Yesterday we went on a day tour with a local guide, Ghan. We took an hour boat ride down the river to an elephant sanctuary. Along the way, we saw lots of new construction and a few big, beautiful Buddha statues.
At the elephant sanctuary we met a male elephant who was very food motivated. He is the only elephant in the sanctuary who can do tricks on command and he often begs for food.
Our next stop was Doi Maesalong, or as Ghan referred to it, “Chinese mountain”, to visit a tea plantation. Over 49 percent of the population of Thailand has Chinese roots and they are very strong in Chiang Rai.
We saw miles and miles of some of the best tea in the world! The northern part of Thailand is a major distributor of oolong tea!
Ghan told us the women who pick tea leaves go out in twenty minute shifts and are paid based on how much they pick. As you can imagine, they are moving very quickly.
Ghan also explained the fields were once opium fields. The country was overrun with opium and corruption. The government eventually cracked down in the 1970s and began to use the land to produce oolong tea.
Just beyond this mountain ridge is the country of Myanmar. We are very close to the border!
The owner of this particular shop came from China with her husband and nine children. They trekked through the mountains for forty-five days to reach Thailand. Her husband later returned to China and cut off communication. Alone, she raised her nine children on the mountain, who are now grown and live all over the world.
We sampled three teas: a floral blend, oolong and a ginseng. They were all tasty!
We left with a complimentary treat...dried strawberries. They are delicious!
After the tea shop, we ate at a nearby Chinese food restaurant. The food was so, so delicious. After eating Thai food for days, it was a welcome treat!
The girls fell in love with these airy Chinese buns.
After lunch, we met two men from the local Akha hill tribe. We were told you’d need an Akha guide to lead you into the hills. It was an hour trek and very desolate.
Rose brushing up on her gymnastics skills...
The Akha tribe were Buddhist for many years but in more recent years, converted to Christianity.
Ghan showed us a traditional Akha house with a thatched grass roof. The tribe has in recent years received electricity from the government.
Ghan also told us many of the tribe’s beliefs. Years ago, they believed that twins were evil and when a tribe member would deliver a set, they would kill both babies. They also believed that a couple should only have one child and whoever had more than one, were considered “animals” amongst the tribe.
She also told us that should a man touch a woman, they were to be married within a week or risk death. None of these beliefs are still upheld, in fact, Akha tribesmen and women are allowed to marry outside of the Akha tribe today. Many traditions changed with public outreach programs to educate the tribe.
The Akhas still do not consume dairy beyond the first year of life, so they are very short in stature. This is a doorway for a traditional home - Rose is the perfect height!
Back at the hotel, Rose was anxious to swim! She took a dip in the pool and we ended the night at an Italian restaurant at the resort.
If you’re not carefully watching...Rose will order three desserts without you knowing!
