! Imagine wearing that!
I didn't know that they had rings on their arms and legs. However, these rings are just as important.
The rings on the arms are worn on the forearm from the wrist to the elbow.
Those on the legs are worn from the ankles to the knees, and cloth coverings are kept over most of these rings, from the shins down to the ankles.
I bought some postcards, but that was all I wanted. Hardly anybody on tour bought, and the Long Necks had such sad faces, what can you do, you can't buy from all!!
It was interesting being with a guide and learning about their culture. It was a pity, that we couldn't have a look at their home area, like the other two we had previously visited, that is so much nicer.
Songtaew
by Rojo72
When travelling around Chiang Mai, especially up to Doi Suthep I recommend going by Songtaew, a small truck with two rows of seats along its sides. It is kinda like a small bus, but still not.
The Songtaew in the picture is actually taken at Taksin in Bangkok, but they looked the same up in Chiang Mai.
delicious soups and cakes
by call_me_rhia about café chic
it's a tiny modern little restaurant that served both thai and internation fool. It's a bit fancy with its wonderful air-con system and modern furniture - but it's also nice to eat without sweating for once. Sadly it'sa non-smoking place I had a delicious bowl of chicken and coconut milk soup, and a hybiscus tea decorated with a real hybiscus flower. delicious! then I spoiled it all by ordering a very westenernized chocolate and peanut cake - not good!
Cooking school
by campy012
It starts in the morning, make your own meal and eat after. Learn different local herbs, and spices. In the afternoon, tour the local market, shop for vegetable.... and whatever else that you are willing to try.
Personal, my cousin recommended a cooking school for me. It was good, the teacher speaks good English, the class was limited to only 6 students, and they even drop me off to the train station after to catch the 6pm train back to Bangkok.
Sign in with Facebook
Entrance Morn Thean Temple
Our tour guides. These guys rock
Thai silk products
Argh theres one behind us!
