Liliana’s South East Asia Adventure

Well I beginning to think no one is reading any of my posts.  If you don’t know how to leave any comments just click on the comments button at the end of a post.  So yesterday and the day before I went to see Doi Ithian National Park and the Hmong tribe that live there and then yesterday teh Karen tribe.  There are many different tribes in the north of Thailand.  I can’t remember what they told us expect that the Hmong are from China and the Karen I beleive are from Tibet. Don’y quote me.  I have links on the side to some of the tribes found in Thailand.  Anyway the kind of trecks I did if you can call them that were not great.  I choose to do 2 one day trips because I thought it would be less cheap and not as complicated.  The national park was lovely but to see the tribes was sad.  The first day we saw them weaving which was noce but basically these tribes exist for the toursits.  Around 10 tour buses a day go through these villages its sad.  Yesterday was the worst when we went up to the Golden Triange which is called this because you can see the Loas and Mynamar (Burma) border.  They all converge at the Mekong River.  That was lovely to see and we saw a huge golden Buddha which was also very pretty.  When we went to see the two tribes yesyerday they were very pushy in trying top sell stuff.  They had some traditional crafts and then other stuff which was imported from China or was Thai.  The kids were coming up to us and begging for us to buy a braclet.  The woman were begging us to take a picture of them and their kids for 10 Baht.  Very sad.  You can take treks that are 1-7 days.  Had I done that it probably wouldn’t have been as bad.  Personally most of these tribes are still around do to tourism.  I suppose even on a treck its not much different except you sleep with the tribe 1 night and they get most of the money.  The Karen tribe with the long necks still do that practice because of us.  It is outlawed but do to tourism the women still add gold chain links to their necks.  Very sad.  I didn’t see them luckely.  I guess you live and learn.  no?  Oh I do have to say I saw some nice waterfalls but nothing like Yosemite.

Hello all,  So I’m in Chaing Mai which is in the north of Thailand.  This is where you go to do the hill tribe trecking.  Koa Tao was lovely but quasi westernized.  Actually its the better of the Islands because it’s small and basically caters to Scuba Divers.  It’s the biggest place to do that in South East Asia (SEA).  So I left the Island yesterday and said goodby to the Zealander and the other guy from USA who I was going to travel with to Cambodia.  Well he decided he likes the beach and doesn’t want to go to Cambodia.  It’s actually better this way beacuse most people do the SEA loop from Chiang Mai over to Laos.  I left the Island at 2pm and took a 3 hour boat ride over to the mainland.  From there I had to wait till 8:40 to catch a night train to BKK. I had a sleeper bed again. While waiting a woman told me it’s not much more to take a plane to Chiang Mai then it is to go by train.  So for $40 us I took a plane and it got me here around 12pm.  I’m staying at a place called Eagle Guest house 1.  For 190 Baht around $5.00 I have a room with hot water.  It has 3 beds in it which I don’t need but oh well.

It feels good to get away from the non traditional thai Islands etc and be up in the north were its more thai.  While walking around a street fair was starting to take place.  Crafts of all kinds are being displayed.  Some women lured me into a foot massage which was great.  They have chairs set up on the street for passers by.  She did me for an 1 hour doing my feet and sholders/arms.  It was great and it only cost me $120 Baht which is $3 USA.  Its about $40 Bht per dollar.  Food is cheap everywhere.  For $2 you can get a meal or even less depending.  I just saw some Buddhist temples and they are beautiful.  Sorry the photos I tried to upload before didn’t work.  I think this time it will.  Tons of tourist are everywhere.  I’m sure I will be able to meet someone to travel with.  I met an Italian on the train while I was heading to the airport in Bkk.  He was headed to see some temples 2 hours away.  I told him I was staying at this one place and ended up going somewhere else.  He is doing the same loop I am but since he went to see the original capital he will be taking a train up to Chiang Mai.  Anyways I probably will run into him.  I will probably take a 1 day tour to Doa Than National Park to see local HillTribes.  Its very touristy but everyone does it.  I feel bad because we will go there and look at them like they are animals.  I haven’t gone yet but I know what will happen.  We will go there and walk around while stairing at them.  We shall see.  So far I have not had any food with Peanut sauce which is what I love.  I’ve mostly been eating rice with mixed vegetables that are made with some kind of Soy Sauce.  It’s not soy sauce but similar.  Monks are everywhere up here.  Well ciao for now.  The crafts are supper cheap and I have to tell my self to not buy anything because its so cheap.  Maybe a couple small items.  I have to remember I will be caring this around with me.  I will update you with more in a day or 2 ciao.  Hope I can upload photos without a problem this time.

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